Rituals & Traditions
Hands:
(bride) please hold (groom’s) hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift they are to you.
THESE are the hands of your best friend and full of love, that are holding yours on your
wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life!
THESE are the hands that will work along side yours as you build your future together, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
THESE are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and shoulders in the evenings after you both had a long hard day.
THESE are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and help you to hold you up in times of struggle.
THESE are the hands that will lift your chin as they raise your face to look into his eyes. Eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love for you!
(groom), please hold (bride’s) hands palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.
THESE are the hands of your best friend, loving, caring that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
THESE are the hands that will welcome you home after a very long day.
THESE are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of Joy!
THESE are the hands that will hold you tight when you struggle through difficult times.
THESE are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick and console you when you are grieving
THESE are the hands that will love you and cherish you throughout the years for a lifetime of happiness.
THESE are the hands that will give you support knowing that together as a team everything you wish for can be realized.
May your hands always be held by one another.
May they have the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the darkness of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in wondrous love.
May you both see your four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide, for a lifetime.
Wine Ceremony (Usually inserted before or after the Ring Exchange)
Kahlil Gibran writes in “the Prophet”:
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.
(A Minister or Best Man hand glasses to Bride and Groom, then hands the previously opened bottle of their special wine to the Groom. As the Groom fills the Bride’s glass, hands the wine to the Bride, and then the Bride fills the Groom’s glass, the Minister says:)
Fill each other’s cup but drink from your own. Let this symbolize your promise to each other to be yourselves to the fullest and at the same time to honor the unity you share as husband and wife and to cherish the gifts of love and nurturing each gives the other.
(The Minister or Best Man takes the wine, sets it on the nearby table. The Minister then says:)
I invite you now to drink to one another . . . Let this drinking of wine also remind you that what matters most in life is the spirit, not the letter; the wine, not the cup.
Wine Ceremony
Officiant: Like wine, life is a process of change, growth, compromise and wisdom. As grapes are pressed to give forth their juice, so under the press of time our lives give forth their labor, honor, and love. Long ago, wine was revered as the blood of the earth. When the bride and groom pledged themselves to one another, they drank wine from a single cup, three times, signifying that they were becoming one blood, one family, one kin. Cup-raising was an invitation to family and friends to witness this oath and hold the bride and groom to their vows. It is also to remind the newlyweds and their families that a good wine is only good, if it is consumed... so must life be consumed. Savor it till the last drop.
*(Officiant holds or raises cup)
Officiant: ____ and ____, this “Cup of Life” contains within it a wine with certain properties that are sweet and symbolic of happiness, joy, ecstasy and love just as the years of life ahead of you together will be. This same wine also holds some bitter properties that symbolize disappointment, sorrow, grief, despair, and life’s trials and tribulations that you will inevitably run into during your new life together. Be reminded to forgive the frailties of one another’s flaws, for they will be overcome, and bear together life’s adversities and be confident that the “good” will always return and the strength in your love will always prevail.
Through love, your flaw becomes your strength.
Through love, does the world reveal itself.
Through love, each union is made.
Drink from this cup together, as you do, earnestly seek the power and wisdom to use all the pleasure and prosperity that may come to you with gratitude, modesty, and with sympathy for those less fortunate than yourselves.
*(Officiant hands glass to groom, who drinks, then hands it to bride, who drinks and passes it back to Officiant.)
Officiant: Together the sweet and the bitterness of this wine also represent life’s many Journeys, and all of the experiences that are a natural part of it. Those who drink deeply from the “Cup of Life” with an open heart and willing spirit, invite the full range of challenges and experiences into their being. This “Cup of Life” is symbolic of the pledges you have made to one another this evening, to share together the fullness of life. As you drink from this cup for the second time, you acknowledge to one another that your lives - until this moment separate - have become one. Drink now, and may the cup of your lives be overflowing!
*(Officiant hands glass to groom, who drinks, then hands it to bride, who drinks and passes it back to Officiant.)
Officiant: As you have shared this cup of wine, so may you share your lives. May all the sweetness that it holds for you be that much sweeter because you have tasted it together. May you find life’s joys heightened, its bitterness sweetened, and all of life enriched by a constant love. As you share the wine from this cup, so may you share your lives. As of this moment, you belong to the same current which will carry you to the highest peaks of life. May this bond hold forever true!
Please share this cup of wine one last time as an acknowledgment of the new bond between you as life partners, soul mates, and this evening as Husband and Wife.
*(Officiant hands glass to groom, who drinks, then hands it to bride, who drinks and passes it back to Officiant.)
Seven Wedding Blessings We bless God for creating the universe.
We bless God for creating the individual.
We bless God for creating human beings who are one at their core and who complement each other by their differences as woman and man.
We ask that our land be happy and bless God for letting Zion rejoice with her children.
Let these loving friends rejoice. May their joy be paradise on earth. We bless God for enabling this bride and this groom to rejoice.
We bless God for creating joy and happiness, bride and groom, mirth song, gladness and rejoicing, love and harmony, peace and companionship; and we thank God for letting this bride and groom to rejoice together.
Blessing over the Wine This cup of wine is symbolic of the cup of life. As you share the one cup of wine, you undertake to share all that the future may bring. All the sweetness life’s cup may hold for you should be sweeter because you drink it together; whatever drops of bitterness it may contain should be less bitter because you share them.
As I recite the blessing over the wine, we pray that God will bestow fullness of joy upon you.
Blessed are , O Lord our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
As together you now drink from this cup, so may you, under God’s guidance, in perfect union and devotion to each other, draw contentment, comfort, and happiness from the cup of life. Thereby may you find life’s joys doubly gladdening, its bitterness sweetened, and all things hallowed by true companionship and love.
Selection #2 Blessed is the creation of the fruit of the vine.
