#1 - The Circle of Love
[With optional Prayer]
Welcome
We have been invited here today to witness and celebrate the uniting in marriage of [Bride and Groom]. They are taking the first step of their new beginning; their new life together. The ability and desire for one human being to love another is perhaps the most precious and fulfilling gift that has been entrusted to us. It is an all-consuming task, a lifelong endeavor — the journey we’ve been preparing for all of our lives.
 [Bride and Groom] - Today you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of human interaction. The story of your life together is still yours to write.
Within its framework of commitment and loyalty, marriage enables the establishment of a home, where through trust, patience and respect, the love and affection which you have for each other may develop into a deep and lasting relationship.
Every day you live, learn how to receive love with as much understanding as you give it.
Find things within yourself, then you can share them with each other. Do not fear this love.  Have an open heart and a sincere mind.  Be sincerely interested in each other’s happiness.  Be constant and consistent in your love.  From this comes security and strength.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us on this day of your marriage.  Try to commit yourselves fully and freely to each other.
The I Do’s
When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.
Before you declare your vows to one another, I want to hear you confirm that it is indeed your intention to be married today.
I, [Groom], take you, [Bride] to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. I give to you my unending love and devotion. I promise to be true to you, to cherish you, and to share my hopes, and dreams with you. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you my best friend. I will love you forever.
I, [Bride], take you, [Groom], to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward. I give to you my unending love and devotion. I promise to be true to you, to cherish you, and to share my hopes, and dreams with you. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you my best friend. I will love you forever.
Within the circle of love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid.  It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life.  
The Rings
From the Egyptians came the custom of placing the wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand.  They believed that from this finger, a 'vein of love' went directly to the heart.  Your rings that circle themselves are natural symbols of unending love.
This is the point in the ceremony when people talk about the wedding bands being a perfect circle, having no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings have a beginning. Rock is dug up from the earth. Metals are liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees. The hot metal is forged, cooled, and then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful made from raw elements.
Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It is the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all.  
[Bride], as a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. But when you need to know the depth of my love for you, look not to the ring, but into my heart. I choose you to be my wife today and forevermore.
[Groom], as a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. But when you need to know the depth of my love for you, look not to the ring, but into my heart. I choose you to be my husband today and forevermore.
Your wedding ring is a symbol of your promise to one another. A never-ending circle, and is a symbol of committed, unending love.
[Bride] and [Groom] as you embark on this wonderful journey ahead of you, hand in hand, experiencing life together, may all that is true and beautiful be with you always . . . May there be peace in your home, quietness and confidence in your thoughts, and joy and celebration in your hearts.
Prayer - Optional
Let us bow our heads in prayer. 
Lord, we thank you for gathering everyone here today. We ask that you help [Bride and Groom] to remember the strong love that they share. To work that love into practical things so that nothing can divide them. May their love always inspire them to be kind in their words, considerate of the other’s feelings, and concerned for the other’s needs and wishes. Increase their faith and trust in You. Bless their marriage with peace and happiness and make their love fruitful for Your glory and their joy, both here and in eternity. 
Amen.
The Big Finish
Loving someone is a reason to stretch beyond our limits, to become more for the sake of the other. It is to look into the soul of your beloved and accept what you see. Loving is the ultimate commitment which challenges humans to become all that we are meant to be. As they joined in marriage today, [Bride and Groom] will announce to the world that they are welcoming that challenge.
We have come together – families and friends – to witness [Bride and Groom] as they exchanged their vows of marriage.  We shared with them their delight in finding love with each other, and supported their decision to be together from now until the end of time.  As this couple enters into marriage, they did so with thought and reverence.  They give thanks for the past, which brought them to this place, and look forward with hope to what the future will bring.  This marriage is a symbol of [Bride and Groom]’s commitment to that love.
You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage.  You have made special promises to each other, which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings.
By the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you … You may seal your promises with a kiss.  
It is now my great honor to be the first to present ….

#2 - Non-Denominational
Welcome
We have been invited here today to witness and celebrate the uniting in marriage of [Bride] and [Groom]. They are taking the first step of their new beginning; their new life together. The ability and desire for one human being to love another is perhaps the most precious and fulfilling gift that has been entrusted to us. It is an all-consuming task, a lifelong endeavor — the journey we’ve been preparing for all of our lives. Loving someone is a reason to stretch beyond our limits, to become more for the sake of the other. It is to look into the soul of your beloved and accept what you see.
