A Wedding Ceremony Guide - Provided by Tatex Thermographers

Non-Scripture, non-religious works such as the bridal couple's favorite poetry or essays can be read to express their heartfelt feelings about marriage and to deepen the mood of their milestone celebration. Anyone can take part, including the bride and groom, friends and family.

"Sonnet 18", by William Shakespeare
From "The Prophet", by Kahlil Gibran
From "The Strength To Love", by Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Sonnet XLIII", by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"The Dance", by Wendell Berry
"To His Wife Mary", by William Wordsworth
"Love's Philosophy", by Percy Bysshe Shelley
"He Wishes For The Cloths of Heaven", by W.B. Yeats
"She Walks In Beauty", by Lord Byron
From "Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman
"On The Eve", by Denise Levertov from A Navajo Wedding Celebration

Scripture, sacred literature such as Bible scripture can be read to emphasize the sacredness and to enhance the spirituality of the bridal couple's special occasion. Usually religious selections are read by the officiant, but they may also be read by the bride, groom, friends or family.

The Holy Gospel John 2:1-11
John 15:9-17
Matthew 5:1-12
Matthew 22:35-40

Old Testament
Genesis 1:26-28, 31
Genesis 2:4-9, 15-24
Canticles - Song of Solomon 2:8-14, 16a, 8:6-7
Isaiah 61:10
Isaiah 62:3
Psalm 67
Psalm 127
Psalm 128

New Testament
1 Corinthians 13
Ephesians 3:14-19
Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33
Colossians 3:12-17
1 John 3:18-24
1 John 4:7-16
John 4:16-21
Revelation 19:6-9

The heart of the Jewish wedding is the traditional Hebrew Seven Blessings, "We praise you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine." The bridal couple sip wine after each blessing, a symbol of the sanctification in which God is praised. These Benedictions are read aloud by various guests. After the vows and rings are exchanged, the Ketubbah (marriage contract) is read. Afterwards, the groom smashes a glass with his foot. The guests then greet the couple with "Mazel Tov" which means "Good Luck".

Blessed are you, Holy One of the Earth, who creates the fruit of
the vines...
Blessed are you, Holy One of the Universe. You created all things for
your Glory...
Blessed are you, Holy One of the World. Through you
mankind lives...
Blessed are you, Holy One of the World. You made man and woman in your image, after your likeness, that they might perpetuate life...
Blessed are you, Holy One of All Nature, who makes Zion rejoice with
her children...
Blessed are you, Holy One of the Cosmos, who makes the
bridegroom and bride to rejoice...
Blessed are you, Holy One of All, who created joy and gladness,
bride and bridegroom, mirth and song, pleasure and delight,
love, fellowship, peace and friendship...

The Buddhist Scriptures: The Buddha's Sermon At Rajagaha, Verses 19-22

Do not deceive, do not despise each other anywhere. Do not be angry nor bear secret resentments; for as a mother will risk her life and watches over her child, so boundless be your love to all, so tender, kind and mild.

Cherish good will right and left, early and late, and without hindrance, without stint, be free of hate and envy, while standing and waiting and sitting down, whatever you have in mind,
the rule of life that is always best is to be loving-kind.

Druidic Vow

We swear by peace and love to stand
Heart to heart, and hand in hand.
Mark, O Spirit and hear us now.
Confirming this our Sacred Vow.

The Hindu Scriptures: The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Selected Verses

A wife loves her husband not his own sake, dear one, but because the Divine Beloved lives in him. A husband loves his wife not for her own sake, dear one, but because the Divine Beloved lives in her. Children are loved not for their own sake, dear one, but because the Devine Beloved lives in them...All things are loved not for their own sake, but because the Divine Beloved lives in them. The Divine Beloved must be realized. Hearing about and meditating upon the Divine Beloved, you will come to understand everything in life...

As long as there is the sense of separateness, one sees another as separate from oneself...But when the Divine Beloved is realized as the indivisible unity of life, who can be seen by whom...who can be spoken to by who, who can be thought of by whom, who can be known by whom?


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