Pagan Marriage Ceremony

Marriage: A Sharing of Life

     This basic wedding ceremony can be expanded upon to add elements of Pagan handfastings, more traditional aspects such as giving away the bride, and any number of alterations. It can also be altered to include a sanguine exchange between the bride and groom if they so choose this.  For a Sanguinarian wedding ceremony, when the bride and groom exchange wine with one another, each of them should also make a small cut on one finger with a new, sterilized lancet, and add a few drops of their own blood to the wine they present to their partner.

     This ceremony requires wine to be exchanged, and therefore you will need a bottle of wine and a chalice. The best man will handle the wine, the maid of honor carries the chalice. There is a place left for an exchange of personally-written vows between bride and groom, and an exchange of rings can be inserted here as well.

The Rite:

Priest: Friends.  When we come into this world, we have only our selves, and most of our journey in life is walked alone.  Some of us are content in our solitude, while others spend their whole lives searching for someone else to share with them their passions, their sorrows, and their joys.

     A very lucky few of us can find that person: someone who helps us carry our burdens and achieve our dreams, just as we, in turn, help them.  It is a rare and wondrous occasion when we realize that we have found someone to build a life with; and such an occasion should be celebrated, solemnly and joyfully, among friends.

     We are gathered here tonight because there are two souls among us who cry out for union. They have walked together for a time now, and they have realized that they no longer wish to walk alone.

     Would (bride’s name) and (groom’s name) please step forward?

(The couple to be married steps forward. If a more traditional wedding ceremony is desired, the groom may step forward and wait by the priest while a friend or relative walks the bride forward to join them.)

Priest: (Groom’s name) and (bride’s name).  By swearing yourselves to one another this night, you help forge a bond that will be with you in every time and in every place throughout the long journey of years.  Marriage is not merely a bond of the flesh;  it is also a binding of souls. 

     When we touch one another, when we kiss and make love, we do not embrace only the body.  We touch the spirit as well.  The union of flesh is sacred and beautiful, but the union of souls is forever.  Even when death separates you, that bond will remain.  Nothing is more eternal than a vampire's love. 

     Now that you understand this, are you still ready to swear yourselves to one another and enter into a binding union?

Bride & Groom: Yes, we are.

Priest: Very well. Repeat after me:

(The priest takes the groom’s hand and looks him in the eye. The Priest then says each line below, and the groom repeats it.)

Priest: I, (groom’s name) promise (bride’s name) my unconditional love.

Groom: I, (groom’s name) promise (bride’s name) my unconditional love.

Priest: To be her strength when she is weak.

Groom: To be her strength when she is weak.

Priest: To be her comfort when she grieves.

Groom: To be her comfort when she grieves.

Priest: To provide for her in times of need.

Groom:  To provide for her in times of need.

Priest: And to laugh with her in times of joy.

Groom: And to laugh with her in times of joy.

Priest: Your vows have been witnessed.

(The priest releases his hand and takes up the hand of the bride.)

Priest: Now, (bride’s name), repeat after me:

(The priest takes the bride’s hand and looks her in the eye. The Priest then says each line below, and the bride repeats it.)

Priest: I, (bride’s name) promise (bride’s name) my unconditional love.

Groom: I, (bride’s name) promise (groom’s name) my unconditional love.

Priest: To be his strength when he is weak.

Groom: To be his strength when he is weak.

Priest: To be his comfort when he grieves.

Groom: To be his comfort when he grieves.

Priest: To provide for him in times of need.

Groom:  To provide for him in times of need.

Priest: And to laugh with him in times of joy.

Groom: And to laugh with him in times of joy.

(Priest releases her hand)

(The best man brings forth the wine. The maid of honor brings forth a chalice. Red wine is preferred, for it represents blood.  The wine should be uncorked before the ceremony to avoid any awkward difficulties. Both the cup-bearer and the wine-bearer stand close to the bride and groom.)

Priest: (Groom’s Name), take up the wine and pour some into the chalice.  As you do so, repeat after me: 

(Bride’s name), I pour out my life for you, I offer up my precious spirit.

Groom: (Bride’s name), I pour out my life for you, I offer up my precious spirit.

Priest: Let this sacrifice bind us, spirit to spirit, flesh to flesh.

Groom: Let this sacrifice bind us, spirit to spirit, flesh to flesh.

Priest: So that no earthly power may destroy our union.

Groom: So that no earthly power may destroy our union.

(The Groom hands the bottle of wine back to the best man.  Then he  takes the cup from the maid of honor and raises it to the Bride’s lips. She drinks.  The cup is then handed back to the maid of honor.)

Priest: (Bride’s Name), Take up the wine and pour your future husband a portion.  As you do so, repeat after me:

(Groom’s name), I pour out my life for you, I offer up my precious spirit.

Bride: (Groom’s name), I pour out my life for you, I offer up my precious spirit.

Priest: Let this sacrifice bind us, spirit to spirit, flesh to flesh.

Bride: Let this sacrifice bind us, spirit to spirit, flesh to flesh.

Priest: So that no earthly power may destroy our union.

Bride: So that no earthly power may destroy our union.

(The Bride hands the bottle back to the best man and takes up the chalice.  She raises this to her future husband and holds it as he drinks.  Then she hands the chalice back to the maid of honor.)

Personal Vows:

(If the Bride and Groom have personal vows to make to one another, they can say them here.)

Conclusion:

Priest: Everyone hear bears witness to this rite. Your hearts know that you two are wed. Kiss and show us all your passion.

(The Bride and Groom kiss. When they are finished, the Priest presents them to the audience.)

Priest: Our thanks to everyone who has gathered here tonight to bear witness to these vows. May I present to you (Bride’s name and Groom’s name).  Please offer them your dark blessings for a long and joyous union. Go forth in darkness and light

All:  Forever

***

The following wedding ceremony was written to provide for Pagans who must of necessity be wed in the presence of those who are not pagan and are perhaps unaware that the bride and groom are pagan.
 

[PRIEST] We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of ____bride______ and ____groom______. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls, has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.
 

Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Groom and Bride have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others would ask, at this time, who gives the bride in marriage, but, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and if she has her family's blessing.
 

Bride, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?
 

[BRIDE] Yes, it is true.
 

[PRIEST] With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you.
 

[FATHER] She comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all of her family's blessings.
 

[PRIEST] Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...
 

Like a stone should your love be firm like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.
 

Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for God is with you always.
 

Groom, I have not the right to bind thee to Bride, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand.
 

[GROOM] It is my wish.
 

[PRIEST] Bride, if it be your wish for Groom to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger. (places ring on Groom's left ring finger) Bride I have not the right to bind thee to Groom only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.
 

[BRIDE] It is my wish.
 

[PRIEST] Groom, if it be your wish for Bride to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger.(places ring on Bride's left ring finger) (to Groom) Repeat after me:
 

I, (grooms full name), in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee (bride's full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.
 

(to Bride)
 

I (bride's full name), in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, (Groom's full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.
 

[PRIEST]
 

(hands chalice to the groom, saying:) May you drink your fill from the cup of love.
 

(Groom holds chalice to bride while she sips then bride takes chalice and holds it to groom while he sips. The chalice is then handed back to the Priest who sets it on the table. Next the Priest takes the plate of bread, giving it to the groom. Same procedure repeated with bread, groom feeding bride and bride feeding groom.)
 

By the power vested in me by God and the State, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you.