We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of committed marital love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite this man and woman in marriage. The commitment that the two of you are about to make is the most important commitment that two people can make, you are about to create something new, the marriage relationship, an entity that never ends.
(Are these just empty words of tradition, or do they represent a genuine promise of commitment? The longevity and quality of your marriage depends upon it! Commitment is a mindset, an attitude, a way of thinking that will enable you and your spouse to navigate through the the storms of a marriage.)
As you stand here today, are you now prepared to begin this commitment to one another?
Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?
You both agree to treat yourself and each other with dignity and respect; to remind yourself often of what brought you together today.
Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage - as these do to every relationship at one time or another - focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by love and abundance.
Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife? (this is not a trick question but it is multiple choice; yes or no, you choose)
Will you love and comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?
Will you have this man to be your wedded husband? (Again this is not a trick question but it is multiple choice; yes or no, you choose)
Will you love and comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and
forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?
Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent (before these witnesses) by repeating:
(Groom) I take you to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. (Groom places ring on Bride’s finger and repeats) (I give this ring as a sign of my commitment and fidelity to you.)
(Bride) I take you to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. (Bride places ring on Groom’s finger and repeats ) Please take this ring as a sign of my commitment and fidelity to you.)
Groom and Bride, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your commitment to each other by these vows, (and) the joining of your hands (and the giving of these rings) I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.
*August 2nd, we celebrate 32 years of marriage*
Praise God
Angel