Secular wedding

Music starts
Attendants enter, take places
Officiant enters from side, takes place
Groom enters escorted by parents, takes place up front
Parents take places
Guests, attendants sit
Bride enters with parents, joins groom, facing guests

Processional music ends

Introduction

Officiant - "Friends, family, loved ones; It is with great joy that Bride and Groom, along with their parents, welcome you here today for this very special occasion. We have come together on this happy day to witness the marriage of Groom and Bride. The have invited you to be here and share this special time with them, the melding of their two separate lives into one."

Charge to parents

Officiant - "Bride's parent's names, groom's parent's names, you know the significance of the commitment that Bride and Groom are about to make. They are going to be creating their own family, and drawing on the lessons that you have worked so hard over the years to pass on to them. They will always be your children, but today the nature of that relationship will change. Your daughter is becoming a wife, and your son is becoming a husband. Therefore, will you promise to give them your love, support, encouragement and your heartfelt blessing? If so, please answer by saying; 'We will'".

Parents - "We will"

Charge to guests

Officiant - "You, the family and friends of Bride and Groom, know the significance of the commitments that they are about to make. They are going to be creating their own family, and drawing on the lessons that all of you have worked so hard over the years to pass on to them. Today, the nature of their relationships with you will change. Therefore, will you give them your love, support, encouragement, and heartfelt blessings? If so, please answer by saying; 'We will'".

Guests - "We will."

Hand ritual

Officiant - "Groom and Bride, please face each other and hold hands. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other all the days of your lives.

"These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your futures together, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

"These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.

"These are the hands that will wipe countless tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

"These are the hands that will massage the tension from your neck and back at the end of a llong hard day.

"These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go.

"These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you grieve.

"May these hands always hold one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of life, and to reach out in the darkness of fear. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. May Bride and Groom see these hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide, now and forever."

Reading from "The Prophet", by Kahlil Gibran

"You were born to be together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of time.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heaven dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bondage of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but eat not of the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone, though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping,
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together,
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in shadow."

Vows

Bride and Groom get the rings from best man and maid of honor

Officiant to Bride - "Do you, Bride, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take Groom to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Bride - "I do."

Officiant - "Please place the ring on his finger."

Officiant to Groom - "Do you, Groom, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take her to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Groom - "I do."

Officiant - "Please place the ring on her finger. A ring is a perfect circle, a symbol of unity, of wholeness, of completion. What were once two, separate and incomplete, have now become one, whole and undivided.

"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other.
"Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
"Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
"Now you are two bodies, but there is one life before you.
"Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your togetherness.
"And may your days be good and long upon the earth."