Contemporary Service
MARRIAGE
COMMISSIONER:
Dear friends, we are gathered here today to witness the
marriage of John and Jane and to celebrate with them. They have
asked you here to be a part of their wedding day as they pledge themselves to
each other. The union of man and woman in marriage is not to be taken lightly. Therefore
if anyone can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be married they
must declare it now or else hereafter hold their peace.
John and Jane, if either of you knows any
reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must
declare it now.
Repeat after me…(each of the participants in turn)
I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why
I,___________________may not be joined in matrimony to ____________________.
The Wedding
It is not intended in marriage that husbands and wives
cease to be individuals, but that both may continue to grow in love by support
and concern for each other's well being.
You travelled down different paths to reach the point at
which you met. Today you take the next step in your journey. You must promise
to love, respect, and support each other in all the rough times, the sad times,
and celebrate all the happy times together.
John, will you take Jane to be
your wife, to love her, comfort her, honour and protect her; and forsaking all
others to be faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?
I will.
I call upon these persons here present, to witness that I, ____________, do
take you, _____________, to be my lawful wedded wife (or to be my lawful wedded
partner or to be my lawful wedded spouse),
Jane, will you take John to be your husband, to
love him, comfort him, honour and protect him; and forsaking all others to be
faithful to him for as long as you both shall live?
I will.
I call upon these persons here present, to witness that I, ____________, do
take you, _____________, to be my lawful wedded husband (or to be my lawful
wedded partner or to be my lawful wedded spouse),
The Exchanging of
the Rings
MARRIAGE
COMMISSIONER TO GROOM:
Place the ring on her
finger, hold it there and say these words to her.
With
all my love I give you this ring, an everlasting symbol of the vows that we
have made to each other, and as a token of my love.
MARRIAGE
COMMISSIONER TO BRIDE:
Place the ring on his
finger, hold it there and say these words to her.
With
all my love I give you this ring, an everlasting symbol of the vows that we
have made to each other, and as a token of my love.
Love is more than a feeling. It's a commitment.
It's a commitment to work things out, and to resolve the issues;
To communicate when it's hard to, and to forgive each other and start fresh
each day.
The Declaration of Marriage: where the marriage commissioner shall say…
John and Jane, you have chosen each other in love and freedom. You have
declared your purpose before this gathering, and you have made your pledges one
to another.
I, ________________________, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the
Marriage Act, do hereby pronounce you __________________________ and
____________________ to be husband and wife (married).
The Nuptial Kiss