Marriage

Example Humanist Marriage Ceremony

WEDDING CEREMONY OF  MATTHEW & CINDY

Introduction

Friends, I call upon everyone here present to be a fellow witness with me in this marriage between Matthew and Cindy. We are here, not only to witness their commitment to each other, but also to wish them well and every happiness for their life together.

Matthew and Cindy first met through a mutual friend over four years ago. Their love of travel brought them together and has remained a major part of their lives. It is Matthew and Cindy’s wish at this time to declare their marriage partnership to the world. It is a statement of commitment to each other and to ideals they already have.

Though marriage means the greatest intimacy between two persons that is possible to humankind, this closeness should not diminish but stimulate each partner to grow as an individual. A responsibility of each marriage partner is to be the guardian and the encourager of the other’s need to be alone, to develop their own talents and qualities.

Matthew and Cindy know that a relationship of real love can never be taken for granted but can only survive and grow when both lovers maintain the will to openly and sensitively develop their relationship as equals. It is in this spirit that they now stand before us.

Reading:1: This Day

This day we shall remember well
As in our married love we dwell
And cast our minds back to this time
You made me yours and I you mine.

In wedded love we choose to be
Each binding each and yet each free
As days and months and years go on
Our love will hold us firm and strong

The marriage vow this day we say
Is a vow we’ll build on day by day
And as we walk the path of life
The world will know we’re man and wife

We two who now are but one soul
Have each to play a different role
And yet we know that all shall see
That bond of love twixt you and me

For in this life we each shall care
That all we do is all times fair
We pledge this day to be as one
in all those wondrous years to come. ————- Brian Zouch

Monitum from Marriage Act

Now I, Kathy Hurley, a civil celebrant,
Am duly authorised by the law
To solemnise this, your marriage
According to the laws of Australia.

Before you, Matthew, and you, Cindy
Are joined together in marriage in my presence
And in the presence of these, your family and friends,
I am bound, as you know, to remind you publicly
Of the solemn, the serious and the binding nature
Of the relationship into which you
Are now about to enter.

Marriage, as defined in Australia
Is the voluntary and full commitment
Of two persons;

It is made in the deepest sense
To the exclusion of all others,
And is entered into with the desire,
The hope and the firm intention
That it will last for life. 

Parental Invocation

Will you John, Mary, Laurie and Lorraine grant Matthew and Cindy your supportive good wishes and pledge them your love and acceptance?

Parents: We do

The Asking

Celebrant to Groom:

Matthew will you take Cindy to be your lawful wife, will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others only unto her, so long as you both shall live?

Groom:

I will

Celebrant to Bride:

Cindy will you take Matthew to be your lawful husband, will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others only unto him, so long as you both shall live?

Bride:

I will

Vows

Groom:

I, Matthew, take you, Cindy, to be my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for the rest of my life.

Bride:

I, Cindy, take you, Matthew, to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for the rest of my life.

Ring Ceremony

(The couple stay in the same position. The celebrant takes the bride’s ring from the best man, gives it to the groom who holds it over the edge of the appropriate finger and says the words, phrase by phrase after the celebrant. After the words are finished the groom then slides the ring over the bride’s finger. This procedure is repeated by the bride).

Cindy/Matthew with this ring,
I thee wed
Take it and wear it
As a pledge of my love
And as a symbol
Of all we share.

Reading 2 Today (Mary to read)

Today I marry my friend;
the one I have laughed with and cried with,
the one I have learned from and shared with,
the one I have chosen to support,
encourage and give myself to, through all the days,
given us to share,
Today I marry the one I love. ——– (Anon)

Reading 3 The Apache Wedding Prayer

Now you will feel no rain
For each will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold
For each will be warmth for the other
Now you will feel no loneliness
For each will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons
But there is only one life before you

Go now to your dwelling
To enter into the days of your life together
And may your days be good
And long upon the earth

Declaration of Marriage

Ladies and gentlemen, Matthew and Cindy have declared before all of us that they will live together in marriage. They have made special promises to each other. They have symbolised it by joining hands, taking vows and by Matthew and Cindy exchanging rings. So therefore on your behalf and on behalf of the community I now declare them to be husband and wife.

(Bride and Groom kiss).

Signing of Certificates

—-

© Dally Messenger III – Permission given to any bona fide celebrant to use in any ceremony. Acknowledgment appreciated. (From the book, Ceremonies and Celebrations by Dally Messenger -ebook from Amazon or iBooks.)