Opening Words

“Welcome everyone! It is such a wonderful feeling to be here with Erin and Brendan to celebrate the beginnings of what we know will be an extraordinary life together. Today is the day that they will formally and publicly make their promises to one another. Although this is indeed a high point, today we celebrate a journey not a destination. It is more than any one single event or promise. It a way of life and a series of decisions that have been made, and will continue to be made over and over again, every day, that shows each of their care and concern for the one whom they each love most in the world.

Erin and Brendan, to make your vows to one another is to accept a challenge, the challenge that Love itself provides when it wants to grow. This means that things won’t always be easy. But you share a commitment to putting your best selves forward in both difficult and wonderful times, emerging stronger with each experience you share. It means that although either of you will always be perfect, you will never lose sight of the fact that you are perfect for one another.

The promises you make this day, celebrate the fact that you have achieved a certain level of success, which is deserving new levels of recognition and commitment. Although you have felt in your hearts that you truly belong to one another for sometime now, the promises you make are, in the larger sense, about family and community. There is something very important about publicly making your promises to one another, in front of all of everyone here, who has a lifetime of emotional investment in the two of you and in your happiness. Today you promise to every one here, that the person they love will always be well cared for.”

Welcoming of the Guests

“It is not often enough in today’s world that we have the opportunity to gather all those who mean the most to us together in one place. Therefore, Erin and Brendan would like to thank you all for taking the time and making the journey and for all the preparations that were made on their behalf to ensure that they were surrounded by the love of family and friends as they made their vows. There are no words of appreciation and gratitude great enough to match the feelings that this inspires in them as they stand here now and see all of you gathered here for no other reason than to show them how much you love them. You are their friends and family, the people who are ever present in all of their favorite memories, and those whom they love most in this world.

Erin and Brendan, when everyone took their place here, they began on one side or the other. But after your vows, those words have done something that fundamentally changes the relationship of everyone here. After this ceremony is over and your guests join together… which ever one of you they were originally here to represent… those sides go away, and everyone here all belong to one another and to one family from that moment on. They become a singular community of family and friends who are joined by your love of them and by their love of you.”

Sand Ceremony

“The symbolism of the sand ceremony is the same as the Unity Candle, two joining together to become one. The natural sand was gathered right here from Miller Beach. Not only is it part of the ground they stood on as they made their promises of forever, it also represents all the love and support they have received from all of you in the past and is a reminder of how your presence here assures them of your future support. The colored sand represents Erin and Brendan as individuals choosing to join together as one. As the sand is poured it will make a pattern that is unique to Erin and Brendan as a couple. Guided by their love for one another the relationship they are creating will also be unique and beautiful, fitting them both as perfectly as these grains of sand will fill this vessel. Erin and Brendan, will you please step to behind the table and pour your sand?”

Music begins
Bride and Groom step behind the table
they first pour a base of natural sand
then intermingle their colored sand
top it off with a layer of the natural sand
and return to place as the music concludes

Presentation of the Rings

“May I have the rings please?

Officiant is given the rings

These beautiful bands are unbroken circles, symbols of eternity, with neither end, nor beginning. They are to remind you not only of the endless love you profess for one another this day, but of the precious gift of trust, honesty and commitment that you place in one another for all of your tomorrows. Erin and Brendan, from this day forward you will wear these rings as a sign that no matter where you go and whatever you do, there is someone in this world who loves you more than anything else, who whether near or far is always by your side. May these rings forever shine as a symbol of enduring strength and beauty in a sometimes fragile world.”

Ring Vows

“Brendan, do you take Erin to be your own? Do you vow to love her and care for her for as long as you both shall live? Do you accept her with all of her faults and strengths, and offer yourself to her with all of your own faults and strengths? Do you promise to help her when she needs help, and to turn to her when you need help? Do you promise to be a faithful and loving companion and to always put the promises you make this day above all else?”

Brendan: “I do.”

“Will you now place the ring on your beloved’s finger and repeat after me?”

Brendan places the ring half way on to Erin’s finger

“With this ring, I promise that I will love you, and honor you, respect and cherish you, for all the days of my life.”

Brendan places the ring the rest of the way on to Erin’s finger

“Erin, do you take Brendan to be your own? Do you vow to love him and care for him for as long as you both shall live? Do you accept him with all of his faults and strengths, and offer yourself to him with all of your own faults and strengths? Do you promise to help him when he needs help, and to turn to him when you need help? Do you promise to be a faithful and loving companion and to always put the promises you make this day above all else?”

Erin: “I do.”

“Will you now place the ring on your beloved’s finger and repeat after me?”

Erin places the ring half way onto Brendan’s finger

“With this ring, I promise that I will love you, and honor you, respect and cherish you, for all the days of my life.”

Erin places the ring the rest of the way onto Brendan’s finger

Pronouncement of Marriage

“Erin and Brendan have chosen to conclude their ceremony with a short reading entitles “All I Want”.

All I want is to love you for the rest of my life…. To wake up every morning with you by my side, knowing that no matter what happens I’ll be able to come home to your loving arms. All I want is to share everything with you….To talk to you about our ideas, our dreams, the little everyday things that make us laugh, and the not-so-little things that we can’t help worrying about. All I want is to give you my love…. As a place you can always come to for acceptance, or the simple comfort that silence brings when things left unspoken can still be understood. All I want is to grow old with you…To watch our life unfold, our dreams, one by one, come true. All I want is to love you forever.

It is my honor and my absolute pleasure to say to you…

You may seal your promises with a kiss!”

Bride and Groom kiss and exit to greet their guests!