Processional
Opening Words
Welcome everyone to the marriage ceremony of Brides' Full Name and Groom's Full name.
An old Jewish legend states: two souls are created in heaven, and an angel cries out: "This man is made for this woman." Should these two souls, these two people, meet on earth and recognize each other for who they truly are, they will fall in love and become as one, working together in unison. Then no hardship can alter the strength of their enduring love. Everything they do shall succeed.
Today, we are here to witness two of these souls... Groom and Bride have found each other, recognized each other, and fallen in love. Now they will become as one, they shall succeed, and no hardship will be ever able to alter the strength of their love.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray... Oh God, source of life and joy, bless this loving gathering that has come to witness this marriage. Bless the covenant this bride and bridegroom are about to create in your name. We pray that Bride and Groom achieve life's richest rewards: true happiness, health, and devotion. May their lives be bound together in sanctity. We pray that you will be with them in this sacred hour and in all the sacred hours in all the days and years to come. Amen.
Reading
This is a reading from Ruth Chapter 1, verses 16 & 17.
But Ruth said:
Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God shall be my God.
Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.
Expression of Intent
{Now, Groom & Bride will make public their intention to marry.}
Do you Groom, take Bride to be your lawful wedded wife, to love, to honor, and to cherish?
Groom: I do!
Do you Bride, take Groom to be your lawful wedded husband, to love, to honor, and to cherish?
Bride: I do!
Blessing of the Rings
These rings are a symbol of the love that joins you spirit to spirit. They represent the oneness, eternity, and renewal inherent in the marriage union. May these rings always remind you of the vows you are making here today...
Vows & Exchange Of The Rings
{And now Groom and Bride will recite their vows and exchange their wedding rings}
Groom, please repeat after me...
I Groom, take you Bride, to be my chosen one. I promise to cherish and protect you, whether in good times or adversity, and to create together with you, a life full of joy and peace. With this ring, you are made holy to me, for I love you as my soul. You are now my wife.
Bride, please repeat after me...
I Bride, take you Groom, to be my chosen one. I promise to cherish and protect you, whether in good times or adversity, and to create together with you, a life full of joy and peace. With this ring, you are made holy to me, for I love you as my soul. You are now my husband.
Benediction
{We will conclude this ceremony with the Seven Blessings and the ceremonial wine. In Judaism, wine is a symbol of the joy and richness of life, and of the sweetness of love. It is also customary in Jewish tradition that the Bride & Groom are bestowed with seven blessings. These blessings represent Bride's and Groom's hopes for the future.}
Groom & Bride,
May your marriage enrich your lives.
May you work together to build a relationship of substance and quality.
May the honesty of your communication build a foundation of understanding, connection, and trust.
May you respect each other's individual personality and philosophy, and give each other room to grow and fulfill each other's dreams.
May your sense of humor and playful spirit enliven your relationship.
May you understand that neither of you is perfect - you are both subject to human frailties, and allow your love to strengthen you when you fall short of each other's expectations.
And may you be best friends, better together than either of you are apart...
Sharing Of The Wine Ritual
[Groom & Bride Pour Wine from two Decanters into a Center Cup]
As you share wine together from this cup, so may you share joy and fulfillment from the cup of life for the rest of your lives.
[First Groom, then Bride Drink Wine from the Center Decanter]
Pronouncement of Marriage
{At this time we come to the Pronouncement of Marriage. The Pronouncement is my public, and legal, proclamation that Bride and Groom are married. It is the exact moment of Marriage...}
Groom and Bride, we have witnessed today the joining of your two lives in the holy covenant of marriage. You have exchanged your vows, given and received your wedding rings in token of your love and commitment to each other, and shared wine. Therefore, by the power vested in me by God and the State of New Hampshire, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Permission to Kiss
Congratulations, you may kiss!
Presentation of the New Couple
Ladies and gentlemen, It is my pleasure to present to you...
Mr. & Mrs. _________________________
[Best Man places Glass at Heel of Groom]
[Groom Breaks Glass]
All Shout: Mazel Tov!
Recessional
JEWISH ELEMENTS: FROM AROUND THE WEB
