Approximate Time: 18-22 minutes

With music, entrance, and exit: 27-35 minutes

WELCOME

On behalf of (Groom)____________ and (Bride)______________, I would like to thank all of you for being here to share in their special day.  This moment in time is truly a cause for joyous celebration, for we are here to witness not only the beginning of a new marriage, but also the beginning of a new family.  Today, (Grooms Full Name)____________________ and (Bride's Full Name)____________________ will be united in marriage, and (Children)_____________________________ will be entering this new family to make it complete.

CONSENT

So, (Groom)__________________, (Bride)_____________________, and (Children)__________________________________________, are all of you ready to make a commitment to this marriage and to this new family that is beginning today?

(Groom, Bride and children answer): Yes, we are.

Who presents (Bride)__________________ to be married to (Groom)_________________________?

(The Escort shall say): Her Mother and I or I do or We do or Her family or other.

(Bride gives bouquet to Maid of Honor)

ADDRESS AND READINGS

Today, a new chapter is being written in your lives.  We could call the title of this chapter, "New Beginnings."  You are beginning new relationships to your family, to your friends, and to each other.  you are beginning a new life together; you are beginning a new family; you are beginning a new home.  As you build this new home together, remember there are three important ingredients you will need to add to the recipe we call "Marriage and Family."

The first ingredient is TIME.  It is going to take time for your home to be everything you want it to be.  It will take time to blend your lives together into a new family.  See your new family as beautiful rainbow with each individual person having a distinct color, each one providing a different shade to make the rainbow complete.  But remember, it takes both the sun and the rain to make a rainbow, and so it will be in your relationships with one another.  The rain may come and dampen things at times, but rain is necessary to make things grow.  Soon, the sun will shine and bring forth the many different colored facets of your lives.  In time, you will begin to see what a precious gift you have in each other--what a beautiful rainbow this family will become.  So, let TIME take its time.

The second ingredient is TALK. Communication is vitally important in your relationship as a family.  We live in an age of telecommunication with cell phones, fax machines, and the Internet filling our lives with "better ways" to communicate.  yet, with all this incredible technology, one fo the greatest needs of a family is just simply to talk with each other.  each day, set aside some uninterrupted time with the television and the phones turned off and just sit around the table and talk.  Talk about your interests, your needs, your problems, your solutions, your hopes, and your dreams.  By talking and listening, you will communicate something far more important than mere words.  You will communicate you care about each other.  So take time to talk and take time to listen, not only to each other, but to God, as well.  For it has been said, "the family that prays together, stays together."

The third ingredient is TEAMWORK.  Do things together.  Work together, play together, eat together, laugh together, cry together, struggle together, and pray together.  You are in this together.  No one person is more or less important than the other.  You are a team and everyone needs to participate in the game of life.  Yes, there will be some strikeouts and a few foul balls now and then.  That's part of the game.  But there also will be some hits, a few home runs, and maybe even a grand slam or two.  These things only happen when everyone plays 100 percent.  In a baseball game, whenever a runner gets on base, the whole purpose is to bring him around to home plate.  That is what you are doing; because you are a team, you are bringing each other home.

TIME...TALK...TEAMWORK... If you mix these three ingredients into the daily recipe of life, then your marriage and your family will truly blend into all you want it to be.  Finally, I want to share with you an old tried and true family recipe for making a happy home.  It is called, "The Happy Home Recipe".

Happy Home Recipe

Start with 1 heaping house full of Humans.

Add 1 cup each; Commitment, Cooperation, Courage, Courtesy, Consideration, and Contentment.

Allow 2 cups of open and honest Communication to simmer on low heat, but never let it come to a full boil.

Pour in 1 quart Milk of Human Kindness, along with 1 can Sweetened Condensed Confidence.

Add 3 tablespoons pur extract of "I am Sorry" and mix well with a generous portion of Forgiveness, Patience, and Understanding.

Throw in a mouth full of Praise, Encouragement, and Support, and season with a hand full of Loyalty and Friendship.

Stir in 1 big barrel of Laughter with just a pinch of Teasing, and sprinkle with a pocket full of Hopes and Dreams.

Mix 1 gallon of Faith in God and Faith in each other with one heart full of Gratitude for countless blessings.

Continue to fill kettle until overflowing with Joy and Peace.

Carefully blend all the ingredients together into this big Pot of People and cook very slowly.

Remove any specks of Temper, Jealousy, or Criticism, and never serve with a Hot Tongue or a Cold Shoulder.

Sweeten well with a heapin' helpin' of Love and Tenderness, and always keep warm with a steady flame of Devotion.

Remember to savor the flavor of every moment, and if preserved with Care, this Happy Home will last a lifetime. (Reading #10)

WEDDING VOWS

(The Officiant shall say): (Groom)__________________ would like to share his vows with (Bride)__________________. 

I love you (Bride)__________________, and I love (Children)__________________ [as my very own]. Today, as we become husband and wife, we also will become a family and begin a new life together. I promise to be a faithful husband and loving father, and I will be there for you and for the children always. No matter what circumstances life may bring, with God's help, we will face them together as a family. I commit myself to each of you from this day forward and forevermore. (Wedding Vow #9) 

(The Officiant shall say): (Bride)__________________ would like to share her vows with (Groom)__________________. 

