GUERILLA WEDDINGThis ceremony was written for a Pagan couple. The ceremony was a guerilla-style wedding that took place at the Stone Tower in Alleghany State Park. Again, rain threatened but held off until the last few moments of the ceremony, but not enough to force us inside.
Officiant: Welcome family and friends to the wedding of Bride and Groom. We have gathered here today to witness and celebrate this blessed union.
(hold up cords)
The binding of hands is a symbol, one used since ancient times to show the bond between a bride and groom. Not tying one person to another, but a joining of their hearts.
(tie on cords)
And it is through this symbol, that Bride and Groom, have chosen to show their love and devotion throughout the ceremony.
Groom… Bride… together, today, you have decided to join each other in the sacred bonds of marriage. You have travelled life’s path together for many years, sharing the journey along the way. Today is the most beautiful milestone you will share in this life, the commitment to each other for as long as you’re here on this Earth to love each other.
May I have the rings?
Bride, please repeat after me…
*I wish to join… my life with yours.
To stand by your side… and sleep in your arms.
To be joy to your heart… and food to your soul.
To work as partners… and live as a family… while we grow old together.
I vow to love… honor and respect you.
To hold you to my heart… but not bind you to my will.
I promise to listen carefully… and to speak the truth… to stay with you through struggles… and
pleasures... all the days of my life.
Will you accept me… and all that I am?*
Groom: I will.
Officiant: Take this ring, a symbol of unending love and devotion and place it on Groom’s finger.
Groom, please repeat after me…
*I wish to join… my life with yours.
To stand by your side… and sleep in your arms.
To be joy to your heart… and food to your soul.
To work as partners… and live as a family… while we grow old together.
I vow to love… honor and respect you.
To hold you to my heart… but not bind you to my will.
I promise to listen carefully… and to speak the truth… to stay with you through struggles… and
pleasures... all the days of my life.
Will you accept me… and all that I am?*
Bride: I will.
Officiant: Take this ring, a symbol of unending love and devotion and place is on Bride’s finger.
Please take your individual cups. These represent yourselves. Each is unique different.
(mix cups)
Now they are a whole. A new uniqueness. Still parts, but blended to make a beautiful whole that cannot be brought apart. So is your love. Drink now of your unity.
Groom… Bride…
**May your paths be smooth
And the weather be fair
May your hearts will with joy
And never a care
May your friends be many
And the good times last
And may you look fondly
Upon the past
May life be kind
And love be true
May the Lord and Lady’s blessings
Shine upon you**
(tie the knot)
By the powers vested in me, by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Groom.
Go now and receive the blessings of your friends and family.
*…* This excerpt is called the “heart-binding vows” (pg. 63) from Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein’s book Inviting Hera’s Blessing: Handfasting and Wedding Rituals (Llewellyn Publications; St. Paul, Minnesota; © 2003) and used with the author’s permission (pg. 2).
**…** This is an original, published poem of mine entitled “Annie’s Blessing”. It has a variation for the ending (“May many great blessings / Shine upon you”) that I have used in the case of the ceremony being a secular or non-Pagan one. Feel free to use it, but please make sure that I, Rev. Rachael Wright, am credited for it.
Officiant: Welcome family and friends to the wedding of Bride and Groom. We have gathered here today to witness and celebrate this blessed union.
(hold up cords)
The binding of hands is a symbol, one used since ancient times to show the bond between a bride and groom. Not tying one person to another, but a joining of their hearts.
(tie on cords)
And it is through this symbol, that Bride and Groom, have chosen to show their love and devotion throughout the ceremony.
Groom… Bride… together, today, you have decided to join each other in the sacred bonds of marriage. You have travelled life’s path together for many years, sharing the journey along the way. Today is the most beautiful milestone you will share in this life, the commitment to each other for as long as you’re here on this Earth to love each other.
May I have the rings?
Bride, please repeat after me…
*I wish to join… my life with yours.
To stand by your side… and sleep in your arms.
To be joy to your heart… and food to your soul.
To work as partners… and live as a family… while we grow old together.
I vow to love… honor and respect you.
To hold you to my heart… but not bind you to my will.
I promise to listen carefully… and to speak the truth… to stay with you through struggles… and
pleasures... all the days of my life.
Will you accept me… and all that I am?*
Groom: I will.
Officiant: Take this ring, a symbol of unending love and devotion and place it on Groom’s finger.
Groom, please repeat after me…
*I wish to join… my life with yours.
To stand by your side… and sleep in your arms.
To be joy to your heart… and food to your soul.
To work as partners… and live as a family… while we grow old together.
I vow to love… honor and respect you.
To hold you to my heart… but not bind you to my will.
I promise to listen carefully… and to speak the truth… to stay with you through struggles… and
pleasures... all the days of my life.
Will you accept me… and all that I am?*
Bride: I will.
Officiant: Take this ring, a symbol of unending love and devotion and place is on Bride’s finger.
Please take your individual cups. These represent yourselves. Each is unique different.
(mix cups)
Now they are a whole. A new uniqueness. Still parts, but blended to make a beautiful whole that cannot be brought apart. So is your love. Drink now of your unity.
Groom… Bride…
**May your paths be smooth
And the weather be fair
May your hearts will with joy
And never a care
May your friends be many
And the good times last
And may you look fondly
Upon the past
May life be kind
And love be true
May the Lord and Lady’s blessings
Shine upon you**
(tie the knot)
By the powers vested in me, by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Groom.
Go now and receive the blessings of your friends and family.
*…* This excerpt is called the “heart-binding vows” (pg. 63) from Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein’s book Inviting Hera’s Blessing: Handfasting and Wedding Rituals (Llewellyn Publications; St. Paul, Minnesota; © 2003) and used with the author’s permission (pg. 2).
**…** This is an original, published poem of mine entitled “Annie’s Blessing”. It has a variation for the ending (“May many great blessings / Shine upon you”) that I have used in the case of the ceremony being a secular or non-Pagan one. Feel free to use it, but please make sure that I, Rev. Rachael Wright, am credited for it.