Home Rates Ceremonies Reviews Contact

Bonnie performs a variety of ceremonies ranging from contemporary to traditional. Any of the ceremonies can be customized to express your own deep feelings you hold in your heart for that special person you are marrying. A wedding ceremony is, in essence, an intimate conversation between each other with family and friends as witnesses.

Whatever your selection may be, Bonnie will support and guide you into this exciting new journey!

Contemporary Ceremony I Vow Renewal
Contemporary Ceremony II Sand Ceremony
Contemporary Ceremony III Seashell Blessing
Traditional Ceremony  

Contemporary Ceremony I

MINISTER: Before God we have come together today, for marriage is one of the most sacred of His wishes. And now through me He joins you in one of the Holiest of Bonds.

LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER,
O Lords, hear our prayers for ________and ________ who today are united in marriage before You. Give them your blessings and always strengthen their love for each other. Amen.

**The Bride and Groom face each other at this point and hold hands as the minister reads this poem.

With your hand in mine
We walk together,
Our love so strong
Yet so tender and free.
Our hearts beat as one and
Our thoughts are beautiful,
For as my eyes meet yours
There is no doubt,
Our lives have touched
And throughout all eternity
The beauty shall be there
As sure as the wind,
As sure as we care,
As sure as we love.

VOWS

MINISTER: _________ do you take_________ for your wedded husband, to love and cherish, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?
GROOM: I DO

MINISTER: ________do you take_______ for your wedded wife, to love and cherish, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?
BRIDE: I DO

***AT THIS POINT THE COUPLE WILL EXCHANGE RINGS

MINISTER: At this time, I ask you to place the wedding rings in my hand. May the Lord bless these rings which you give as your sign of love and devotion. Amen.

_________, as you place ________’s ring on her finger I ask that you repeat these words, “WITH THIS RING I THEE WED.”
GROOM: WITH THIS RING I THEE WED.

_________, as you place ________’s ring on his finger I ask that you repeat these words “WITH THIS RING I THEE WED.”
BRIDE: WITH THIS RING I THEE WED.

MINISTER: May you always share with each other the gifts of love and be one in heart and always beautiful of mind. And may you always create a home together that puts in your hearts: LOVE, GENEROSITY, and KINDNESS. Amen.

What therefore God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

And so, by the powers in vested by Almighty God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and by the State of North Carolina, I now pronounce you HUSBAND and WIFE.

YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE.

<< Back to top

Contemporary Ceremony II

_________________ & _________________, if at this very moment, we could capture the sounds of the ocean and all of your family and friends' wishes of happiness and affection and turn those into music, we would be listening to a most beautiful ballad. Just imagining that should assure ____________________ & ____________________ that our hearts are attuned to theirs for “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.” Marriage is an act of faith and personal commitment, as well as a Loving union between two people; it evolves into a growing energy of spiritual life. It is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage should be a lifelong dedication to the ideal of loving kindness, backed with the will to last.

We read in “THE PROPHET”:
“True love gives nothing but itself and takes nothing from itself. Love does not possess, nor would it be possessed. For love is sufficient unto love. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. To awake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. To rest at noon and meditate love’s ecstasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart. And a song of Praise upon your lips.”

PLEASE JOIN HANDS FOR YOUR VOWS.

GROOM:
____________________ Will you take _________________ to be your wedded WIFE; to love, to cherish, to continually bestow upon her heart’s deepest devotion? I DO
Repeat After Me:
“_____________________, I take you to be my WIFE from this day forward, to love and to cherish, to trust you and honor you, through the difficult and the easy, in sadness and in laughter, to care and share together as long as we both shall live.”

BRIDE: __________________ Will you take __________________ to be your wedded HUSBAND, to Love, to Cherish, to continually bestow upon her heart’s deepest devotion? I DO
Repeat After Me:
“_________________, you are devoted to me now as my HUSBAND from this day forward, to love and to cherish, to trust you and honor you, thru the difficult and the easy, in sadness and in laughter, to care and share together as long as we both shall live.”

WHAT TOKEN OF YOUR DEVOTION DO YOU OFFER YOUR BELOVED?

May these rings be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate unity. These two lives now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May they grow in understanding and compassion. May the home that they establish together be such a place of sanctuary that many will find there a friend. May these rings, on their fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts. Amen.

(Hand ring to Groom) ____________________ in placing this ring on _________________ finger repeat after me: “_____________________ I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as a symbol of our unity”

(Hand ring to Bride) ____________________ in placing this ring on _________________ finger repeat after me: “_____________________ I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as a symbol of our unity”

Together ____________________ and ___________________ offer the benediction of the Apaches:
"Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness for you.
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one Life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth."

In as much as _______________ and _______________ have consented together in marriage before this company and have pledged their faith and declared their unity by giving and receiving a ring, they are now joined in mutual esteem and devotion.

