Beautiful bamboo arch made by my dad
PROCESSIONAL
An acoustic guitarist will play Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" during the prelude and Bob Marley's "High Tide or Low Tide" (instrumental only) as the wedding party enters.
Best Man > Groom > Maid of Honor > Flower Girl > Bride with both parents
NO “Who gives this woman away?” bride will just hug her parents, then the ceremony will begin
WELCOME
Officiant everyone and thanks them for coming, says something about marriage. (I've asked him to fill in info here)
READING
Officiant
Introduces groom's neice and her reading, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.
Neice
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the ones who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "We don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.
It's opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don' t
Because, sometimes, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.
You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.
And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
NO!
That's not for you!
Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!
On you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)
You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
VOWS
Officiant
Introduces the vows… (I've asked him to fill in info here)
Groom, do you choose bride to be your wife and partner for the rest of your lives, to support and accept her in good times and bad? Do you promise to always remain honest, loving, and faithful to her?
Groom
I do.
Officiant
Bride, do you choose groom to be your husband and partner for the rest of your lives, to support and accept him in good times and bad? Do you promise to always remain honest, loving, and faithful to him?
Bride
I do.
Officiant
Explains that we’ve written our own vows and have not shared them with each other… (I've asked him to fill in info here)
Groom
Says his vows (they're a secret for now!)
Bride
Says her vows (they're a secret for now!)
RING EXCHANGE
Officiant
Introduces the ring exchange… (I've asked him to fill in info here)
May I have the rings please?
Best Man
Hands both rings to officiant
Officiant
Groom, please repeat after me as you place the wedding ring on your bride’s finger.
I, groom,
take you, bride,
to be my wife,
to share my friendship and support
and to be loyal to you
for the rest of my life.
I give you this ring
as a physical reminder
of my unconditional love for you.
I ask that you wear it always
and remember the vows we have shared today.
brdie, please repeat after me as you place the wedding ring on your groom’s finger.
I, bride,
take you, groom,
to be my husband,
to share my friendship and support
and to be loyal to you
for the rest of my life.
I give you this ring
as a physical reminder
of my unconditional love for you.
I ask that you wear it always
and remember the vows we have shared today.
CONCLUSION
Officiant
Concludes the ceremony with something nice about marriage and relationships…. (I've asked him to fill in info here)
I’d like to conclude your marriage ceremony with an Apache Native American wedding blessing.
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other.
Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is one life before you.
May your days be good and long upon the earth.
It is my pleasure to now introduce Mr. and Mrs. name. You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife.
RECESSIONAL
An acoustic guitarist will play Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" during the prelude and Bob Marley's "High Tide or Low Tide" (instrumental only) as the wedding party enters.
Best Man > Groom > Maid of Honor > Flower Girl > Bride with both parents
NO “Who gives this woman away?” bride will just hug her parents, then the ceremony will begin
WELCOME
Officiant everyone and thanks them for coming, says something about marriage. (I've asked him to fill in info here)
READING
Officiant
Introduces groom's neice and her reading, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.
Neice
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the ones who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "We don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.
It's opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don' t
Because, sometimes, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.
You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.
And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
NO!
That's not for you!
Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!
On you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)
You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
VOWS
Officiant
Introduces the vows… (I've asked him to fill in info here)
Groom, do you choose bride to be your wife and partner for the rest of your lives, to support and accept her in good times and bad? Do you promise to always remain honest, loving, and faithful to her?
Groom
I do.
Officiant
Bride, do you choose groom to be your husband and partner for the rest of your lives, to support and accept him in good times and bad? Do you promise to always remain honest, loving, and faithful to him?
Bride
I do.
Officiant
Explains that we’ve written our own vows and have not shared them with each other… (I've asked him to fill in info here)
Groom
Says his vows (they're a secret for now!)
Bride
Says her vows (they're a secret for now!)
RING EXCHANGE
Officiant
Introduces the ring exchange… (I've asked him to fill in info here)
May I have the rings please?
Best Man
Hands both rings to officiant
Officiant
Groom, please repeat after me as you place the wedding ring on your bride’s finger.
I, groom,
take you, bride,
to be my wife,
to share my friendship and support
and to be loyal to you
for the rest of my life.
I give you this ring
as a physical reminder
of my unconditional love for you.
I ask that you wear it always
and remember the vows we have shared today.
brdie, please repeat after me as you place the wedding ring on your groom’s finger.
I, bride,
take you, groom,
to be my husband,
to share my friendship and support
and to be loyal to you
for the rest of my life.
I give you this ring
as a physical reminder
of my unconditional love for you.
I ask that you wear it always
and remember the vows we have shared today.
CONCLUSION
Officiant
Concludes the ceremony with something nice about marriage and relationships…. (I've asked him to fill in info here)
I’d like to conclude your marriage ceremony with an Apache Native American wedding blessing.
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other.
Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is one life before you.
May your days be good and long upon the earth.
It is my pleasure to now introduce Mr. and Mrs. name. You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife.
RECESSIONAL
