Here’s a ceremony that is not really religious or specific to a certain religion. It is more of a spiritual ceremony with a universal appeal. It can be used for many types of weddings including nondenominational and interfaith ceremonies.
The format follows the same general flow of elements as with most of the ceremonies you will find in the Ceremonies and Elements section, however, the wording is much more contemporary.
In the Ceremonies and Elements section you will find many other lovely ceremonies including very traditional ceremonies and vows so be sure to visit that section of the website and check out the various ceremonies. I offer pdf versions for all the ceremonies and they are formatted to be helpful for the wedding officiant narrative. Here is the ceremony I call “For A Loving Universe Wedding Ceremony"
Greeting
The Wedding Minister/Officiant faces the guests. The Bride and her Attendants stand to the right of the Officiant. The Groom and his Attendants stand to the left of the Officiant. The Bride and Groom stand facing the Officiant/Minister.
Officiant:
We are honored and grateful to be present here today to witness the sacred vows of marriage between ____ and _____, who were brought together by love’s divine appointment and we rejoice with them in this moment of mystical matrimony.
Invocation
Officiant:
Let us now pause to establish ourselves in the consciousness of the universal loving presence of God and express our gratefulness for the blessed energy of divine love.
Gracious God of all this divine wonder, we pray your light of love and joy shine down upon us as we gather today for the union of these two, ________ and ________ . We thank you for the abundant energy of love and for the awesome gift of blissful marriage. Amen.
Presentation of the Bride (or the Bride and Groom)
Officiant: Who presents this woman to be married to this man?
Or, Officiant: Who presents these individuals to be married?
The parent(s) or designated person(s) responds: I do or We do.
If the Bride has not already handed her bouquet to her Maid/Matron of honor, she will do so now, and her father gives her hand to the groom, he usually kisses his daughter and shakes the Grooms hand then he takes his seat. This Presentation of the Bride is optional and can be adapted to the situation or can be left out completely.
Charge to Bride and Groom
Officiant:
_______ and _______ , the estate of wedlock is a sacred one and should not to be entered into lightly, but only under the guidance of Infinite Wisdom and the inspiration of Divine Love.
Dear Ones, you are entering into the relationship of marriage which is an expression of the harmonizing power of divine love. When there is a true bond such as this, it is proper that public acknowledgement of it be made. We are here to bear witness to your entering into this closer relationship of husband and wife as you pledge your vows to one another.
Betrothal
Officiant:
As an expression of your total willingness to commit yourself to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant:
To groom _______, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm her, respect her, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to her?
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant:
To bride_______, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm him, respect him, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to him?
Bride responds: I do.
Vows
Officiant: To Groom:
As a further sign of your heartfelt desire, I invite you to repeat these words after me.
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
________________, I take you to be my wife, to be faithful to you alone, to share all that is to come, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all hardships and triumphs, all the experiences of life, a permanent commitment made in love, kept in faith, lives in hope, and eternally made new.
Officiant: To Bride:
As a further sign of your heartfelt desire, I invite you to repeat these words after me.
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
______________¬__, I take you to be my husband, to be faithful to you alone, to share all that is to come, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all hardships and triumphs, all the experiences of life, a permanent commitment made in love, kept in faith, lives in hope, and eternally made new.
Blessing of the Rings
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:
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.
Exchange of Rings
Officiant:
To Groom:___________ will you take this ring and place it upon ______’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.
To Bride:____________ will you take this ring and place it upon _________’s finger, and as you do, repeat to him, after me, these words:
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.
Wedding Prayer
Officiant:
Dear God, we ask you grant _______ and _____ the ability to tap into your gift of unconditional love so that they may have the strength to honor the vows they have made to one another on this their wedding day as well as the gift of everlasting and enduring faith in order that your precious love is expressing through them now and always. Amen.
Blessing
Officiant:
May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon gently restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.
Pronouncement
Officiant:
Because ________ and ________ have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealed their vows in the giving and receiving of rings and have expressed their complete and pure dedication to one another before God and our gathering then it is by the authority vested in me by the State of _____________, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the Bride!
Benediction
Officiant:
The light of God surrounds you, the love of God enfolds you. The presence of God watches over you. Wherever you are, God is, and all is well.
Announcement as Newlyweds
Officiant:
Bride and Groom turn to face the guests as the officiant presents the couple.
May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. ______________
The Maid/Matron of Honor hands the bouquet to the Bride. The Bride and Groom walk down the aisle first, followed by their attendants.