Loving is the ultimate commitment which challenges humans to become all that we are meant to be.  As they join in marriage today, [Bride] and [Groom] are announcing to the world that they are welcoming that challenge.
Reading
Real love in marriage is something beyond the warmth and the excitement and romance of being deeply in love.  It is as much about the welfare and happiness of your marriage partner as about your own.  But real love is not being absorbed in each other.  Love makes burdens lighter because you divide them, it makes joys more intense because you share them.  It makes you stronger so you can reach out and become involved with life in ways you dared not risk alone.
True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two people; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is over? May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding.
Harmonious wedded life is a precious gain to both man and woman because, even though marriage increases the scope of responsibility, it adds the dimension of love to life, giving it new meaning and purpose.
On this day, [Groom and Bride] the day of your marriage, you are standing somewhat apart from the rest of us as a symbol of the open expression of your love.  This is as it should be, but love is not meant to be the possession of two people alone.  Rather it should be the source of a common energy, which gives you the strength to live your lives with joy, happiness and with courage.
The I Do’s
[Bride] and [Groom], you are about to make promises to one another. These vows are words representing your intentions.
You will find that as you live your lives by these vows, investing your time and love and your commitment to each other, the happy times of your life will be twice as joyous, because there will be someone to share those joys within marriage.
[Groom], do you take [Bride] to be the wife of your days, the companion of your heart and the friend of your life?  To stand united in the face of adversity and bask together in the light of good fortune? With these words spoken, and all those as yet unspoken, do you wish to marry [Bride] and join your life with hers?     “I do.”
[Bride], do you take [Groom] to be the husband of your days, the companion of your heart and the friend of your life?  To stand united in the face of adversity and bask together in the light of good fortune?  With these words spoken, and all those as yet unspoken, do you wish to marry [Groom] and join your life with his?     “I do.”
The Rings
Wedding rings are made precious because you wear 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. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today.
[Bride], with this ring I thee wed.  Wear it as a reminder of my promise to love and respect you, to share good times and bad, in sickness and in health until death do us part.
[Groom], with this ring I thee wed.  Wear it as a reminder of my promise to love and respect you, to share good times and bad, in sickness and in health until death do us part.
The Big Finish
[Bride] and [Groom], from this day forward your lives shall be woven of one design, and your perils and your joys shall not be known apart. As you increase in love and understanding, may your joys stand victoriously against the storm of circumstance that beats impartially on all our doors. From the rich encouragement of your affection, may you be inspired to open your doors to the needs you perceive in the world. In the embrace of mutual respect, may you each complete the unfinished pattern of your true selves.
As you begin your married life together, hold close to you the words that you will speak to each other today.  Life isn’t always an easy road, as you both know.  Rely on your faith, and in the promises you will make today to help you through those times. From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to the sky.  And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together and a single, brighter light goes forth from their united being.
You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage.  You have made special promises to each other, which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings.
By the authority vested in me by the State of Texas, I now proclaim you to be married!  You may seal your promises with a kiss.  It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#3 - Apache Blessing
Welcome
Dear family and friends, I call upon all of you gathered here to be fellow witnesses with me in the marriage of [Bride and Groom].  You were each invited to join us today so that you may share in the joy that [Bride and Groom] are feeling as they pledge their love and commitment to each other.
Reading
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness, for each of you is companion to the other, you are two people, but there is one life before you, and one home.
Turn together to look at the road you traveled, to reach this—the hour of your happiness. It stretches behind you into the past.
Look to the future that lies ahead. A long and winding, adventure-filled road, whose every turn means discovery, new hopes, new joys, new laughter, and a few shared tears.
May happiness be your companion, may beauty surround you both in the journey ahead; and through all the years to come. 
Go this day to your dwelling place and enter into your days together.  May your days be good and long upon the earth.  
Your adventure has just begun!
The I Do’s
Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship - as they threaten all relationships at one time or another - remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives - remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight. 
[Bride] and [Groom], you are about to make promises to one another. These vows are words representing your intentions.
You will find that as you live your lives by these vows, investing your time and love and your commitment to each other, the happy times of your life will be twice as joyous, because there will be someone to share those joys within marriage.
I, [Groom], take you, [Bride] to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. I give to you my unending love and devotion. I promise to be true to you, to cherish you, and to share my hopes, and dreams with you. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you my best friend. I will love you forever.
I, [Bride], take you, [Groom], to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward. I give to you my unending love and devotion. I promise to be true to you, to cherish you, and to share my hopes, and dreams with you. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you my best friend. I will love you forever.
