Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony
Statement of Purpose
We are gathered her today to witness the coming together of two people, (Groom’s name) and (Bride’s name), whose hearts and spirits are entwined as one. They now desire to profess before all the world their intention, hereafter, to walk the road of life together.
This marriage is an event in the lifetime of a love. Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited, never rude or selfish. It does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s lies, but delights in the truth. Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Above all, love conquers all.
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, and commitment is stronger, and even anger is felt more strongly, but passes away more quickly. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities, and to share love. What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain?
Neither I nor all society can join you two today. Only you can do what you have chosen. You are joining yourselves, each to the other. As you find union with one another, you proclaim that union today and pledge its future.
We, by our participation in this celebration, do but recognize and honor (Groom) and (Bride) intention to live together as husband and wife. Just as two different threads woven in opposite directions can form a beautiful tapestry, so can these two lives merge together to form a beautiful marriage.
Wedding Vows
Minister to Groom: Please repeat after me.
I (Groom), take you (Bride), to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forth, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in good times and in bad, forsaking all others. I promise my love to you.
Minister to Bride: Please repeat after me.
I (Bride), take you (Groom), to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forth, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in good times and in bad, forsaking all others. I promise my love to you.
Wedding Ring Exchange
The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. These rings symbolize your new life together, for they are never ending and always beginning. They stand as a seal of the vows that you have made to one another. Therefore, honor these rings for what they represent, and may you two, who give them and who wear them, ever abide in peace, living in unity, love, and happiness for the rest of your lives.
Minister to Groom: Please take your bride’s left hand, and as you place the ring on her third finger, repeat after me.
Groom: I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed.
Minister to Bride: Please take your groom’s left hand, and as you place the ring on his third finger, repeat after me.
Bride: I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed.
Indian Wedding Blessing
I would like, now, to add at this moment, a blessing said to be taken from the Washoe tribe, the native Indians who originally inhabited this very special place and gave Lake Tahoe its name:
Now you will feel no rain, For each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will be warmth to each other. Now you will feel no loneliness, For you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, But there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place, To enter into the days of your lives together. And may your days be good and long upon the earth.
Pronouncement
Because you have so affirmed, in love and knowledge of the other, and with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.