Sample Ceremony, Handfasting & Pictures - Dream Come True Wedding Ceremonies

See bottom of page for pictures of a few ceremonies we have had the pleasure to perform.

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Sample Wedding Ceremony

Ceremony written by

Rev. Donna Favicchio

Altar table set up:

A small table with a white cloth
a white lotus flower votive holder representing universal divinity
A white pillar candle, (representing the marriage)
two white taper candles representing couple (in this case Pat and Terry).
the wedding rings on small individual white cloth;
possibly- a small bowl of water
a burning incense stick.

(None of the candles are lit at the beginning of the ceremony)

Welcome:

Please be seated. (If this is not already the case.) On behalf of Pat and Terry, I welcome you all here today. Your love and support makes this occasion all the more special for them. ...Thank You. ...

Invocation:

On this joyous occasion, we call upon the divine presence of the universe that is present within in each of us. We ask that every blessing of this moment be met upon every step of the journey for Pat and Terry. We summon the endless divine grace that is abundant to all of us, to guide them to their highest potential with clear intent, in both their love and commitment for each and for their individual goals. We ask that their paths remain lit. ...And should they encounter the shadows that life sometimes casts, we ask that they find your inner presence with ease, and that you continue to bless them with the wisdom of the ages. ... With all that we are, we give thanks. And so it is.

Foundation:

The romantic relationship between two people is the most intimate of human relationships. Yet the age old ritual of marriage is at once public and private. But no ceremony can create your relationship. The sum of each of you will do that every day for years to come. This is only a marking of time. The day you chose to open a passage together. ...A proclamation. ...Although you are about to create your own unique union, you’ll not lose touch with that part of you that makes each of you an individual; for that part of you is what the other is attracted to. Your gifts are not two halves that will come together to make a whole, but rather two wholes that come to fit together. Each an individual, yet becoming a part of the other’s heart; ...in passion and in friendship; ... with support, understanding, and loving kindness ...

Unity Candle:

(Officiant lights white lotus candle as symbol of Divine source)

Pat and Terry, I ask you now to light the single wedding pillar candle with each of the taper candles that represent your individual light. ...Take the flace from the one lotus candle that represents God and all Divinity.

Personal Vows:

Marriage begins with the giving of words; your declaration of an unconditional promise of love and fidelity. Pat and Terry, are you ready to state your vows?

Pat, repeat after me:

Terry, I take you to be no other than yourself. ........(pause)

Loving what I know of you.......(pause)

Trusting what I do not yet know..........(pause)

With respect for your integrity ......(pause)

and faith in your love for me.......(pause)

Through all of our years together......(pause)

And in all that life may bring us.......

(Officiant): Terry, repeat after me:

Pat, I take you to be no other than yourself. ........(pause)

Loving what I know of you.......(pause)

Trusting what I do not yet know..........(pause)

With respect for your integrity .....(pause)

and faith in your love for me.......(pause)

Through all of our years together......(pause)

And in all that life may bring us.......

Legal Vows:

Officiant: Please join hands.

Pat, Do you take Terry here beside you to be your lawful wedded ..., to have and to hold from this day forward?

Terry: I do

Terry, Do you take Pat here beside you to be your lawful wedded ..., to have and to hold from this day forward?

Pat: I do.

The Ring Ceremony:

From the earliest of times the circle has been a symbol of completeness; ...a symbol of committed love. It is a symbol of wholeness perfection and peace. As often as you look at this token, be reminded of your love and commitment to each other. I cleanse these rings from all who have touched them before you. (Pause) I fill them with the presence of the Divine light. Keep them safe in the circle of your protection.

Pat, Repeat after me:

Terry, I offer you this ring as a symbol of my love and the vows we have taken...........(pause)

I ask that you take it,

and wear it

so that you may know my love and support

is ever present. (Place the ring on Terry's finger)

Terry, repeat after me:

I accept this ring as a symbol of your love.

(continue)

Pat, I offer you this ring as a symbol of my love and the vows we have taken...........(pause)

I ask that you take it,

and wear it that you may know my love and support

is ever present. (Place the ring on Pat's finger)

Terry, repeat after me:

I accept this ring as a symbol of your love.

Benediction

‘Happiness’ - There are signs of happiness all around today. Bless all that is good and the good that is in all people and all things. Pat and Terry, Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will be warmth for the other. Now there is no more loneliness. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your future, to enter into the days of your life together. And may your days be good and long upon the earth. A happy marriage is a lifetime of falling in love. ... By the power vested in me by the state of NY, I now pronounce you ..., I invite you to share your first kiss as a married couple. ... (Recessional Music)

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Sample Hand Fasting Ceremony

written by

Rev. Donna Favicchio in Collaboration with "Lisa-a bride"

Welcome/Introduction:

(before bride and groom and attendants enter)

Officiant: Good afternoon everyone and welcome. Kevin and Lisa have chosen the ancient rite of hand fasting for their wedding ceremony.