The Rings
From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness, a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending. As often as either of you look at your rings, I pray that you will be reminded of the commitment of love for each other that you are making today.
[Bride], as a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. But when you need to know the depth of my love for you, look not to the ring, but into my heart. I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore.
[Groom], as a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. But when you need to know the depth of my love for you, look not to the ring, but into my heart. I choose you to be my husband this day and forevermore.
The Big Finish
We rejoice this day in the marriage of [Groom] and [Bride].  We celebrate the love that brought them to this day. With love that deepens through many years, may they know its meaning and its mystery — how we become truly one in sharing ourselves and one another, and yet, remain truly two in our own uniqueness. To [Bride] and [Groom] May your house be a place of happiness for all who enter it, and a place where the old and the young are renewed in each other’s’ company, a place for growing, a place for music, a place for laughter. And when shadows and darkness fall within its rooms, may it still be a place of hope and strength for all who enter it, especially for those who may be entrusted to your care. May no person be alien to your compassion. May your larger family be the family of all humankind. And may those who are nearest to you and dearest to you constantly be enriched by the beauty and the bounty of your love for each other.
By the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you …
You may seal your promises with a kiss. It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#4 – The Stream
Welcome
The stream had flowed through the center of the forest for as long as anyone could remember.  It began as a cold, clear fountain in a fractured hillside, then tumbled down over mossy stones and last year’s autumn leaves.  At the foot of the hill the stream took a course running southeast through tall stands of beeches, maples, and oaks, and by the time it left the forest five miles later it carried a river’s ambitions.  But in the center of the forest it was a watery dream, about ten feet wide and ten inches deep. Fallen logs made bridges for chipmunks, foxes, and children looking for secrets.
Occasional shafts of sunlight revealed freshwater muscles in the silt, crayfish picking over pebbles, water beetles dancing on the surface, and young trout darting among roots, branches, and softly bubbling falls.  The stream was full of life, and full of lessons for those who knew how to see them.  And regarding it silently on the bank stood the master and the student.
The master and the student had arrived at the stream after walking the forest path for nearly two hours.  Every step of the way, the student spoke anxiously of the impending choices that filled his mind with confusion.  Should he travel?  If so, where?  Should he continue his studies?  If so, in what field of knowledge?  Should he learn a new trade, or perhaps join the family business?  Should he save his money, or spend freely and enjoy life to its fullest?  And on, and on, and on. And every step of the way the master only listened.
When they reached the stream the student fell silent.  They stood side by side, watching the water.  Then, pointing to a fallen twig, the master asked, if you throw that stick into the stream, where will it go?”  The student answered, it will go downstream, of course.”
But the master shook his head. No,” he said, I want you to tell me exactly where it will go.”  The student crouched down on the bank and observed the water carefully.  He noted the paths of leaves, the surge of bubbles, and the sway and drift of weeds growing on the bottom, until he was sure.
Well,” he said, If I throw the stick to land at that spot there, it will follow the current between those two rocks, rush over that fall, then swirl in that eddy for a moment, then pass under this branch, and then move off under that fallen log over there.”  The student smiled, supremely confident.
All right,” the master said. Throw the stick.”
And the student did.  And it traveled on a course entirely different from the one he had predicted.
They watched the stick drift out of sight. The student shuffled his feet and looked at the ground, but finally met the master’s eyes.  The important thing,” said the master,” is to throw the stick!”
We are here today because [Bride] and [Groom] have decided to throw the stick.  In a world of endless choices, unpredictable outcomes, and no guarantees, they are doing the finest thing two people can do making a commitment before friends and family to devote their lives to each other.
We call this a wedding.  It comes from an old Germanic word meaning a pledge.” And this is worth remembering as we consider what this day is all about.  We make few pledges in our modern lives.  But today we celebrate with [Bride] and [Groom] as they make theirs a pledge to and for each other, not as individuals, but as two that are choosing to become one.
Marriage is the supreme sharing of experience and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships.  Marriage has been described as living in love with your best friend. Love is one of the few constants in the universe. Only love is capable of joining living beings by their deepest essence, uniting, completing and fulfilling them.  Marriage is a symbol of the commitment to create a lifelong partnership based on love.  Marriage is not about marrying the right partner; it is about being the right partner. Marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other sincerely, honor each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share the future together.
