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I have included the
following sample ceremonies on a page set aside for “beach” ceremonies
for several reasons:
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They were all real ceremonies held on a
beach.
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To varying degrees they each reference
the setting at the beach.
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They include rituals easily done at the
beach such as the sand ceremony, knot ceremony, bell of truce and
wish upon a shell. (If you have your heart set on a beach wedding
do not even begin to consider a unity candle. The two are mutually
exclusive.)
These ceremonies by no means represent all
that can or should be done for a wedding to be considered a beach
wedding. The only thing required is the beach. You needn’t mention the
location at all if the symbolism has no meaning for you.
I chose to share these particular beach
weddings because they also demonstrate the differences among the three
primary types of wedding services I officiate:
secular, spiritual and non-denominational
Christian.
SECULAR BEACH CEREMONY
Presentation of the Bride
Who presents this woman at her wedding this
day? ~ Escort responds
(Bride) and (Groom), please turn towards one
another, join your hands and in so doing, join your hearts.
Words of Welcome
We are gathered here today in
support of (Groom) and (Bride) as they publicly declare their love for
one another and their desire to be joined as one in marriage. We witness
the declaration of their hearts, built upon experience, and enriched by
their love. Through their mutual esteem and support their joys will be
multiplied and their sorrows diminished. They have chosen our setting at
the beach this day because of the romance, power and majesty of the
ocean. The beauty of our surroundings and the distance of the horizon
calls to mind the future that is their shared potential stretching out
before them as they go face it together. For the union (Groom) and
(Bride) create this day is not a finished action, but an ever continuing
process and a journey. By witnessing their marriage ceremony this day,
they ask you to share in their future. Thank you for being with them as
they pledge their love, devotion and joy, accepting responsibility for
the commitment they make to one another.
Declaration of Intent
The bond of marriage is one that can be entered
into only by persons who are free to offer themselves to each other.
Therefore, I ask you to state your intention. (Bride) and (Groom), have
you come here joyfully and without reservation to give yourselves to one
another in matrimony? ~ We have.
Affirmation of the Couple
(Bride) and (Groom), it is a great joy for all
of us here with you on this day, witnessing the commitment you make to
one another. (Bride), you have shared with me that some of your favorite
things about (Groom) are that he is kind, romantic, and has a fabulous
sense of humor, always able to make you laugh. (Groom), you have shared
with me that some of your favorite things about (Bride) are…well quite a
long list actually. You cherish her kindness, tenderness, generosity,
devotion to family and that she not only appreciates your sense of humor
but can make you laugh too. We are often reminded of the solemnity of
our vows, the importance of love, respect and trust and they are indeed
very important. But rarely are we reminded of how vital the little
things like a bit of kindness and the ability to laugh when the
absurdities of life become almost too much to endure are as well.
Cherish this in one another and you will surely have a marriage of great
beauty and delight.
When we love, we do not love all the time
precisely the same way each and every moment to moment, however, this is
what most of us have come to expect. We often have too little faith in
the ebb and flow of life, of love, and of relationships. We leap at the
flow of the tide and resist its ebb. We needlessly fear it will never
return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity, when life
gives us the gifts of transition and growth. Embrace the changes that
will come in your marriage, they are the means to growth and strength
for through a supportive partnership you can help one another become
better and stronger individuals.
Exchange of Vows
(Bride) and (Groom), your marriage is created
by the mutual exchange of pledges between you. And then only you can
breathe life into these words and transform them into a meaningful union
of heart, body and mind.
(Bride), please look into (Groom’s) eyes as you
repeat after me;
(Groom), there is no other person I would
rather share my life with than you.
I want to be the one to give you warmth when
you are cold,
comfort when you are in pain, and joy when
you are sad.
I will care for you as you care for me,
sharing equally in the responsibilities we
both bring to our marriage.
I will support you in all your endeavors.
I give you my trust and promise to be worthy
of your trust.
I will remain by your side now and forever
as your wife.
(Groom), please look into (Bride’s) eyes as you
repeat after me;
(Bride), there is no other person I would
rather share my life with than you.
I want to be the one to give you warmth when
you are cold,
comfort when you are in pain, and joy when
you are sad.
I will care for you as you care for me,
sharing equally in the responsibilities we
both bring to our marriage.
I will support you in all your endeavors.
I give you my trust and promise to be worthy
of your trust.
I will remain by your side now and forever
as your husband.
Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please?