Hand fasting originated in the British Isles more than 3000 years ago. It was one of the first practices of marriage and weddings. It is a profound and poetic ceremony. It is full of magic, drama and symbolism. It is almost "Shakespeare-ian." ...This rite holds a lot of rich symbolic meaning. It expresses love and commitment as well as the willful joining of body mind and Spirit.

Ceremonies of old always began with the calling and honoring of the elements, Air, Fire, Water Earth and Spirit. The directions of East, South, West and North represent and hold each of those elements.

(With this Officiant walks in a circle spreading rose petals from a basket, creating a cirlce of rose petals on the floor. Then walking the circle again-beginning in the East, drops’ the yellow ribbon and says:)

*The element of air is held in the East. East holds for us simplicity and understanding. It holds for us the time of beginnings because the Sun rises in the East every day, and so every day we are given a new beginning. The East holds hope and the color that correlates with the East is Yellow, because it is the lightest of the primary colors

(Walking to the next corener-the officiant now drops the Red ribbon and says ...)

*The next element to be honored is Fire. Fire is held in the South because the Sun takes a Southern route on it’s journey to the West each day.The South and the element of fire hold for us passion, desire and drive. The color the South holds is red.

(Walking to the next corener-the officiant now drops the Blue ribbon and says ...)

*Naturally moving around the compass as we follow the Sun’s journey, is the West. The West holds the element of water. It represents compassion, emotion and clarity. Just as the Sun sets in the West each day, the West represents completed tasks, journeys and missions. It holds a sense of accomplishment and rest. The color that the West holds is blue, the color of the ocean as it reflects a clear sky.

(Walking to the next corener-the officiant now drops the Green ribbon and says ...)

*And as we complete the Circle, we come to settle in the North. The element the North holds is the grounding of Earth.

The stone; the stability on which we walk. The North holds for us all of the elements. Its’ color is green, the color of prosperity. Spirit, especially the Spirit of Love is represented by the Rose Petals. The Spirit of Love is the Basis for all of the other elements to exist.

Bride and Groom enter the center of the rose petal circle with officiant and take their places.

One at a time each of the four attendants enter and take their place in each of the directional corners on the outside of the rose petal circle with the ringing of a bell.

Attendant #1: . Officiant rings deep sounding bell.

Attendant #2:. Officiant rings deep sounding bell.

Attendant #3: Officiant rings deep sounding bell.

Attendant #4: Officiant rings deep sounding bell.

The Vows/Hand-fasting

Officiant: The words conveyed today will last you a lifetime. Kevin and Lisa have written the vows they will share today (below).

Kevin and Lisa, Please cross your arms and take each others hands

(Officiant will tie red chord around the couple’s joined hands.)

The joining of hands in this manner creates a figure eight on its’ side, which is the eternity symbol.

This represents that the love you share will last an eternity.

Kevin and Lisa will now state their own vows to each other.

Sacred Trust Vows: (Kevin and Lisa state together)

I have loved many

But I have trusted few

And I trust only one enough to stand here today and pledge my love.

I trust you with my life like I trust my own destiny

Of which you are a part.

I trust you not to hurt me save by accident

I trust you to respect me in places seen and unseen

And to make your words reflect that respect

I trust you to fight withe me, yet never lose faith in our love

And to fight by my side for those things that I value

I trust you to be considerate of my heart before you act

I turst you to see things in me that I cannot

And to speak clearly and truthfully and not hold back your thoughts

I trust you to accept that dance that I am given

by my Gods and Goddesses

And support me on that path as I serve them

I trust you to believe that I will give back

Everything you give to me

Three times over

Officiant: ..It is no accident that the symbol of marriage is the ring; Please take a journey around the circle (rose petals) three times round.

Legal Vows:

Officiant: To listen and laugh; to need and to know...

Kevin, do you take Lisa here beside you to be your lawful wedding wife, to have and to hold, love and to cherish from this day forward.

Kevin: I do

Lisa, do you take Kevin here beside you to be your lawful wedding husband, to have and to hold, love and to cherish from this day forward.

Lisa: I do

(Untie and remove chord)

Ring Ceremony

Officiant: The circle that never ends.

Time turns in circles of birth and death and rebirth yet again.

By taking on the symbol of the circle you make a promise to remember always that all things come around, to keep faith in Spring while enduring Winter.

Do you have the rings?

Kevin repeat after me.

Lisa, I give you this ring as a token of my love and commitment.

I ask that you take it and wear it proudly as my wife.

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Lisa repeat after me.

Kevin, I give you this ring as a token of my love and commitment.

I ask that you take it and wear it proudly as my husband.

Closing

Officiant:

Above you are the stars.

Below you are the stones. .