In this ceremony, [Groom] and [Bride] dedicate themselves to the happiness and well-being of each other, in a union of mutual caring and responsibility.  
The I Do’s
Now we have [Groom and Bride] 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.
Do you, [Groom], welcome [Bride] as your wife, offering her your love and encouragement, your trust and respect, as together you create your future? Do you promise to play with her and care for her; to make her laugh, and let her cry?  To offer your best counsel and give your sincerest support with all the love you have to give?
Is it your choice that [Bride] be the one with whom you wish to spend your life?
Do you, [Bride], welcome [Groom] as your husband, offering him your love and encouragement, your trust and respect, as together you create your future? Do you promise to play with him and care for him; to make him laugh, and let him cry?  To offer your best counsel and give your sincerest support with all the love you have to give?
Is it your choice that [Groom] be the one with whom you wish to spend your life?
The Rings
Traditionally, the marriage ceremony is marked by the exchange of rings.  The wedding ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love; a reminder that love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver.  Let the seamless circle of these rings symbolize your commitment to love that is never ending and may they remind you always of the vows you have taken here today. 
[Bride], as a sign of my love for you, of choosing to share my whole life’s journey with you, and of my knowing that in marrying you
I shall become much more than I am, I give you this ring, with the pledge That with you, I shall become my highest expression of love,
sharing the gifts that I have and I am with you and the world.
[Groom], as a sign of my love for you, of choosing to share my whole life’s journey with you, and of my knowing that in marrying you
I shall become much more than I am, I give you this ring, with the pledge That with you, I shall become my highest expression of love,
sharing the gifts that I have and I am with you and the world.
Since you love each other in your hearts and have promised to help each other to live and grow, in wisdom and compassion, with these rings you bind your lives together for as long as you both shall live.
The Big Finish
You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage. You have made special promises to each other, which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings.
You have kissed a thousand times, maybe more.  But today the feeling is new.  No longer simply partners and best friends, you have become husband and wife and will be able to seal the agreement with a kiss.  Today, your kiss is a promise.
By the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you … You may seal your promises with a kiss.
It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#5 -“Union” by Robert Fulghum
Welcome
Dear family and friends, we have gathered here today to witness and celebrate the wedding of [Groom] and [Bride].  Surrounded 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 the beauty and joy of life.
Marriage is the supreme sharing of experience and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships.  Marriage has been described as living in love with your best friend. Love is one of the few constants in the universe. Only love is capable of joining living beings by their deepest essence, uniting, completing and fulfilling them.  Marriage is a symbol of the commitment to create a lifelong partnership based on love.  Marriage is not about marrying the right partner; it is about being the right partner. Marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other sincerely, honor each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share the future together.
In this ceremony, [Groom] and [Bride] dedicate themselves to the happiness and well-being of each other, in a union of mutual caring and responsibility.  
Reading Union by Robert Fulghum
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.
The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.
For after today you shall say to the world: This is my husband.  This is my wife.
The Advice
This is a new beginning for both of you and I’d like to offer some gentle reminders to ease your life-long task of living and growing together.  Be kind to each other. And, when you disagree, do it respectfully.  Be gentle and forgiving with each other. When you forgive, your hearts make room for a little more love, a little more understanding and a little more compassion.  Communicate with each other. Share the joy that’s in your heart and the sorrow that burdens your soul. Open your hearts to each other and find love.  Don’t forget the love that you share today, continue to show your appreciation and admiration on a daily basis throughout the rest of your lives.
The I Do’s
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.  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 [Groom] and [Bride] 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.
Do you [Groom] take [Bride] to be your lawfully wedded wife? From this day forward, to have and to hold, forsaking all others, for better or for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and health, to love and cherish for so long as you both shall live?  Response “I do”.
Do you [Bride] take [Groom] to be your lawfully wedded husband? From this day forward, to have and to hold, forsaking all others, for better and for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and health, to love and cherish for so long as you both shall live?  Response “I do”.
The Rings
Traditionally, the marriage ceremony is marked by the exchange of rings.  The wedding ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love; a reminder that love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver.  Let the seamless circle of these rings symbolize your commitment to love that is never ending and may they remind you always of the vows you have taken here today. 
[Bride], I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. As an outward symbol of my vows, I give you this ring.  I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you and to always hold you in the highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.
[Groom], I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. As an outward symbol of my vows, I give you this ring. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you and to always hold you in the highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.
Since you love each other in your hearts and have promised to help each other to live and grow, in wisdom and compassion, with these rings you bind your lives together for as long as you both shall live.
