Blended Family Ceremony #1
Julie and Reid, we gather here today to celebrate your love for each other by exchanging wedding vows and becoming husband and wife.
Marriage is a serious commitment that you are making to each other in front of these witnesses, your family. You are making promises to each other to love, honor, cherish, and to be faithful to one another, with the intent that this marriage is to last a lifetime.
Your story is one of beauty. You fell in love, you drifted apart. And now, by fate, you are reunited and committed to remaining together for the rest of your lives. Not only that, you are enthusiastically embracing and embarking on the adventure of a whole new family. Your email address tells it all! Bixlers – LOVE – 7!
Before I start the vow portion of the ceremony, I would like to read the Christmas card that Reid sent Julie last year:
In your voice,
I hear it
In your smile,
I see it
In your touch,
I feel it
You are all the things I love.
I've never loved anyone
the way that I love you.
I've never known someone so well
and still felt there was so much left to discover...
never been able to say "I love you"
and have it mean something beautifully different every time.
I've never known someone
I could spend hours with
and still long for time to share...
never felt so close to someone
in so many ways.
And even though
I know I'll never be able
to tell you with words
how much you mean to me...
I hope you somehow understand
that the love I feel for you
is more beautiful, more meaningful
than words could every say.
THE VOWS
And now ... for the "I do's"!
Reid, do you take Julie to be your lawfully wedded wife?
I DO.
Will you please repeat after me:
I give you my promise to be by your side forevermore.
“
I promise to love, to honor,
“
and to listen as you tell me of
“
your thoughts, your hopes, your fears, and your dreams.
“
I promise to love you deeply and truly
“
because it is your heart that moves me,
“
your head that challenges me,
“
your humor that delights me,
“
and your hands I wish to hold
“
until the end of my days.
“
Julie, do you take Reid to be your lawfully wedded husband?
I DO.
Will you please repeat after me:
I give you my promise to be by your side forevermore.
“
I promise to love, to honor,
“
and to listen as you tell me of
”
your thoughts, your hopes, your fears, and your dreams.
“
I promise to love you deeply and truly
“
because it is your heart that moves me,
“
your head that challenges me,
“
your humor that delights me,
“
and your hands I wish to hold
“
until the end of my days.
“
THE RING EXCHANGE
The wedding ring is a symbol of unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. Today, Reid and Julie give and receive these rings as confirmations of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to create a life that is whole and unbroken, and to love each other without end. Julie has a special story regarding her rings and she would like to share it now:
Julie … talk about your Grandmother’s ring and the manner in which you ended up with TWO!
(Reid gets rings ready to place on Julie’s hand…)
Reid, take these rings and place them on Julie’s finger, and state your pledge to her, repeating after me:
This ring is a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
This ring is a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
(Reid’s ring in Julie’s hand…)
Julie, take this ring and place it on Reid’s finger, and state your pledge to him, repeating after me:
This ring is a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
This ring is a symbol of my love and commitment to you.
Julie and Reid, you have
declared your love for each other. In your decision to spend the rest of your
lives together you have accepted the responsibilities of parenthood towards
each other's children from other important relationships. You have established
a home where each child finds love, security and acceptance. As part of your
love for each other, I now ask you to make your promises to them. Please repeat after me:
Taylor, Luke, Isabel, Alyssa, and Jackson…
Taylor, Luke, Isabel, Alyssa, and Jackson…
we promise to love and support you
“
to be there for you
“
to listen to you and respect you
“
to cherish and guide you
“
to help you learn right from wrong
“
to show you how to respect others and the world around you
“
to be there when you need us
“
and to give you love and make you part of our new family
“
SAND CEREMONY
Please gather around the table. You have each chosen your favorite color to represent the individual that is you. As you each hold your sand, the separate containers represent your lives at this moment; individual and unique. As you combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one, as a family. Go ahead and pour!
As a collection of words, this ceremony would count for little, were it not for the love and commitment you pledged to one another here, at this beautiful place by the sea. Your vows may have been spoken in minutes, but your promises to each other will last a lifetime.
And now with the authority vested in me by the State of California, I have the pleasure to pronounce you ...
Husband and wife!
Reid, you may now kiss your bride.
The KISS
Presentation:
And now, I have the pleasure of presenting to you Mr. and Mrs. Reid *************!
Blended Family Ceremony #2:
Welcome.
Anthony, Mellie, and Jordan wish to welcome you on this joyous occasion to celebrate their love for one another as they exchange wedding vows and become husband and wife and form a new family.
They wish to acknowledge you and thank you for being here today. For your love, for your support, and for your presence here today to witness their wedding vows.
