Apache Blessing

A beautiful benediction for the end of your ceremony:

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.

Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place to enter the days of your togetherness.

And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Breaking of Glass

Very traditional in Jewish weddings, this ceremony has become 

popular in in interfaith wedding ceremonies as well.

In the Jewish faith the breaking of the glass signifies the destruction 

of the great temple in Jerusalem. Its spiritual significance is our 

reaffirmation of our faith in God. Our prayer today is that their lives 

together would be longer than it would take to fit these broken pieces 

of glass back together again.

Alternate Glass Breaking Ceremony

The breaking of the glass at the end of a wedding ceremony serves 

to remind of two very important aspects of a marriage. The bride and 

groom – and everyone– should consider these marriage vows as an 

IRREVOCABLE ACT – just as permanent and final as the breaking of 

this glass is unchangeable. 

But, the breaking of the glass also is a warning of the FRAILTY of a 

marriage. That sometimes a single thoughtless act, breech of trust, or 

infidelity can damage a marriage in ways that are very difficult to undo 

– just as it would be so difficult to undo the breaking of this 

glass. Bride and Groom , knowing that this marriage is permanent, you 

should strive to show each other the love and respect befitting your 

spouse and love of your life.” Our prayer today is that their lives 

together would be longer than it would take to fit these broken pieces 

of glass back together again.

Hand Ceremony

The Hand Ceremony is a beautiful addition to a wedding ceremony, 

with great symbolism and thoughts on your wedding day.

(Bride), please face (Groom) and hold his hands, palms up, so that 

you may see the gift that they are to you. 

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you 

through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands 

that will countless times wipe the 

tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the 

hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief 

fills you.

These are the hands that will give you support and celebrate with you 

in your accomplishments.

(Groom), please hold (Bride) hands, palms up, so that you may see the 

gift that they are to you. These are the hands that will hold you tight 

as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will 

comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving. 

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you 

through the year, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that 

will give you support as she encourages you to fulfill your dreams. 

Our prayer for you today is that both of you will use these hands to 

build a marriage where all your dreams come true.

 Irish Blessing

There are many versions of the Irish Wedding Blessing.  

This is probably the most popular:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May the Lord hold you in the hollow of his hand

Rose Ceremony

Not requested very often, this ceremony is sure to make your 

ceremony unique and memorable: The Rose Ceremony is simple yet 

profoundly moving. The bride and groom exchange two red roses, 

symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other 

throughout their entire married life. The Rose Ceremony also 

conveys how to use the rose and its symbolism in difficult times in 

order to forgive each other. 

“Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been 

your wedding rings – which shall always be an outward demonstration 

of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your 

commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most 

honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman – the title 

of “husband” and “wife.” For your first gift as husband and wife, that 

gift will be a single rose.

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose

always meant only one thing – it meant the words “I love you.” So it is 

appropriate that for your first gift – as husband and wife – that gift 

would be a single rose. 

Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife. In some ways it 

seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you 

were holding one small rose – and now you are holding one small rose. 

In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some 

ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. 

But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of 

the most valuable and precious gifts of life – one I hope you always 

remember – the gift of true and abiding l love within the devotion of 

marriage. _________ and _____________, I would ask that where 

ever you make your home in the future – whether it be a large and 

elegant home – or a small and graceful one – that you both pick one 

very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this 

truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both 

as a re-commitment to your marriage – and a re-commitment that THIS 

will be a marriage based upon love. 

In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right 

words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most 

hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to 

say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you”; “I need you” or “I am hurting”. If this 

should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at 

that spot which both of you have selected – for that rose than says 

what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all 

other words. 

That rose says the words: “I still love you.” The other should accept 

this rose for the words which cannot be found, and remember the love 

and hope that you both share today. __________ and ________, if 

there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it 

was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it 

a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.

Sand Ceremony

The Sand Ceremony offers beautiful symbolism and 

commemorates beach weddings perfectly. 

BRIDE and GROOM you have just sealed your bond by the giving 

and receiving of rings and this covenant is a marital pledge between 

two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one 

another throughout their lives. The most beautiful example of this 

partnership is the marriage union. 

Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these 

two individual containers of sand. One, representing you, BRIDE and 

all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the 

other representing you, GROOM, and all that you were and all that you 

are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand 

are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand 

will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. 

Just as these grains of sand can never be separated, our prayer for 

you today is that your lives together would take longer than the time 

it would take to separate the individual grains of sand.

Unity Candle (note: best enjoyed indoors)

Probably the oldest and most traditional ceremony option, the 

Unity Candle Ceremony is a a perfect way to illustrate your 

union. While I always custom-write my ceremonies, here is some 

possible text for a Unity Candle Ceremony: Bride and Groom, the two 

lighted candles symbolize your separate lives, your separate families 

and your separate sets of friends. I ask that you 

You will each take one candle and that together you light the center 

candle.

The individual candles represent your individual lives before today. 

Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now 

joined to one light, and represents the joining of your two families and 

sets of friends to one. ___ and ___ will now extinguish their own 

candles, thus letting the center candle symbolize the union of their 

lives. As one light cannot be divided, neither will their lives be divided.

Alternate Unity Candle Ceremony:

In just a moment _____and _____ will light one central candle from 

the two candles you see burning. This ceremony will symbolize the 

merging of their lives into one relationship. 

(During candle lighting I will read) 

One of mankind’s first and greatest gifts was the power of fire. 

Fire whose heat could provide warmth, healing, and nourishment. Fire 

whose brilliance could light the way. Fire whose wrath could destroy 

enemies. 

Yet, other fires exist for man that share these same benefits. These 

fires are inner fires passionate fires which drive us toward 

our destiny. 

Let the lighting of these candles symbolize that inner flame; the 

unending faith, love, and devotion that has brought these two here 

today. And like this flame, may their love burn brightly throughout a 

lifetime of joy and happiness.

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