The Big Finish
You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage. You have made special promises to each other, which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings.
By the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you … You may seal your promises with a kiss. It is now my great honor to be the first to present ….

#6 - “The Key to Love”
 For a Couple with Children
Welcome
[Bride and Groom], this is the time you have chosen to become husband and wife and to form a family, complete with [Children’s Names].  We are here, not only to witness your commitment to each other, but also to wish you both every happiness in your future life together.
Within its framework of commitment and loyalty, marriage enables the establishment of a home, where through trust, patience and respect, the love and affection which you have for each other may develop into a deep and lasting relationship.
We who are witnessing your marriage, hope that despite the stresses inevitable in any life your love and respect for each other, your trust and understanding of each other will increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living.
Reading
The key to love is understanding...
The ability to comprehend not only the spoken word, but those unspoken gestures, the little things that say so much by themselves. 
The key to love is forgiveness...
to accept each other’s faults and pardon mistakes, without forgetting, but with remembering what you learn from them.
The key to love is sharing...
Facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together; both conquering problems, forever searching for ways to intensify your happiness.
The key to love is giving...
without thought of return, but with the hope of just a simple smile, and by giving in but never giving up.
The key to love is respect...
realizing that you are two separate people, with different ideas; that you don't belong to each other, that you belong with each other, and share a mutual bond.
The key to love is inside us all...
It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients that will take you to its threshold; it is the continual learning process that demands a lot of work... but the rewards are more than worth the effort...and that is the key to love.
The I Do’s
Marriage is an act of faith. It requires great trust to pledge oneself to a lifetime with another person. Today, [Groom] and [Bride] demonstrate their faith and trust by pledging their love to each other and their larger family.  When two people are joined together it is more than just a marriage between two it is also a blending together of children.  In [Groom’s and Bride’s] marriage today this is also the case and I ask now [Names of Children] join us.
[Groom], do you take [Bride], to be your wife? Do you promise to love, adore and encourage her? Share the good times and achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Keep her in sickness and in sorrow and to be loyal to her forevermore?
[Bride], do you take [Groom], to be your husband? Do you promise to love, adore and encourage him? Share the good times and achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Keep him in sickness and in sorrow and to be loyal to him forevermore?
Do you [Bride/Groom take [Bride/Groom] of child[ren] of spouse] to be the [son/daughter/children] of your heart, to love and to hug, in tears and in laughter, through successes and growing pains, as long as you shall all be together?

Do you [Name[s] of child[ren]] take [Bride/Groom] to be your [step-mom/dad] and your friend, accomplice and ally, to love and to hug, as long as you shall all be together?

Do you, [Names of all children], each take the other[s] to be your [sister/brother] and your friend[s], through fights and through fun, as long as you shall all be together?

Do you, [Bride and Groom], promise to support these relationships, to give them room to breathe, to encourage their special bonds with each other and love them through it all?
Thank you, children may be seated.
The Rings
The wedding ring symbolizes unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. And today, [Bride] and [Groom] exchange these rings as confirmation of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to create a life that is complete and unbroken, and to love each other without end.
[Bride], with this ring I thee wed.  Take it and wear it as a pledge of my love and as a symbol of all we shall share.
[Groom] with this ring I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a pledge of my love and as a symbol of all we shall share.
The Big Finish
You both look to a shared future that includes raising a happy and healthy family. That future also includes a richly lived life together…going out to restaurants, hanging out with family, relaxing at home in front of the TV, singing and dancing… The years will come and go…you won’t take each other for granted, you will laugh a lot, you will be the best parents you can be, you will grow older and wiser together. It’s a good story, and the ending is not in sight!
[Bride and Groom] you have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage.  You have made special promises to each other which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings.  As you have now become joined in marriage, you will now go forth into the world as a family. 
By the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you …
You may seal your promises with a kiss.   It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#7 – “The Art of Marriage”
Welcome
Welcome to all friends and family on this beautiful and joyful day. [Bride] and [Groom] have asked me to extend a very warm welcome to you on this their wedding day. They have invited us here today to share in the celebration of their marriage. We come together not to mark the start of a relationship, but to recognize a bond that already exists. This marriage is one expression of many varieties of love. Love is one, though its expressions are infinite.
Reading
"The Art of Marriage," by William 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.
Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and the presence of these your family, friends and witnesses, I am to remind you of the serious and binding nature of the relationship you are now about to enter.