The circle is a natural symbol of eternity as
it has no beginning and no end. We place the ring on the left hand
because it constitutes a direct path to the heart, a traditional
metaphor for love and devotion. Its presence reminds us of the vows we
have made and their relationship to the emotional seat of the heart. May
(Bride’s) and (Groom’s) rings reside on the hands of the lover, the
caregiver, the companion and the guide. (Bride) and (Groom) wear these
rings as a visible symbol of your unity.
(Groom), please look into (Bride’s) eyes,
placing the ring upon her finger as you repeat after me.
Let this symbol of my eternal love be a
reminder of my devotion to you.
I marry you with all that I have and all
that I am. I am honored to call you my wife.
(Bride), please look into (Groom’s) eyes,
placing the ring upon his finger as you repeat after me.
Let this symbol of my eternal love be a
reminder of my devotion to you.
I marry you with all that I have and all
that I am. I am honored to call you my wife.
Knot Ceremony
(Groom)
and (Bride) you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and
receiving of rings. Today this relationship is further symbolized by the
tying of a lover’s knot.
At this time I invite (Groom)’s and (Bride)’s mothers to come forward to
represent their respective families. These families have raised and
nurtured this man and this woman and helped them become the person each
holds most dear. It is right and fitting to acknowledge that now these
two previously separate circles of love are being united in a new and
wider circle.
(Groom’s Mother), please drape the cord over your son's wrist. It
represents the wishes and blessings your family bestows upon your child,
all that he is now and all he may become.
(Bride’s Mother), please drape the cord over your daughter's wrist. This
cord represents the wishes and blessings your family bestows upon your
child, all she is now and all she may become.
Please tie these cords over your children's hands as a visual symbol of
the joining of your two families through their hearts, bodies and souls.
May their marriage endure in faith and fidelity knowing they have the
blessing and support of the families that gave them life, hope and love.
(Groom)
and (Bride), woven into this cord, within its very fibers, are all your
hopes and dreams. With the fastening of this knot I secure the love and
happiness wished here on this day for your new life together. May this
cord draw your hands together in love so they will never be used in
anger. May the pledges you have made never grow bitter in your hearts.
Your two hearts are entwined in love, bound by all which brings strength
to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and
bad, and watch as your strength grows. Your bond is not formed of the
knots of this cord, but instead by your pledges to one another. May your
bond never be broken.
Affirmation of the Marriage
May the glory resting on all who
love,
rest upon you, and bless you and
keep you,
and fill you with happiness and a
gracious spirit.
Despite all changes of time and
fortune,
may all that is noble and lovely
and true
abound in your hearts and abide
with you,
and give you strength in all your
days together.
Declaration of Marriage
(Groom) and (Bride), with the support of your
families and friends, by the vows you have made to one another and the
strength of your commitment, it is my pleasure to pronounce you “Husband
and Wife.” Please seal your marriage with a kiss.
Wish Upon a Shell
At this time, would everyone please take your shell and hold it close to
your heart? Think of the gifts (Bride) and (Groom) bring to one another
and the beautiful potential that is their shared life together. Consider
how you can encourage them and help guide and support them in being
steadfast in the promises they have made. Make a wish or just think a
special thought for their union.
In a moment we will follow (Groom) and (Bride) to the shoreline where we
will then toss our shells into the ocean. All of our hopes and dreams
will become one with all of creation and join together the well wishes
of all of us gathered here this day.
Presentation of the Bride
Who presents this woman at her wedding this
day? ~ Escort responds
(Bride) and (Groom), please turn towards one
another, join your hands and in so doing, join your hearts.
Words of Welcome
Please gather around as we come together in the presence of this company
to join these two in marriage. If life has meaning to us at all, it
possesses it because of love. It is that which ennobles our human
experience. It is the basis for the peace of family and the peace of all
humanity. The greatest gift bestowed upon humans is the gift not of
demanding, but of giving love between two persons.
Our setting at the beach today serves as a beautiful metaphor for
marriage. Just as the conditions on the sea range from a blissful calm
to a raging storm, so our relationships change through time. The shore
absorbs the pounding of the surf as our love endures the pressures of
change and growth. (Bride) and (Groom) have chosen to exchange their
vows beside the sea because like the wonder of nature, their love for
one another can never be contained within four walls. They invite you to
take a moment to enjoy the sound of the roaring surf, the warmth of the
sun, the smell of the fresh salt air and the feel of the sand between
your toes. These are the kinds of simple pleasures in life they wish to
bring joy and wonder to their union. Thank you for standing with them at
their hour of commitment.