Blessed is the creation which embodies glory.
Blessed is the creation of the human being.
Blessed is the design of the human being. Developing our wisdom we may become Godlike. We are assembled from the very fabric of the universe and we a re composed of eternal elements. Blessed be and blessed is our creation.
Rejoice and be glad you who wandered homeless. In joy have you gathered with your sisters and your brothers. Blessed is the joy of our gathering.
Bestow happiness on these loving mates as would creatures feel in Eden’s garden. Blessed be the joy of lovers.
Blessed is the creation of joy and celebration, lover and mate, gladness and jubilation, pleasure and delight, love and solidarity, friendship and peace. Soon may we hear in the streets of the city and the paths of the fields, the voice of joy, the voice of gladness, the voice of lover, the voice of mate, the triumphant voice of lovers from the canopy and the voice of youths from their feasts of song. Blessed Blessed Blessed is the joy of lovers, one with each other.
Selection #3 Cherished be the earth, the provider of all things.
Cherished be the hopes and aspirations of friends and family.
May we respect the diversity of humankind.
May we acknowledge the cyclical nature of life.
May we acknowledge the human need for providing a home.
Honored be the tradition of bride and groom and their happiness at this rite of passage that is celebrated the world over.
Praised be the sounds of joy and happiness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the shouts of young people celebrating, and the songs of children at play. We praise the bride and groom rejoicing together.
Wine
The cup of wine symbolizes the gratitude ______ and ______ have for the loving care and teaching of parents, the ties of heart and mind and memory that link brothers and sisters, and for the friendships that fill this cup to overflowing.
The Unity Candles.
Selection #1 From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls are destined to find each other, their two streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being. They do not lose their individuality; yet, in marriage, they are united in so close a bond that they become one. Now, following the profession of their marriage vows, they will light the large center candle from the smaller candles to symbolize this new reality. In this way, they are saying that henceforth their light must shine together for each other, for their families, and for their community.
Selection #2 "Soft mists embrace two golden flames,
Alone they search the night.
Two souls adrift in dreams of love,
They seek to claim the light.
The path is long from which they came,
But sure they are it's right.
Two flames embrace in dreams of love,
Two Souls - Two Hearts Unite."
by Harold Douglas
Selection #3
Today the bride and groom come here from two different families, two different heritages. We are especially grateful for the values which have flowed into them form those who have loved and nurtured them and pointed them along lifes way. The Heritage each brings to this marriage will continue to be an important element in their lives, but now will be shared between them. Out of these two families, a new family will be created. A very beautiful way to symbolize the two who become one, is to invite the mothers of (bride's name) and (groom's name) to come forward and light the individual candles which represent the two separate families. When The two individual flames are merged as one, it will symbolize the union of their two families in this marriage and the rich heritage each brings to it. From now on Caleb and Anne will grow together as unique persons who will together create a rich heritage all of their own.
Selection #4
(couple's names), will now light center Unity Candle. You will take the flame from the candles which your (names of candle lighters) have lighted. You will see that this center candle is larger than the other two because it is the new family that has been formed today as you repeated your vows and will be a blending of all the love, traditions and experiences you have both shared with your individual families. It is also larger because the middle candle represents Christ, who has brought you both together for this moment and to remind you that He is with you always as a partner in your marriage, to guard and to guide you in all that you do.
Variations on Unity Candle
Everything in the wedding ceremony should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom.
The Unity Candle traditionally tells a simple story: two lives joined as one. However, some couples will add symbolism to the ritual.
The individual candles might represent two families coming together through the couple. Or, include the friends that introduced the couple and supported them through the courtship.
You can provide each guest with an unlit candle when they arrive at the ceremony. After the couple lights the unity candle, they can ask the guests to move to the front of the church (or wherever the ceremony is being held) and light their candles with the lighted unity candle. This can take a bit of time and might be best with a smaller guest list. But it is a meaningful way to not only get your guests involved in the ceremony itself, but also symbolize the union of family and friends with the marriage.
Or, you could have a lit candle on a small table in the back of the guests and give small candles to each guest as they are seated. When it's time to light the Unity Candle during the wedding ceremony, ask the guest in the back to light their candle and pass the flame from guest to guest up to the individual candles for the bride and groom.
The couple could bring the unity candle to the reception. Light the candle again and provide each guest with a small votive candle (the candle holder will be on the tables at individual table settings). As guests come into the reception area or hall, they can light their votive and take it to their table to place into the votive holder. This small votive candle can double as a wedding favor, particularly if you decorate or enhance a plain votive candleholder in some way to coordinate with your wedding.
You could make it part of the reception. I tell every couple that they don't have to cram everything into the ceremony. They have all day to express their feelings.
To do this, you can use the votive candle option suggested above, or you can simply incorporate the unity candle lighting into the reception activities themselves. For example, you might choose a quiet moment in the reception to have a lighting of the unity candle. It might be during a short prayer prior to the serving of the meal, or right before the cake is cut. In this case, the unity candle can then be used as decoration on the cake table. As the bride and groom cut the cake and pieces are served to guests, the candle can also serve as a reminder of the couple’s new bond and that the bond is shared with all the guests as well.
Each bride and groom have an opportunity on their wedding day to create memories they will treasure for the rest of their lives.
Sand Sculpture Three colors of sand are layered in a vase to symbolize the importance of the individuals within the marriage and the joining of the two lives into one entity.
The sculpture begins with a layer of neutral sand to symbolize that the marriage is grounded.
The next layers are the individual colors representing the bride and groom which symbolizes that the foundation of the marriage is based on the strength of the individuals.
The final layer is the bride and groom’s colors combined to symbolize the joining of their lives as one in marriage.
Selection #2 ______ and _____, you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings as a pledge to commit to one another throughout your lives. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand. One, representing you, ____ and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. The other representing you, _____, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.