Marriage is a commitment to life to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid.  It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life.
When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.
We who are witnessing your marriage, hope that despite the stresses inevitable in any life, your love and respect for each other, your trust and understanding of each other will increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living
The I Do’s
[Groom], will you have [Bride] to be your wife?  Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live? 
[Bride] will you have [Groom] to be your husband?  Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live? 
The Rings
Now I ask that God bless these rings that [Groom and Bride] will exchange as a symbol of their love and fidelity.
May these rings be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate union. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place of sanctuary that many will find there a friend.  May these rings, on their fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts.
[Bride], with this ring I thee wed. With all I am and all I have, I honor you.  Today, I promise you that though the world may change and though we may change with it, I will always love you, always treasure you, and will share all that I am with you. I am proud, from this day forward to be called your husband.
[Groom], with this ring I thee wed. With all I am and all I have, I honor you. Today, I promise you that though the world may change and though we may change with it, I will always love you, always treasure you, and will share all that I am with you. I am proud, from this day forward to be called your wife.
The Big Finish
Today you chose each other before everyone, to begin your life together. For all the tomorrows that follow, you will choose each other over and again, in the privacy of your hearts. Let your love and friendship guide you, as you learn and grow together. Experience the wonders of the world, even as patience and wisdom calm the restless nature. Through your partnership, may you always triumph over the challenges in your path. Through the comfort of loving arms, may you always find a safe place to call home. 
You have all been a witness today and you were all invited to this very special occasion when [Groom and Bride] shared before you all gathered here, their love and dedication to each other.  They sealed their love with vows and exchanged two rings as a sign and symbol to the world that they are now married.  
By the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you …
You may seal your promises with a kiss.  It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#8 – “Marriage is Love”
Welcome
We are gathered here to join [Bride] and [Groom] in marriage. This is an act as ancient as the history of the human race and as new as each morning, for it speaks of the past and of the future, of life of the individual and the existence of the community.
Because marriage is concerned with the most fundamental of human relationships, it must not be regarded lightly. Those who enter into this relationship shall cherish for each other a mutual esteem and love, bear each other’s' infirmities and weaknesses, comfort each other in sickness, trouble and sorrow, encourage each other in trials of the spirit, and live together as the heirs of life.
Because your relationship is the foundation of human fellowship, marriage is not to be entered into by any unadvisedly, but with devotion and discretion. Love and loyalty will avail as the foundation of a happy and enduring home, and if the solemn vows you are about to make are kept with honor and integrity, your life will be full of peace and joy, and the home you are establishing will be one of warmth and understanding.
True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two people; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is over. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding.
Marriage is a commitment to life to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid.  It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life.
When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.
Reading
To Love is Not to Possess, by James Kavanaugh
To love is not to possess, to own or imprison, nor to lose one's self in another.
Love is to join and separate, to walk alone and together, to find a laughing freedom that lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able to be whom we really are no longer clinging in childish dependency nor docilely living separate lives in silence, it is to be perfectly one's self and perfectly joined in permanent commitment to another–and to one's inner self.
Love only endures when it moves like waves, receding and returning gently or passionately, or moving lovingly like the tide
In the moon's own predictable harmony, because finally, despite a child's scars or an adult's deepest wounds, they are openly free to be Who they really are–and always secretly were, In the very core of their being Where true and lasting love can alone abide.
The I Do’s
[Groom], will you take [Bride] to be your wife, will you continue to be loving and caring, to comfort her, to protect your love for her, cherishing her, honoring and respecting her and your promises to her throughout all the events of your lives together?   Response “I will”.
[Bride], will you take [Groom] to be your husband, will you continue to be loving and caring, to comfort him, to protect your love for him, cherishing him, honoring and respecting him and your promises to him throughout all the events of your lives together?  Response “I will”.
The Rings
The wedding ring symbolizes unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. And today, [Bride] and [Groom] exchange these rings as confirmation of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to create a life that is complete and unbroken, and to love each other without end.
[Bride] With this ring, I give you the promise that from this day forward you shall never walk alone. My heart will be your shelter; my arms will be your home.  We will walk together through life as partners and best friends… I give you my heart.
[Groom] With this ring, I give you the promise that from this day forward you shall never walk alone. My heart will be your shelter; my arms will be your home.  We will walk together through life as partners and best friends… I give you my heart.
The Big Finish
[Bride and Groom], never forget the beginning of your love for one another, take care of it, nurture it, and allow it to grow strong and firm in the years that are to come.  Always concentrate on making each other feel happy and secure in your commitment to one another.  Always rely on your ability to keep the promises you have made to one another today and always love one another.
