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Greetings
The greeting is the part of the ceremony where the officiant welcomes the bride and groom as well as the guests in attendance. It can be as simple as 'Hi, how's it going' or as elaborate as a Thomas Wyatt sonnet - it's up to you! Below are some commonly used greetings. You may also choose from several Invocations (the greeting used at religious weddings). Click here for example Invocations.
Greeting #1:
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here today to join together this Man and this Woman into the bond and contract of holy Matrimony. Therefore if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.
Greeting #2:
Friends and family of the Bride and Groom, what a joy it is to welcome you here, for we have come to celebrate the miracle of love and to witness the union of [GROOM’S FULL NAME] and [BRIDE’S FULL NAME]. Every experience you have ever had, everything you have ever done, everything you have ever learned has brought you to this moment as you now stand before these witnesses to take each other as husband and wife. New experiences lie before you with opportunities to grow deeper in love with each other. As you walk hand in hand into the future, cherish each moment as a gift; a gift given to strengthen the bond between you.
Greeting #3:
Love is an integral part of life, for without the spark of love, there is nothing to empower the mystery of continuance, and without continuance, all life will cease to be. This is how we came to be, and now we are gathered here together because our parents, and our parent's parents, and so on before them, felt that spark, and empowered that continuance, and made it possible for us to be who we have become.
So it is today that, in the presence of the People, [GROOM] and [BRIDE] are about to marry one another and share that spark of love with one another. Perhaps in this moment we too will feel its passage and again participate in that mystery of continuance that becomes life itself.
[GROOM] and [BRIDE] wish to declare, in our sight, their formal intent to share their lives and make a family together with their children. In this day and age, many people do not feel the need to make such a declaration, and yet many more still do, for they remain aware of the presence of the mystery that underlies the sacrament and contract of marriage, and they value this presence, and so they make their decision and act upon it as [GROOM] and [BRIDE] are about to do.
As they make such a decision, there are four things which we must ask of them:
- They must both understand what they are committing themselves to, for nobody should stumble into marriage with eyes closed.
- They must freely consent to their marriage, for any sort of trickery or duress would render such a consent meaningless.
- There must be no turning back. Both parties to a marriage must fully and passionately intend to stick with it through difficulties as well as through triumphs, otherwise they shall grievously hurt each other and the children who trust in their wisdom. From this day forth, [GROOM] and [BRIDE] will hold each other's hearts in their hands.
- In considering their decision to marry, we must ask them what they understand by the word, 'love'. The decision to marry must stem, not from material gain, social advantage or any other extrinsic reward, but from mutual and realistic love. A marriage without love is an empty cup indeed.
Of these four things, the one which matters most is love, the abiding yet surprising, practical yet passionate, mirthful yet reverent love -- the difficult and complicated sort of love that we have to grow into. Marriage is a place where we can learn from each other about that love.
Let [BRIDE] and [GROOM] be not afraid to turn to us all for help when they need it. By coming here together to this wild and wonderful place we demonstrate that we are willing to stand by them as they consummate their great decision.
And even though none of us, least of all them, can see what is to come, let us all encourage them as they go forward in hope, trusting in the Gods, the People, and each other.
[GROOM] and [BRIDE] are most evidently not afraid of adventure -- look where they are standing today. Together they embrace the uncertainty of adventure, awaiting the surprising discoveries which they shall make. Love, this spark of life, is the greatest adventure of all.