Sand Sculpture with Children
Minister: _________ and _________, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other and honor your children as well. Your family relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand; one, representing you, _________ and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, one representing you, _________, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be and another container for each child.
There are children who will share in this marriage. The gathering of this new family will have a deep influence upon them. We realize that in order for the home to be a happy one, it is essential that there be love and understanding between the children and the adults being married.
As you each hold your sand the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one family. You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of the children and bride and groom into one.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage and your family be.
Love Capsule Ceremony
Before we proceed with the rings and vows, _____ and ______ have chosen as a couple to perform a love capsule ceremony.
*(reach down and pick up the box from behind the altar*)
In my hands, I have a box, a bottle of wine, and two glasses,
and _____ and ______ have love letters from each to the other.
The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry.
They have given much thought to these letters, and they have been sealed in individual envelopes.
Neither _____ nor ______ has seen what the other has written.
_____ and ______, should you ever find your marriage enduring serious hardships, as some marriages do, you are to, as a couple, open this box, sit and drink the wine together, then separate and read the letters you wrote to one another on the day you were united as a couple.
By reading these love letters, you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here today and share a new resolve to strengthen your relationship.
The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box.
And if this is the case, you are to open it to share and enjoy its contents on your 20th anniversary!
Groom and Bride, please seal the box.
(*BRIDE and GROOM letters into the box with a lid, where they seal it closed and locked together*)
In this day and age, it sometimes may seem easy to give up on marriage.
By showing your unwavering dedication to one another here today, your demonstrating that you are entering your married life deliberately and you will always work hard to keep your relationship healthy and happy
The Rose Ceremony
It is now my privilege to be the first to address you as husband and wife. In the language of flowers, a red rose is the symbol of love. Will you please exchange your roses? In this exchange, you have given to each other your first gift as husband and wife. And it would be our hope that where you may make your home, there will be a specially appointed place in it for red roses. And on each anniversary of today you celebrate it, at least in part, by each of you bringing a rose to the appointed place, understanding that this rose is a restatement of love, and as an acknowledgement of the vows you have made.
In every marriage it is occasionally difficult to find words to resolve certain issues which may arise. If and when such issues might come to your marriage, if either of you will remember and bring to the appointed place a red rose, the other will see it and understand it as a statement of love and accept it, because love is the gateway to all answers.
Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, and not quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs; it does not gloat over the other’s mistakes, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, hope and its endurance. In a word, there are three great things that last forever: Faith, hope and love… and the greatest of these is love."
Version #2 In the elegant language of flowers red roses are a symbol of love, the giving of a single red rose is a clear and unmistakable way of saying the words, “I love you.” For this reason it is fitting that the first gift you exchange as husband and wife would be the gift of a single red rose. Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife. You both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life – one I hope you always remember – the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage. ______ and _____,, I would ask that wherever you may make your home, that t you choose a special location. And at those times when words fail, that you leave a red rose at that spot you have both selected – a rose that will say what matters more than al other words… “I still love you”; The other should accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both have shared today.
Selection #3 Will you please, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, join your hands.
(Mother’s each hand a single rose to their children)
Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings, which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honorable title that may exist between a man and a woman – the title of “husband” and “wife”. For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose.
In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing – it meant the words “I love you”. So, it is appropriate that for your first gift – as husband and wife – that gift would be a single rose. Will you please exchange your roses?
In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose — and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life — one I hope you always remember — the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
______ and _____, I would ask that wherever you make your home in the future — whether it be a large and elegant home — or a small and graceful one — that you both pick one very special location for roses, so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage — and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based upon love.
In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to say the words "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting." If this should happen, if you simply cannot find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected — for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words. That rose says the words "I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
______ and _____,, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.
From Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, and not quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs; it does not gloat over the other’s mistakes, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, hope and its endurance. In a word, there are three great things that last forever: Faith, hope and love… and the greatest of these is love."
Flowers to Parents The Bride and Groom give a flower to their respective In-Laws as a symbol of welcome into the new extended Family.
Parents Rose Ceremony:
Marriage is a coming together of two lives, and a celebration of the love of two people. But it is more. The love that you feel for one another is the flowering of a seed your mothers planted in your hearts many years ago. When you were first born, you were a bundle of diapers and tears, and your mothers lost sleep caring for you. Their love for you has brought them great happiness and great challenges, and their love did not diminish as they met these challenges. That is the great lesson you can bring into your marriage.
As you embrace one another in your love, so too do you embrace the families that have been brought together on this happy occasion. As a token of your gratitude for your families, I would like to ask you to offer these symbols of eternal love, these roses, to your mothers. (Both bride and groom can hand the roses to each mother together, offering the mothers kisses if they wish.)
Prayer for Couple's Veil & Cord
(reader / celebrant reads as Veil Sponsors place veil over couple's shoulders):
(names of couple), (names of Veil Sponsors) will now place a veil over you. Let this be a symbol of the faithful love you have for each other. Through the passing of the years, let the veil remind you that you belong to each other and to no one else, and that the love you have for each other becomes more beautiful in self-surrender that is total and pure.
(reader / celebrant reads as Cord Sponsors place cord over couple's shoulders):
Lord, with this cord, may the bond of love and friendship uniting (names of couple) grow stronger over the years. May they remain united to you all their lives knowing, loving and serving in each other and the community.
Selection #2
Will the veil and cord sponsors please join us? (Groom and Bride), please kneel as your sponsors place a veil and cord over you.
(celebrant reads as Veil Sponsors – (names) - place veil over groom’s shoulders and bride’s head and shoulders):
The veil is a symbol of (Groom) pledge to protect his bride, (Bride), the wife who he promises to take care of from this day forward.