You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage.  You have made special promises to each other, which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings.   By the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you …
You may seal your promises with a kiss.
It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#9 - Spiritual 
Includes “One Love” [religious]
Welcome
We have been invited here today to witness and celebrate the uniting in marriage of [Bride and Groom]. They are taking the first step of their new beginning; their new life together. The ability and desire for one human being to love another is perhaps the most precious and fulfilling gift that has been entrusted to us. It is an all-consuming task, a lifelong endeavor — the journey we’ve been preparing for all of our lives.
Loving someone is a reason to stretch beyond our limits, to become more for the sake of the other. It is to look into the soul of your beloved and accept what you see. Loving is the ultimate commitment which challenges humans to become all that we are meant to be. As they join in marriage today, [Bride and Groom] are announcing to the world that they are welcoming that challenge.
We are gathered here in the presence of God and of this company to join in holy marriage [Bride] and [Groom] and to bear witness to the transforming power of love that lies within them both.
Love is a quality of spirit and an attitude of the emotions, but a marriage is a life's work, a spiritual art form and a love so strong, it is so wonderful and powerful. Therefore, this is an occasion of both profound joy and great responsibility, and we who partake in it bind ourselves as witnesses to the labor of love that [Bride] and [Groom] are undertaking here.
Prayer
True relationships among people point to God. They are like prayers in the world. Sometimes the hands that pray are fully touching; sometimes there is distance between them. They always move to and from each other, but they never lose touch. They keep praying to the One who brought them together.
Dear Father in Heaven, as we come before your throne, with our offering of love, we ask you to bless this union of marriage. We pray that you will be the third strand that binds them together and cannot be broken. May You be the guiding light shining on this chosen path of lifelong commitment to each other and You. Amen 
As you begin your married life together, hold close to you the words that you will speak to each other today.  Life isn’t always an easy road, as you both know.  Rely on your faith and in the promises you will make today to help you through those times.  Ask God to grant you the gifts of caring and understanding in your life together, allowing that each may be to the other a source of strength in need, a counselor in times of uncertainty, a comfort in times of sorrow, and a companion in your joys.  
Reading
Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good.
Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth.
It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet and acceptable.
Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God.
The I Do’s
We have come together – families and friends – to witness [Bride and Groom] as they exchange their vows of marriage.  We share with them their delight in finding love with each other, and support their decision to be together from now until the end of time.  As this couple enters marriage, they do so with thought and reverence.  They give thanks for the past, which brought them to this place, and look forward with hope to what the future will bring.
Marriage is like a great umbrella that shelters love from the elements.  Corinthians One says that love is patient and kind. It is not jealous or boastful, not irritable, or resentful, not arrogant or rude.  Love does not insist on its’ own way.  It does not rejoice in the wrong, but rejoices in the right.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes in all things, and endures all things.  Love never ends.
This marriage is a symbol of [Bride and Groom] commitment to that love.
[Groom], will you have [Bride], to be your wedded wife, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives? Will you listen to her deepest thoughts, be tender hearted and kind and wise in your daily care of her, and stand faithfully at her side in sickness and in health? Choosing her above all others, will you undertake to care for her well-being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?   
[Bride], will you have [Groom], to be your wedded husband, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives? Will you listen to his deepest thoughts, be tender-hearted and kind and wise in your daily care of him, and stand faithfully at his side in sickness and in health? Choosing him above all others, will you undertake care for his well-being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?  
The Rings
May these rings be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate union. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place of sanctuary that many will find there a friend.  May these rings, on their fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts.
[Bride] With this ring I thee wed and with all I am and all I have, I honor you.
[Groom] With this ring I thee wed and with all I am and all I have, I honor you.
The Big Finish
[Bride] and [Groom], from this day forward your lives shall be woven of one design, and your perils and your joys shall not be known apart. As you increase in love and understanding, may your joys stand victoriously against the storm of circumstance that beats impartially on all our doors. 
Let the passing of the days and the years deepen the love of your union and make it full of tenderness and grace. May you strive all the rest of your lives to meet this commitment to each other with the same love and devotion that you now possess. 
Now since you have publicly promised your commitment to each other for all time, I call upon all gathered here to witness that according to the laws of the state of Texas, you are now married! 
You may seal your promises with a kiss.  It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#10 - Secular Ceremony
Welcome
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 the beauty and joy of life.
