(Excerpt from each)

UNITY VERSION
"Beloved Friends, we are gathered here today to acknowledge and celebrate the
love that unites_____ & _____in Oneness.  We recognize this love as an expression
of God's love.  As we allow ourselves to experience this love,
let us become still.  Centered in out own love-filled hearts, let
us now bless_____ & _____on their chosen day of marriage."

ISLAND VERSION
"Surrounded by mountains, encircled by the sea, this island is a symbol
of the beauty, mystery and power of the natural world that is such
an important part of_____ & _____lives. 
For them, falling in love with each other has deepened
their connectedness to all of life."

INTERFAITH VERSION
"In love, may you relax in each other's arms as you have never relaxed before. 
May each of you know, from now on, that there is one whose love you can
depend forever.  May this marriage be your sanctuary, your haven from worldly pain. 
May you create, with God, a piece of heaven on earth.  Let us now pray together."

SECULAR VERSION
"Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them,
for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves. 
Now as you_____and you_____have consented together in matrimony and
have pledged your faith to each other by the giving and receiving of
these rings, I now pronounce you - Husband and Wife."

LITERARY WEDDING CEREMONY
For
__________&_________
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to acknowledge and celebrate the love between this man, _________, and this woman, _________.  This day they pledge themselves to a life of mutual love, honor and companionship.

Marriage is scared and strong.  The love that inspires marriage is cyclical and linear; resilient and unwavering; conquering and rejuvenating; peaceful and passionate.  Because love can manifest itself in so many ways, it is able to evolve into what we need even as our needs change and grow.  We outgrow many things and must leave them behind, but love grows with us so that we may not leave it behind.  Marriage is a union built on this type of love.

The importance of marriage, once accepted, supercedes our daily activities.  Marriage is a commitment to understanding perfectly each other's imperfections; to behaving flawlessly towards each other, with full knowledge of each other's greatest flaws; to being invulnerable though embracing each other's vulnerabilities.  What an enormous undertaking!  In order to enter such a union you have to make a bold, brave promise.  Still, many have had the inclination and courage to commit to marriage, and even more amazing, many have succeeded.

_________&__________, want to take this moment to honor their parents, whose example in this regard has been an inspiration to them.  They are who they are because you, their parents, are who you are.

This day is an important one.  This ceremony an irreplaceable event.  These activities of which all of you are a part, marks one of the greatest commitments to love, thought, truth and honesty in this couples' life.  It is the first day of a new type of existence for ______&______: a better and more worthwhile one.  On this day, in this setting, they will put one plus, one together to make a union that has greater value than simply two together.  They have asked each of you here to witness this event, because you have played a part in who they are and are part of the reason that they are standing here today.  In their memories, you will each be tied to this day and its meaning.  Therefore, ______&______ wish to honor each of you, to thank you for being here and for the contributions you have made to their lives.  They are who they are because you are who you are.  And at last but not least, ______&______, want to thank their daughter/son,_________, who has delighted their lives, and to thank her/him for being present on this day.  She/he blesses them in more ways than they can yet imagine, for which each passing day they learn ever new ways to be in love with her/him.  They are who they are because you, dear_______, are who you are.

(Groom), do you come to this marriage freely and of your own choosing? (I do)
(Bride), do you come to this marriage freely and of your own choosing? (I do)

Throughout the passage of history, tradition, and time, the faces of the couples entering into the marriage union have changed, the details have varied, and the circumstances have differed.  But in spite of these evolving elements, the core of a successful marriage has not wavered.  To love, support and respect each other is a resonating theme.  Voices from the past and present echo this advice.

"A good marriage is that in which each appoints the other the guardian of his solitude."
_____, do you promise to become the guardian of _____'s solitude? (I do)
_____, do you promise to become the guardian of _____'s solitude? (I do)

Khalil Gibran said, (1923)
"Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."

_____&_____, will each of you stand together, yet not too near together? (I will)

Charles Dickens said, (1850)
"There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose."
Are the two of you well-suited in mind and purpose? (we are)

Lucretia Mott said, (1849)
"Then in the marriage union, the independence of the husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal."

Will your independence be equal, your dependence mutual, and your obligations reciprocal? (yes)

Nancy Rose Southern has written, (1995)
"Remember always to call forth the Light of Truth and the Spirit of Love as you speak, listen, uphold and embrace one another in body, mind and spirit."

________&_______, will you remember to speak, listen, uphold and embrace one another in truth and love? (I will)

George Bernard Shaw of marriage that,
"when two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive and the most transient of passions {love}, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, abnormal and exhausting condition continuously until death do them part."

Do you each swear to remain in this excited, abnormal and exhausting condition continuously until death do you part? (I do)

In the tradition that spans the ages, _____&_____have chosen to exchange rings as an outer symbol of this commitment.  Indeed, rings are an ancient symbol; beloved, blessed and simple.  Round like the sun, like the eye, like arms that embrace.  Circles, for love that is given comes back round again and again.  Therefore, may these rings remind you that your love, like the sun, illumines; that your love, like the eye, must see clearly; and that your love, like arms that embrace, is grace upon this world.

(Groom), Please repeat after me:
With this ring, I thee humbly wed.  I give you my promise that from this day forward you shall not walk alone.  I feel so blessed to call you my wife.
(Bride), Please repeat after me:
With this ring, I thee humbly wed.  I give you my promise that from this day forward you shall not walk alone.  I feel so blessed to call you my husband.

Love alone is capable in uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves.  Now as you, _____and you, ____, have consented together in matrimony and have pledged your faith to each other, I pronounce that you are now husband and wife.  You may seal your vows with a kiss.

Apache Wedding Blessing:
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will 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 you, now there is no more loneliness.  Now you are two persons, but there is one life before you.  Go now to your dwelling place to enter into days of your togetherness.  And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

(This ceremony created by Amal Bisharat Gunderson, married 7/21/2001)

With several services to choose from and with the freedom to edit, add, delete or rewrite, the process is meaningful, fun and easy.  I will gladly work with you to incorporate the important elements of faith, family and your life's journey into your wedding ceremony.

Please call or e-mail me regarding the different services available.

For those of you who are planning your wedding somewhere besides the San Juan Islands, and would like a complete ceremony packet sent to you, I would be happy to share it with you.  Please send a $10 check or money order to me, with a return address, and I will send a complete packet to you with blessings for you and your marriage.

Nancy Rose Southern
P.O. Box 32
Deer Harbor, WA  98245
(360) 376-4288

Top of page