Municipal Court Wedding Vow # 6

MARRIAGE CEREMONY #6

To The Family and friends of ______________ and _________________. They welcome you and ask you to join them today to be witness in their joyous expressions of love and commitment.

As guests at this celebrated event, you have been invited here to share in their happiness as you already

share in their lives. Family and friends of ____________________ unable to witness this union also share in their joy on this day.

Between them they have known many whom they have chosen to call friends. Those people who have touched their lives and shared in their thoughts. They have attained a wealth of life’s experiences; some with their association of those present here today. And so they have expressed their desire for you to share in this, their day of commitment.

_________________________and __________________________

You stand before these people, all of whom have touched your lives, to declare in their presence,
Your love for each other, your commitment to each other, and your desire to unify your lives.

You both have experienced the difficulties associated with marriage and know of the trials and tribulations of marriage and parenting.

Marriage is the highest form of expression that two people can share. It symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives yet it must enhance the differences and individuality of each partner. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered by the other. Thus it is out of the tension between separateness and union that love, whose incredible strength is equal only to its incredible fragility, is born and reborn.

You have already made your decisions to unify your lives long before today. These decisions were made in your hearts and expressed to each other as your relationship developed. Together – you discussed plans for your future, the direction of your lives, learned to understand each other’s needs and allowed your love for each other to grow, as it continues to grow each day. You are entering into this marriage with the openness and understanding of what is needed for a successful relationship.

________________________ and _________________________

You stand before me today as two mature and thoughtful people who wish to express their emotions within the framework of a meaningful life. For your self-reliance, courage and love, you deserve respect and admiration, and it is these attributes which make this a serious but solemn occasion.

Marriage is the deepest and most complete commitment that two individuals can make. It is a promise to share forever, in one another’s dreams for the future and in the joys or sorrows of the present. It is a firm and unshakable vow to live life together as long as life persists.

Marriage is the symbol of a loving union of two who strive to become one, yet never lose their separate identities. Within this bond, you will enhance each other’s individuality but will become one heart and mind.

You came here freely, willingly and lovingly to be joined together and I charge you both as you make this commitment to each other today to remember:

If you can love without overpowering
Appreciate each other without judging
Invite without demanding
Ask without pleading
Criticize without blaming
Help without insulting

You will truly enrich each other’s lives. For love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never selfish or rude.
It does not hold grudges and will hardly ever notice when others do wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love is forgiving and forgetting.

When you love someone you are loyal to him or her, no matter what the costs. Believe in each other and expect the best of each other.
Remember that love and loyalty are the foundations of a happy home. Listen to the promises you are making to each other here today. If you can live your marriage by these vows, your lives together will be full of joy and you will live in peace.

Knowing what you are about to undertake are both of you ready to join your lives in marriage?

I am

Please join your right hands

______________, do you take _____________ to be your wife? To live together as partners in marriage, to honor her, cherish her and live for her before all others, in joy and sorrow, in good times and in hard times as long as you both shall live?

I do

______________, do you take ______________ to be your husband? To live together as partners in marriage, to honor him, cherish him and live for him before all others, in joy and sorrow, in good times and in hard times as long as you both shall live?

I do

You have told me that you wish to exchange rings as a token of the commitments you are making to each other.

______________, will you take the ring you have brought, place it on __________________ left hand and repeat after me.

With this ring I pledge my love to you and join my life with yours.

________________, will you take the ring you have brought, place it on _______________left hand and repeat after me.

With this ring I pledge my love to you and join my life with yours.

Please join your hands

The giving and accepting of rings is a symbolic declaration of fidelity and love for each other. As the rings are round and without end, so may trust, your love and compassion each for the other be continuous and without end. Just as the ring, made of gold, will not tarnish neither will your love, your beliefs or commitments, as witnessed by all here this day.

Prepare candles

You have indicated that you desire to further express your love and commitment to each other by lighting a candle to symbolize the joining of your lives.

Please take these two candles you have been presented and join the flames to light the single candle.

Please join hands again.

____________________ and ______________________

Having declared in the presence of these witnesses the solemn vows of marriage, the giving and accepting of rings and the lighting of a unity candle, you have demonstrated your love for each other and indicated by your acts the desire to live in the sanctity of marriage.

So now, in the presence of these witnesses, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of Wisconsin, as Municipal Judge for the Town of Salem, I hereby do declare that you are now husband and wife.

You may kiss each other

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you: ________________________________________