(celebrant reads as Cord Sponsors – (names) - place cord over couple's shoulders):
The cord is placed over the bride and groom in a figure of eight to symbolize unity and infinity, a love together forever.
Lord, with this cord, may the bond of love and friendship uniting Tae Soon and Marissa grow stronger over the years. May they remain united to you all their lives knowing, loving and serving in each other and the community.
The 13 Gold Coins Ceremony
This tradition is usually associated with Hispanic families.
The madrina de arras (godmother of arras) holds the 13 gold coins the bridegroom presents to the bride. The coins, or arrhea, was a Roman custom of breaking gold or silver, one half to be kept by the woman and the other half by the man, as a pledge of marriage.
The custom of the giving of wedding coins originated in Spain. Thirteen gold coins (arras) are given to the bride by the bridegroom, signifying his willingness to support her. Often presented in ornate boxes or gift trays, this represents the brides dowry and holds good wishes for prosperity. These coins become a part of their family heirloom.
The symbolism, which may be explained by the officiant, is that the Groom recognizes his responsibility as a provider, and pledges his ability to support and care for her. Acceptance by the bride means taking that trust and confidence unconditionally with total dedication and prudence.
The number 13 represents Christ and his 12 apostles. Another popular belief is that the thirteen coins represent the 12 lunar cycles of a year, and the thirteenth coin symbolizes the couple's honeymoon.
The coins are presented to the minister by a friend or relative (often the purchaser of the coins). The minister then blesses the coins and hands them to the bride who places them in the groom's cupped hands at the beginning of the ceremony.
The coins are then placed on a tray and handed to an assistant to be held until later in the ceremony. Near the end of the ceremony the box and coins are given to the minister who places the coins in the box and hands them to the groom.
The groom will then pour the coins into the bride's cupped hands and places the box on top as a symbol of his unquestionable trust, confidence and pledge to provide financially for them. Sometimes their hands are bound with a ribbon for this portion of the ceremony.
Selection #2
Will the coin sponsor – (name) - please join us? (Groom), the sponsor will hand me 13 silver dollars, which I will drop into your hands. Drop them into (Bride’s) hands. She will return them to you. And you will place them back into this box.
(The coin sponsor presents the 13 pieces of silver to the celebrant. The celebrant drops the coins into the Groom's waiting hands, who in turn drops it into the Bride's hands. The Bride then puts her hand above the Groom's then drops the coins into his hands again. The Groom allows the coins to then be dropped into a plate held by an acolyte.)
The metal tinkling of 13 silver coins being passed from the groom’s hands to the bride is a distinctive reminder of the groom's promise to take care of his wife materially. The bride in return, by giving back the coins to his hands, conveys that what they both earn become part of each other's. The trickling sound also signifies abundance and success in the couple's joint efforts, as blessed by God.
Thaali Ceremony
In Kerela where Sunil's family is from, the most important part of a wedding ceremony is the tying of the thaali. Similar to the ring excahnge, it is the moment that they truly become husband and wife and the symbol that she will wear to show the world that she and Sunil are married. Sunil will now place this necklace around her neck, symbolizing their lifelong devotion to one another.
Blanket Ceremony (Native American)
The bride and groom are wrapped individually in blue blankets at the onset of the ceremony. The blue blankets are used to represent the sorrows that each of them have endured separately. Once the ceremony is blessed by the priest, the blue blankets are taken off and the couple is wrapped as one in a single white blanket. This symbolizes the act of becoming one.
Seven Steps Ceremony (Native American)
The ceremony starts with the lighting of a sacred fire. The couple will then take precisely seven steps around the fire. The groom begins by taking just one step before stopping to say a vow. It is then the brides turn to take a step and say a vow. The groom then takes another step and says another vow. This continues until the bride and groom have each taken seven steps and recited seven vows.
The Bell of Truce (Celtic)
A bell is blessed and then presented to the bride and groom. The couple is asked to ring the bell, while thinking tender thoughts of each other. The bell is then kept at home as a token of the wedding day. If an argument arises, the bell can be rung by either the husband or wife to call a truce. The tinkling sound is meant to remind the couple of their wedding vows and to help them relive happy memories from their wedding day.
Butterfly Ceremony:
An Indian legend says that if anyone desires a wish to come true they must capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since they make no sound, they can’t tell anyone but the Great Spirit. So by making the wish and releasing the butterfly it will be taken to the heavens and be granted. (Ask guests to make a wish for the bride and groom. Grandma releases butterflies)
Breaking of the Glass
Selection #1
The traditional breaking of the glass marks the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the celebration. As (groom) breaks the glass, I invite everyone to shout “Mazel Tov,” which means “Congratulations” and “Good Luck.”
Selection #2
We end the ceremony with the traditional breaking of the glass. Breaking this glass symbolizes the permanent change this marriage covenant makes in ____ and ____ lives.
Selection #3
It is a Jewish custom to end the wedding ceremony with the breaking of a glass. We do not know the exact origin of the custom. Some people say that the breaking of the glass symbolizes the irrevocable change in the lives of the couple standing before us; other say it has its roots in superstition when people broke glasses to scare away evil spirits from such lucky people as the bride and groom. Whatever its beginnings, the breaking of the glass now has many interpretations, one of which says that even in the moment of our greatest joy, we should have a responsibility to help relieve some of that pain and suffering. And, of course, the breaking of the glass marks the beginning of the celebration.
Selection #4
We conclude this ceremony with the breaking of the glass. It is a joyous ceremony. The fragility of the glass suggests the frailty of human relationships. The glass is broken to protect this marriage with the implied prayer:
May your bond of love be as difficult to break as it would be to put together the pieces of this glass.
Selection #5
May the breaking of this glass remind you of the fragility of human relationships. A broken glass cannot be mended, and likewise marriage is irrevocable. As this glass shatters, so may your marriage never break.
