FILIPINO CEREMONY
Presentation of the Bride
_(Bride)_ is about to pledge her faith, love and loyalty to _(Groom)_ . Is there one of her family who is prepared to present her to him? / PARENTS: “We commit _(Bride)_ into your love and care. May God bless you richly.”
Opening Remarks to Guests
We have gathered this day to participate in a ceremony that brings together two people, two families and two traditions. This ceremony seeks to respect and present the upbringing and belief structure of both the bride and the groom and their respective families. May it, by its expression this day, be used of God to build unity in the midst of diversity, a unity built on and energized by the love between this couple and the love that has always been so precious to all in their families. May we join in support of _(Bride)_ and _(Groom)_’s commitment to each other to build a marriage, a home and a family that is characterized by love and respect for all that is good, and upright and honorable.
What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness, to be one with each other in the silent unspoken memories? — George Elliot
Remarks to the Couple
_(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ , today you are performing an act of complete faith, each in the other. This is the heart of the marriage relationship you are initiating today. In a world where faith often falls short of expectation, it is a tribute to you that you desire this depth of commitment and relationship.
_(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ , remember to treat both yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty or fear assail your relationship – as they threaten all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out times when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. If each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your lives together, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight.
Impediment Declaration
_(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ stand before you today to exchange their marriage vows. To the present, none has shown any just cause why they may not be married, nor have they themselves declared any impediment.
The Pledge
(Groom), will you have this Woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live? / I do
(Bride), will you have this Man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live? / I do
Pastoral Counsel
Agape love defined
– the deepest word for love,
the kind of love God has for us.
The kind of love God declares so important to all human relations, especially marriage.
I Corinthians 13 of God’s Word, in the Phillips translation, describes agape love in the following manner…
If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I have become no more than blaring brass, or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future, and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge, but [even] the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess…but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing. This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience — it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love has good manners, and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil, or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it shares the joy of those who live by the truth. Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love never fails…In this life we have three lasting qualities — faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Veil Ceremony
I would like to call forward the Veil Sponsors, Lito and Mary-Anne to place the veil over (Groom) and _(Bride)_ .
The veil signifies union and oneness. We have two individuals before us now, who after this day, will become as one, sharing one home and one family. Let no distance, nor barrier separate your hearts and minds. Together you will build a future for yourselves and your children to come through love and perseverance.
Cord Ceremony
I would like to call forward the Cord Sponsors, Maitess and Gary to place the cord over (Groom) and (Bride)_.
The cord symbolizes the love and friendship that bind the couple, and the figure-eight shape represents unity and infinity. It is a symbol of the couple’s bond; that indeed they are no longer two but one in their new life as a couple.
Blessing
May you enjoy a measure of faith that will enable your relationship grow as you share in the joys, the success, the failures, as well as the relaxed and the stressful times of your marriage.
May you establish a happy home that will allow you to see the humorous side of life, yet find contentment and peace in its serious realities.
As you walk down life’s path together, may your union bind you together in a love that is true and a faithfulness that is lasting.
Would the Cord Sponsor please come forward to remove the cord.
Would the Veil Sponsors please come forward to remove the veil.
Coin Ceremony
Would the coin bearer please deliver the coins into my hand?
Lord, bless these coins. Grant (Groom) and (Bride) not only material possessions, but abundant spiritual strength, which these coins symbolize, so that they may bless others.
Hold the coins in your hands as a sign that your blessings will no longer be held separately, but together. And may you always show that whatever gift you may have in this life is not ultimately yours but the Lord’s.
(Groom), repeat after me…
(Bride), take these coins
as a pledge of
our commitment
to share God’s gifts.
(Bride), repeat your response to (Groom)…
(Groom), I accept and treasure your gift. Let us together
always share God’s blessings.
Blessing
May God bless these coins as a sign of mutual support and responsibility.
(Bride), repeat after me to (Groom)…
I give you (Groom) these coins
as a pledge of my dedication to you,
the care of our home,
and the welfare of our children.
Now, (Groom), your response to (Bride)…
I accept them
and in the same way
pledge my dedication to you,
care of our home,
and the welfare of our children.
Now, (Groom), allow the set of coins to fall into the hands of the (Bride), as you say to (Bride)…
(Bride), accept these coins
as a pledge of my total dedication
and constant concern
for your welfare.
(Groom) and (Bride), please rise once more to your feet as we proceed.
Pre-Vow Prayer
In Christ’s name we ask your blessing now for _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ as they make their marriage vows.
Dear Lord, as _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ pledge themselves to each other, help them and bless them that their love will be pure, that their vows may be true. May they draw ever closer to each other with a deep inner spiritual tie that will enable them to love each other completely and faithfully throughout their life.
We ask for your protection and guidance, Lord, on this couple and their union today and all of their days together.
OPTIONAL CATHOLIC COMPONENTS
Please join _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ in the reciting of the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
OUR FATHER
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be
Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done,
on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
GLORY BE
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
The Vows
(Groom), please share with (Bride) your vows.
(Bride), pleased share with (Groom) your vows.
The Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please?
When you wear wedding rings, it tells the world you are united with each other in marriage. Since your rings have no beginning and no end, may they show that your love for each other also has no end.
(Groom), as you place your ring on _(Bride)_’s finger repeat after me your commitment to you bride.
_(Bride)_ , I place this ring on your finger
as a perpetual sign
of my unending love.
(Bride), as you place your ring on _(Groom)’s finger repeat after me your commitment to your groom.
_(Groom)_ , I place this ring on your finger
as a perpetual sign
of my unending love.
Unity Candle Ceremony
I would like to call forward Ben and Angel, to prepare candles for the Unity Candle Ceremony
_(Bride)_ and _(Groom)_, as we share the Unity Candle Ceremony, recognize that the individual candles represent your lives before today.
I ask that each of you take one of the lit candles and that together you light the center candle.
Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one.
Declaration of Marriage
Having, in the presence of God, and these witnesses, promised your faith in and love to each other, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Province of Ontario as an ordained minister of the gospel, I pronounce you husband and wife.
May God himself bless your union and may all persons take care to assist you in the keeping of your sacred vows.
You may kiss your bride.
Pastoral Prayer for the Couple
Signing of the Register
Presentation of the Bride and Groom
It gets me great delight to introduce Mr. And Mrs. ___________