STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, WE HAVE COME HERE TODAY AT THE INVITATION
OF G__________ AND B__________ TO SHARE IN THE JOY OF THEIR WEDDING.
THIS OUTWARD CELEBRATION THAT WE SHALL SEE AND HEAR, I BELIEVE, IS
AN EXPRESSION OF THE INNER LOVE AND DEVOTION THEY HAVE IN THEIR
HEARTS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. I BELIEVE MARRIAGE
IS OF GOD AND B__________ AND G__________.

COME TODAY DESIRING TO BE UNITED IN THIS
SACRED RELATIONSHIP OF MARRIAGE.

WHO IS GIVING THIS WOMAN TO BE MARRIED TO THIS MAN?
(FATHER) HER MOTHER AND I DO!

TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM:
THE CEREMONY OF MARRIAGE IN WHICH YOU COME TO BE UNITED IS ONE OF
THE FIRST AND OLDEST CEREMONIES IN ALL THE WORLD, CELEBRATED IN THE
BEGINNING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIMSELF. MARRIAGE IS A GIFT IN
THAT WE GIVE OURSELVES TOTALLY TO ONE ANOTHER. I BELIEVE THAT
MARRIAGE IS A GIFT GIVEN TO COMFORT THE SORROWS OF LIFE AND TO
MAGNIFY LIFE'S JOYS.

MARRIAGE IS THE CLASPING OF HANDS, THE BLENDING OF TWO HEARTS, THE
UNION OF TWO LIVES INTO ONE AND YOUR MARRIAGE MUST STAND, NOT BY
THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE, NOR BY THE SEAL ON YOUR WEDDING
CERTIFICATE, BUT BY THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF THE FAITH AND LOVE
YOU HAVE IN ONE ANOTHER.

NOW, WILL YOU PLEASE PASS YOUR FLOWERS, TURN AND FACE ONE ANOTHER
AND JOIN HANDS TO EXPRESS YOUR VOWS OF LOVE AND DEVOTION EACH TO
THE OTHER.

(GROOM) WILL YOU PLEASE REPEAT THIS VOW TO B_________, SAYING AFTER ME:
I, G__________, TAKE YOU B_________ TO BE MY WIFE, TO HAVE AND TO
HOLD, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, FOR RICHER, OR
FOR POORER, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, I PROMISE TO LOVE AND
CHERISH YOU.

(BRIDE) WILL YOU PLEASE REPEAT THIS VOW TO G_________ SAYING AFTER ME:
I, B__________, TAKE YOU G_________ TO BE MY HUSBAND, TO HAVE AND TO
HOLD, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, FOR RICHER OR
FOR POORER, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, I PROMISE TO LOVE AND
CHERISH YOU.

THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US WHAT LOVE IS LIKE AND WHAT LOVE DOES:
"LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND, LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS;
LOVE DOES NOT BRAG AND IS NOT ARROGANT, IT DOES NOT ACT
UNBECOMINGLY; IT DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN, IT IS NOT PROVOKED, AND IT
DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED, IT DOES NOT REJOICE IN
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH; FOR LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS,
BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, AND ENDURES ALL
THINGS, BUT ABOVE ALL, LOVE NEVER FAILS."

HAVING THIS KIND OF LOVE IN YOUR HEARTS FOR ONE ANOTHER, YOU HAVE
CHOSEN TO EXCHANGE RINGS AS THE SIGN AND SEAL OF THE PROMISES YOU
ARE MAKING TO ONE ANOTHER TODAY. TO (GROOM): DO YOU HAVE A RING
FOR B__________? MAY I HAVE THE RING? TO BRIDE:
DO YOU HAVE A RING FOR G________? MAY I HAVE THE RING?

RINGS ARE VERY LARGE IN THEIR SIGNIFICANCE. THEY ARE MADE OF A
PRECIOUS METAL AND PRECIOUS STONE AND THAT REMINDS US THAT LOVE IS
NOT CHEAP NOR COMMON; BUT INDEED LOVE IS VERY COSTLY AND DEAR TO
US. THESE RINGS ARE ALSO MADE IN A CIRCLE AND THEIR DESIGN TELLS
US THAT WE MUST KEEP LOVE CONTINUOUS THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE LIVES
EVEN AS THE CIRCLE OF THE RING IS CONTINUOUS. AS YOU WEAR THESE
RINGS, WHETHER YOU ARE TOGETHER OR APART FOR EVEN JUST A MOMENT,
MAY THESE RINGS BE A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THE PROMISES YOU ARE
MAKING TO ONE ANOTHER THIS DAY.