In the Ceremonies and Elements section you will find many other lovely ceremonies including very traditional ceremonies and vows so be sure to visit that section of the website and check out the various ceremonies. I offer pdf versions for all the ceremonies and they are formatted to be helpful for the wedding officiant narrative. Here is the ceremony I call “For A Loving Universe Wedding Ceremony"
Greeting
The Wedding Minister/Officiant faces the guests. The Bride and her Attendants stand to the right of the Officiant. The Groom and his Attendants stand to the left of the Officiant. The Bride and Groom stand facing the Officiant/Minister.
Officiant:
We are honored and grateful to be present here today to witness the sacred vows of marriage between ____ and _____, who were brought together by love’s divine appointment and we rejoice with them in this moment of mystical matrimony.
Invocation
Officiant:
Let us now pause to establish ourselves in the consciousness of the universal loving presence of God and express our gratefulness for the blessed energy of divine love.
Gracious God of all this divine wonder, we pray your light of love and joy shine down upon us as we gather today for the union of these two, ________ and ________ . We thank you for the abundant energy of love and for the awesome gift of blissful marriage. Amen.
Presentation of the Bride (or the Bride and Groom)
Officiant: Who presents this woman to be married to this man?
Or, Officiant: Who presents these individuals to be married?
The parent(s) or designated person(s) responds: I do or We do.
If the Bride has not already handed her bouquet to her Maid/Matron of honor, she will do so now, and her father gives her hand to the groom, he usually kisses his daughter and shakes the Grooms hand then he takes his seat. This Presentation of the Bride is optional and can be adapted to the situation or can be left out completely.
Charge to Bride and Groom
Officiant:
_______ and _______ , the estate of wedlock is a sacred one and should not to be entered into lightly, but only under the guidance of Infinite Wisdom and the inspiration of Divine Love.
Dear Ones, you are entering into the relationship of marriage which is an expression of the harmonizing power of divine love. When there is a true bond such as this, it is proper that public acknowledgement of it be made. We are here to bear witness to your entering into this closer relationship of husband and wife as you pledge your vows to one another.
Betrothal
Officiant:
As an expression of your total willingness to commit yourself to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.
Bride and Groom face each other holding hands.
Officiant:
To groom _______, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm her, respect her, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to her?
Groom Responds: I do.
Officiant:
To bride_______, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for __________? Do you promise to affirm him, respect him, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to him?
Bride responds: I do.
Vows
Officiant: To Groom:
As a further sign of your heartfelt desire, I invite you to repeat these words after me.
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
________________, I take you to be my wife, to be faithful to you alone, to share all that is to come, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all hardships and triumphs, all the experiences of life, a permanent commitment made in love, kept in faith, lives in hope, and eternally made new.
Officiant: To Bride:
As a further sign of your heartfelt desire, I invite you to repeat these words after me.
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
______________¬__, I take you to be my husband, to be faithful to you alone, to share all that is to come, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all hardships and triumphs, all the experiences of life, a permanent commitment made in love, kept in faith, lives in hope, and eternally made new.
Blessing of the Rings
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:
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.
Exchange of Rings
Officiant:
To Groom:___________ will you take this ring and place it upon ______’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.
To Bride:____________ will you take this ring and place it upon _________’s finger, and as you do, repeat to him, after me, these words:
The following can be broken down line by line instead of said all at once.
I give you this ring, as I give you myself, with love and affection. Wear it in peace always.
Wedding Prayer
Officiant:
Dear God, we ask you grant _______ and _____ the ability to tap into your gift of unconditional love so that they may have the strength to honor the vows they have made to one another on this their wedding day as well as the gift of everlasting and enduring faith in order that your precious love is expressing through them now and always. Amen.
Blessing
Officiant:
May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon gently restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.
Pronouncement
Officiant:
Because ________ and ________ have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealed their vows in the giving and receiving of rings and have expressed their complete and pure dedication to one another before God and our gathering then it is by the authority vested in me by the State of _____________, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the Bride!
Benediction
Officiant:
The light of God surrounds you, the love of God enfolds you. The presence of God watches over you. Wherever you are, God is, and all is well.
Announcement as Newlyweds
Officiant:
Bride and Groom turn to face the guests as the officiant presents the couple.
May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. ______________
The Maid/Matron of Honor hands the bouquet to the Bride. The Bride and Groom walk down the aisle first, followed by their attendants.
