COMMITMENT CEREMONIES

 

 

Ceremony #1

 

Friends, today we are here to witness the public declaration of love between two people. 
You have been chosen to attend this ceremony because each of you is important to
_____ and _____ in your own special way.
Becoming partners represents an important new beginning. 
The essence of this commitment is the taking of another person in their
entirety; as lover, companion, and friend. 
It is therefore a decision which is not to be entered into lightly, but rather undertaken
with great consideration and respect for both the other person and oneself.

Love is one of the highest experiences that we human beings can have,
and it can add depth of meaning to our lives.  The sensual part of love is one of life's greatest joys,
and when this is combined with real friendship, both are infinitely enhanced.
The day-to-day companionship, the pleasure in doing things together, or in doing
separate things but in delighting to exchange experiences, is a continuous and
central part of what a couple who love each other can share.

A union symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives, yet this sharing must not diminish
but enhance the individuality of each partner.  A union that lasts is one which each
person is individually developing, while growing in understanding of the other.
Deep knowledge of another is not something that that can be achieved in a short time
and real understanding of the other's feelings can develop fully only with years of intimacy. 
This wonderful knowledge of another person grows out of really caring for the other so
much that one wants to understand as completely as possible what the other is feeling.

The exchanging of rings is an ancient custom. The rings circular shape is a reminder of the eternal, of the cycles of life, of love without beginning or end. They symbolize your commitment to each other and remind you always of the joy you have found in having a partner to share your life with.

As you place the ring on _______ finger, please say to her/him

As a symbol of how endlessly happy you make me
and of how crazy I am about you,
I give you this ring, so you and the whole world
will know how much and how always I love you.

May these rings always remind you, of this day and of the love you feel for each other at this moment. And may the love that you give to one another always come back around again, in a perfect and endless circle.

READING (any reading can be chosen)

A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we're pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we're safe in our own paradise. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.

________and _________, you have shown your desire to unite your lives by the giving of promises and the exchange of rings. At this time I am very happy to pronounce you partners for life!

LET THE KISSING BEGIN!!

 

Ceremony #2

 

disenchantment, it is a perennial grass . . .

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune but do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe ... the universe is unfolding as it should, therefore be at peace with God . . in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.

Go in peace; as one. And may your unity last through all your life together; through the trials and triumphs that lie ahead of you, so that at the end you may feel just as you do now - very happy to be in The vows of Jane & Tess:

Minister: Jane, will you love Tess when you are together and when you are apart;  when life is peaceful and when it is disordered; when you are proud or her and when you are disappointed in her;  in times of leisure and in times of work;  will you honour Tess's goals and dreams and help her fulfil them?

Jane: I will.

Minister: Jane, repeat after me: "I Jane, take you, Tess, to be my partner, to love and to cherish you, to honour and to comfort you, to stand by you in sorrow or in joy, in hardship or in ease, to be both your lover and your closest friend."

Minister: As you place this ring, symbol of your commitment in marriage, on Tess's finger, repeat after me: "With this ring, I wed you and pledge my faithful love."

The Vows of Susan and Mary:

These vows come from my heart.  I pledge to love you forever.  To be open, honest, and faithful to you.  I promise to be your best friend — to laugh, cry, sing and dance with you.  To nurture your spiritual growth and to support your dreams.  To allow you freedom and room for personal growth to become the person you are yet to be.  I promise to help create a home filled with reverence for learning, loving, generosity, and serenity.  To bring gentleness to the relationship.  I promise to listen — and honour your words and feelings.  To work through the conflicts and to resolve our problems.  I promise to comfort and to challenge you.  And to nurture your sexual being and to be your romantic lover.

The vows of Joe and Randy:

And now . . . with this ring, and before our friends and God, I promise to stay by your side, sharing our tomorrows and all that they hold;  to be with you in good times and bad;  through sickness and health, and though times of happiness and despair.  I will always be faithful to our love and to you . . . my lover, my spouse, and most of all . . . my best friend.

The vows from David to Norman:

Norman,
This is my commitment to you:
To always be here for you,
In comfort and in joy
For good, for better, and for best;
To always value your thoughts and feelings,
Even when they may differ from my own;
To always be honest with you,
Even when that honesty may be hurtful;
To always respect you as my best friend,
My one and only love,
And my soul mate,
In this life and hereafter;
And to never let any man, woman, animal or object
Become more important to me
Than this, out mutual bond.
To seal these solemn commitments,
I call as my witnesses
Oscar Wilde
Andy Wharhol,
Tennessee Williams,
Gertrude Stein,
and Alice B. Toklas.