(bride) please hold (groom’s) hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift they are to you.
THESE are the hands of your best friend and full of love, that are holding yours on your
wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life!
THESE are the hands that will work along side yours as you build your future together, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
THESE are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and shoulders in the evenings after you both had a long hard day.
THESE are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and help you to hold you up in times of struggle.
THESE are the hands that will lift your chin as they raise your face to look into his eyes. Eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love for you!
(groom), please hold (bride’s) hands palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.
THESE are the hands of your best friend, loving, caring that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
THESE are the hands that will welcome you home after a very long day.
THESE are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of Joy!
THESE are the hands that will hold you tight when you struggle through difficult times.
THESE are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick and console you when you are grieving
THESE are the hands that will love you and cherish you throughout the years for a lifetime of happiness.
THESE are the hands that will give you support knowing that together as a team everything you wish for can be realized.
May your hands always be held by one another.
May they have the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the darkness of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in wondrous love.
May you both see your four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide, for a lifetime.
Wine Ceremony (Usually inserted before or after the Ring Exchange)
Kahlil Gibran writes in “the Prophet”:
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.
(A Minister or Best Man hand glasses to Bride and Groom, then hands the previously opened bottle of their special wine to the Groom. As the Groom fills the Bride’s glass, hands the wine to the Bride, and then the Bride fills the Groom’s glass, the Minister says:)
Fill each other’s cup but drink from your own. Let this symbolize your promise to each other to be yourselves to the fullest and at the same time to honor the unity you share as husband and wife and to cherish the gifts of love and nurturing each gives the other.
(The Minister or Best Man takes the wine, sets it on the nearby table. The Minister then says:)
I invite you now to drink to one another . . . Let this drinking of wine also remind you that what matters most in life is the spirit, not the letter; the wine, not the cup.
Wine Ceremony
Officiant: Like wine, life is a process of change, growth, compromise and wisdom. As grapes are pressed to give forth their juice, so under the press of time our lives give forth their labor, honor, and love. Long ago, wine was revered as the blood of the earth. When the bride and groom pledged themselves to one another, they drank wine from a single cup, three times, signifying that they were becoming one blood, one family, one kin. Cup-raising was an invitation to family and friends to witness this oath and hold the bride and groom to their vows. It is also to remind the newlyweds and their families that a good wine is only good, if it is consumed... so must life be consumed. Savor it till the last drop.
*(Officiant holds or raises cup)
Officiant: ____ and ____, this “Cup of Life” contains within it a wine with certain properties that are sweet and symbolic of happiness, joy, ecstasy and love just as the years of life ahead of you together will be. This same wine also holds some bitter properties that symbolize disappointment, sorrow, grief, despair, and life’s trials and tribulations that you will inevitably run into during your new life together. Be reminded to forgive the frailties of one another’s flaws, for they will be overcome, and bear together life’s adversities and be confident that the “good” will always return and the strength in your love will always prevail.
Through love, your flaw becomes your strength.
Through love, does the world reveal itself.
Through love, each union is made.
Drink from this cup together, as you do, earnestly seek the power and wisdom to use all the pleasure and prosperity that may come to you with gratitude, modesty, and with sympathy for those less fortunate than yourselves.
*(Officiant hands glass to groom, who drinks, then hands it to bride, who drinks and passes it back to Officiant.)
Officiant: Together the sweet and the bitterness of this wine also represent life’s many Journeys, and all of the experiences that are a natural part of it. Those who drink deeply from the “Cup of Life” with an open heart and willing spirit, invite the full range of challenges and experiences into their being. This “Cup of Life” is symbolic of the pledges you have made to one another this evening, to share together the fullness of life. As you drink from this cup for the second time, you acknowledge to one another that your lives - until this moment separate - have become one. Drink now, and may the cup of your lives be overflowing!
*(Officiant hands glass to groom, who drinks, then hands it to bride, who drinks and passes it back to Officiant.)
Officiant: As you have shared this cup of wine, so may you share your lives. May all the sweetness that it holds for you be that much sweeter because you have tasted it together. May you find life’s joys heightened, its bitterness sweetened, and all of life enriched by a constant love. As you share the wine from this cup, so may you share your lives. As of this moment, you belong to the same current which will carry you to the highest peaks of life. May this bond hold forever true!
Please share this cup of wine one last time as an acknowledgment of the new bond between you as life partners, soul mates, and this evening as Husband and Wife.
*(Officiant hands glass to groom, who drinks, then hands it to bride, who drinks and passes it back to Officiant.)
Seven Wedding Blessings We bless God for creating the universe.
We bless God for creating the individual.
We bless God for creating human beings who are one at their core and who complement each other by their differences as woman and man.
We ask that our land be happy and bless God for letting Zion rejoice with her children.
Let these loving friends rejoice. May their joy be paradise on earth. We bless God for enabling this bride and this groom to rejoice.
We bless God for creating joy and happiness, bride and groom, mirth song, gladness and rejoicing, love and harmony, peace and companionship; and we thank God for letting this bride and groom to rejoice together.
Blessing over the Wine This cup of wine is symbolic of the cup of life. As you share the one cup of wine, you undertake to share all that the future may bring. All the sweetness life’s cup may hold for you should be sweeter because you drink it together; whatever drops of bitterness it may contain should be less bitter because you share them.
As I recite the blessing over the wine, we pray that God will bestow fullness of joy upon you.
Blessed are , O Lord our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
As together you now drink from this cup, so may you, under God’s guidance, in perfect union and devotion to each other, draw contentment, comfort, and happiness from the cup of life. Thereby may you find life’s joys doubly gladdening, its bitterness sweetened, and all things hallowed by true companionship and love.
Selection #2 Blessed is the creation of the fruit of the vine.
Blessed is the creation which embodies glory.
