Sample Wedding Ceremony involving older children

Today we are here amongst family, friends and loved ones to celebrate the love that {Groom} and {Bride} share and have decided to commit themselves to each other in marriage.

Not only are we uniting these two as husband and wife, but also joining {Groom}, {Bride} and {Child} as a family.

{Groom} and {Bride}, in the days ahead of you as husband and wife and as parents there will be moments of joy and love and also time of difficulty and conflict.

Look back and remember these words of advise:

Let your love be stronger than your anger

Learn the wisdom of compromise for it is better to bend then to break

Look for the best in your partner rather than the worst

Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it.

Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship

Take time to appreciate one another

And say I love you every day.

Before you are joined together in marriage I am bound to remind you of the solemn vows you will be taking and of the relationship into which you are about to enter.

Marriage is voluntary and a full commitment between a man and woman. You will be making a commitment to each other and to your children. It is a precious gift and a lifelong dedication to your family.

With this understanding do you {Groom} take {Bride} to be your wife?

And do you {Bride} take {Groom} to be your husband?

{Groom} please repeat after me:

I {Groom} take you {Bride} as my wife

I promise to be a patient and loving father to our children

I Promise to walk by your side, to love, help, encourage and support you

I promise to share with you my time and attention as well as respect you as your own person

I promise to share your joy and sorry, and be there for you in good times and bad.

I promise to be faithful and I commit myself to you from this day forward.

I promise these things with all the love in my heart.

{Bride} please repeat after me:

I {Bride} take you {Groom} as my husband

I promise to be a patient and loving mother to our children

I Promise to walk by your side, to love, help, encourage and support you

I promise to share with you my time and attention as well as respect you as your own person

I promise to share your joy and sorry, and be there for you in good times and bad.

I promise to be faithful and I commit myself to you from this day forward.

I promise these things with all the love in my heart.

What symbol of these vows do have? {the rings}

{Groom}, please place your ring on {Bride’s} ring finger and repeat after me:

{Bride} take this ring as a symbol of my love. A never ending circle so is my never ending love for you.

{Bride}, please place your ring on {Groom’s} ring finger and repeat after me:

{Groom} take this ring, as a symbol of my love. A never ending circle so is my never ending love for you.

Now I’d like to ask that the two of you join hand with your children.

{Groom/Bride} repeat after me:

Today as I marry your {father/mother} you became my family. I promise to love you and care for you.

You are eachother's family. Each of you must promise to respect each other, love and support each other. Accept the responsibility to be a parent, a child, a husband and a wife. {Groom} and {Bride} you must promise to provide a loving home for your children. {Children} you must promise to be respectful to your parents and supportive of their marriage.

With all these things said do you all take part in this new family? Please say we do

{children return}

The two of you have joined hands with each other and with your children and made promise of a new life and a new family. Hold each other and well as yourselves accountable to these promises. Always remember to cherish each other and your children.

 From this day forward you will be each other’s home and comfort and that of your children also. Remind yourselves often of these promises. Don’t forget the joy in your hearts today.

A wedding is just one day, but your marriage is a lifetime. You two will never finish building on your relationship and you will continue to grow as the years go by and as you find greater happiness.

And so, as you have promised to love each other as husband and wife with these vows and the giving of rings and as you have joined hands with your children to declare your family today in front of your family and friends, I now pronounce you husband and wife…. You may now kiss.

I now introduce to you the new Mr. and Mrs. ------