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~12 minute ceremony
This wedding ceremony script is perfect for couples that have found their love later in life. It is filled with tender moments, compassion, and love, helping us remember that the right match can strike at any time and it’s never too late to put yourself out there. You can either download and use the script as is, or you can tweak it to fit your needs.
Introduction/Welcome/Wedding Sermon
Officiant (to guests):
Friends and family, we’ve gathered with and to commemorate this momentous milestone. Today, we publicly recognize the love and marriage of _______________ and _______________. They sure took their time finding each other, but we’re all so happy they did!
Officiant (to couple):
_______________ and _______________, marriage is all commitment It's about loving someone every day, even if they drive you insane, and being loved, even if you don't always show up flawlessly. It’s about knowing who you are now, but growing into something better with the spirit of your spouse. It's about wanting the best for your spouse, learning from one another, finding comedy and delight in ordinary moments, and supporting one another on good and bad days.
_______________ and _______________, the two of you embody this spirit of acceptance, love and adventure completely. But marriage is, of course, more than just two people. It's also the coming together of two communities and families to form one giant family. As a result, we're ecstatic to be here today, supporting this great, lovely thing you've accomplished!
Reading
Officiant (to guests):
"The Buddha spoke about four elements that constitute true love: the capacity to be kind and offer happiness, maitri in Sanskrit, compassion, the capacity to relieve suffering, karuna; the capacity to bring joy every day, mudita; and finally, the capacity of nondiscrimination, upeksha. When there is true love, there is nondiscrimination. The pain of the other is our own pain; the happiness of the other is our own happiness...To make our love meaningful, we need to nourish our bodhicitta, our mind of boundless love and compassion...First, we learn to love one person with all our understanding and insight; then we expand that love to embrace another person, and another, until our love is truly boundless."
(—Thich Nhat Hanh)
Declaration of Intent
Officiant (to couple):
_______________ and _______________, please take each other’s hands. Do you, _______________ promise to love _______________ and respect her/him, to share your life and aspirations with her/him, to create a home filled with love, happiness, commitment, and growth?
Partner 1:
I do.
Officiant (to Partner 2):
_______________ and _______________, please take each other’s hands. Do you, _______________ promise to love _______________ and respect her/him, to share your life and aspirations with her/him, to create a home filled with love, happiness, commitment, and growth?
Partner 2:
I do.
Exchanging of Vows
Officiant (to couple):
_______________ and _______________, I invite you to share your vows at this time. Please take each other’s hands and recite your vows:
_______________, you may go first.
Partner 1:
At this later time in my life, you have jolted me out of a profound slumber with your unexpectedly beautiful love. I welcome you into the very breath of my soul, to be the light in my life, to fill my joyous heart with delight beyond all imaginings. I will cradle your heart tenderly in my hands, cherishing it, and thankful every day for it. I give my soul to you on this day and I promise my heart and faithfulness to you for as breathe is in me.
Officiant (to partner 2):
_______________, you may now share your vows.
Partner 2:
At this later time in my life, you have jolted me out of a profound slumber with your unexpectedly beautiful love. I welcome you into the very breath of my soul, to be the light in my life, to fill my joyous heart with delight beyond all imaginings. I will cradle your heart tenderly in my hands, cherishing it, and thankful every day for it. I give my soul to you on this day and I promise my heart and faithfulness to you for as breathe is in me.
Exchanging of Rings
Officiant:
You've decided to exchange rings as a symbol of your marriage. These rings signify the never-ending essence of your love these will serve as a symbol of your union in marriage.
Officiant (to Partner 1):
_______________, place your ring on _______________’s finger and repeat after me. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my undying vow, with all that I am, will be, and all that I have, I honor you.”
Partner 1:
I give you this ring as a symbol of my undying vow, with all that I am, will be, and all that I have, I honor you.
Officiant (to Partner 2):
_______________, place your ring on _______________’s finger and repeat after me, “I give you this ring as a symbol of my undying vow, with all that I am, will be, and all that I have, I honor you.”
Partner 2:
I give you this ring as a symbol of my undying vow, with all that I am, will be, and all that I have, I honor you.
Pronouncement
Officiant (to couple):
Friends, I am very pleased to present, for the first time Mr./Mrs./Mx and Mr./Mrs./Mx _______________! I pronounce you wed, by the power of your love and the power vested in me by the Universal Life Church Ministries. Seal it with a kiss!