Blessed is the creation of the human being.
Blessed is the design of the human being. Developing our wisdom we may become Godlike. We are assembled from the very fabric of the universe and we a re composed of eternal elements. Blessed be and blessed is our creation.
Rejoice and be glad you who wandered homeless. In joy have you gathered with your sisters and your brothers. Blessed is the joy of our gathering.
Bestow happiness on these loving mates as would creatures feel in Eden’s garden. Blessed be the joy of lovers.
Blessed is the creation of joy and celebration, lover and mate, gladness and jubilation, pleasure and delight, love and solidarity, friendship and peace. Soon may we hear in the streets of the city and the paths of the fields, the voice of joy, the voice of gladness, the voice of lover, the voice of mate, the triumphant voice of lovers from the canopy and the voice of youths from their feasts of song. Blessed Blessed Blessed is the joy of lovers, one with each other.
Selection #3 Cherished be the earth, the provider of all things.
Cherished be the hopes and aspirations of friends and family.
May we respect the diversity of humankind.
May we acknowledge the cyclical nature of life.
May we acknowledge the human need for providing a home.
Honored be the tradition of bride and groom and their happiness at this rite of passage that is celebrated the world over.
Praised be the sounds of joy and happiness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the shouts of young people celebrating, and the songs of children at play. We praise the bride and groom rejoicing together.
Wine
The cup of wine symbolizes the gratitude ______ and ______ have for the loving care and teaching of parents, the ties of heart and mind and memory that link brothers and sisters, and for the friendships that fill this cup to overflowing.
The Unity Candles.
Selection #1 From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls are destined to find each other, their two streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being. They do not lose their individuality; yet, in marriage, they are united in so close a bond that they become one. Now, following the profession of their marriage vows, they will light the large center candle from the smaller candles to symbolize this new reality. In this way, they are saying that henceforth their light must shine together for each other, for their families, and for their community.
Selection #2 "Soft mists embrace two golden flames,
Alone they search the night.
Two souls adrift in dreams of love,
They seek to claim the light.
The path is long from which they came,
But sure they are it's right.
Two flames embrace in dreams of love,
Two Souls - Two Hearts Unite."
by Harold Douglas
Selection #3
Today the bride and groom come here from two different families, two different heritages. We are especially grateful for the values which have flowed into them form those who have loved and nurtured them and pointed them along lifes way. The Heritage each brings to this marriage will continue to be an important element in their lives, but now will be shared between them. Out of these two families, a new family will be created. A very beautiful way to symbolize the two who become one, is to invite the mothers of (bride's name) and (groom's name) to come forward and light the individual candles which represent the two separate families. When The two individual flames are merged as one, it will symbolize the union of their two families in this marriage and the rich heritage each brings to it. From now on Caleb and Anne will grow together as unique persons who will together create a rich heritage all of their own.
Selection #4
(couple's names), will now light center Unity Candle. You will take the flame from the candles which your (names of candle lighters) have lighted. You will see that this center candle is larger than the other two because it is the new family that has been formed today as you repeated your vows and will be a blending of all the love, traditions and experiences you have both shared with your individual families. It is also larger because the middle candle represents Christ, who has brought you both together for this moment and to remind you that He is with you always as a partner in your marriage, to guard and to guide you in all that you do.
Variations on Unity Candle
Everything in the wedding ceremony should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom.
The Unity Candle traditionally tells a simple story: two lives joined as one. However, some couples will add symbolism to the ritual.
The individual candles might represent two families coming together through the couple. Or, include the friends that introduced the couple and supported them through the courtship.
You can provide each guest with an unlit candle when they arrive at the ceremony. After the couple lights the unity candle, they can ask the guests to move to the front of the church (or wherever the ceremony is being held) and light their candles with the lighted unity candle. This can take a bit of time and might be best with a smaller guest list. But it is a meaningful way to not only get your guests involved in the ceremony itself, but also symbolize the union of family and friends with the marriage.
Or, you could have a lit candle on a small table in the back of the guests and give small candles to each guest as they are seated. When it's time to light the Unity Candle during the wedding ceremony, ask the guest in the back to light their candle and pass the flame from guest to guest up to the individual candles for the bride and groom.
The couple could bring the unity candle to the reception. Light the candle again and provide each guest with a small votive candle (the candle holder will be on the tables at individual table settings). As guests come into the reception area or hall, they can light their votive and take it to their table to place into the votive holder. This small votive candle can double as a wedding favor, particularly if you decorate or enhance a plain votive candleholder in some way to coordinate with your wedding.
You could make it part of the reception. I tell every couple that they don't have to cram everything into the ceremony. They have all day to express their feelings.
To do this, you can use the votive candle option suggested above, or you can simply incorporate the unity candle lighting into the reception activities themselves. For example, you might choose a quiet moment in the reception to have a lighting of the unity candle. It might be during a short prayer prior to the serving of the meal, or right before the cake is cut. In this case, the unity candle can then be used as decoration on the cake table. As the bride and groom cut the cake and pieces are served to guests, the candle can also serve as a reminder of the couple’s new bond and that the bond is shared with all the guests as well.
Each bride and groom have an opportunity on their wedding day to create memories they will treasure for the rest of their lives.
Sand Sculpture Three colors of sand are layered in a vase to symbolize the importance of the individuals within the marriage and the joining of the two lives into one entity.
The sculpture begins with a layer of neutral sand to symbolize that the marriage is grounded.
The next layers are the individual colors representing the bride and groom which symbolizes that the foundation of the marriage is based on the strength of the individuals.
The final layer is the bride and groom’s colors combined to symbolize the joining of their lives as one in marriage.
Selection #2 ______ and _____, you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings as a pledge to commit to one another throughout your lives. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand. One, representing you, ____ and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. The other representing you, _____, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.
