The Wedding Ceremony Planner by Judith Johnson
Since we aren't getting married in a church, and we don't practice a religion I bought this book to get ideas for our ceremony.
The author offers examples of scripts in all shapes and sizes. Plus, she uses the category method by breaking down the ceremony into sections (gathering words, marriage address, candle ceremony, wedding vows, ring exchange, etc.). It is a wonderful resource for customizing your ceremony!
I purchased my "like new" copy for $4 (including shipping) from www.half.com.
The author offers examples of scripts in all shapes and sizes. Plus, she uses the category method by breaking down the ceremony into sections (gathering words, marriage address, candle ceremony, wedding vows, ring exchange, etc.). It is a wonderful resource for customizing your ceremony!
I purchased my "like new" copy for $4 (including shipping) from www.half.com.
This is the reading we had in our ceremony:
The Art of Marriage
by Wilferd A. Peterson
The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating
gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
Our Vows
I, ____, choose you, _____
to be my wife/husband,
from this day forward;
to love you,
to be a comfort and safe haven in your life,
to laugh with you in times of joy
and comfort you in times of sorrow,
to encourage and support you,
to weigh the effects of the words I speak
and the things I do,
to respect our differences
and do my part to work through
all our challenges.
to never take you for granted,
and to always give thanks
for your presence in my life.
to be my wife/husband,
from this day forward;
to love you,
to be a comfort and safe haven in your life,
to laugh with you in times of joy
and comfort you in times of sorrow,
to encourage and support you,
to weigh the effects of the words I speak
and the things I do,
to respect our differences
and do my part to work through
all our challenges.
to never take you for granted,
and to always give thanks
for your presence in my life.
Our Exchange of Rings
___, I give you this ring
as a symbol of my love for you,
and of my promise to honor you,
comfort you,
and be faithful to you and to our marriage,
all the days of my life.
as a symbol of my love for you,
and of my promise to honor you,
comfort you,
and be faithful to you and to our marriage,
all the days of my life.