Spiritual Wedding Ceremony Script

Bride and Groom embracing in a spiritual outdoor wedding venue.

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~12 Minute Ceremony

Engaged couples who are looking to marry according to a specific religious custom often look for an officiant who shares – or will happily accommodate – those beliefs. But some couples planning a wedding don’t have a specific faith, and instead want to incorporate some general spiritual elements into their ceremony. If you’ve been asked to officiate a spiritual wedding ceremony, you might be curious what goes into a spiritual wedding script.

Key Considerations for a Spiritual Wedding Ceremony

We always advise officiants to consult the couple when constructing a script. Here are a few things to consider as you work with a couple to create a spiritual wedding script.

Universal values: Emphasize universal spiritual values such as love, commitment, partnership, respect, and growth.
Meaningful ceremony content: Incorporate content that inspires and uplifts, like poems and excerpts from pieces about universal values.
Natural elements: Use natural elements such as flowers, greenery, or water to create a sense of serenity, beauty, and a connection to nature.
Golden silence: Include moments of silence to give the couple and guests time and space to meditate on what’s been said.

Flexibility is an important feature and benefit when you’re creating a spiritual wedding script. There’s no single way to officiate a spiritual ceremony. Be intentional about personalizing the ceremony for the couple. Consider the following script as a guide:

Introduction/Welcome

Officiant (to everyone):

Welcome, one and all. We’ve come together to witness the union of _________and _________ and rejoice in their decision to commit themselves to each other as spouses.

A moment of silence is observed.

We stand together beneath this great sky, surrounded by the majesty of our Earth, to acknowledge this sacred moment. Love is the greatest force of nature that connects each of us. Today is the beginning of _________and _________’s journey together as spouses, lovers, and soulmates, united by the bond of love.

We will now have a short reading.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Reading

Officiant (to guests):

"Is this love that rushes towards the rim to meet you. A main thread in the inwardness of things? Without it would the great externality loosen and unravel?

Is it our purpose to see and say that the world is good?

And could we have seen this and said it, beloved, while you seemed indubitable?

I do not know. I stand with hands dangling empty at my sides.

I have no wisdom bequeathed to me by ancestors. The stars are equivocal, and around me

nature is in sorest travail, weeping. I love you. This is the only sacred word in my keeping.

This is the last trace, the last print in our hearts’ waste,

of the migration of a thousand traditions, a thousand embodiments of wisdom.

I stand with useless hands, and out of the transparency of my poverty, I offer you this, my single gift."

-"Prayers for a Thousand Years" by Freya Matthews

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vow Exchange

Officiant (to couple):

_________and _________, you have decided to set sail on the voyage of a life together as married spouses. You have shared dreams, hopes, fears, and laughter, exposing and embracing your strengths and vulnerabilities.

Officiant (to couple):

Please join hands, face each other, and exchange your vows.

Partner 1 (to Partner 2):

_________, here I stand, expressing my love, admiration, and commitment to you. I promise to be your partner, your confidant, and your best friend. I support your vision for our lives together, and I vow to stand by your side.

Partner 2 (to Partner 1):

_________, I dedicate my love and my life to you. I reciprocate your love, respect, and admiration. I promise to be a source of strength and support for you. I will be your partner, conspirator, and support through all things, in every season.

(Here, the couple may opt to exchange wedding bands or participate in a ritual to symbolize their union, such as lighting a unity candle, planting a tree, or a ritual that has spiritual elements of significance to the couple and/or their family or village.)

Declaration of Intent

Officiant (to couple):

Now, you will affirm your intent to form this spiritual union.

Officiant (to partner 1):

Do you declare your love for _________ and promise to walk beside them as married, united souls through life’s ups and downs?

Partner 1: I do.

Officiant (to partner 2):

Do you declare your love for _________ and promise to walk beside them as married, united souls through life’s ups and downs?

Partner 2: I do.

______________________________________________________________________

Pronouncement

Officiant (to couple):

May your love continue to bloom and strengthen as the years pass. May you delight in each other’s presence, finding joy in the simple moments and strength during life’s challenges. By the power vested in me by the Universal Life Church, I now pronounce you as married spouses. You may now kiss!