Giving away the bride
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Celebrant:
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Who brings Bride to stand with Groom?
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Bride’s Mother:
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I do.
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Celebrant:
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Do you
promise, now and always,
to support
this union?
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Bride’s Mother:
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I do.
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Memorial Candle
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Celebrant:
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Before we begin this ceremony, Bride
would like to have a candle lit in memory of her father by Friend.
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While
the candle is being lit.
Although
we can't see you
We
know you are here
Smiling
down, watching over us
As
we say "I do"
Forever
in our hearts
Forever
in our lives
And
so we say our vows
In
loving memory of you
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Introduction
Family and
friends of Bride, Groom and Child, we meet here today to share
in Bride and Groom's wedding ceremony.
We have come
here not only to witness their commitment to each other, but also to wish
them well and share their joy as
they continue
their life together.
Bride and Groom's decision to
publicly exchange vows today confirms their commitment to marriage that has
already taken place in their hearts and in their minds.
Bride and Groom understand
the importance of friendship, family, loyalty and of sharing their lives as
equals in a loving partnership.
It is in this
spirit they stand before us.
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Vows to Child
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Celebrant:
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Groom, in joining
your life with Bride, you are accepting the added responsibility for Child,
Bride’s daughter.
Groom here before Bride
and your relatives and friends, do you promise to care for Child, make for her a home where she can grow in
peace and love, and at all times have her best interest at heart?
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Groom:
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I do.
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Wedding Vows
Affirmation of
Intent
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Celebrant:
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Groom, do you take Bride,
to be your lawfully, wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her,
honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall
live?
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Groom:
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I do.
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Celebrant:
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Bride, do you take Groom,
to be your lawfully, wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him,
honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall
live?
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Bride:
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I do.
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Exchanging Vows
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Groom:
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Standing here among our friends, I Groom,
take you, Bride , to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold,
from this day forth, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to
love and to cherish, so long as we both shall live.
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Bride :
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Standing here
among our friends, I Bride, take you, Groom, to be my lawfully
wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forth, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as we both
shall live.
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Exchanging Wedding Rings
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Celebrant:
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This ring is
the symbol of the promises you have made to each other. It is the link which
forges the present to the future.
The promises
made today must be lived tomorrow. Let this ring be a constant reminder.
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Groom:
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I give you
this ring as a symbol of the love that binds us together.
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Bride:
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I give you this ring as a symbol of
the love that binds us together.
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Gift to the child
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Celebrant:
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Today not only
marks the marriage of Bride and Groom, but is also a formal acknowledgement
and blessing of the family bond they are creating with Child, Bride’s
daughter.
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Bride & Groom:
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Child, today, on
our wedding day, we give you this necklace to show our commitment to you, and
as an outward symbol of the uniting of our family.
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Blessing
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Celebrant:
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We will now hear a wish for the
couple, expressed on behalf of us all, by Groom’s friend.
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Friend:
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May
you have enough happiness to keep you sweet,
Enough
trials to keep you strong,
Enough
sorrow to keep you human,
Enough
hope to keep you happy.
Enough
failure to keep you humble,
Enough
success to keep you eager,
Enough
friends to give you comfort,
Enough
wealth to meet your needs,
Enough
enthusiasm to look forward,
Enough
faith to banish depression,
Enough
determination to make each day better than yesterday.
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engagement ring
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Celebrant:
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Groom, you and Bride
pledged your commitment to each other when you first placed the engagement ring on
Bride’s hand.
Today, that commitment has become a
lifetime promise of your life together.
It is, therefore, fitting that the
engagement ring which promised your commitment, is now placed next to the
wedding ring as a fulfilment of your promise.
Groom, please
remove the engagement ring from Bride’s right hand and place it on the
left hand next to the wedding ring.
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Conclusion
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Ladies and
gentlemen, since Groom and Bride have declared before us all their willingness
to live together as husband and wife, and have symbolised their intentions by
joining of hands, making of vows and exchanging of rings, by the power vested
in me, I now pronounce them husband and wife.
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Exchanging a Kiss
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Signing of the Register
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Since Groom
and Bride have vowed to be loyal and loving toward each other, formalising
in our presence the existence of the bond between them, we bear witness to
the ceremony they have performed…the ceremony that has made them husband and
wife.
May these two
people, now married, keep the promises which they have made.
May they be a
blessing and a comfort to each other, sharers of each other’s joys, consolers
in each other’s sorrows, and helpers to each other in all the problems they
may have to face.
May they
encourage each other in whatever they set out to achieve. May they trusting
each other, trust life and not be afraid.
Yet may they
not only accept and give affection between themselves, but also together have
affection and consideration for others.
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Introduction of couple as husband & wife
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Ladies and
gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Groom and Bride,
husband and wife.
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