Sand Sculpture with Children
Minister: _________ and _________, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other and honor your children as well. Your family relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand; one, representing you, _________ and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, one representing you, _________, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be and another container for each child.
There are children who will share in this marriage. The gathering of this new family will have a deep influence upon them. We realize that in order for the home to be a happy one, it is essential that there be love and understanding between the children and the adults being married.
As you each hold your sand the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one family. You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of the children and bride and groom into one.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage and your family be.
Love Capsule Ceremony
Before we proceed with the rings and vows, _____ and ______ have chosen as a couple to perform a love capsule ceremony.
*(reach down and pick up the box from behind the altar*)
In my hands, I have a box, a bottle of wine, and two glasses,
and _____ and ______ have love letters from each to the other.
The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry.
They have given much thought to these letters, and they have been sealed in individual envelopes.
Neither _____ nor ______ has seen what the other has written.
_____ and ______, should you ever find your marriage enduring serious hardships, as some marriages do, you are to, as a couple, open this box, sit and drink the wine together, then separate and read the letters you wrote to one another on the day you were united as a couple.
By reading these love letters, you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here today and share a new resolve to strengthen your relationship.
The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box.
And if this is the case, you are to open it to share and enjoy its contents on your 20th anniversary!
Groom and Bride, please seal the box.
(*BRIDE and GROOM letters into the box with a lid, where they seal it closed and locked together*)
In this day and age, it sometimes may seem easy to give up on marriage.
By showing your unwavering dedication to one another here today, your demonstrating that you are entering your married life deliberately and you will always work hard to keep your relationship healthy and happy
The Rose Ceremony
It is now my privilege to be the first to address you as husband and wife. In the language of flowers, a red rose is the symbol of love. Will you please exchange your roses? In this exchange, you have given to each other your first gift as husband and wife. And it would be our hope that where you may make your home, there will be a specially appointed place in it for red roses. And on each anniversary of today you celebrate it, at least in part, by each of you bringing a rose to the appointed place, understanding that this rose is a restatement of love, and as an acknowledgement of the vows you have made.
In every marriage it is occasionally difficult to find words to resolve certain issues which may arise. If and when such issues might come to your marriage, if either of you will remember and bring to the appointed place a red rose, the other will see it and understand it as a statement of love and accept it, because love is the gateway to all answers.
Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, and not quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs; it does not gloat over the other’s mistakes, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, hope and its endurance. In a word, there are three great things that last forever: Faith, hope and love… and the greatest of these is love."
Version #2 In the elegant language of flowers red roses are a symbol of love, the giving of a single red rose is a clear and unmistakable way of saying the words, “I love you.” For this reason it is fitting that the first gift you exchange as husband and wife would be the gift of a single red rose. Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife. You both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life – one I hope you always remember – the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage. ______ and _____,, I would ask that wherever you may make your home, that t you choose a special location. And at those times when words fail, that you leave a red rose at that spot you have both selected – a rose that will say what matters more than al other words… “I still love you”; The other should accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both have shared today.
Selection #3 Will you please, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, join your hands.
(Mother’s each hand a single rose to their children)
Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings, which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honorable title that may exist between a man and a woman – the title of “husband” and “wife”. For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose.
In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing – it meant the words “I love you”. So, it is appropriate that for your first gift – as husband and wife – that gift would be a single rose. Will you please exchange your roses?
In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose — and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life — one I hope you always remember — the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
______ and _____, I would ask that wherever you make your home in the future — whether it be a large and elegant home — or a small and graceful one — that you both pick one very special location for roses, so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage — and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based upon love.
In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to say the words "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting." If this should happen, if you simply cannot find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected — for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words. That rose says the words "I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
______ and _____,, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.
From Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, and not quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs; it does not gloat over the other’s mistakes, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, hope and its endurance. In a word, there are three great things that last forever: Faith, hope and love… and the greatest of these is love."
Flowers to Parents The Bride and Groom give a flower to their respective In-Laws as a symbol of welcome into the new extended Family.
Parents Rose Ceremony:
Marriage is a coming together of two lives, and a celebration of the love of two people. But it is more. The love that you feel for one another is the flowering of a seed your mothers planted in your hearts many years ago. When you were first born, you were a bundle of diapers and tears, and your mothers lost sleep caring for you. Their love for you has brought them great happiness and great challenges, and their love did not diminish as they met these challenges. That is the great lesson you can bring into your marriage.
As you embrace one another in your love, so too do you embrace the families that have been brought together on this happy occasion. As a token of your gratitude for your families, I would like to ask you to offer these symbols of eternal love, these roses, to your mothers. (Both bride and groom can hand the roses to each mother together, offering the mothers kisses if they wish.)
Prayer for Couple's Veil & Cord
(reader / celebrant reads as Veil Sponsors place veil over couple's shoulders):
(names of couple), (names of Veil Sponsors) will now place a veil over you. Let this be a symbol of the faithful love you have for each other. Through the passing of the years, let the veil remind you that you belong to each other and to no one else, and that the love you have for each other becomes more beautiful in self-surrender that is total and pure.
(reader / celebrant reads as Cord Sponsors place cord over couple's shoulders):
Lord, with this cord, may the bond of love and friendship uniting (names of couple) grow stronger over the years. May they remain united to you all their lives knowing, loving and serving in each other and the community.
Selection #2
Will the veil and cord sponsors please join us? (Groom and Bride), please kneel as your sponsors place a veil and cord over you.
(celebrant reads as Veil Sponsors – (names) - place veil over groom’s shoulders and bride’s head and shoulders):
The veil is a symbol of (Groom) pledge to protect his bride, (Bride), the wife who he promises to take care of from this day forward.
