Abaigeal Duda: a-duda.com

Renewal of Vows

On this happy day, you are renewing your covenant of love, loyalty and friendship to each other. Even as God blessed you by bringing your separate lives together, he is present here blessing this renewal of covenants.

In the presence of Spirit, that has led you through whatever challenges you may have encountered, you are performing an act of faith once again, believing in each other to the utmost and reaffirming your individual and collective holiness.

PLEASE JOIN RIGHT HANDS AND REPEAT AFTER ME

In the presence of God,( family and friends,) I now rechoose you to live my life with. And in re-choosing, I renew my vows of love, loyalty and friendship. I rededicate and re-consecrate my commitment to you and to God, by planting this relationship firmly in holy ground. And so it is.

Basic Ceremony with Exchange of Rings (Approximately 10-15 minutes in length)

OFFICIANT:
Good evening, and welcome to the ceremony that will unite [Groom] and [Bride] in marriage. We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but to looking outward together in the same direction.

Today [Groom] and [Bride] proclaim their love to the world, and we rejoice with and for them.

In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are [Groom] and [Bride]’s community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because [Groom] and [Bride] are now taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form, they become part of their community in a new way.

[Groom] and [Bride], we are here to remember and rejoice with you and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together. It is in this spirit that you have come here to today to exchange these vows.

VOWS

[Groom], repeat after me:

I [Groom] take you [Bride] to be my wife. I promise above all else to live in truth with you, and to communicate fully and fearlessly. I give you my hand and my heart, as a sanctuary of warmth and peace, and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life to yours.

(REPEAT SAME FOR [BRIDE], OR MODIFY IF YOU WISH)

RINGS

For thousands of years lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their vows. These simple gold bands are not of great value in themselves, but are made precious by our wearing of them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight.

[Groom], take [Bride]'s ring and put it on her finger, and repeat after me:

Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of indestructible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante and partner for life.

(REPEAT SAME FOR [BRIDE], OR MODIFY IF YOU WISH)

PRONOUNCEMENT

[Groom] and [Bride], although I'm officiating here today, it is not truly in my power to sanctify, legitimize or bless your relationship in any way, because the two of you have already done that in your hearts. So, by joining hands right now and looking into each other's eyes, let it be known that you are joined, body and soul in this lifetime, and that this bond is sacred and eternal. And now that you have stood before me and exchanged these rings and these vows, and have agreed to be married according to the laws of the state of Massachusetts, it gives me gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are Husband and Wife.

Handfasting Ceremony (drawing upon ancient Celtic ceremony)

[Bride] and [Groom], know now before you go further,that since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed eternal and sacred bonds. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real the ideals that to you, give meaning this ceremony and to the institution of marriage.

With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your unionand will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.
Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?

Yes.

INVOKING THE FOUR DIRECTIONS (optional)

In many cultures it is believed that the human soul shares characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the four cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is according to this belief that we align ourselves with these elements. Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union.

[Guests are invited to stand and face the four directions]

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East and the element of Air, for openness and breath, communication of the heart, and purity of the mind and body. From the east you receive the gift of a new beginning with the rising of each Sun, and the understanding that each day is a new opportunity for growth. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South and the element of fire, for energy, passion, creativity and the warmth of a loving home. From the fire within you generate light, which you will share with one another in even the darkest of times. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West, the element of water, for your capacity to feel emotion. In marriage you offer absolute trust to one another, and vow to keep your hearts open in sorrow as well as joy. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North, the element of earth, which provides sustenance, fertility and security. The earth will feed and enrich you, and help you to build a stable home to which you may always return.

[guests are seated]

[Groom] and [Bride], I bid you look into each others eyes.
Will you honor and respect one another,and seek to never break that honor?

We will [the first cord is draped over the couples' hands]

And so the first binding is made. Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?

We will [Second cord is draped over the hands]

And so the binding is made Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

We will [third cord is draped over the couples' hands]

And so the binding is made. Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

We will. [forth cord is draped over the couples' hands]

And so the binding is made.

[Tie cords together]

[Bride] and [Groom], as your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars you love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.

(from this point the ceremony can move on to traditional vows and/or the traditional ring exchange)

A Humanist Wedding Ceremony

Dear family and friends, we have gathered here today to witness and celebrate the wedding of [Groom] and [Bride]. Surrounded as we are by those we most love, let us turn our hearts and minds to the two before us who wish to bind their lives together, in peace, and in love, thus celebrating, in the best of the Humanist tradition, the beauty and joy of life.