Declaration of Intent
The sacred covenant of marriage is one that can
be entered into only by persons who are free to offer themselves to each
other. Therefore, I ask you to state your intention. (Bride) and
(Groom), have you come here joyfully and without reservation to give
yourselves to one another in holy matrimony? ~ We have.
Blessing of the Parents
From time immemorial, weddings such as this have been public occasions
where family and friends gather to express the joy and approval they
feel for the new couple. Let me therefore ask the parents: Do you, who
have raised and nurtured these two, give your blessings to them as they
enter into this new relationship, and do you aspire in the days and
years ahead to give them your deepest love, understanding, and support
during both good times and bad? If so, please say, “We do.”
Reading
At
this time I would like to invite ______ to come forward to read from
"Union" by Robert Fulghum.
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this
point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that
moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making
promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that
were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all
those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with
“I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included
“someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are
unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are
the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to
make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things
we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment
you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend,
companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have
learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say
a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will
never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say
to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.
Affirmation of the Couple
(Groom) and (Bride), your wedding today is the public and legal joining
of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts.
Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together,
to face life and the world, hand-in-hand. Your union will expand you as
individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one
another.
You have shared with me a view of marriage that is realistic as well as
romantic. For it is a bond founded in love and the most intimate
friendship two people can create. It is dependent upon the trust,
loyalty and lifetime commitment you recognize as important if your union
is to endure throughout eternity. But bear in mind eternity is something
other than endless time. It is outside of time. It is not the past and
not the future, but now, this moment. But as soon as we contemplate the
moment it is gone. That is eternity. So if one seeks a relationship of
love throughout eternity, it must be a continual process of the here and
the now.
(Groom) and (Bride), remember to hold each other as special and unique
individuals. Do not let grudges take root, but instead be forgiving and
compassionate. From this day forward you shall be each other's home and
refuge. Guard it well. Build strength through the beauty of love. This
is the core of your marriage and why you have come to make the pledges
to one another you are about to exchange. Your marriage requires
dedication and the ability to remain open to change--to learn and grow
together. Have faith that even though you know not what the future may
bring, you go face it together. Hold true to the journey you vow today
to share forever.
Exchange of Vows
(Bride) and (Groom), I remind you that the vows you are about to
exchange belong entirely to you. Only you, by the integrity and
diligence of your lives, can make these vows last. So it is not to lofty
words or institutions that we appeal at this hour of commitment, but to
the resources which you draw from deep within yourselves, the deep well
of human need, the need to live united and loving and complete in an
imperfect world.
(Bride), please look into (Groom)’s eyes as you repeat after me.
(Groom), you are my one true love, my best friend, my soul mate.
You complete my spirit and compliment my soul.
Today, before our family, our friends and the heavens,
I pledge my love to you and promise to share the rest of my life with
you.
(Groom), please look into (Bride)’s eyes as you repeat after me.
(Bride), you are my one true love, my best friend, my soul mate.
You complete my spirit and compliment my soul.
Today, before our family, our friends and the heavens,
I pledge my love to you and promise to share the rest of my life with
you.
(Bride), do you take (Groom) to be your husband? Do you promise to stand
by his side in both times of loss as well as times of gain? Trust,
respect and celebrate him? Grow together by unselfishly encouraging,
appreciating, nurturing and supporting him? Laugh, play and enjoy the
simple pleasures together? Be there and comfort him always? And pledge
your fidelity as long as you both shall live?
I do.
(Groom), do you take (Bride) to be your wife? Do you promise to stand by
her side in both times of loss as well as times of gain? Trust, respect
and celebrate her? Grow together by unselfishly encouraging,
appreciating, nurturing and supporting her? Laugh, play and enjoy the
simple pleasures together? Be there and comfort him always? And pledge
your fidelity as long as you both shall live?
I do.
Blessing of the Hands
(Bride) and (Groom), please
hold one another's hands with the palms facing up and see the gifts they
are to you. These are the hands that work together as you build your
future. These are the hands that give you strength, supporting and
encouraging you in all your endeavors, the cherished hands that help you
to express your love, compassion and desire. These are the hands always
there to wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of
joy, and will cradle your children in their nurturing embrace.
May these hands we see before
us this day be blessed. May they long be held by wonder another,
remaining tender and gentle. May they help to create a relationship
founded in love, rich in caring and devoted to one another always. May
these hands that hold your rings, forever be ready to reach out to one
another in the glory of your love always serving one another as healer,
protector, shelter and guide.
