Can you believe it......WHO WANTS TO SEE MY FINALIZED CEREMONY???

Original post by MJDoc12

Nov 07, 2006 09:12 PM

i can not believe i am at the point where my minister has sent the ceremony over for final approval. she needs to get it fixed up, cause she designs a keepsake laminated program that she uses during your service--and then you get to keep it after the ceremony is over. i figured i would post this cause i'm sure some girls are stuck as to the kind of ceremony they want

the ceremony is very important to us, and we wanted to make sure it showed in the words

Wedding Service for Melissa and Peter 2/25/07

OPENING WORDS:
'Who gives this woman to be married to this man?' Father: 'Her mother and I do '

'Good morning friends and family. Welcome. I'm Rev. Dr. Angela Heil. Throughout history, people have found ways to commemorate and celebrate the most important moments of life. In these times they call upon their friends and family to share in their joy because celebrating a milestone such as a wedding alone- would only diminish the joy of their day. For this reason Melissa and Peter come before you-their circle of loved ones -now to be joined as husband and wife. It is Melissa and Peter’s wish that you join them in a brief moment of remembrance for their grand parents and the loved ones, who could not be with us today. See them sitting among us - rejoicing with Melissa and Peter-as they create their covenant with you as their witnesses.”

“It is said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So with the single step of this ceremony, Melissa and Peter, will set out on their journey together with everything they need – the love and support of their family and friends and their love for each other. ”

READING:    I Corinthians 13:4-8.
“In the book of First Corinthians we find a marvelous poem about the nature, and workings of love. Please listen carefully and reflect on how it affects all your relationships. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

“After this ceremony legally you’ll be husband and wife –but you must decide each day that you want to be married! You are agreeing to share affection, companionship, a deep trust, a sense of humor, responsibilities and to share love eternally– as a family. Friends, and family-from near and far, let this ceremony serve as a reminder of your own personal promises of Love.”

“Melissa and Peter, comfort each other. Provide a refuge and sanctuary for each other. Your marriage is a hearth, from whence come peace, harmony and warmth. Caress as you would be caressed. Warm your loved ones body with your healing touch. Be a friend and a partner…Reflect upon the tranquility of the many future years you can share with a true friend. Be open with each other…Trust and reveal yourselves to each other. Listen to each other…Learn to listen to understand rather than listening to argue. Respect each other to be an individual…Accept the other as they are, as you would have yourself accepted. Give each other approval…and encourage confidence in each other. Cherish your union…Let no one come between your togetherness, not a child, not a friend, nor any worldly goods. Love is your river of life-your eternal source of recreating yourselves. Above all else– really love one another!”

DECLARATION OF INTENTION:
“Peter and Melissa– now we come to your vows that bind your covenant and may I remind you that they must be renewed everyday that stretches out before you. Peter please read your pledge of love to Melissa on this wonderful occasion.”

“I, Peter, take you Melissa, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I give you my open heart and mind my time, my attention sharing love in good times and bad- sharing my fears, hopes and dreams each day and to bring joy, strength, and imagination to our relationship. I promise to give you the best of myself and to ask of you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person- to realize that your interest, desires, and needs are no less important than my own. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully. Come what may, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold-so I give you my life to keep.
(Begin 2-3 lines of personalized vows)
These are my solemn vows to you, as I promise to love you all the days of my life---So help me God.”

“Melissa please read your vows of love to Peter.” (same as Peter)

BLESSING AND RING EXCHANGE:
“May I have the rings please! A ring is a very precious thing - a token of your faith and love. The precious metal from which this token is crafted signifies the beauty and the value of the commitment you are making at this moment. It also declares the strength of your loyalty and faithfulness to one another as together you build a life as one.”

“The circle of pure gold is also a never-ending circle that indicates the changeless symbol of your unending love that has grown in your hearts, an expression of your vows to continually seek to love and nurture your marriage relationship. Your vows are sacred vows that far surpasses the common experience of life. These rings are symbol to all who you encounter, that your hearts are united as one.”

“Peter please place your ring on Melissa’s left ring finger and repeat after me:
“As a symbol of my eternal love and all that I have-with this ring, I marry you.
Melissa, from this day forth may this ring, be the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites our two lives in a love that never ends.'

“Melissa please place your ring on Peter’s left ring finger and repeat after me:
“As a symbol of my eternal love and all that I have-with this ring, I marry you.
Melissa, from this day forth may this ring, be the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites our two lives in a love that never ends.'

ARRAS CEREMONY-COIN PASSING FOR PROSPERITY:   (aka 13 'Monedas')
For centuries, the Latin American tradition of the 13 Arras has symbolized Jesus and his 12 apostles. Melissa & Peter wanted to honor their ancestry and continue this, as well as add their own personal sentiment upon it. These 13 coins will now also represent the 13 promises for a prosperous marriage: trust, committment, respect, joy, happiness, harmony, wisdom, wholeness, nurturing, caring, cooperation, peace, and most importantly, love.

“Peter, please pass your 13 coins to Melissa, and saying: “I give to you prosperity, and promise to share my joy with you, my beloved!”
Melissa please pour the coins back into the Peter’s hands saying:
“I promise to return the prosperity, and share my joy with you, my beloved!”

BLENDING SANDS CEREMONY:
“Melissa and Peter-you have committed here today to share the rest of your lives with each other. This beautiful union is symbolized through the combining of these two individual containers of sand. The first container represents you Peter, and all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the next represents you Melissa, and all that you are and all that you will ever be. Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without need of anything else. However when these two are blended together- they create an entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination. Please pour the sand into this vessel to symbolize the union of the Castillo and Boneta family spirits. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be a molding of these two individual personalities, bonded together forming one heart, one love, and one family. The life that each of you experienced now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united, for the two shall become one!”

ROSES TO MOTHERS:
“Marriage brings together two individuals and celebrates their love, but it does even more. Marriage takes the seed of love planted by Melissa and Peter's parents years ago, and causes it to expand as it flowers. As they embrace, their families embrace - also being joined on this happy occasion. Melissa and Peter love their parents very much, and on this most special day, want to thank their fathers and honor their mothers.”

'Juanita and Joanne these beautiful roses are a promise from your daughter and your son today - a promise that no matter what distance might separate you from them - you will always be honored and lovingly remembered in their hearts and lives .”

PRONOUNCEMENT:
“Melissa and Peter, as you have committed yourselves to each other, in the presence of these witnesses, with the exchange of rings and vows; by the power vested in me by the Laws of the State of NY and God, it is my joy, and privilege, to declare that you are what your hearts have always known you to be all along- husband and wife. Please kiss your bride to seal your vows!”

“Please join me in welcoming for the very first time- Melissa and Peter- as husband and wife. Go in peace, and love! Congratulations!”