Complete Book of Wedding Vows (84 page)

Read Complete Book of Wedding Vows Online

Authors: Diane Warner

Tags: #Family & Relationships, #Marriage, #test

BOOK: Complete Book of Wedding Vows
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Minister (to the bride and groom): "___________________ and ___________________, you have just sealed your covenant by the giving and receiving of rings, and this covenant is a relationship agreement between two parties who agree that they will commit themselves to one another for the keeping of their partnership
 
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throughout their lives. The most beautiful example of this partnership is the marriage relationship. You have committed here today to share the rest of your lives with each other and that nothing, save death, will ever cause you to part. You entered this relationship as two distinct individuals, but from this day forth your lives will be so totally melded together that you will never be able to separate.
"This covenant relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual bags of saltone representing you, ___________________, and all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, _________________, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two bags of salt are poured into the third bag, the individual bags of salt will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of salt can never separated and poured again into the individual bags, so will your marriage be. Far more important than your individuality is now the reality that you are no longer two, but one, never to be separated one from the other."
(The bride and groom each empties his/her individual bag of salt into a third bag.)
"___________________ and __________________, we have heard your vows and you've symbolized your union by pledging your lives to each other, exchanging rings and through the Covenant of Salt. So, by the authority of God's word and the state of ______________, as a minister of the Gospel, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
 
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Up Close and Personal
You may remember another love story from an earlier chapter, that of Eric Wood and Kimberly Gray. Here are the personalized ring vows they wrote for their ceremony:
Minister: "The exchanging of rings has great meaning to Eric and Kimberly. These rings that they have chosen are engraved with a repeating pattern that, like the rings themselves, have no beginning and no end. Neither Kimberly nor Eric can remember when their love began, yet both can say it will have no end. By exchanging rings, Kimberly and Eric can show to each other and to all the love that they share."
Kimberly (repeating after the minister as she places the ring on Eric's finger): "Eric, I give you this ring as a sign to you and to all the love I carry only for you. I give it knowing that our love is in constant need of encouragement, yet is a constant in our lives. With patience, understanding, and communication, it will continue to grow. Accept this ring, knowing it comes from my heart and soul. Take it and wear it, that all who see it may know that I love you."
Eric (repeating after the minister as he places the ring on Kimberly's finger): "Kimberly, I give you this ring as a sign to you and to all of the love that I carry only for you. I give it, knowing that our love is in constant need of encouragement, yet is a constant in our lives. With patience, understanding, and communication, it will continue to grow. Accept this ring, knowing that it comes from my heart and soul. Take it and wear it, that all who see it may know that I love you."

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