Special Ceremonies: For Those Special Moments

 

Rose Ceremony for Mothers:

 

Marriage is a coming together of two lives and a celebration of love of two people. But it is more. The love that you feel for one another is the flowering of a seed your mothers planted in your hearts many years ago. When you were first born, you were a bundle of diapers and tears, and your mothers lost sleep caring for you. Their love for you has brought them great happiness and great challenges, and their love did not diminish as they met these challenges. That is the great lesson you can bring into your marriage. As you embrace one another in your love, so too do you embrace the families which have been brought together on this happy occasion. As a token of your gratitude for your families, I would like you to offer these symbols of eternal love, these roses, to your mothers.  (Both bride and groom can hand the roses to each mother together, offering the mothers kisses if they wish)

 

 

Sand Ceremony:

 

Over the centuries people have developed many ways to describe and symbolically represent the union of two people and their families. Often it has been the eternal symbol of the ring and the signing of a document, binding two people.

Now many times people seek to symbolize their union in a deeper spiritual nature.

The ceremony which represents this joyous spiritual union today is based on coloured sand, physically each colour is to represent not only the life of the separate individuals standing here before you today. But each granule of sand also represents the different experiences these two bring to this relationship, grains of loving times and granules of painful times, and grains of all that is to come. All different, but all blending to create oneness, a uniqueness of person.

 

Yet in the larger sense, each jar of sand represents the families and friends of these two. Each grain is a testament of a life, a person that has touched their lives, in the here and now, in the past and those who are to come.

In this symbolic spiritual act we are about to do. We know there must be a bond, a bond that binds the past, present and future of this loving couple. It is a bond we all cherish and seek an eternal hope for all. And it is a simple word called Love.

So in love (Names) please lift your jars of life and love. Lift them high and celebrate not only your love for each other but the love that is poured into each jar of life by your family and friends. Now pour them into the centre jar and cherish the thought that each grain is part of you blending with the other. There will be no secrets, no hidden fears or worried mistrust. Your lives are now one, conjoined but separate, each grain is your uniqueness but love binds the whole.

So to you two I say cherish and uphold the uniqueness of each other and nurture the oneness that has been created here today. Bless you.

 

 

Unity Candle:

 

(Candles lit before ceremony by both Mothers)

At this time we will have the lighting of the unity candle.

 

(Couples Names) stand here today as two separate people, but there are three lives before you: his life, her life and their life together. (and also the lives of their children who also are being brought into this union today.)

 

(Couples Names) The two outside candles set before you, represent your individual lives, each with your separate ways, coming from distinctive family backgrounds and reflecting your unique individualities. Separate wonderful lights with their marvelous different dancing colours.

 

To bring harmony and happiness to your home and family there must be a merging of these two lights into one light, a light of multi hued individuality but a light of oneness in a new dance of life.

 

From now on your individuality will be matched by your mutuality, your sharing of all your joys and all your sorrows into this new dance of light and life.

 

As each of you takes a candle…..

And, together you light the centre candle…….

Then replace your own candles in their holders………

 

You now bring into being a new family. From this time onward this light of family will be your meeting place, a place of freedom and solace. If ever there is silence between you both and the words cannot be found, one of you light a candle to say to the other that there is a need to speak in and of love.

As this one light can not be divided, neither shall their marriage or lives be divided.

May the radiance of this one light be a witness to the unity you accept into your lives today.

May your marriage grow stronger through all the years ahead.

May it ever be a source of sustenance to your individual spirits.

 

 

Hand Ceremonies

 

 

 

 

Hands of the Bride & Groom Ceremony

 

Now, the maid of honour and best man will do the Hand Blessing. (Or others.)

Speaker: (Name), please hold (Name) hands, palms up, so you see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children and help you hold your family as one.  These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief fills you. These are the hands that will give you support and celebrate with you in your accomplishments.   And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Speaker: (Name), please hold (Name) hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children and help you hold your family as one.  These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to fulfill your dreams.  And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Optional: Officiant: God bless these hands that you see before you this day. May, they always be held by one another. Give them strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the darkness of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love.  Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection of love.  May, (Name) and (Name) see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your Name. Amen.

 

Longer Hand Ceremony:

 

(Bride), please face (Groom) and hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands that will work along yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands that you will place with expectant joy against your stomach until he too feels his child stir within you.

These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes, eyes that are completely filled with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

 

(Groom), please hold (Brides) hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young, and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when its time to let go.

These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish can be realized.

Officiant:    

God, bless these hands that you see before you this day.  May, they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring and devoted in reaching for your perfection.

May (Bride) and (Groom) see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your name.

 

Rose Ceremonies

 

A Short Rose Ceremony:

 

Name & Name, you will remember this day for the rest of your lives. Those of us who are already married know that marriage, like life, brings with it many joys and also many challenges. We also know that love, while beautiful, does not always show its prettiest face. There are days when we may find it hard to express the depth of our love for one another. It is my hope and prayer that the two of you will set aside a special place in your home for roses, ancient symbols of love. When words fail you, or when the challenges of life or marriage begin to weigh on you, go out and get a rose, and put it in that special place in your home, so that the other will be reminded of this moment, and of the love you feel for one another. As a token of that love, I would like to ask you to make these roses your first gifts to one another as a married couple.

 

Another short Rose Ceremony:

 

A single red rose always meant “I love you”.

Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings – which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other.

But for your first gift as husband and wife I want you now to give each other the gift of a a single rose. So please exchange your first gift as husband and wife; a gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

Remember, the single rose says the words: “I love you”.

There may be times filled with happiness, sorrow, tears or laughter,whatever it may be, remember love has given you wings; your journey begins today; Name & Name, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, remember the love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make your marriage a glorious union, and it is by love that your marriage will endure.

 

The Long Rose Ceremony:

 

In the Rose Ceremony, the Bride and Groom give each other a Rose. Two roses are all that is necessary. The Rose Ceremony is placed at the end of the ceremony just before being pronounced husband and wife. It goes like this:

A single red rose always means “I love you”.
Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings – which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other. Now for your first gift as husband and wife I want you now to give each other the rose you hold.

(Exchange Roses)

Name & Name, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future – whether it be a large and elegant home – or a small and graceful one – that you both pick one very special location in your home for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion of your marriage, you both may take a rose to that special spot in your home, both as a re-commitment to your marriage – and a re-commitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love.

And try to remember this: In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It might be difficult some time to say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you”; “I need you” or “I am hurting”. If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words to express what you really feel, Go to that spot that you both have selected and there leave a rose. That rose placed in that special location can say what matters most of all. The rose you place there will say the words: “I still love you.” The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.

Name & Name, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, remember this, it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.

 

Adding a part for children:

 

If a couple is adding the "Rose Ceremony", often they will have a rose for each of the children. After exchanging roses, the couple will then give each child a rose, a hug, and whisper, "I love you." "Not only are Name & Name creating a marriage today, but they also are forming a family with (child/children's name(s)). Just as it is appropriate for Name & Name to declare their love for each other in the gift of a rose, they also wish to show you (to the children) how much they love you with the gift of a rose."