Uniquely, I Do's Couples

Willard & Patricia

08-28-2010

Backyard Wedding

The Vows:

Willard and Patricia you present yourself before me to become husband and wife.  You have found in each other great passion, love and romance. You have a need, want, desire to forever commit to the one you have found the deepest love, formed the deepest bonds, given the deepest trust. 

Willard, do you take Patricia to be your lawful wedded wife?

Will you promise to love, honor, and protect her? Share the good times as well as the hard times? Keep her in sickness and in health and to be faithful to her forevermore?

Patricia, do you take Willard to be your lawful wedded husband?

Will you promise to love, honor, and protect him? Share the good times as well as the hard times? Keep him in sickness and in health and to be faithful to him forevermore?

Willard, please place the ring on Patricia’s finger and repeat after me, “With this ring I thee wed, pledging to you all my love and faithfulness forevermore.”

Patricia, please place the ring on Willard’s finger and repeat after me, “With this ring I thee wed, pledging to you all my love and faithfulness forevermore.”

May I have the truce bell? The Bell of Truce originates from west Ireland peasant traditions, believed to be derived from St. Patrick's Bell of Will.  Bells have long been associated with weddings as their joyous tones announce good tidings. I present this bell to and ask you to give the bell a hardy ring while thinking lovely thoughts about each other and your future life together.

<couple rings bell>

Keep this bell in your home to remind you of your wedding day. When arguments arise, and they will, put this bell to its best use. One of you should ring the bell to call a truce. Its sound will remind you of your wedding vows, conjure up the happiest memories from this day and help you resolve our differences lovingly and compassionately.

From this moment forth I ask you both to remember these vows, this commitment, the meaning of the rings you now wear.  Remember to always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. Want one another, but not out of lack. Love and be loved.

Willard and Patricia, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife.

Willard, you may kiss your bride.