I love you (Groom)__________________, and I love (Children)__________________ [as my very own]. Today, as we become husband and wife, we also will become a family and begin a new life together. I promise to be a faithful wife and loving mother, and I will be there for you and for the children always. No matter what circumstances life may bring, with God's help, we will face them together as a family. I commit myself to each of you from this day forward and forevermore. (Wedding Vow #9)

NOTE: These wedding vows are best if read rather than repeated. 

EXPLANATION OF THE RINGS

You are about to present a ring to each other. The wedding ring, a complete circle, is a symbol of the completeness a husband and wife find in a marriage relationship. The ring has no beginning and no end, just as true love is never-ending. The ring also is made of precious metals and precious gems, just as true love is a precious treasure. As you place the wedding ring on each other's hand, may it not only remind you of the endless love you possess for one another, but may it also be a reminder of the precious gift God has give you to make you complete. 

RING EXCHANGE VOWS

(The Officiant shall say): May I have the token of (Groom's)____________ love for (Bride)____________? (Officiant receives ring from Best Man. Groom places ring on Bride's finger.) 

(The Officiant shall then say): (Groom)____________, please repeat after me. 

(Bride)____________, as I place this ring on your finger, / may it always remind you / of my never-ending love, / and may it always remind me / of the precious treasure I have in you. / Wear this ring with joy, for your love has made me complete. (Ring Vow #4)  

(The Officiant shall say): May I have the token of (Bride's)____________ love for (Groom)____________? (Officiant receives ring from Maid of Honor. Bride places ring on Groom's finger.) 

(The Officiant shall then say): (Bride)____________, please repeat after me. 

(Groom)____________, as I place this ring on your finger, / may it always remind you / of my never-ending love, / and may it always remind me / of the precious treasure I have in you. / Wear this ring with joy, for your love has made me complete. (Ring Vow #4) 

CELEBRATION OF THE NEW FAMILY

When a couple marries, it is not just the joining of two lives together, it is the coming together of families, as well. This is especially true today. For as (Groom)__________________ and (Bride)__________________ become husband and wife, they also are joined now by (Children)__________________ to become a family. At this time, we recognize these children [this child] and acknowledge their [his/her] significance on this wedding day. 

COMMITMENT TO THE CHILDREN

(The children shall come forward and form a circle with the Bride and Groom. They may all join hands as the Bride and Groom read the following vows to the children).

Today, as we become husband and wife, we welcome you, (Children)__________________ into our new family. We recognize you are a precious gift from God. We promise to be there for you always, to comfort you and care for you, to protect you and provide for you, to guide you and listen to you, and most of all, to love you with all our hearts all the days of our lives. 

PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

Just as (Groom)__________________ and (Bride)__________________ gave each other rings as symbols of their love and commitment to you. (At this time, the Bride and Groom present their gifts, such as pins or rings, medals or medallions, and give each child a hug and a kiss). 

If the gift is the Family Medallion, the Officiant will explain the significance of its three conjoined circles by saying:

The Family Medallion is made up of three intertwining circles, two of which symbolize the union of this man and woman in marriage. The third circle represents the joining of children to this union, making it complete as we celebrate the new family created here today. (To order the Family Medallion, go to www.lovenotesweddings.com)

LIGHTING OF THE FAMILY UNITY CANDLE

OPTION A

The Groom's children jointly light the Groom's candle and the Bride's children jointly light the Bride's candle. Then the Bride and Groom take their respective candles and jointly light they Unity Candle. 

OPTION B

The Bride and Groom light the Unity Candle first with their individual candles, then take the Unity Candle and together light each child's candle from that flame. 

OPTION  C

The Bride and Groom light each child's candle with their individual candles, and together they all light the Unity Candle as a family.

You will need candles for the Bride, Groom, and each child represented, in addition to the Unity Candle. 

The lighting of the Family Unity Candle symbolizes the blending together of two homes into one home, two families into one family, (number of family members) ______________ hearts into one heart, and many colors into one rainbow. Just as you light your candles together, so may your love for each other light up your lives, both individually and together as a family. 

WEDDING PRAYER/BLESSING

May God bless your [this] marriage and family as you [they] create a new home together. A family is a circle of strength and love. With every birth and every union, the circle grows. May every joy shared also add love to the circle, and may every crisis faced together make this circle even stronger. May your [this] family become like a beautiful rainbows as each color of your [their] lives is carefully blended together with both the showers and the sunshine of God's love. Amen. (Blessing #11)

PRONOUNCEMENT

(Groom)__________________ and (Bride)__________________, because you have committed yourselves to each other and to these children, and because you have proclaimed your love for each other and for these children by the giving and receiving of rings and these gifts, I now pronounce you husband and wife and family. 

KISS

(The Officiant shall say): (Groom)__________________, you may kiss your Bride. 

(Bride and Groom kiss).

(Bride receives bouquet from Maid of Honor.)

PRESENTATION

(The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr and Mrs.)_______________ and family.

or

It is my pleasure to present to you (Groom)______________ and (Bride)________________ in their new relationship as husband and wife, and their son / daughter / children ___________________.

or

May I present to you the _______________________ family.