CIVIL
   CONTEMPORARY
   
   
   
   <--GROOM TO LEFT OF YOU
   
   
   
   BRIDE TO RIGHT OF YOU-->
   
   
   
   
   
   OR BRIDE TO SIDE WIND DOESN’T BLOW VEIL/HAIR IN FACE

(((STOP MUSIC)))
   
Welcome, 
   
   _____ and _____ 
have invited you here today to share with them this joyous celebration of their love and desire to join their lives together in marriage.  
   We are here to rejoice and remember that it is love that leads us to our true destinations and to celebrate with _____ and _____ on their arrival in love and respect at this joyous ceremony. 
   
   We’re here to listen, to love, to celebrate, and to send them into their future with our outrageous, loving support. 
   
   So sit back now, open your hearts, and let the wedding begin! 
   
(((Who gives this woman to this man?))) 
	
Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. 
No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that, through love, patience, and lots of laughter: by learning to forgive and make the important things matter, letting go of the rest.

On this day of your wedding you stand somewhat apart from other people.  You stand within the light of your love; and this is as it should be.  
You will experience a lot together, some wonderful, some difficult.  But even when it is difficult you must manage to call upon the strength of the love you have for each other to see you through.  

From this day onward you must come closer together than ever before, and you must love one another with the strength that makes this bond a marriage.  

Trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.

You fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter.
You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other.

There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. 

You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of."

As you exchange your vows, remember that the sensual part of love is great, but when this is combined with real friendship both are infinitely enhanced.


   --(((VOWS WRITTEN BY THEM, OR…BELOW)))--

Will you, [[GROOM]], keep [[BRIDE]] as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day?

[[I will]].

Will you, [[BRIDE]], keep [[GROOM]] as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day?

[[I will]].


Will you, both of you, be each other's partners from this day forward? 
Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely — for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?

[[We will]].
   
 (((Ask for the rings)))
   
Rings are made precious by our wearing them.
The rings you exchange at your wedding are the most special because they say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to share your lives, to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are.  
As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are, but also what you have created together. 

(((Give [[BRIDE]]the ring)))

___________, repeat after me.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love…………

as a constant reminder I have chosen you above all others…………….

to be the one to share my life.

 (((Give [[GROOM]]the ring)))

((Repeat)) 

(((EXTRA CEREMONIES HERE IF REQUESTED)))
   
___________ and __________,

On behalf of all those present, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and by the strength of your own love, I pronounce you married, and may the blessing of God be with you. 
   
May you be supported every step of your path. May you endlessly delight one another.
   
May you rest in the comfort of knowing that you have chosen through one another to serve the highest purposes of love.  
   
Depart in peace, remembering, who God has joined, let no man put asunder.
    
You may kiss the bride 
   
   (((PAUSE FOR KISS)))
   
   
For the first time, I introduce to you… ______ and ______, [[LAST NAME]], married. 








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