Blessing of the Rings
May I have the rings please?
Marriage is a state in which two people come together and create a union
greater than the sum of its parts. It is difficult to express in words
the profound relationship that is love. The ring has long been a symbol
of the sincerity and permanence of a couple's love for one another and
regard for their marriage. As the circle can begin anew at any point, so
a good marriage can pick any point to renew itself. Let us bless these
rings. These circles, symbols that remind us of the sun that shines
above us, the Earth holding the sand beneath our feet and the cycle of
the tides before us that rise and fall against this beach. In this
moment, bring blessings to these rings to be symbols of unity,
commitment and renewal. May the love (Bride) and (Groom) feel for each
other this day reside always in their hearts.
Exchange of Rings
(Groom), please look into your beloved’s eyes, placing the ring, a
symbol of your love for (Bride) on her hand as you repeat after me.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.
As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you.
I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows
we have spoken today, our wedding day.
(Bride), please look into your beloved’s eyes, placing the ring, a
symbol of your love for (Groom) on his hand as you repeat after me.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.
As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you.
I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows
we have spoken today, our wedding day.
Sand Ceremony
(Bride) and (Groom), you have just sealed your relationship by the
giving and receiving of rings. Today this relationship is further
symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of
sand. One, representing you, (Bride), and all you were, all you are and
all you will ever be. The other, representing you, (Groom), and all you
were, all you are and all you will ever be.
As you now pour your two containers of sand into the third container,
they are joined together as one. As the sand is blends, we see it flow
together in a lovely pattern allowing us to see the individual colors
while appreciating the creation of something new and beautiful—just as
you encourage and support one another’s individuality in the context of
a strong union. Our prayer for you today is that your lives together be
longer than the time it would take to separate the individual grains of
sand.
Blessing of the Marriage
May (Bride) and (Groom) be
blessed with an abundance of resources and comforts, and be helpful to
one another in all ways. May they be strong and complement one another.
May they have a happy life surrounded by those they love and who love
them. May they live in harmony, true to their personal values and their
joint promises. May they always be the best of friends and their love
for one another deepen over the years.
Declaration of Marriage
What love has brought together, let no one break asunder. For as much as
you, (Groom) and (Bride) have consented to live together in marriage and
have pledged yourselves to one another, declaring the same by the giving
and receiving of rings, with great pleasure and by the authority vested
in me as a Minister in the state of Florida I do hereby pronounce you
husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.
Declaration of Intent
(Bride) and (Groom), please turn towards one another, join your hands
and in so doing, join your hearts.
The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God and therefore
is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently,
deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was
instituted. (Bride) and (Groom), have you come here joyfully and without
reservation to be united as one in holy matrimony for the rest of your
days? ~ We have.
Words of Welcome
Dearly beloved, (Bride) and (Groom) bid you welcome and express their
gratitude for your presence as they pledge their love and fidelity in
the holy estate of matrimony on this joyful day. We gather on this beach
where the pounding of the surf, the light of the sun and the glory that
is nature represent the strength, power and grandeur they wish to bring
to their union. The strength of their commitment, the power of their
spirits and the wonder of their love bring us to this hour. May they
always feel the depth of these emotions like the depths of these waters
and their marriage endure in beauty and in faith.
At
joyous occasions such as these, it is right and fitting to remember
those who are important in (Bride’s) and (Groom’s) lives but are unable
to be with us this day. We hold their absent loved ones fondly in our
hearts at this hour of commitment.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray. Dear Lord, our hearts are filled with great happiness on
(Bride’s) and (Groom’s) wedding day, as they come before you pledging
their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may be ever true
and loving; living together is such a way as to never bring shame or
heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and
understanding and rid them of all pretense of jealousy. Help them to
remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so
together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And
with the passage of time, may the home they are creating today, truly be
a place of love and harmony, where your spirit is ever present. We ask
these things in Jesus’ name; Amen.
A Reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (13:4-8)
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not
arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in
the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. Love never ends.
Affirmation of the Couple
Our setting at the beach today reminds us of the inevitable changes life
will bring to (Bride) and (Groom). Just as the shoreline changes shape
from the forces of wind, water and sand, but this beach remains, they
will inevitably change as individuals and as a couple from the forces of
time and fortune, yet their marriage shall endure. Our blessings abound
for (Bride) and (Groom) that they may be granted the beauty and strength
we see around us today.
