Cool Unions "Special Ceremonies"

Rose Ceremony for Bride and Groom / Partners
Option A

The Rose Ceremony is simple yet moving. The bride and groom exchange two roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire married life. The Rose ceremony also conveys how to use the rose and its symbolism in difficult times in order to forgive
each-other.
You may choose to have the Officiant hand the bride and groom their roses, or the Officiant can invite the bride and grooms mothers up to give their children the roses.
All wording can be changed to fit your desires. Feel free to "mix and match" from each option if you like.
All ceremonies are easily changed to reflect Civil Unions, by changing a few words to Partners in Life / Union etc.

All ceremonies can be changed to reflect vow renewal

Rose Ceremony
Option B

Officiant: Officiant hands each a red rose bud/or invites mothers to present the roses]
Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman - the title of "husband" and "wife. For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift wilt be a single rose.

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing- it meant the words "l love you. So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as husband and wife - that gift would be a single rose. Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife.

In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose - and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage - and a recommitment that THIS will be
a marriage based upon love.

In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt those who we most love. It is easiest to be hurt by those who we most love. It might be difficult some time to be able to express the words "1 am sorry" or "l forgive you" or "l need you" or "l am
hurting". If this should happen, if you simply cannot find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose will say what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.

That rose says the words: "l still love you. The other should accept this rose for the words which cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
_ and _ lf there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, remember that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.

Rose Ceremony
Option C

Officiant:
Your first gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. In addition, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

You now have what remains the most honorable title that exists between a woman and a man - the title of "wife" and "husband" It is now my great privilege to be the first to address you as wife and husband and for your first gift as wife and husband, that gift will be a single red rose bud.

Officiant hands each a red rose bud/or invites mothers to present the roses

The rose is considered a symbol of love and a single rose always means only one thing - it means, "l love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as wife and husband - that gift would be a single rose bud.

Please exchange the rose buds as your first gift to each other as wife and husband.

Within these rose buds, if given proper loving care, is the potential for an even more beautiful expression of Life and Love in the form of the mature flower. And so it is with your marriage. At this point your marriage is like these rose buds - ready, with proper loving care - to unfold into a very beautiful expression of life. and-,if there is anything you remember of this marriage Ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure. Whatever the situation, love, understanding, acceptance and forgiveness can make everything right.

Unity Candle Ceremony
Option D

Sample Short Ceremony tapers can be lit by moms or couple
The taper candles represent not only ----and -----, but also their families; for it is their families who, through love and support, helped shaped who they are. The center candle represents their marriage- the joining of two friends with the added roles of husband/wife/spouse.. It is the light of love and the light of new beginnings. From this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, May its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.

Rose Ceremony Option E

Tapers are lit by the Bride and Groom
Now we shall celebrate this union as it is symbolized through the lighting of the unity candle. ____and ____ please light the two taper candles. These candles represent your individual spirits, your individual connections with Cod, all that you are and, all that you have been, and all that you will become.

The center candle represents your relationship. It is the symbol of your marriage, the symbol of the joining of 2 spirits, 2 lives, 2 souls. Now you will take the tapers and light the center candle. As you do so, keep in mind the pledge you made to each other today. it is the pledge of the truth and purity of your every breath. The constant friendship ofyour hearts. The passion and fire of your spirits and the deepest love your souls have to give. It is the pledge of all that is within you. The only true pledge that one heart can offer to another.

You are now as husband/wife/spouse and husband/wife/spouse offering yourselves, and all that has come to pass unto each other, towards the creation of your future, and to all that is yet to come.

The candle of your marriage shall burn brightly, but the 2 tapers of yourselves are not diminished. You do not disappear in marriage. You remain you. But in joining, both lights are brighter, each supports the other and miracles can happen. True Love shines brightly and today is but a beautiful
beginning of the miracles to come.

Non-Religious
Option F 

Officiant:
This candle you are about to light is a candle of Marrrage. Its fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love. This candle before you is a candle of Commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame. This candle is also a candle of Unity because both must come together, giving a spark of themselves, to create the new light. As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth and safety in the cold, and strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. May your union be forever blessed

The Hands Ceremony
Option G

These are the hands ofyour best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.
These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way.

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

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times,

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Handfasting
Option H

Groom and Bride have chosen to conclude their ceremony with a traditional handfasting. This is a symbolic binding of the hands that inspired the terms "Bonds of Holy Matrimony" and to "Tie the knot" Throughout history in many different ways and in many different parts of the world, the hands of the bride and groom were bound as a sign of their commitment to one another. In many times rings were only for the very rich, while love knows no such bound. The cords are not permanent but perishable as a reminder that all things of the materiail eventually return to the earth, unlike the bond and the connection that is love which is eternal.

Please join your right hands.

(Couple can choose to either hold hands and cord is wrapped around wrists in a figure B type fashion the infinity symbol-or they hold elbows, Groom right to Bride left, and then bind over the forearm lose enough for them to drop into holding hands far the kiss as the cords make the figure B around their wrists, then make a comfortable exit.)

May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back.

May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home.

And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you.

Jumping the Broom
Option I

Officiant:
Sharing a life with another person requires many "leaps of faith." The leap they take together over the broom is also symboiic. By taking the leap, they make a gesture of dedication to working together through the tough times ahead, as well as the easy times. They leave behind the past and jump into the future together secure in their love.

Everyone please count L,2,3... Jumpl  Together with me now, and shout with joy as they perform their first act of working together as husband and wife;
L,2,3,jump! - Hurrayl!
The couple jumps over the broom, and then kisses.  Immediately, the music begins and the couple recesses down the aisle to the cheers of family and friends!

The Sand Ceremony
Option J

Officiant:
Now we shall celebrate Groom and Bride's union as it is symbolized through the pouring of sand, We will start by adding sand from where Groom and Bride stand today as they commit their lives to each other.

A good partnership is founded and centered on our reliance on Love; (the officiant pours sand from a seashell filled with sand from the beach they are on.) this sand symbolizes the unconditional Love of Spirit. It is the foundation on which all true Love is built, it flows through all, binds us together in our diversity and it is the reason we celebrate here today,

Officiant: Groom and Bride , today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other.

Your relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand; one, representing you, Groom (he pours a portion of his sand in vase) and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, Bride , (she pours a portion of her sand on top Groom's sand) and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever Be.

Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without the need of anything else. When the two are blended together they represent an entirely new and extraordinary love relationship. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that
forever enriches the combination.

As the two vials of sand are poured into the third keepsake vase, (both Groom & Bride together pour their remaining sand in the central vase) the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, as they are now joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into
the individual vases, so will the love and bond between the two of you render you inseparable. -we walk back to center and continue the ceremonv-

See Wedding Vows, click here