Welcoming of the Guests
“Barbara and Robert would like to take a moment to thank you all for being here with them today and for waiting patiently for it to come. Family are those who are nearest and dearest to us. Family are the people with whom we share our deepest secrets, and from whom we have no secrets. Some family we are born into and others earn the title through their actions. You have all been there for them from the beginning, sharing your love and support, your laughter and tears and they are deeply grateful for each and every one of you here today.”
Words On Marriage
“Today is a celebration of love and of life. Barbara and Robert have so much in their lives already to be thankful for, it is only natural that they should desire for all that they now share to deepen and grow through the years. Yet the commitment that they share is to more than one another. It is to ensuring that the quality of life they now share shall indeed last them a lifetime.
One of the many wonderful things about a home wedding is that is that rather than housing them in a place they will rarely ever go to our Bride and Groom have chosen to keep their memories here at home. Never again will they be able to look at this spot without it being the place they made their promises to one another. They will be able to relive this moment and reaffirm their promises to one another over and over as the years go by. With merely a glance all the love and joy and strength of this day shall come shining hope through the difficult times and make the wonderful days even more so.
To get a better idea of what marriage truly means from our Bride and Groom’s perspective, they have chosen to share with you these words written by Wilfred Arlan Peterson entitled “The Art of a Good Marriage”.
“The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is never taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love
that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere
in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship
in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is being the right partner.”
The Rings
“May I have the rings please?
Officiant is given the rings
These beautiful rings are meant to serve as a physical reminder of the feeling you have in your hearts at this very moment. There are times in life that we tend to focus the things we have not yet accomplished, there will also be times of sorrow and loss. Yet as you look to your hand and your wedding band, it will softly speak of the great gift that you have been given and all that you have in one another. It shall also be a reminder in the times of great joy, that you have someone to share it with. Never again do you walk alone for your love shall be with you always.”
Ring Vows
“Robert will you now place the ring on Barbara’s finger and repeat after me please?”
Robert places the ring half way on to Barbara’s finger
“I Robert, take you Barbara, to be my wife.
I will love you, and honor you, Respect and cherish you,
For all the days of my life.”
Robert places the ring the rest of the way on to Barbara’s finger
“Barbara will you now place the ring on Robert’s finger and repeat after me?”
Barbara places the ring half way onto Robert’s finger
“I Barbara, take you Robert, to be my husband.
I will love you, and honor you, Respect and cherish you,
For all the days of my life.”
Barbara places the ring the rest of the way onto Robert’s finger
Pronouncement
“You are now as your hearts have always known you to be, Husband and Wife. You may kiss your beautiful Bride!”
Bride and Groom share the first kiss of their marriage
