Celebration of the Eternal Spirit of Love
A unique wedding ceremony for those of a more spiritual than religious nature. This ceremony is full of great ideas, but may need to be adjusted to fit certain circumstances.
Entrance of the Happy Human
Bridal party enters and is seated.
Other Happy Human walks in with his/her parents. They are seated together.
Happy Human walks in with her/his parents. They are seated together.
Welcome
Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous union of two people whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance.
Today Other Happy Human and Happy Human proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.
Minister’s message to the couple
The minister will give a short, personal message about the couple and marriage
Reading
Suggested Reading: from Gibran’s “The Prophet”
"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spades in your togetherness. And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone, even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the land 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."
Presentation of the Couple
Happy Human, Other Happy Human and their parents rise
Other Happy Human, you did not come to be here without the love and support of others. You were born into this world and were nurtured and protected as you grew into the strong and capable man you now are. Who so loved the boy that he, in time, became this man?
Other Happy Human's family: We did and we do.
And are you now willing to share your son that he may join this woman and will you now embrace her as your daughter?
Other Happy Human’s family: We are.
Happy Human, you did not come to be here without the love and support of others. You were born into this world and you were nurtured and protected as you grew into the strong and capable woman you now are. Who so loved the girl that she, in time, became this woman?
Happy Human’s family: We did and we do.
And are you now willing to share your daughter that she may join this man and will you now embrace him as your son?
Happy Human’s family: We are.
And so it will be.
Happy Human’s family and Other Happy Human’s family greet the Happy Human and Other Happy Human with hugs and kisses.
The families take their seats.
Happy Human and Other Happy Human step forward and face each other, holding hands.
Declaration of Intent
Happy Human/ Other Happy Human, do you take Happy Human to be your wedded wife/husband, to share your life as your friend, your lover, your companion to grow together in spirit and in truth and forsaking all others?
I do.
Exchange of Flowers
Minister takes fresh flowers (preferably lotus blossom) from vase and hands it to Happy Human, then takes second blossom and hands it to Other Happy Human.
By the exchange of these blossoms, symbols of Life and Spiritual Growth, you do now vow to love and cherish, each the other, and to nourish and support the other in spiritual growth.
Happy Human and Other Happy Human exchange blossoms
As the lotus begins its life in the muck and mire of the earth, then reaches upward through soil and water to unfold its blossoms in the sunlight, so may your lives, entwined together to become one, grow upward in spiritual development and evolution, to open your spiritual life together in the Sunlight of Eternal Life.
Happy Human and Other Happy Human place their blossoms together into a central vase.
Passing of the Light
Minister hands one unlighted candle each to the Happy Human and Other Happy Human.
A lighted tea light is on the table
The minister lights a candle from the tea light
May this candle flame, the symbol of spiritual illumination, be unto you both a symbol of God’s love and power. And by the lighting of each other’s candle you now signify your desire to share with each other the love, life and eternal goodness of the Divine Light of the Universe.
Minister takes the unlit candle from Happy Human
Minister hands the lighted candle to Happy Human, who then lights Other Happy Human’s candle
Minister takes the lighted candle from Happy Human.
Minister hands Happy Human the unlighted candle.
Other Happy Human then lights Happy Human’s candle.
By the lighting of these candles, symbols of the Eternal Light of Life, you do vow to aid each other in times of bliss, in times of stress, to grow in the grace and truth of the Eternal Divine Mind
Candles are placed in their holders
Exchange of Rings
May we have the rings, please?
Best man and/or maid of honor presents the rings
Happy Human/ Other Happy Human, please repeat after me:
By the symbol of this perfect circle,
I encircle my life with your life
I shall rejoice with you
Through all the seasons of life
Through the hardships of winter
Through the bright promise of spring
Through the joys of summer
Through the blessings of the autumn harvest
That our lives may be one together
Other Happy Human places Happy Human’s ring on his/her finger. Repeat with other partner.
Pronouncement
Minister places his hands on Happy Human and Other Happy Humans shoulders or holds their hands
By the authority vested in me as a minister by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by the power of eternal love and in the presence of these family and friends, I now declare that Other Happy Human and Happy Human are husband and wife/partners in life..
May blessings and peace be with you always.
You may kiss!