It has been said that no man is an island entire to himself. We are involved in all humanity and each time two people come together to blend their lives as one, it is a reaffirmation of human courage, hope and love. Marriage is the supreme sharing of experience and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous uniting of a couple whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered into romance. Today, [Groom] and [Bride] proclaim their love to the world and we who are gathered here rejoice with them and for them in the new life they now undertake together.

Marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other sincerely, who honor each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share the future together. In this ceremony, they dedicate themselves to the happiness and well-being of each other, in a union of mutual caring and responsibility. We rejoice with them that out of all the world they have found each other; and that they will henceforth find the deeper meaning and richness of human life in sharing it with each other.

Your marriage requires “love.” When we love, we see things other people do not see. To see with loving eyes is to know inner beauty and to be loved is to be seen and known as we are known to no other. When you give yourself, heart and mind, into the hands of the one you love, you receive that most precious of gifts - the life and love of another. We are loved when another human being wants us, wishes to share their life with us, accepts us, without qualification or reservation, not as perfect, but as human, with strengths and weaknesses.

Love endures only when the lovers love many things together and not merely each other. When they share the same values, hold the same interests. You will need to be able to trust one another and learn, as well, to depend on one another. Do not forget the love that you share today, try to continue to show your appreciation and admiration on a daily basis throughout the rest of your lives.

A successful marriage is based on love, equality, respect, and commitment on the part of both, in which each must adjust to the other's temperaments and moods. In marriage two persons turn to each other in search of greater fulfillment than either can achieve alone. Marriage should be a growing and dynamic relationship, a dream of tomorrow in which we grow and fulfill our possibilities. It is wondrous when someone believes in the dream of ourselves and wants to live with us and help make these dreams and aspirations come true.

Marriage is a dedication. You give yourself, your life and love, into the hands of the one you love. You do so trustingly and generously. Yet, each of you also receives a gift – the life and love of the other. You receive this gift not only from the one you love, but also from their family and friends. We are here to share your joy and to witness your first steps along the path that you are now to tread together. May it be a path of deepening and widening love that you shall travel together until the end of your days.

Two among us who have stood apart, come now in our presence to declare their love, and to be united in marriage, facing the world strong, with the courage of two. May they learn to share life’s trials, and grow in understanding and devotion to each other. May love and companionship abide in the home they establish. May they grow old together, in health and contentment, ever grateful for the union of their lives so that they will say “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.” May they wake up each morning glorying in the joy that they awake once again next to their chosen one, their beloved. May they always need one another, not to fill an emptiness, but to help each other know fullness. May they embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May they have happiness, and may they find it in making one another happy. May they have love, and may they find it in loving one another.

Now we have [Bride] and [Groom] before us, who wish to take their place among those who have said yes to living, yes to the hard task of loving, and yes to the best that humanity stands for. This celebration is the outward token of an inner union of hearts. It is a union created by their loving purpose and kept by their abiding will. It is in this spirit and for this purpose that they have come here to be joined together.

I understand that they have written their own vows. [Groom], will you please read your vows now? [Bride]…

Same Sex Ceremony with Ring Exchange (Women)

OFFICIANT:

We have gathered here today to witness the marriage of Party A First Last Name and Party B First Last Name. My name is Officiant Barrett, and I am a Justice of the Peace in this great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On behalf of Party A First Name and Party B First Name, I welcome you here on this beautiful occasion.

On this day [Bride A] ________ and [Bride B] ________ declare their love to each other and in the company of their friends and family. We celebrate this event both by solemnizing it legally and by sharing our joy at the union of two people in love.

Marriage is the coming together of two human beings in a deep and abiding union. Today we may celebrate the right of all consenting people to enter into this union within our Comonwealth.

VOWS

[Bride 1] _______ and [Bride 2] _______ , have you both come here today of your own free will with the intent to marry?

We have.

[Bride 1] _______, do you take this woman, [Bride 2] _______, to be your wife [or spouse], to live together in matrimony, to love her and honor her, and, forsaking all others, be true to her now and forever?

I do.

[Bride 2] _______, do you take this woman, [Bride 1] _______, to be your wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her and honor her, and, forsaking all others, be true to her now and forever?

I do.

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

[Bride 1]: I, _______________ ,take you [Bride 2]_________________to be my wedded wife, 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 cherish, till death do us part.

[Bride 2] I, _______________ take you [Bride 1]_________________to be my wedded wife, 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 cherish, till death do us part.

OFFICIENT:

[BRIDE 1] _______________, place the ring on the bride’s finger and repeat the following: With this ring I wed you and, to you, I will be true, so long as we both shall live.

[Bride 2] _______________, place the ring on the groom’s finger and repeat the following: With this ring I wed you and, to you, I will be true, so long as we both shall live.

By the power vested upon by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I pronounce you married.


