Pastor: Will you answer me right now These questions, as your wedding vow?
Groom: Yes, I will answer right now Your questions as my wedding vow.
Pastor: Will you take her as your wife? Will you love her all your life?
Groom: Yes, I take her as my wife, Yes, I’ll love her all my life.
Pastor: Will you have, and also hold Just as you have at this time told?
Groom: Yes, I will have, and I will hold, Just as I have at this time told, Yes, I will love her all my life As I now take her as my wife.
Pastor: Will you love through good and bad? Whether you’re happy or sad?
Groom: Yes, I’ll love through good and bad, Whether we’re happy or sad, Yes, I will have and I will hold Just as I have already told, Yes, I will love her all my life, Yes, I will take her as my wife!
Pastor: Will you love her if you’re rich? Or if you’re poor, and in a ditch?
Groom: Yes, I’ll love her if we’re rich, And I will love her in a ditch, I’ll love her through good times and bad, Whether we are happy or sad, Yes, I will have, and I will hold (I could have sworn this has been told!) I promise to love all my life This woman, as my lawful wife!
Pastor: Will you love her when you’re fit, And also when you’re feeling sick?
Groom: Yes, I’ll love her when we’re fit, And when we’re hurt, and when we’re sick, And I will love her when we’re rich And I will love her in a ditch And I will love through good and bad, And I will love when glad or sad, And I will have, and I will hold Ten years from now a thousand-fold, Yes, I will love for my whole life This lovely woman as my wife!
Pastor: Will you love with all your heart? Will you love till death you part?
Groom: Yes, I’ll love with all my heart From now until death do us part, And I will love her when we’re rich, And when we’re broke and in a ditch, And when we’re fit, and when we’re sick, (Oh, CAN’T we get this finished quick?) And I will love through good and bad, And I will love when glad or sad, And I will have, and I will hold, And if I might now be so bold, I’ll love her my entire life, Yes, I WILL take her as my wife!
Pastor: Then if you’ll take her as your wife, And if you’ll love her all your life, And if you’ll have, and if you’ll hold, From now until the stars grow cold, And if you’ll love through good and bad, And whether you’re happy or sad, And love in sickness, and in health, And when you’re poor, and when in wealth, And if you’ll love with all your heart, From now until death do you part, Yes, if you’ll love her through and through, Please answer with these words:
Pastor and Groom: I DO!
Pastor: You’re married now! So kiss the bride, But please, do keep it dignified.

**Marty Blase is the author of these vows.

One

Often marriage is viewed as the union of two persons. In reality, marriage is much broader. It is always a joining of families.

We are, in fact, all members of one family, God’s family. Recognition of Children As part of the family nature of this marriage we recognize child(ren)’s importance.

Presentation of gifts to children (this/these, pendants/rings/lapel pins) we pledge to you, child/children our continuing love even as we surround you with our arms of support.

Reading from THE PROPHET “…You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

“We give thanks, O Lord, for the relationship here celebrated. In your presence we are humbled by the recognition that today we face a new future, one which love has unfolded and is unfolding before our very eyes

It is my pleasure to present to you Bride and Groom in their new relationship as husband and wife and their child(ren).

Two

Invite children forward.

I have pledged my love to you and promised to be a faithful husband. Now I want to add another, different kind of vow. I promise to love Child(ren) for all of our days and to treat them as if they were my own. I gladly accept the obligations that go along with this pledge. I love Child(ren) and want them to be part of my life.

Three

Children please come forward.

This child/These children presented to us all here today is a/are very special child(ren), he/she/they are special because he/she/they are being united into a family unit once again. Man and woman together make up along with children a family unit and give balance to each other, from and to each other.

I now ask Groom and Bride to acknowledge that together you both will support and love this/these child/children and bring them up as true and honest children and adults into this world.

(Response from both parents) We will.

Four

Will the children please come forward.

Children are a part of living and of life and one of the major aspects of becoming married is to share your future, Groom and Bride with these your children Child(ren)’s.

All Children need guidance and fortitude in becoming citizens of the world and with this in view, I now ask Groom and Bride to please repeat these vows together after me.

We both promise to you Child(ren)’s that we will love you and respect your needs as we go through life as a family. We also promise that we will offer you guidance, strength and fortitude, whenever and wherever these are needed. Today we are all joined together as one family and we will face the future together.

We now present these gifts to you and ask that you will remember this special day with love and affection.

Five

Children please step forward.

Children from another relationship that for whatever reason has ceased to be, presents a challenge for one or both parents and comes with very special and unique challenges.

(Birth parent): Child(ren) we have been together now for a long time and we have become part of one another’s life and that will not alter in this new family relationship. What will alter is that instead of one parent you will now have two people to support and guide you. I love you now and will always love you.

(Future parent): Child(ren) I promise to you today that I will be of support to you, so that as a family unit we will become stronger and more united. Just as Birth parent has been with you and loved you, so shall I love and care for you.

Bride and Groom light the candles which represent love for each other and for Child(ren)’s. From the uniqueness of these separate flames, they kindle a larger and brighter flame which represents the union between Groom, Bride and Child(ren). The side candles remain burning to symbolize the continuing importance of the individual integrity within the marriage relationship. The greater height of the center candle depicts their belief that together they can become more than either could alone.

Minister: These two candles are symbolic of two people as two separate people in their own right. By the joining of two candles into one, this symbolizes the strength and the unity of two into one. Depicting Bride and Groom belief that together they can become greater than each could alone. The side candles remain burning to further symbolize the continuing importance of the individual integrity within the marriage relationship.

A beautiful addition to any ceremony, traditionally at the end.

As in any relationship there may come a time when argument and disagreement come to be and time being a wonderful healer of anger. I present to you this bell of peace. This bell can be used by either of you should the need ever arise.

The bell to be rang and peace be declared by you both, for a period in time of 10 minutes to be observed, no words, no looks of anger, no actions by either of you.

After the peace period the bell will again be rang and peace will follow.

Do you Groom undertake and promise the use of the Peace Bell.

Response: I do.

Do you Brides undertake and promise to use the Peace Bell.

Response: I do.

I therefore present to you both the Bell of Peace, use it wisely and infrequently.