Today, we are celebrating the love and commitment of BRIDE and GROOM with relatives and friends. You are here with blessings and mature understanding, love, hopes and dreams, trust in one another and faith in each other, to share life with everlasting loyalty and enduring love.
Marriage symbolizes a loving union of two, who strive to become one, yet never lose their separate identities. Within this bond, you will enhance each other's individuality, but will become one in heart and mind. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered by the other. We must give ourselves in love, but not give ourselves away.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful, It is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on it's own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Live your marriage and your lives by these ideals and you will live in the joy and peace with God and all mankind.
May your marriage endure forever BRIDE and GROOM. May you enrich each other's lives and may you reach old age in the company of friends and family.
LET US PRAY.
Almighty God, may we have your presence at this ceremony of marriage, in order that you, dear Lord, may guide these two individuals in the glorious and happy ways of married life. Teach them to live the life of love and honor and to have them be ever respectful of each other. We ask this in the name of the father who taught us to say when we pray -- Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine art the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
PLEASE JOIN RIGHT HANDS.
GROOM, you now take this woman whose hand you hold, to be your lawful wedded wife, hereby promising to love, cherish and protect her, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in wealth and in poverty, you will provide for and support her in accordance with the laws of God. If so, please answer, I DO.
BRIDE, you now take this man whose hand you hold, to be your lawful wedded husband, hereby promising to love, cherish and protect him, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in wealth and in poverty, you will provide for and support him in accordance with the laws of God. If so, please answer, I DO.
MAY WE HAVE THE RINGS.
GROOM, as you place this ring on the third finger of BRIDE'S left hand, please repeat after me; I GROOM take you BRIDE, to be my loving wife. I promise to be true to you, I will love and honor you, all the days of my life. Take and wear this ring, as a sign of my love and fidelity.
BRIDE, as you place this ring on the third finger of GROOM'S left hand, please repeat after me; I BRIDE, take you GROOM, to be my loving husband. I promise to be true to you, I will love and honor you, all the days of my life. Take and wear this ring, as a sign of my love and fidelity.
Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of Wisconsin, in the presence of these witnesses, I do now pronounce you man and wife on this (day of week), the (date) day of (month), Two Thousand and (year) in the County of (county).
What therefore God and joined together, let no man put asunder.
You may kiss the bride.