INTRODUCTION:
Mellie and Anthony, we gather here today to celebrate your love for each other by exchanging wedding vows and becoming husband and wife.
Marriage is a serious commitment that you are making to each other in front of these witnesses. You are making promises to each other to love, honor, cherish, and to be faithful to one another, with the intent that this marriage is to last a lifetime.
Growing old together:
Before you exchange vows, I have a wish for the two of you.
Sometimes when you walk on the beach, or are in a park, or you’re in a restaurant,…it could be anywhere. But. You see an old couple together. They may not be talking. They may just be walking, hand-in-hand. You might see them on a dance floor, moving together as though they were one.
You can tell at a glance that they’ve been together for many years.
You know that they’ve had heartbreak and sadness in their life, along with incredible joy, and sorrow, but there they are – together – after all those years. They’ve been steady. They’ve honored their commitment, the promises they made on their wedding day – to stick it out, come what may.
This is my wish for you. Fifty years from now, I hope you will be this couple. Deeply connected, still in love. When people observe you walking on the beach, holding hands – they will know with just one glance that you’ve been true to your wedding promises – that you’ve been there for each other, loving each other, supporting each other, come what may.
That’s what marriage is about. It’s about the future – your future together.
And now, for the vows. Anthony and Mellie, will you together, repeat after me:
The vows I take will be forever
I’ll love you all my life
There’s no part way, no holding back
Once we are man and wife.
INDIVIDUAL VOWS
Anthony, do you promise to love, honor, and cherish Bride for the rest of your days?
“I do”
Mellie, do you promise to love, honor, and cherish Groom for the rest of your days?
“I do”
Anthony, look into the eyes of your one true love, and repeat after me:
Mellie, today I take you to be my wife.
Together we will create a home,
Completing one another.
I vow to help create a life that we can cherish,
inspiring your love for me,
and mine for you.
I vow to be honest, caring and truthful,
to love you as you are
and not as I want you to be,
and to grow old by your side
as your love and best friend.
Mellie, look into the eyes of your one true love, and repeat after me:
Anthony, today I take you to be my husband.
Together we will create a home,
Completing one another.
I vow to help create a life that we can cherish,
inspiring your love for me,
and mine for you.
I vow to be honest, caring and truthful,
to love you as you are
and not as I want you to be,
and to grow old by your side
as your love and best friend.
Anthony and Mellie,
Then if you'll have, and if you'll hold,
From now until you’re really old,
And if you'll love through good and bad,
And whether you are glad or sad,
And love in sickness, and in health,
And when you're poor, and when in wealth,
And if you'll love with all your hearts,
From now until death you do part,
And love each other through and through,
Please answer with these words, “I do!”
(“I do”)
RING CEREMONY:
Will the best man (or ring bearer or whoever) please present the rings:
Anthony, please repeat after me:
I give you this ring as a reminder
That I will love, honor, and cherish you,
In all times,
In all places,
And in all ways
Mellie, please repeat after me:
I give you this ring as a reminder
That I will love, honor, and cherish you,
In all times,
In all places,
And in all ways
These sacred vows are not just between Mellie and Anthony. Because you will not only be a new couple, you will be a new family. So Jordan will you please join us now for the special family rites of this wedding.
[Mellie and Anthony face Jordan]
Mellie takes Jordans hand.
Mellie, please repeat after me:
I love you, Jordan
I am devoted to making your life full of happiness
and accomplishments,
nurturing your creativity,
encouraging your independence,
and making sure you always know
what a gift you are to this world.
Anthony, will you please take Jordan’s hand and repeat after me:
Jordan Thank you for sharing your Mom with me
loving me and allowing me to love you with all of my heart
Today I promise that now I will love and support you as my own
in every step that you take in your life.
This necklace is a symbol of our love and devotion to you.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
When we marry, we receive something tangible. We gain a partner. We gain a lifelong friend. We belong.
Anthony, Mellie now belongs to you. She is yours. Cherish her.
Mellie, Anthony now belongs to you. He is yours. Cherish him.
CLOSING POEM
Together, Bride and Groom, repeat after me:
From this day forward,
You shall not walk alone.
My arms will be your shelter,
And my heart will be your home.
Groom and Bride,
Remember the love that brought you here today,
It is love which makes it a glorious union,
And by love which your marriage shall endure.
May God bless this day and always enrich you so that your love will never end.
PRONOUNCEMENT AND KISSING:
Mellie and Anthony, on behalf of the family and friends who are here to witness your vows, and by the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Anthony…you may now kiss your bride!
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you, Anthony, Mellie, and Jordan!