TO GROOM: G__________ WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE THIS RING AND PLACE IT
UPON THE THIRD FINGER OF B_________ 'S LEFT HAND, AND HOLDING HER
HAND IN YOURS, PLEASE REPEAT THIS PROMISE TO B_________, SAYING
AFTER ME:
WITH THIS RING, I SEAL MY PROMISE, TO BE YOUR FAITHFUL AND LOVING HUSBAND,
AS GOD IS MY WITNESS.

TO BRIDE: B__________ WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE THIS RING AND PLACE IT
UPON THE THIRD FINGER OF G__________ 'S LEFT HAND, AND HOLDING HIS
HAND IN YOURS PLEASE REPEAT THIS PROMISE TO G________ AFTER ME TO HIM, SAYING:
WITH THIS RING, I SEAL MY PROMISE, TO BE YOUR FAITHFUL AND LOVING WIFE, AS GOD IS MY WITNESS.

CANDLE LIGHTING OPTIONAL.

PRAYER FOR BRIDE AND GROOM AND PERSONAL WORDS BY THE MINISTER.

POEMS - OPTIONAL OR HAVE YOUR OWN.

INDIAN WEDDING PRAYER

NOW YOU WILL FEEL NO RAIN,
FOR EACH OF YOU WILL BE THE SHELTER TO THE OTHER.
NOW YOU WILL FEEL NO COLD,
FOR EACH OF YOU WILL BE THE WARMTH TO THE OTHER.
NOW THERE IS NO MORE LONELINESS FOR YOU,
BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE NO LONGER LONELY.
NOW YOU ARE TWO BODIES,
YET THERE IS ONLY ONE LIFE SET BEFORE YOU.
GO THEREFORE INTO YOUR DWELLING PLACE,
TO ENTER INTO THE DAYS OF YOUR TOGETHERNESS.
THAT YOUR DAYS MAY BE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL AND LONG UPON THIS EARTH.

TRUE LOVE

TRUE LOVE GIVES NOTHING OF ITSELF
AND TAKES NOTHING BUT FROM ITSELF
LOVE DOES NOT POSSESS, NOR WOULD IT BE POSSESSED
FOR LOVE IS SUFFICIENT UNTO LOVE.
LOVE HAS NO OTHER DESIRE BUT TO FULFILL ITSELF
TO AWAKE AT DAWN WITH A WINGED HEART AND TO GIVE
THANKS FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LOVING.
TO REST AT NOON AND MEDITATE UPON LOVE'S ECSTASY,
TO RETURN HOME AT EVENING WITH GRATITUDE
AND THEN TO SLEEP WITH A PRAYER FOR YOUR BELOVED
IN YOUR HEART AND A SONG OF PRAISE UPON YOUR LIPS.

PRONOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE

B__________ AND G__________, YOU HAVE COME HERE TODAY
BEFORE US AND BEFORE GOD AND HAVE EXPRESSED YOUR DESIRE TO BECOME
HUSBAND AND WIFE. YOU HAVE SHOWN YOUR LOVE AND AFFECTION BY JOINING
HANDS, AND HAVE MADE PROMISES OF FAITH AND DEVOTION, EACH TO THE
OTHER, AND HAVE SEALED THESE PROMISES BY THE GIVING AND THE
RECEIVING OF THE RINGS.
THEREFORE, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AS A MINISTER AND BY THE
AUTHORITY GIVEN TO ME BY THE
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, I NOW PRONOUNCE
THAT YOU ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE.
G___________ YOU MAY KISS YOUR WIFE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU FOR
THE FIRST TIME MR. AND MRS. __________________.

THE SAND CEREMONY

The sand ceremony will go in place of the unity candle ceremony

( You will need to get your own sand and containers)

A wedding sand ceremony is very popular in Lake Tahoe since sand is, well, abundant.
Two vessels of sand are poured together either into a third keepsake vessel,
or into the wind to represent the coming together of your lives.
Three sample sand wedding ceremony vows are:

Sample Sand Ceremony - 1
"Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual
containers of sand one, representing you BRIDE and all that you were,
all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, GROOM,
and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be.
As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual
containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again
into the individual containers, so will your marriage be."

Sample Sand Ceremony - 2
"BRIDE and GROOM, today you join your separate lives together.
The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives,
separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent all that you are
and all that you'll ever be as an individual. They also represent your
lives before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third
container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be
joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated
and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be."

Sample Sand Ceremony - 3
"BRIDE and GROOM, you have just sealed your relationship by the
giving and receiving of rings and this covenant is a relationshi
pledge between two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one
another 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. Today, this relationship is
symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand one,
representing you, BRIDE and all that you were, all that you are, and all that
you will ever be, and the other representing you, GROOM, and all that you were
and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers
of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand
will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains
of sand can never be separated and poured again into the
individual containers, so will your marriage be."