We
have gathered here today in the presence of this company, to witness and
celebrate the legal wedding of NAME1
and NAME2
I
am Mary Beaty, a Humanist Marriage officiant, certified by the Ontario Humanist
Society and licensed by the Province of Ontario to solemnize marriages. It is an honour to be officiating at the
wedding of NAME1 and NAME2 today.
STATEMENT OF HUMANIST PRACTICE
Humanism
is an ethical philosophy of life, declaring that all people who share this
earth are equal in every way, and we each have the ability and responsibility
to lead lives of compassion and care, with respect for each other and for the
natural world we all share.
It
is a humanist principle that marriage is also an equal partnership, and a promise
of commitment -- freely offered, and gladly received, between two people who
love each other sincerely, who honour each other as individuals, and who wish
to unite their lives and share the future together.
This
marriage ceremony is thus a public celebration of the private commitment that
NAME1 and NAME2 have already made to each other, to support and care for each
other. Into this legal estate they come
now to be legally joined.
STATEMENT
OF WITNESSES
[Addressing each witness
directly]
Are
you NAMEa/NAMEb willing to serve as legal witnesses for the marriage of NAME1
/NAME2 ? If so, please say “I am”
INTENTION
to MARRY/CONSENT
According
to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 16), it is an important and
universal principle, that each person, and the couple themselves, shall decide
when and where they will be married and to whom. We all look forward to a world
in which everyone can make this choice, the same way NAME1 and NAME2 have done.
Therefore, I will now ask this couple if they are prepared to marry each other on this day.
NAME1/NAME2
are you prepared to enter into this marriage with NAME2/NAME 1, believing the
love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things? (I am)
Repeat
after me:
I do solemnly declare that I do
not know of any lawful impediment why I, NAME1/NAME2 may not be joined in matrimony to NAME2/ NAME1
VOWS
The
statement you will now make is a declaration of your intention to enter into
the legal bonds of marriage, with its rights, privileges and also obligations.
Please
face each other, hold hands, and each repeat after me:
I call
upon these persons here present to witness, that I, [NAME1, NAME2] do take you,
[NAME2, NAME1], to be my lawful wedded partner/spouse/wife/husband
You may add optional additions, such as:
For
all the risings and settings of the sun,
for
all the days of our lives to come.
I
pledge to you my faithful love and support,
as
long as time is ours.
Or
Or
And to
be no other than yourself.
Loving
what I know of you,
And
trusting what I not yet know
With
faith in your love for me
Through
all our years
And in
all that life may bring us
L'ENVOIE
(optional)
We
know not what the future may bring into the life of this couple, but together
may they be equal to the needs of their tomorrows. Grant them patience in time
of strain, strength in time of weakness, courage in time of doubt, and above
all, a growing love to sustain them.
DECLARATION
& PRONOUNCEMENT
Forasmuch
as NAME1 and NAME2 have consented together to join their lives in the bonds of
matrimony, and have witnessed the same before this company of witnesses, and
have pledged their love and loyalty to each other, and, I, Mary Beaty, by virtue
of the powers invested in me by the Marriage Act of Ontario, do hereby
pronounce you to be married.
SIGNING OF THE MARRIAGE
LICENSE/MARRIAGE REGISTER
In
accordance with the Marriage Act of Ontario, we will now invite the couple and
their witnesses to sign the marriage document…
PRESENTATION OF COUPLE
And
having duly complied with the requirements of law, I have the great honour to
present to you the married couple, NAME1 and NAME2