And so by the power vested in me I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE!
Friends and Family – Mr. and Mrs. ___________________________

<< Back to top

Contemporary Ceremony III

This is the day that the Lord has made and I believe He made it with ______ and ______ in His plan.

MINISTER: “Who blesses this marriage?”

______ replies, “Her _____ and ____ do.”

THE CEREMONY BEGINS:
Family and friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love of ____ and ____, as they make their pledges of marriage before God and before this company. Jesus Christ was once asked, "What is the greatest Law that mankind must follow?" And he answered them by saying that we must love God with all our hearts, and love our neighbors as our self.

I think that when he said these words, he touched upon something we all feel very deeply in our hearts, and that is that love is the greatest gift we can offer one another, and that is what makes marriage so very special, and such a cause of joy and celebration for all of us who have come here today to share in this event.

It is my personal prayer and hope that those of you who have already taken the vows of marriage will witness the love of these two people, and as you hear them share their vows, perhaps it will strengthen for you the memory of your happy day, and remind you of the meaning of the vows you yourselves once took. Perhaps it will even strengthen the bonds of love that have been growing between you. If any of this should happen, it would certainly be the greatest gift that ____ and ____ could offer all of us on their wedding day.

Marriage is an act of faith and ever-deepening commitment, as well as a loving union between two people. It has been described as the best and the most important relationship that two people can share, the creation of a single growing energy of spiritual life. Marriage can be a lifelong unfolding of loving kindness, backed by the will to make it last. There is no limit to the knowing of another's soul, and when you learn to love one person, then you grow in love for all of humanity.

Family or Friend or Minister May Read from “The Prophet”:
True love gives nothing but itself, and takes nothing but from itself, for love is sufficient unto love. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself, to awake at dawn and give thanks for another day of loving, to rest at noon and meditate love's ecstasy, to return home at eventide with gratitude, and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart, and a song of praise upon your lips.

_____, Will you take _____ to be your wedded WIFE; to love her, to cherish her, and continually bestow upon her heart’s deepest devotion? I WILL.

_____, Will you take _____ to be your wedded HUSBAND; to love him, to cherish him, and continually bestow upon his heart’s deepest devotion? I WILL.

**Please hold hands and repeat after me:

_____, I take you to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love.
I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.
I will trust you and honor you
I will laugh with you and cry with you.
I will love you faithfully
Through the best and the worst,
Through the difficult and the easy.
What may come I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold
So I give you my life to keep
So help me God.

And, _____ I take you to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love.
I will cherish our friendship and love you today,
Tomorrow and forever
I will trust you and honor you
I will laugh with you and cry with you.
I will love you faithfully
Through the best and the worst,
Through the difficult and the easy.
What may come I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold
So I give you my life to keep
So help me God

RING CEREMONY

Minister: What token of your love and devotion do you offer your beloved? (Place rings in minister’s hand)

May these rings be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate unity. These two lives now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May they grow in understanding and compassion. May the home that they establish together be such a place of sanctuary that many will find a friend. May these rings, on their fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts. Amen.

(Hand ring to Groom) _____, in placing this ring on ____ finger repeat after me: “_____, I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as a symbol of our unity.”

(Hand ring to Bride) _____, in placing this ring on _____finger repeat after me: “_____, I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and a symbol of our unity.”

Because _____ and _____ have exchanged these vows of love in our presence, we now recognize them as Husband and Wife.

Give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another so that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature with the passing years. May you never take each other for granted, but always experience the wonder of your union. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive, leaving no tracks of resentment behind each day. May your love consist not only in gazing into each other's eyes, but in looking outward, May your life together be a source of strength and inspiration to yourselves, your families, your friends, and to all whose lives you touch.

And so by the powers vested in me and by the Almighty God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Congratulations, you may now kiss your bride!

Family and friends, may I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs._____!

<< Back to top

Traditional Ceremony

This is the day that the Lord has made and I believe He made it with ____ and _____ in His plan.

Jesus’ greatest commandment is to love one another as I have loved you. The Bible teaches us that marriage is to be a permanent relationship of one man and one woman freely and totally committed to each other as companion for life.

**Who gives this woman to be united in Holy Marriage to this man? (The father/friend/relative says: I DO.)

Ever this day forward, you shall be establishing a home together. The home is built upon love. Marriage is a companionship, which involves mutual commitment, trust and responsibility. Each of you will share in the roles of life and the joys of life. When one is sorrowed, the whole is sorrowed, when there is a joy, the joy is doubled.

You are charged to dedicate your home to the Almighty God. Take His Word, the Bible for your guide. Give loyal and obedient devotion to His Church, thus uniting the mutual strength of these two most important institutions, living your lives as willing and loving servants and true happiness will be your eternal reward.

LET US PRAY. O Lord, of love and life, bestow upon this beautiful couple your grace, and seal this commitment of _______and ________with their love. As thou hast brought them together by divine providence, sanctify them by thy Holy Spirit that they may find themselves fully one to the other and to thee. Through Jesus Christ we pray. AMEN!

