Sample wedding ceremony

Your wedding vows can be as creative as you wish and incorporate poems, stories, people and memories that are special to you as a couple. I can help you create the wedding of your dreams.
Here is an example of a formal ceremony customized for a couple with a love of food! (Names are fictitious). Again, this is only one example and I encourage you to make your vows a reflection of your style and personalities.

Suggestions:

• Add readings or poems (read by a special friend or relative)

• Music - Do you know anyone who could perform a special song?

• Pinterest has lots of samples of vows and ceremonies. Grab some ideas from there and save to your wedding board. 
  I can share my Pinterest board with you as well. I've collected great ideas over the years.

• Add something special such as handfasting, unity candle, unity stones, wine box... I can suggest more!

There are two statements, shown in red below, that the Marriage Act specifically requires each person being married to declare during the ceremony. These two statements cannot be removed from the ceremony or altered.

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We gather here today in the presence of family and friends to celebrate and share a very important moment in Chris and Pat’s lives. In the time they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have chosen to live their lives together, formalized by this wedding today.

 

As you may know, Chris and Pat are gourmet cooks who love to entertain their family and friends, featuring their latest culinary creations. Marriage too is like a wonderful meal: a blend of experiences, sometimes sweet, sometimes sour; a pinch of adventure and spice; and a love that binds it all together.

 

Today Chris and Pat, you are declaring your love openly to the world.

 

You are to be married according to the orders, customs and the authority granted by the Province of Alberta.

   

Therefore:  I now call upon you both in the presence of these witnesses, to repeat after me:
 

Chris:  I DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE  THAT I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY LAWFUL IMPEDIMENT  WHY  I, (name)  MAY NOT BE JOINED IN MATRIMONY TO (name).

 

Pat: I DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY LAWFUL IMPEDIMENT WHY I, (name) MAY NOT BE JOINED IN MATRIMONY TO (name).

  

The Marriage Vows

 

Please join hands.

 

Chris: Before those so special to us:

 

Do you Chris promise to love Pat, to be his/her best friend, to respect, encourage, inspire and support him/her, to be patient,

to work together to achieve your shared goals, to accept him/her unconditionally, and to share life throughout the years?

 

If so, answer: I DO

 

And Pat, before those so special to us:

 

Do you Pat promise to love Chris, to be his/her best friend, to respect, encourage, inspire and support him/her, to be patient, to work together to achieve your shared goals, to accept him/her unconditionally, and to share life throughout the years?

 

If so, answer: I DO
 

Marriage is your promise, made in the hearts of two people who love each other, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships.  You will be each other's lover, teacher, listener, critic, and most of all, very best friend.

Chris, please repeat after me:

 

I CALL UPON THOSE PERSONS PRESENT TO WITNESS THAT I, (name)  DO TAKE YOU, (name) TO BE MY LAWFUL WEDDED (wife/husband/spouse).

Pat, please repeat after me:

                                                                                            

I CALL UPON THOSE PERSONS PRESENT TO WITNESS THAT I, (name)  DO TAKE YOU, (name) TO BE MY LAWFUL WEDDED (wife/husband/spouse).

Personal vows are said here if you wish.

 

The Ring Exchange

 

Wedding rings serve as a symbol of the vows which you have just made.  They are the outward and visible sign of the love which binds you together.  Being one unbroken circle, they symbolize unending love. Wedding rings remind us that we are surrounded with the enduring love of our life partner.

 

Chris, place this ring on the third finger of Pat's left hand, repeating after me:

 

PAT , I GIVE YOU THIS RING SO THAT YOU MAY WEAR IT AS A LASTING REMINDER OF OUR MARRIAGE VOWS AND AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO YOU.

Personal vows are said here if you wish.

Pat, place the ring on the third finger of Chris’ left hand, repeating after me:

 

CHRIS ,  I GIVE YOU THIS RING SO THAT YOU MAY WEAR IT AS A LASTING REMINDER OF OUR MARRIAGE VOWS AND AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO YOU.

Personal vows are said here if you wish.
 

We will now formalize the marriage with the signing of the documents, with your witnesses.

Document Signing with your two adult witnesses

 

The Declaration  

 

As you begin your marriage, let your home be a haven of peace in the midst of a busy and changing world; let your relationship be one of complete truth, love and understanding between you both. Respect the confidences of your partner in this marriage, and consider that your marriage will yield what you give to it.

 

May you enjoy long lives, fulfill your hopes, feel content as you live day by day, and keep your promises to
one another. Together you will face all of life's experiences and share one another’s dreams and goals.
 

Chris and Pat, you have consented in marriage, and have declared your solemn intention in this company,
before these witnesses, and in my presence. You have exchanged these rings as the pledge of your love to
each other, you have joined your hands to accept one another. May you laugh together in joy, cook together
in sweetness, sing together in harmony, grieve together in sorrow, and grow together in love.

  

 

Now, by the authority granted by the Province of Alberta, I proudly pronounce you married!