The Rings part of the wedding ceremony typically consists of two wedding ceremony elements; The Blessing Of The Rings, followed by The Exchange Of The Rings.

For the Blessing Of The Rings element of the ceremony, the officiant prays a blessing over the rings. It is also common for the officiant to speak of the symbolism and meaning of the rings, such as how the rings are an outward sign of the couple’s commitment to one another. The unending circle of a ring symbolizes faithfulness and love without end.

Here's an example of the ring portion of the wedding ceremony. It is adapted from the Book of Common Prayer.

Blessing Of The Rings

Officiant: May we now have the rings?

The designated person gives the rings to the Officiant. Or in a smaller/simpler ceremony without a Best Man or Ringbearer the Officiant will already have the rings.

Officiant: Bless, O Lord, this ring, and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other, and abide in thy peace and favor, and live together in love until their lives’ end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Exchange Of The Rings

Officiant:  To Groom: ________ will you take this ring and place it upon _____’s finger, and as you do, repeat after me, these words:

The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once

With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honor; and all my worldly goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Officiant:  To Bride: ________ will you take this ring and place it upon _____’s finger, and as you do, repeat after me, these words:

The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once

With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honor; and all my worldly goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

The Officiant joins their right hands together and says, Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

Now that you are familiar with the flow of the Blessing of the Rings and Exchange of Rings portion of the wedding ceremony here is a list of 7 blessings examples you may want to use. These are the Blessings Of The Ring element that is spoken right before the Exchange of Rings. Stay tuned to my blog for examples of the Exchange of the Rings and you can mix and match them to suit your needs.

7 Examples of the Blessing Of The Rings for a Wedding Ceremony:

1.

Officiant: To the Best Man or Ringbearer: May we now have the rings?

The designated person gives the rings to the Officiant. Or in a smaller/simpler ceremony without a Best Man or Ringbearer the Officiant will already have the rings.

Officiant: Heavenly Father, bless these rings. Grant that ____________ and ____________ may wear them with deep faith in each other. May they do your will and always live together in peace, love and abiding joy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

2.

Officiant: To the Best Man or Ringbearer: May we now have the rings?

Officiant: The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of peace. Let this ring be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness.

Many of the traditional wedding ceremony elements and phrases we are accustomed to date back to the sixteenth century.

The following marriage vows: "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part”, are from the Book of Common Prayer, published in the year 1549.

These familiar vows are still relevant and often used in current-day wedding ceremonies over 400 years later!