Reading
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 the entire 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.  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 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, 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.  
The I Do’s
When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.  Before you declare your vows to one another, I want to hear you confirm that it is indeed your intention to be married today.

At this time [Bride] and [Groom] would like to read the vows they have written for each other
The Rings
Traditionally, the marriage ceremony is marked by the exchange of rings.  The wedding ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love; a reminder that love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver - for each is the giver and each is the receiver.  May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today.
[Bride], with this ring I thee wed.  Promising to love and respect you, sharing good times and bad, in sickness and in health until death do us part.
[Groom], with this ring I thee wed.  Promising to love and respect you, sharing good times and bad, in sickness and in health until death do us part.
Since you love each other in your hearts, and have promised to help each other to live and grow, in wisdom and compassion, with these rings you bind your lives together for as long as you both shall live.
The Big Finish
The miracle of love is like the miracle of a flower.  It thrives upon the sunshine of a smile.  It entwines itself around the heart.  Its roots are secured in the memories of yesterday, and its petals breathe the promise of joy filled tomorrows.  To be loved is to know happiness and contentment.  To give love is to know the joy of sharing oneself.  It is through the miracle of love that we discover the fullness of life. 
As you embark on this wonderful journey ahead of you, hand in hand, experiencing life together, may all that is true and beautiful be with you always . . . May there be peace in your home, quietness and confidence in your thoughts, and joy and celebration in your hearts.
Dear friends and family, since [Groom] and [Bride] have thus pledged themselves in the presence of this company and they have spoken the words and performed the rites which unite their lives, by the authority vested in me by State of Texas, I now proclaim you … You may seal your promises with a kiss.  It is now my great honor to be the first to present …. 

#11 - Vow Renewal
Welcome
Dear Family and friends, welcome!  We are gathered here on this beautiful and joyful day to witness how [Bride] and [Groom] renew their vows. [Bride] and [Groom], when you first joined hands and hearts in marriage [# of years] ago, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult challenges over the years. 
But here you are today, having fulfilled the vows to “love, honor, and cherish” you made each other on your wedding day. As you celebrate here today, and as you reflect over all the years as husband and wife, do you wish to reaffirm the vows you took [# of years] ago?
Response “We do”.
Reading
Marriage is a commitment to learning to care for one another in mutually fulfilling ways. It is not an act but a life-long relationship always in the making.  Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life.  Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger. 
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid.  It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life. 
When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. 
Marriage is a promise made in the hearts of two people who love each other and the potential of marriage requires a lifetime to fulfill. 
The I Do’s
[Groom] will you continue to have [Bride] as your wife and continue to live in this happy and loving marriage?  Response “I do”.
Do you reaffirm your love for her, and will you love, honor, and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?  Response “I do”.
[Bride] will you continue to have [Groom] as your husband and continue to live in this happy and loving marriage?  Response “I do”.
Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honor, and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him for as long as you both shall live?  Response “I do”.
The Rings 
[Bride] and [Groom] on your wedding day you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle that symbolizes the eternal quality of God, unending strength, and unending love. May you always wear your rings as a reminder of your wedding vows to each other, and your commitment to continue to live in unity, love, and happiness. To remind you of that commitment made on your wedding day, you will now renew your pledge
[Bride] You are the love of my life …And you are my very best friend…With this ring…I renew my pledge of love and commitment 
[Groom] You are the love of my life …And you are my very best friend…With this ring…I renew my pledge of love and commitment
The Big Finish
[Bride] and [Groom] you have always been there as partners, companions, lovers, helpmates, and friends. Now that you have reconfirmed your love and vows, stay close and cling tenderly yet tightly as you continue your journey through this world. Keep trusting one another and being gentle with your feelings. Keep cherishing your dreams and share your joys and pains. Let the times you fall short be few… and be forgiven. And let the times you surpass your needs and hopes be many. Continue to believe in each other. Desire not to change or possess, but only to know each other honestly and completely. Respect your individuality and the things that make you each unique; but likewise honor your togetherness and the things that make you one. Care for each other truly and deeply, putting your commitment to one another before all else. Live for your love and your love will live forever. May all the beautiful gifts that come with the promises of a long loving marriage bring never-ending happiness to you both.
[Bride] and [Groom], today you have renewed the promises and vows you made to each other on your wedding day. You have symbolized the renewal of the marriage union by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by exchanging of rings. 
It is now my great pleasure to announce the continued commitment of .…..