PLEASE JOIN YOUR RIGHT HANDS & PREPARE TO TAKE THE VOWS OF MARRIAGE

TO GROOM: ________, will you take ______ to be your lawfully wedded WIFE on earth and in Heaven; will you commit yourself to her happiness, and her self-fulfillment as a person? Do you promise to love, honor and keep her in sickness as in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, to keep only unto her, so long as you both shall live? GROOM: I WILL.

TO BRIDE: ________, will you take ______ to be your lawfully wedded HUSBAND on earth and in Heaven; will you commit yourself to his happiness, and his self-fulfillment as a person? Do you promise to love, honor and keep him in sickness as in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, to keep only unto him, so long as you both shall live? BRIDE: I WILL.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE THE WEDDING RINGS?

The wedding ring is a symbol of marriage: The unending circle symbolizes the unending vows which you are taking, which may be broken honorably in the sight of God only by death. It also symbolizes the purity of your love for each other. As a token of your vows you will give and receive these rings.

MINISTER SAYS TO GROOM: _________you will give the ring and repeat after me: ________, with this ring I pledge my life and love to you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

MINISTER SAYS TO BRIDE: _________you will give the ring and repeat after me: ________, with this ring I pledge my life and love to you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

**May say the Lord's Prayer here if desired.

Beloved family and friends, as our brother and sister have made and exchanged vows and rings to each other, before you, before me, and before our Heavenly Father, I charge you to remind them of their unbreakable vows and to help guide them by way of the Holy Word. (the following may be optional) - Signal your answer by saying “I Will”.

___________________and __________________ by the powers vested in me and by the Almighty God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I now pronounce you HUSBAND AND WIFE.

YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE!

Ladies and gentlemen, I have the great honor to introduce to you today Mr. and Mrs. ______________. The peace and blessings of Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

<< Back to top

Vow Renewal

Good relationships never stop growing. ____________ & _____________, you have been married for _____ years and through all the years of your journey together, you have now come to this beautiful setting, so that you can renew your vow and commitment of love for each other.

Today you renew and acknowledge your greatest gifts, your love, your support and your caring for each other. Your partnership of the heart is reaffirmed, cherished and held in high esteem. We honor you for your ongoing commitment to your marriage and to each other.

Minister: ____________ & _____________, please join hands and face one another as you renew your vows and commitment to one another.

Minister: Do you now promise to renew the vows which you made when you were first united in marriage?
Couple: We do. (recite vows)

Minister: Do you promise to continue to keep the vows and covenant which you made at your wedding?
Couple: We do.

Minister: Repeat after me:
I __________ promise this to you:
Like a delicate flower of God
I will nurture you and care for you
You will be in my heart
No matter the troubles we encounter
The sorrow that saddens us
The joys that bond us
The wealth we are blessed with
I will always be there for you with open arms
May our love grow as we share our lives together.

Minister: Do you promise to continue to cultivate your love for each other by discipline, understanding, trustfulness, patience and mutual consideration?

Minister: Let us pray: Lord, we thank you for this couple and all that has led them to this day. As they renew their vows, before You, assist them in living their promise every day. If dark shadows come their way, shine Your light upon them, so that they may carry out their commitment to one another. Be with them in every moment. Guide them to infinite love, total health, unlimited joy and perfect peace. Lord, please continue to grant ____________ & _____________ strength, patience, understanding and love. We give thanks that it is done. Amen.

With your hand in mine
We walk together,
Our love so strong, yet so tender and free.
Our hearts beat as one and
Our thoughts are beautiful,
For as my eyes meet yours
There is no doubt,
Our lives have touched
And throughout all eternity
The beauty shall be there
As sure as the wind,
As sure as we care,
As sure as we love.

<< Back to top

Sand Ceremony

After the vows: Today, ______ and _______ (and children) symbolize their relationship of who they were before today and all that they are now and all that they will ever be with the blending of these vases of sand into one.

Each grain of sand is as unique as you are as individuals. The blending of each of these vases of sand into one represents your new life together now. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into individual containers, so will your life now be; one of love and a harmonious blending of children, family members and friends.

Optional: The bride and groom may choose to repeat to each other after the blending of sand: You are my love forever. My heart and soul merge with you like these grains of sand, ever shifting and growing one into each other.

<< Back to top

Seashell Blessing

Performed at the end of the marriage ceremony at water's edge
Each of you hold a gift from the sea; a Sea Shell that is just as exceptional and special as yourself. As you embrace this shell, we ask that you bless it with intentions of love and wishes for ______ &_______ and all of mankind and when you toss it back into the sea the blessings you have bestowed upon it will eventually come back into someone else’s hands. So as we cast our shells know that each ripple represents an act of love, kindness & gratitude for each other throughout our daily walk in this beautiful life we all share.

<< Back to top