(Bride) and (Groom) you have both shared with me that a generous spirit
is one of the things you appreciate most about one another. You value
your easy companionship, your open and honest communication and how
willing you are to sacrifice for the other. Your mutual esteem is
admirable, for the giving of yourself in love is difficult, for you must
give of your love without total submission of yourself. Therefore, in
your giving, give your joy, your sadness, your interest, your
understanding, your knowledge -- all expressions that make up life. But
in this giving, remember to preserve yourself -- your integrity, your
individuality. This is the challenge of love within marriage.
The union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind is intended by God
for your mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in
property and adversity. Your devotion, joy and love can grow, only if
you nurture them together. Stand fast in that hope and confidence,
believing in your shared future just as strongly as you believe in
yourselves and in each other this day. Only in this spirit, can you
create a partnership that will strengthen and sustain you all the days
of your lives.
Exchange of Vows
(Bride) and (Groom) this covenant is meant to be a beautiful and sacred
expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows to each
other, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so
in all seriousness, and yet with a sense of great joy; with the deep
conviction you are committing yourselves to a growing relationship of
trust, mutual support, and caring love.
(Bride), please look into (Groom’s) eyes as I ask you;
As
you stand here before your family and friends in the midst of God‘s
eternal love, do you, (Bride), take (Groom) to be your wedded husband
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and for worse, for
richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish, according to God's holy ordinance; giving him
everything within your heart, body and soul to give? ~ I do.
(Groom), please look into (Bride’s) eyes as I ask you;
As
you stand here before your family and friends in the midst of God‘s
eternal love, do you, (Groom), take (Bride) to be your wedded wife
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and for worse, for
richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish, according to God's holy ordinance; giving her
everything within your heart, body and soul to give? ~ I do.
Blessing of the Rings
May I have the rings please?
As circles have no beginning and no end, rings
have naturally come to symbolize eternal love within the union of mind,
body, and spirit that constitutes the sanctity of marriage. They are
freely offered as gifts of faith and hope as visible signs of the
promises given this day. Dear Lord, bless these rings. May their shine,
like the reflective waters before us, mirror the sacred vows made
between them. May their radiance, like the sun above us, grace their
hands with a warm and nurturing presence. May their durability, like the
ground below us, be a symbol of the strength of (Bride’s) and (Groom’s)
eternal commitment, now and forever. Amen.
Exchange of Rings
(Groom), please look into the eyes of your beloved, placing the ring
upon (Bride’s) finger as you repeat after me.
With this Ring I thee wed,
with my Body I thee worship,
and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow:
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Bride), please look into the eyes of your beloved, placing the ring
upon (Groom’s) finger as you repeat after me.
With this Ring I thee wed,
with my Body I thee worship,
and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow:
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Reading
A
Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4 Verses 9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their
effort. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to the
person who is alone when he stumbles and has not a helpmate to lift him
up. Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm
alone? And though someone might prevail against one who is alone, two
will withstand any challenge.
Bell of Truce
(Bride) and (Groom) have a view of marriage that is as realistic as it
is romantic and have chosen to demonstrate the strength of their
commitment and dedication within the context of their wedding ceremony.
They recognize their union will experience moments of distance and
perhaps a little turmoil.
As bells
have long been associated with weddings with their joyous tones
announcing the good tidings, I present this bell to (Bride) and (Groom)
and ask them to give it a hardy ring while thinking lovely thoughts
about one another and their future life together.
(Bride) and (Groom), keep this bell in your
home to remind you of your wedding day. When arguments arise, and they
will, put this bell to its best use. One of you should ring the bell to
call a truce. Its sound will remind you of your wedding vows, conjure up
the happiest memories from this day and help you resolve our differences
lovingly and compassionately.
Blessing of the Marriage
Let us pray. Dear Lord, help (Groom) and
(Bride) to follow and serve you with an ever growing commitment because
of their union. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their
hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their
foreheads. Guide them into greater love, compassion, forgiveness and
sacrifice as they care for each other's needs, knowing you will care for
them and may their mutual esteem in marriage be a radiant reflection of
your love for all of us. Amen.
Declaration of Marriage
For as much as (Bride) and (Groom) have consented together in holy
wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and
thereto have given and pledged their loyalty, each to the other,
declaring the same by giving and receiving a ring, I pronounce that they
are Husband and Wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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