A family unity ritual - Exchanging Rings

<br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 80%;" valign="top" width="80%"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With so many</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">couples finding love later in life or when they already have children, Family</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Unity Rituals are fast becoming not only popular, but important in bringing a sense of commitment, readiness and togetherness to the wedding ceremony and to each member who is trying to find their places in the new family structure. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This example is a simple way of including the children in making the commitment and leaving each member of the family with a lasting reminder of their inclusion.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the point in the ceremony where the couple have exchanged their rings the celebrant will say: </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Could I now ask Jasmine and Sarah to please come forward. Jake, can we please have the rings." </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(The children can either know about this or it can be a surprise for them. For a boy who would prefer not to wear a ring,  he may be given the ring on a chain to wear around his neck or something else appropriate.)</span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNo4fCSBcQbzpvDSqPfDieB8qpkKi_oFztNsJiFT8RVX7n41ZDIBKWBdVHZw6sjdt8_3uL6s1hZFKEL1fzhzLhePNDCI6onTCdcEwgR3yCy0Gnlw7iXHvA9f-_dMFx94d3xFYdz7zUyKN/s1600/rings.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNo4fCSBcQbzpvDSqPfDieB8qpkKi_oFztNsJiFT8RVX7n41ZDIBKWBdVHZw6sjdt8_3uL6s1hZFKEL1fzhzLhePNDCI6onTCdcEwgR3yCy0Gnlw7iXHvA9f-_dMFx94d3xFYdz7zUyKN/s200/rings.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Jasmine and Sarah, today your parents are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of their lives with each other as a couple, but they could not make those promises wholeheartedly without including the two of you. Not only are they making their vows to each other, but also to both of you to live the rest of each of your lives connected to one another always. (Mum & dad to place the rings on the girl’s fingers)</span></span><br /> </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The relationship that you each have with the other members of this family are symbolized with the rings that you each now wear. Each one is perfectly round with no beginning or end and is made of the strongest metal. Today they represent everything that your parents hope for this family. For there to be no end and for this family to be made of the strength, love and commitment that each of you bring to it today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May this togetherness never be broken and may your lives always be blended and intertwined with each other’s in happiness, hope and prosperity."<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 80%;" valign="top" width="80%"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span> </td> </tr></tbody></table>

A family unity ritual - Exchanging Rings

With so many couples finding love later in life or when they already have children, Family Unity Rituals are fast becoming not only pop...

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Ceremony Introduction Alternatives

<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since posting different ceremony formats, complete wording for a full ceremony and lots of rituals and traitions we have had so many emails and comments from all of you asking for variations, other ideas and helpful hints. SO, we've put pen to paper and written a couple of introduction variations and a giving of the bride that you may want to use as a base when thinking about your wedding ceremony wording.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us know what you think!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduction 1<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome everyone; we are here to today to bear witness to the marriage of John and Leanne. They are grateful for your attendance and honoured to have you as their guest as they pledge their commitment to one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ‘wedding’ is not over once the dress makes its way back into the box and the last remnants of the cake are eaten. The ‘wedding’ continues, it flows on into the marriage; the day to day experiences that become the life long memories for this couple. The happiness, the strength, the mutual love and sometimes the struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Marriage’ becomes a bond as strong as the gold used to fashion the rings that each will today place on the others finger. As sure as the sun will rise each morning and set every evening without exception, so will your marriage partner be as constant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The vows that are taken during a wedding ceremony are often no longer confined to or concern themselves with who objects or whether our marriage partner will obey. They simply ask the two individuals present to declare that when they come together on this day, with the one they have chosen to remain with for life, that it be just as sure as that sun rising and they remain just as constant and full of love as they could possibly ever imagine being.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marriage is not a guarantee that everlasting happiness will ensue. It is not a signed contract that your marriage partner will never again make your heart ache or that you will never feel alone or worried, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but</i>……. It is an absolute declaration from you John, to Leanne and from you Leanne to John, as you stand before us today, that you are willing to risk it all to be for the other, that ever constant rising sun.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Introduction 2<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On behalf of Matthew and Sarah, I would like to welcome you here today. I’d also like to thank you for taking the time out from your busy lives to share in a moment that is special and life altering for the couple who stand before you today.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the noise and clutter of every day life, the ringing of phones, the shuffling of papers , the hurrying from place to place, love butts in. It makes us stop, if only for a few moments, we stop and take a breath and have the opportunity to remind ourselves of the things that really matter in life. We get to be a part of something that will be captured in time for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Matthew and Sarah stand apart from the rest of you today, they have invited you to share in their moment. To see them make their vows to love and care for one another for the rest of their lives and take the next step in their journey together as a married couple.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As their family and friends, you will make wishes for them as you look on; wishes of good luck and good fortune, happiness in whichever form it may come and as you, Matthew and Sarah, stand here today, in front of all of those who have a special place in your life, may you feel those good wishes and know that you are truly loved and supported.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marriage is a road not taken lightly, but it is a journey made easier when you are surrounded by love and support.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On this day, the day of your marriage, we wish for you only good things and hope that those good things will be found in a life that is spent together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giving of the bride option 1<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Celebrant:</b> Maria arrived today accompanied by her two sons Ryan and Brett. (add in person eg. Brother, both parents etc)<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a woman of her own mind and control over her own choices, I need not ask in the traditional sense, ‘who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gives</i> this woman’ as she belongs to no one but herself and therefore cannot be ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">given</i>’ or ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">taken’</i> . I ask her simply “Maria, have you come of your own free will, with love in your heart?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maria:</b> “Yes, I have”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To her escort/s</b> “And on behalf of her family and friends, do you bring with you their blessings?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Escort/s:</b> ‘Yes I/we come with her family’s blessings”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Celebrant:</b> “Thank you.” (Escort/s join the other guests)</span><o:p></o:p></div>

Ceremony Introduction Alternatives

Since posting different ceremony formats, complete wording for a full ceremony and lots of rituals and traitions we have had so many emails ...

Read more »