______, I am proud to announce in public that I _______, take you, _______, as my lifelong partner. To share with you a relationship of love, tenderness and laughter.I will stand by you through all our tomorrows, respecting your individuality, your needs, and your changes and promise to enjoy your love throughout our lives.

"We gather today as Brothers in Christ to witness and celebrate the beginning of a new journey in life for these two that present themselves before us this day. This ceremony is the outward and visible sign of a sacred union of hearts and love. We rejoice in their commitment to one another and it is our prayer that they have a long and happy life together.

"The scriptures tell us of the love between Jesus and James and of David and Jonathan. It is only right and proper that Alex Clayton and Ted Baxter come forward to have their pairing consecrated. I would ask that they answer, before us all, these questions to declare their eternal devotion.

________, do you choose ______ to be your exclusive partner from this day on? Do you give yourself to him? Do you commit yourself to him for the rest of your journey in life? Do you pledge yourself to him in love and work; to cherish him above all others and respect his individuality, and encourage him in each endeavor he might pursue? Do you promise to stay and be with him through whatever life bestows upon the two of you, be it good times or bad, sickness and health, happiness and sorrow, until you are separated by death?"

Here is an example commitment ceremony. 

Minister:

Friends and family of ______ & _______ welcome.  _______ and _______, we have come as friends and family to be with you as you commit yourselves to each other.  We have come because we want to support you, and wish you every happiness in the future.  We come with our love, friendship and support and this is the greatest gift we can give you.

______ and _______ are making this commitment to each other because they believe that their relationship is about committed caring and giving.  They are continuing to learn to share their lives with each other.  Their relationship involves being prepared to face together whatever adversity may arise from day-to-day living, it is enjoying all the good times that will be spent together.  Together you will share your desires, longings, dreams and memories and help each other through your uncertainties.  Such a relationship demands patience, tolerance, a sense of humour and above all, continual recommitment to each other.

Here amidst their friends and relatives, _______ and _______ wish to pledge their love for each other and their desire to spend their lives together. They wish to share within the joy of their relationship a deeper understanding of love and what it means.

This commitment you make to each other bears witness to a relationship so close and intimate that it will profoundly influence your whole future, unknown in its failures, its pleasures and its pains, its joys and its sorrows.

Realising the full importance of these words, it is a tribute to your faith in each other that you are willing to embark on such a future together.

Love is not easy but no greater blessing can come to your lives.  So may this love which joins your hands and hearts today, grow deeper and stronger as the years go on.

_______ & _______:

I give this ring as a sign and symbol of my love.

Minister:

_______ & _______, in this commitment you have made special promises to each other, and have symbolised them by joining hands and giving rings;
I therefore pronounce you partners together in life's journey.
May you treasure this trust and responsibility and live full and rich lives together.

Minister gives a short talk about things to watch out for in their life together.

Prayer:

We are grateful for friends and relatives whose care and love have helped _____ & ______ through the past; whose patience and concern have been a constant source of strength and hope. These friends and relatives, many gathered here today, are cause for joy and thanks.

Our prayer now, is for ______ & ______, that they may continue to grow in love and mature as individuals.

May all they undertake together be tempered by respect, understanding and acceptance of each other.

Let their lives be a blessing, a sign of Christ's love in this broken world, so that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair. May their love strengthen them, so that they are enabled to reach out in concern to others,

Let ________ and ______ be to each other strength in times of need, counsel in times of confusion, comfort in times of pain, and companion in times of joy.

And we pray for ourselves - that love may be a reality in our lives, inspiring our thoughts, motivating our actions, reaching out to others as a sign in our world.

Departure:

Let us spend a little time in silence thinking of _______ and ______ as they go forth to their life together.

(silence)

We extend to you our interest and our good wishes, our friendship and our love in the promises you have made to each other.

May you have long life and every joy together.

May you live long together in joy and steadfastness through all the trials and triumphs that life has to offer you.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others . . . they too have their story.

Be yourself, especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love: for in the face of all aridity and love and together.

Go now in peace ....

 

Make a Free Website with Yola.