	Home \| About \| SAT Prep \| Weddings \| Tango \| Current Research \| Contact \| Links Sample Text For Vows

	Renewal of Vows On this happy day, you are renewing your covenant of love, loyalty and friendship to each other. Even as God blessed you by bringing your separate lives together, he is present here blessing this renewal of covenants. In the presence of Spirit, that has led you through whatever challenges you may have encountered, you are performing an act of faith once again, believing in each other to the utmost and reaffirming your individual and collective holiness. PLEASE JOIN RIGHT HANDS AND REPEAT AFTER ME In the presence of God,( family and friends,) I now rechoose you to live my life with. And in re-choosing, I renew my vows of love, loyalty and friendship. I rededicate and re-consecrate my commitment to you and to God, by planting this relationship firmly in holy ground. And so it is. Basic Ceremony with Exchange of Rings (Approximately 10-15 minutes in length) OFFICIANT: Good evening, and welcome to the ceremony that will unite [Groom] and [Bride] in marriage. We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but to looking outward together in the same direction. Today [Groom] and [Bride] proclaim their love to the world, and we rejoice with and for them. In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are [Groom] and [Bride]’s community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because [Groom] and [Bride] are now taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form, they become part of their community in a new way. [Groom] and [Bride], we are here to remember and rejoice with you and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together. It is in this spirit that you have come here to today to exchange these vows. VOWS [Groom], repeat after me: I [Groom] take you [Bride] to be my wife. I promise above all else to live in truth with you, and to communicate fully and fearlessly. I give you my hand and my heart, as a sanctuary of warmth and peace, and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life to yours. (REPEAT SAME FOR [BRIDE], OR MODIFY IF YOU WISH) RINGS For thousands of years lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their vows. These simple gold bands are not of great value in themselves, but are made precious by our wearing of them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. [Groom], take [Bride]'s ring and put it on her finger, and repeat after me: Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of indestructible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante and partner for life. (REPEAT SAME FOR [BRIDE], OR MODIFY IF YOU WISH) PRONOUNCEMENT [Groom] and [Bride], although I'm officiating here today, it is not truly in my power to sanctify, legitimize or bless your relationship in any way, because the two of you have already done that in your hearts. So, by joining hands right now and looking into each other's eyes, let it be known that you are joined, body and soul in this lifetime, and that this bond is sacred and eternal. And now that you have stood before me and exchanged these rings and these vows, and have agreed to be married according to the laws of the state of Massachusetts, it gives me gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are Husband and Wife. Handfasting Ceremony (drawing upon ancient Celtic ceremony) [Bride] and [Groom], know now before you go further,that since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed eternal and sacred bonds. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real the ideals that to you, give meaning this ceremony and to the institution of marriage. With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your unionand will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony? Yes. INVOKING THE FOUR DIRECTIONS (optional) In many cultures it is believed that the human soul shares characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the four cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is according to this belief that we align ourselves with these elements. Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. [Guests are invited to stand and face the four directions] Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East and the element of Air, for openness and breath, communication of the heart, and purity of the mind and body. From the east you receive the gift of a new beginning with the rising of each Sun, and the understanding that each day is a new opportunity for growth. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South and the element of fire, for energy, passion, creativity and the warmth of a loving home. From the fire within you generate light, which you will share with one another in even the darkest of times. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West, the element of water, for your capacity to feel emotion. In marriage you offer absolute trust to one another, and vow to keep your hearts open in sorrow as well as joy. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North, the element of earth, which provides sustenance, fertility and security. The earth will feed and enrich you, and help you to build a stable home to which you may always return. [guests are seated] [Groom] and [Bride], I bid you look into each others eyes. Will you honor and respect one another,and seek to never break that honor? We will [the first cord is draped over the couples' hands] And so the first binding is made. Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it? We will [Second cord is draped over the hands] And so the binding is made Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union? We will [third cord is draped over the couples' hands] And so the binding is made. Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? We will. [forth cord is draped over the couples' hands] And so the binding is made. [Tie cords together] [Bride] and [Groom], as your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars you love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. (from this point the ceremony can move on to traditional vows and/or the traditional ring exchange) A Humanist Wedding Ceremony Dear family and friends, we have gathered here today to witness and celebrate the wedding of [Groom] and [Bride]. Surrounded as we are by those we most love, let us turn our hearts and minds to the two before us who wish to bind their lives together, in peace, and in love, thus celebrating, in the best of the Humanist tradition, the beauty and joy of life. It has been said that no man is an island entire to himself. We are involved in all humanity and each time two people come together to blend their lives as one, it is a reaffirmation of human courage, hope and love. Marriage is the supreme sharing of experience and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous uniting of a couple whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered into romance. Today, [Groom] and [Bride] proclaim their love to the world and we who are gathered here rejoice with them and for them in the new life they now undertake together. Marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other sincerely, who honor each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share the future together. In this ceremony, they dedicate themselves to the happiness and well-being of each other, in a union of mutual caring and responsibility. We rejoice with them that out of all the world they have found each other; and that they will henceforth find the deeper meaning and richness of human life in sharing it with each other. Your marriage requires “love.” When we love, we see things other people do not see. To see with loving eyes is to know inner beauty and to be loved is to be seen and known as we are known to no other. When you give yourself, heart and mind, into the hands of the one you love, you receive that most precious of gifts - the life and love of another. We are loved when another human being wants us, wishes to share their life with us, accepts us, without qualification or reservation, not as perfect, but as human, with strengths and weaknesses. Love endures only when the lovers love many things together and not merely each other. When they share the same values, hold the same interests. You will need to be able to trust one another and learn, as well, to depend on one another. Do not forget the love that you share today, try to continue to show your appreciation and admiration on a daily basis throughout the rest of your lives. A successful marriage is based on love, equality, respect, and commitment on the part of both, in which each must adjust to the other's temperaments and moods. In marriage two persons turn to each other in search of greater fulfillment than either can achieve alone. Marriage should be a growing and dynamic relationship, a dream of tomorrow in which we grow and fulfill our possibilities. It is wondrous when someone believes in the dream of ourselves and wants to live with us and help make these dreams and aspirations come true. Marriage is a dedication. You give yourself, your life and love, into the hands of the one you love. You do so trustingly and generously. Yet, each of you also receives a gift – the life and love of the other. You receive this gift not only from the one you love, but also from their family and friends. We are here to share your joy and to witness your first steps along the path that you are now to tread together. May it be a path of deepening and widening love that you shall travel together until the end of your days. Two among us who have stood apart, come now in our presence to declare their love, and to be united in marriage, facing the world strong, with the courage of two. May they learn to share life’s trials, and grow in understanding and devotion to each other. May love and companionship abide in the home they establish. May they grow old together, in health and contentment, ever grateful for the union of their lives so that they will say “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.” May they wake up each morning glorying in the joy that they awake once again next to their chosen one, their beloved. May they always need one another, not to fill an emptiness, but to help each other know fullness. May they embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May they have happiness, and may they find it in making one another happy. May they have love, and may they find it in loving one another. Now we have [Bride] and [Groom] before us, who wish to take their place among those who have said yes to living, yes to the hard task of loving, and yes to the best that humanity stands for. This celebration is the outward token of an inner union of hearts. It is a union created by their loving purpose and kept by their abiding will. It is in this spirit and for this purpose that they have come here to be joined together. I understand that they have written their own vows. [Groom], will you please read your vows now? [Bride]… Same Sex Ceremony with Ring Exchange (Women) OFFICIANT: We have gathered here today to witness the marriage of Party A First Last Name and Party B First Last Name. My name is Officiant Barrett, and I am a Justice of the Peace in this great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On behalf of Party A First Name and Party B First Name, I welcome you here on this beautiful occasion. On this day [Bride A] ________ and [Bride B] ________ declare their love to each other and in the company of their friends and family. We celebrate this event both by solemnizing it legally and by sharing our joy at the union of two people in love. Marriage is the coming together of two human beings in a deep and abiding union. Today we may celebrate the right of all consenting people to enter into this union within our Comonwealth. VOWS [Bride 1] _______ and [Bride 2] _______ , have you both come here today of your own free will with the intent to marry? We have. [Bride 1] _______, do you take this woman, [Bride 2] _______, to be your wife [or spouse], to live together in matrimony, to love her and honor her, and, forsaking all others, be true to her now and forever? I do. [Bride 2] _______, do you take this woman, [Bride 1] _______, to be your wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her and honor her, and, forsaking all others, be true to her now and forever? I do. EXCHANGE OF RINGS [Bride 1]: I, _______________ ,take you [Bride 2]_________________to be my wedded wife, 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 cherish, till death do us part. [Bride 2] I, _______________ take you [Bride 1]_________________to be my wedded wife, 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 cherish, till death do us part. OFFICIENT: [BRIDE 1] _______________, place the ring on the bride’s finger and repeat the following: With this ring I wed you and, to you, I will be true, so long as we both shall live. [Bride 2] _______________, place the ring on the groom’s finger and repeat the following: With this ring I wed you and, to you, I will be true, so long as we both shall live. By the power vested upon by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I pronounce you married.














	Marriage Information \| RI Residents \| Vows & Music \| Venues \| Resources