(celebrant reads as Cord Sponsors – (names) - place cord over couple's shoulders):
The cord is placed over the bride and groom in a figure of eight to symbolize unity and infinity, a love together forever.
Lord, with this cord, may the bond of love and friendship uniting Tae Soon and Marissa grow stronger over the years. May they remain united to you all their lives knowing, loving and serving in each other and the community.
The 13 Gold Coins Ceremony
This tradition is usually associated with Hispanic families.
The madrina de arras (godmother of arras) holds the 13 gold coins the bridegroom presents to the bride. The coins, or arrhea, was a Roman custom of breaking gold or silver, one half to be kept by the woman and the other half by the man, as a pledge of marriage.
The custom of the giving of wedding coins originated in Spain. Thirteen gold coins (arras) are given to the bride by the bridegroom, signifying his willingness to support her. Often presented in ornate boxes or gift trays, this represents the brides dowry and holds good wishes for prosperity. These coins become a part of their family heirloom.
The symbolism, which may be explained by the officiant, is that the Groom recognizes his responsibility as a provider, and pledges his ability to support and care for her. Acceptance by the bride means taking that trust and confidence unconditionally with total dedication and prudence.
The number 13 represents Christ and his 12 apostles. Another popular belief is that the thirteen coins represent the 12 lunar cycles of a year, and the thirteenth coin symbolizes the couple's honeymoon.
The coins are presented to the minister by a friend or relative (often the purchaser of the coins). The minister then blesses the coins and hands them to the bride who places them in the groom's cupped hands at the beginning of the ceremony.
The coins are then placed on a tray and handed to an assistant to be held until later in the ceremony. Near the end of the ceremony the box and coins are given to the minister who places the coins in the box and hands them to the groom.
The groom will then pour the coins into the bride's cupped hands and places the box on top as a symbol of his unquestionable trust, confidence and pledge to provide financially for them. Sometimes their hands are bound with a ribbon for this portion of the ceremony.
Selection #2
Will the coin sponsor – (name) - please join us? (Groom), the sponsor will hand me 13 silver dollars, which I will drop into your hands. Drop them into (Bride’s) hands. She will return them to you. And you will place them back into this box.
(The coin sponsor presents the 13 pieces of silver to the celebrant. The celebrant drops the coins into the Groom's waiting hands, who in turn drops it into the Bride's hands. The Bride then puts her hand above the Groom's then drops the coins into his hands again. The Groom allows the coins to then be dropped into a plate held by an acolyte.)
The metal tinkling of 13 silver coins being passed from the groom’s hands to the bride is a distinctive reminder of the groom's promise to take care of his wife materially. The bride in return, by giving back the coins to his hands, conveys that what they both earn become part of each other's. The trickling sound also signifies abundance and success in the couple's joint efforts, as blessed by God.
Thaali Ceremony
In Kerela where Sunil's family is from, the most important part of a wedding ceremony is the tying of the thaali. Similar to the ring excahnge, it is the moment that they truly become husband and wife and the symbol that she will wear to show the world that she and Sunil are married. Sunil will now place this necklace around her neck, symbolizing their lifelong devotion to one another.
Blanket Ceremony (Native American)
The bride and groom are wrapped individually in blue blankets at the onset of the ceremony. The blue blankets are used to represent the sorrows that each of them have endured separately. Once the ceremony is blessed by the priest, the blue blankets are taken off and the couple is wrapped as one in a single white blanket. This symbolizes the act of becoming one.
Seven Steps Ceremony (Native American)
The ceremony starts with the lighting of a sacred fire. The couple will then take precisely seven steps around the fire. The groom begins by taking just one step before stopping to say a vow. It is then the brides turn to take a step and say a vow. The groom then takes another step and says another vow. This continues until the bride and groom have each taken seven steps and recited seven vows.
The Bell of Truce (Celtic)
A bell is blessed and then presented to the bride and groom. The couple is asked to ring the bell, while thinking tender thoughts of each other. The bell is then kept at home as a token of the wedding day. If an argument arises, the bell can be rung by either the husband or wife to call a truce. The tinkling sound is meant to remind the couple of their wedding vows and to help them relive happy memories from their wedding day.
Butterfly Ceremony:
An Indian legend says that if anyone desires a wish to come true they must capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since they make no sound, they can’t tell anyone but the Great Spirit. So by making the wish and releasing the butterfly it will be taken to the heavens and be granted. (Ask guests to make a wish for the bride and groom. Grandma releases butterflies)
Breaking of the Glass
Selection #1
The traditional breaking of the glass marks the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the celebration. As (groom) breaks the glass, I invite everyone to shout “Mazel Tov,” which means “Congratulations” and “Good Luck.”
Selection #2
We end the ceremony with the traditional breaking of the glass. Breaking this glass symbolizes the permanent change this marriage covenant makes in ____ and ____ lives.
Selection #3
It is a Jewish custom to end the wedding ceremony with the breaking of a glass. We do not know the exact origin of the custom. Some people say that the breaking of the glass symbolizes the irrevocable change in the lives of the couple standing before us; other say it has its roots in superstition when people broke glasses to scare away evil spirits from such lucky people as the bride and groom. Whatever its beginnings, the breaking of the glass now has many interpretations, one of which says that even in the moment of our greatest joy, we should have a responsibility to help relieve some of that pain and suffering. And, of course, the breaking of the glass marks the beginning of the celebration.
Selection #4
We conclude this ceremony with the breaking of the glass. It is a joyous ceremony. The fragility of the glass suggests the frailty of human relationships. The glass is broken to protect this marriage with the implied prayer:
May your bond of love be as difficult to break as it would be to put together the pieces of this glass.
Selection #5
May the breaking of this glass remind you of the fragility of human relationships. A broken glass cannot be mended, and likewise marriage is irrevocable. As this glass shatters, so may your marriage never break.