Our Vows

Kacey and I wrote our own ceremony and vows. We took what we thought were the best parts of other ceremonies, along with our original lines, and combined them into something more representative of and meaningful to us.

The following are the lines that we asked my Uncle, the minister, to read as the ceremony:



Opening Words


We are here today to celebrate the marriage of Kenneth and Heather. They ask for your blessing, encouragement, and life long support for their decision to become husband and wife. Without family and friends beside them in joy as well as sorrow, this new union will miss the greatest joys of life, to give and to receive love, to help and to be helped, to teach as well as to learn. When two people make a commitment as strong as this, the force of that commitment, of that love, of that courage, reaches out and touches all of us.

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons. In its right relation, it's the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond already exists between man and woman, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgment be made.


Consent

_______________, do you take this woman/man to be your lawful wedded wife/husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and protect her/him? Share the good times and achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Do you promise to comfort and support him/her forevermore?

Vows


I, _______________, take you, _____________, for my lawful wife/husband from this day forward, to have and to hold as equal partner in my life, to whom I give my deepest love and respect. I promise to be true to you, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.


Ring Exchange

With this ring, which is a token and pledge of my love and devotion, I thee wed.

Unity Candle Lighting

The couple will now light their Unity Candle.

Closing Remarks

These two souls are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other, the love that reaches out and touches everything around them. And may these two rings symbolize the spirit of love in the hearts of them both. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.