Sample Ceremony - Traditional

Poem–The Human Touch
‘Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more to the fainting heart
Than shelter, bread and wine;
For shelter is gone when the night is over,
And bread lasts only a day,
But the touch of the hand and sound of the voice
Sing on in the soul always.

Convocation #4
This marriage and dedication of love has already
taken place in the hearts and minds of _________
& _________. We are here but to listen to their
vows for our own sake and to help them celebrate
their commitment to each other. It is fitting that
those of you who have played important roles in the
lives of these two people, should be present now to
share in this occasion May this moment help all of us
recall and renew the joys in our own lives.

Invocation
Almighty God, we give thanks for the love that
has united _________ & _________, the visible
reward of their healing and the consecration of
their individual lives. We ask that this day be a true
celebration not only for them but also for us. Allow
us to be inspired by the example of their healing,
enlarged by their joy and delighted by the happiness
they have brought into our midst. We give thanks for
this beautiful day, for this marvelous occasion and for
the love which is the bond that binds them each to
another and to all of us.

Reading
Love one another, but make not a bond of love;
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give you hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together;
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

Address #1
Among its many dimensions, marriage is a spiritual
enterprise, for the highest spiritual purpose of marriage
is the embodiment of love; and love is the strongest
power there is. Love can truly change our lies and the
world. Because, on some level, we sense love is the true
essence of marriage, we make weddings very special
events, and in our unconscious myths we hold marriage
to be the most significant bond we can ever make.

Recognizing this, we know that we are called to marriage
by no mistake, to participate in it as a gift in service
not only to the fulfillment of the highest purpose in
ourselves, but also to the creation of a loving union.

_________ & _________, as you step into marriage
you must remember that because of the love
you feel for each other, marriage will be a process
of transformation. Because of it, inside of it and in
response to it, you will change most remarkably.
For marriage is a spiritual grinding stone that will
hone you to your brightest brilliance. It will cause
you to become not only who you wanted to be, but
also the person whom you have no choice but to be.
In marriage you will be re-formed, for in choosing
this particular person to love and make your whole
life with, your choosing to be effected. You will
be polished through the actions of your beloved
upon you, through the praise, criticism, frustration,
excitement, actions and inaction’s of the person
you marry today. Each of you will be the means by
which the other one grows. The qualities each of you
possesses which, because of their capacity to irritate
and inspire, will encourage in you the very dimensions
you lack, the qualities which, as you acquire
them, will represent and enlargement of your souls.
Whatever is missing in your character will gradually
be developed and the thing most remarkable about
this transformation process is in the end, rather than
feeling bitter, resentful or unwilling, you will come
to see the acquisition of these attributes as an exquisite
refinement of your individual spirits.

Be kind to one another in your transformation
process. Strive to be gentle with criticism and generous
with praise. Be empathetic and trusting. Allow
yourself to transcend your own limitations through
the love you have for each other, for it is love that
shatters all limitations and dissolves all fears.

Consecration #4
Seeing that no moment is without meaning, no undertaking
is without significance, no individual is of such quality
as to be diminished by an enterprise as important as
marriage, we ask both of you together be honored and
expanded by the promises you are about to make and may
love always be in your midst.

Expression of Intent #2
Do you _________, choose to marry, ______
___, to be your honor and cherished (husband,
wife, partner) to live with him/her and to love
him/her for the rest of your days? –I do.

Ring Blessing
Let these rings be a sign that love has substance as
well as soul, a present as well as a past, and despite
its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness,
wonder and delight.

Ring Exchange
_________, I take you to be my (husband/wife).
I pledge my love to you, to work and share with
you, and to discover with you a deeper, fuller,
and richer life together. I give you this ring to
wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity,
love, respect and trust. May your rings always
represent the unbroken circle of love, given and
received freely and unconditionally.

Pronouncement
For as much as _________ & _________ have
consented together in holy wedlock, and have
witnessed the same before God and in this company,
by the power vested in me by the State of Utah, I now
pronounce them husband and wife.

Benediction
May love, joy, and peace be yours in abundance. May
the blessing of God rest upon you, May His peace
abide with you, May His presence illuminate your
hearts, Now and forever.

The Kiss
You may now kiss.

Presentation of the Bride and Groom
Friends and family, I present to you _________ &
_________ (last name).