This very brief ceremony is more religious than most weddings I've celbrated.
Danny, John and Don enter,
Johnny enters
Dana and Amanda enter, each carries one white rose
Laura enters
Annie enters escorted by David
Who brings Annie here today and gives blessing to this marriage?
David “ Her mother and I do.”
Please be seated
Annie hands bouquet to Laura
Marriage is a union of two lives, making of the two, one life together. I am honored to be included in this ceremony. I ask of the friends and family gathered here today ‘Is there any lawful reason why these two should not be joined together in Marriage?”
In Chapter 6 of GENESIS, Adam observes “A man shall leave his father and his mother and he shall cleave unto his wife.” Adam spoke here as a prophet, with direct experience of the nature of a man, of the design God has written in our blood.
Proverbs tells us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths.”
Thoughtful of these passages, and having found no reason why you should not be married, I ask Annie, Do you wish to marry John today?”
ANNIE “Yes”
DANNY” John, do you wish to marry Annie today?”
JOHN “Yes”
A rose symbolizes love. As a red rose means romantic love, a white rose means familial love. Annie and John would like to present a white rose to their mothers at this time to signify that they do not leave their families behind, but join them together in a larger circle, Drawing on the love of their families as they build a new family together.
John & Annie take a rose from Amanda & Dana and carry them to their Mothers.
“John and Annie: do you have gifts to exchange?”
Don hands the rings to Danny
On behalf of the family and friends of Annie and John, I bless these rings, and name their significance to be the unending circle of affection, respect and support which marriage embodies.
‘John, place this ring on Annie’s finger and repeat: “With this ring I thee wed.”
‘Annie, place this ring on John’s finger and repeat, “With this ring I thee wed.”
“ Let us pray together…As this community is brought to understand God through Jesus Christ and to ask for God’s blessings and to give thanks in His name, we ask for His love to include and support love within this marriage, and to warm them when they grow cold, and to strengthen them when they weaken, and to nourish them when they hunger. And we give thanks that they have found each other and found love in each other and have promised to preserve that love before us all.” AMEN
By the power vested in me by the State of California and the church, I hereby pronounce you to be lawfully wed, and to be husband and wife for as long as you both shall live.
You may kiss the bride.
It is with pleasure and pride I introduce for the first time, Mr. And Mrs. John Tucker