Heartfelt Wedding Ceremony

approximate length of ceremony without readings or unity rituals is 15-18 minutes

approximate length of ceremony with readings or unity rituals 25-30 minutes

Processional

Welcome

Welcome, everyone. Today, we are not just witnesses to a ceremony, we are participants in a love story. We gather here in joy and in gratitude, because love has brought us together. Love is the reason that we are here, the love between [Partner 1] and [Partner 2], and the love of family and friends that surrounds and supports them.

Marriage is a promise, but it is also a gift. It is the gift of choosing each other, over and over again, every day. It is the commitment to see one another not only for who you are today, but for who you are becoming, and to walk hand in hand through all of life’s changes.

As we begin this celebration, I invite each of you to take a moment to be fully present. Set aside the worries of yesterday and the to-do lists of tomorrow. Take a breath, look around, and notice the beauty of this moment: the faces of people who care deeply for this couple, the joy that fills the air, and the love that radiates between [Partner 1] and [Partner 2].

Today, we create a circle of love around them, holding them with our blessings, our support, and our presence. This is a day of celebration, a day of connection, and most of all, a day of love.

Acknowledgement of Family and Friends

Marriage is not only the union of two people, but also the joining of families and communities.

We honor the parents, family members, and friends who have shaped [Partner 1] and [Partner 2] into who they are today.

We also take a moment to remember those loved ones who are not able to be here physically, but whose spirits are present with us in love.

(Optional: brief moment of silence.)

Readings or Reflections - Optional

Declaration of Intent “I Do’s”

[Partner 1] and [Partner 2], you have come here today surrounded by those who love you, to affirm your choice to spend your lives together.

So I ask you now:

[Partner 1], do you take [Partner 2] to be your partner in life —
to love and respect them,
to share in their laughter and comfort them in sorrow,
to support their dreams and grow with them in love,
from this day forward?

Vows (option to write and read own vows, read these or respond after the officiant)

Today, I choose you and I promise to keep choosing you every day.
I vow to love you with honesty, patience, and care.
I will celebrate your joys, support your dreams, and stand beside you in all things.
You are my partner, my love, and my home.

Ring Exchange

The couple will now exchange rings as a symbol of the promises of marriage.

 A ring has no beginning or end. Its path is endless and a symbol of your endless love and respect for each other.

By placing these rings on each other's fingers, you are promising to, not just to love each other, but to honor each other, to be compassionate, patient, and understanding as you build your future together. 

You can both feel the love in this room. These rings represent this love. Not just your love for each other, but from everyone here today. Let these rings be a reminder of that love, what you are feeling today.

Officiant to [Partner 1]

Place the ring [Partner B] 's finger and repeat after me:

[Partner 2], I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge to love and support you today, tomorrow, always, and forever.

Partner 2 repeats the phase and places the ring on Partner A’s finger

Officiant to Partner 2:

And now, [Partner 2] place the ring on [Partner 1]'s finger and repeat after me:

[Partner 1], I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge to love and support you today, tomorrow, always, and forever.

Partner 1 repeats the phase and places the ring on Partner 2’s finger

Unity Ritual – Optional

Closing, Pronouncement & Kiss

As we come to the close of this ceremony, let us pause in gratitude for the love we’ve witnessed here today. [Partner 1] and [Partner 2], may you carry this love forward, in your words, in your actions, and in your hearts, not just in grand moments, but in the small ones that make up a lifetime. May you walk forward together with courage, tenderness, and joy.

[Partner 1] and [Partner 2], you have promised to love, honor, and cherish one another for all the days of your lives. With great joy, and by the authority given to me, I now pronounce you partners in life and in love. You may share your first kiss as a married couple.

Introduction of Couple

“It is my honor to present, for the first time, the brand new __________ & __________”

Recessional