Civil Marriage Ceremony – Option #2
<Officiant to Announce>
“On behalf of __________________ and ___________________, I welcome and thank you for being here on this special day. By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other and you support their decision to commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives. Today we are here to celebrate love. We come together to witness and proclaim the joining together of these two persons in marriage.”
<If either person is escorted forward, Officiant Announce>
“Who is it that gives this _________________ (man/woman/person/individual) in marriage?”
<Answer> “I/we do”
“This is an important and joyous occasion for ___________________ and _________________ who will today make a commitment to each other, before witnesses, to pledge themselves, by mutual consent, to a union in friendship and life which is one of the most sacred of all human ties. Marriage is not to be entered upon thoughtlessly or irresponsibly but with a due and serious understanding and appreciation of the ends for which it is contracted.”
“_______________________ and ___________________ you have made it known that you want to be joined in marriage and no one has shown any valid reason why you may not. If either of you know of any lawful impediment why you should not be married, you are now to declare it.”
<Officiant to Applicant. Repeat after me please>
“I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I ___________________ may not be joined in matrimony to ___________________”
<Officiant to Joint Applicant. Repeat after me please>
“I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I ___________________ may not be joined in matrimony to ___________________”
<Declaration of Intent and Vows>
“Would you please face each other, join hands and repeat after me.”
<Officiant to Applicant. Repeat after me please>
I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, ______________________ do take you ________________________, to be my lawful wedded (wife/husband/spouse/partner).”
<Officiant to Joint Applicant. Repeat after me please>
I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, ______________________ do take you _________________________, to be my lawful wedded (wife/husband/spouse/partner).”
<Exchange of Rings>
“This ring is a symbol of your marriage and a symbol of your love and life together.”
<Officiant to Applicant>
“Please place this ring on the third finger of ________________________’s left hand saying after me:
With this ring, I thee wed. I shall love, honour and cherish thee and this ring is the symbol of my love.”
<Officiant to Joint Applicant>
“Please place this ring on the third finger of ________________________’s left hand saying after me:
With this ring, I thee wed. I shall love, honour and cherish thee and this ring is the symbol of my love.”
<Officiant to Announce>
“As you wear these rings may you find them reminders of an endless love which may grow more meaningful with each passing day.”
<Pronouncement by Officiant>
“___________________ and ___________________ have pledged themselves to each other and have declared this symbolically by their vows and the exchange of rings.
I, __________________, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Ontario Marriage Act, do hereby pronounce you _________________ and __________________ to be married.
You may exchange a kiss as a token of your joy.”
<Signing of the Register>
“At this time, the wedded parties and their witness will sign the Official Marriage Register.”
<Ceremony Conclusion>
“As you enter upon your marriage, let your relationship be one of complete truth and understanding between you both; respect the confidences of your partner in this marriage, and consider that as the world gives nothing freely, neither will your marriage yield you more than you give into it. May you enjoy length of days, fulfillment of hopes and peace and contentment of mind as you day by day live and fulfill the terms of this commitment you have made with one another.
May I introduce to you the married couple.”
Note: All bolded text is mandatory for the ceremony.