Options and Suggestions

Option 1

This moment in time is truly a cause for joyous celebration for we are gathered here to witness not only the beginning of a new marriage but also the beginning of a new family with (child/children’s names)
 

Option 2

Often marriage is viewed as the union of two people. Yet marriages not only unite the couple, it unites the families. With the changing structure of what a family is in today's world, we are offered unique and wonderful opportunities to simply increase the number of loving caring relationships we have in our lives. Bride and Groom would like to take this moment to recognize the significant role that ___, ____ (say children’s names) play in this marriage celebrated today. You are a family drawn together by love and held together by devotion.

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Option 3

This moment in time is truly a cause for joyous celebration for we are gathered here to witness not only the beginning of a new marriage but also the beginning of a new family.
 
Bride and Groom, would like to take this moment to recognize the significant role that (**say children’s names) _____, ______, and ______, play in this marriage celebrated today, by presenting them each with a gift.
From this day forth, you shall be more than one couple or two individuals – you shall be a loving and united family. You are a family drawn together by love and held together by devotion.
 
 

Option 4

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____ and ___ prior to this moment you each walked a separate path. Now you shall embark together on a shared path. Yet the journey is not yours alone, for you have already been blessed with a beautiful (Daughter/Son or Children), (Children’s names here) and it is the strength of your love that shall nourish you all together as a family.
 

Option 5

_____ and ___you have just made a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other, yet the journey is not yours alone, for you have been blessed with beautiful children, and it is the strength of your love that shall nourish you all together as a family. Bride and Groom would like to take this moment to recognize the significant role that ___, ____ (say children’s names) play in this marriage celebrated today. You are a family drawn together by love and held together by devotion.

(***You could also add a sand ceremony or unity candle ceremony here and officiant read poem as family mixes sand/lights candle-just let me know and I will supply sample wording for you)

I would like to share a poem that has been chosen by ____ and ____ for this special moment
What is a Family?"
Author Unknown

A family is .....
The sweetest feelings
The warmest hugs
Trust and togetherness
Unconditional love
The stories of our lives written on the same page
The nicest memories anyone has ever made
Treasured photos
Thankful tears
Hearts overflowing with all the years
Being there for one another
Supporting and caring
Understanding, Helping, Sharing
Walking life's path together
And making the journey more beautiful because .....
We are a family.....And a family
is Love.


Option 6 - Include children in a unity candle ceremony

Light is the essence of our existence. Each one of us possesses an inner glow that represents our hopes, our dreams and aspirations in life.

This center candle symbolizes the union of your lives, families, and friends, as well as your shining commitment to each other.
The lighting of the center candle represents not only the union of _ _______, ________, in marriage but the unity formed in this new family in which your lives will now shine as one family. _ _______, ________, and _______

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Each candles flame represents your lives before this day, individual, unique and special. Please take the candle symbolizing your life before today, and together light the center candle to symbolize the union of your individual lives. Each flame will help to make the family even brighter and stronger.
 

(As _ _______, ________, and _______ light the unity candle with their tapered candles the Officiant will say):
As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth, and safety in the cold, and strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. May your union be forever blessed.

(Everyone moves back to their place)

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Option 7 - Include Children in A Unity Paint Ceremony

Marriage is often viewed as the union of two people. However marriages not only unite the couple, it unites the families. Out of these two families, a new family will be created, thus offering them unique and wonderful opportunities to simply increase the number of loving caring relationships that they have in their lives.

_____ and ___recognize the significant role that (Say all the children’s names) plays in this marriage celebrated today. They would like to invite (him/her/them) to join them in a unity family paint ceremony.

(Family members gather around the table)

Every marriage starts out as a blank canvas and every day is a splash of color.
This blank canvas represents the day of the wedding, the beginning of a new marriage and the beginning of a new family.
Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of this paint.
Please take turns pouring your paint on the canvass.

(As the family members pour their paint the Officiant will say):

As each individual’s color is blended together it represents the joining of two families united in love.
There will be places on the canvass where the colors stand out alone and independent symbolizing your unique and individual selves. 
There will also be places on the canvas where the colors blend and mix, flowing together, creating a new color of experiences shared.
This beautiful painting will be in your home as a reminder of this wonderful day and the love you share. You are a family drawn together by love and held together by devotion.

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Option 8 - Include the children in your pledge or vows
 
Now I would like to invite _____  and ___ to exchange vows today for their future as a couple and a family.
 
_____, I promise to be a good and faithful partner to you, and also a patient, loving father to (Say children's names) caring for and providing for them as my own. I promise to be their strength and their emotional support, loving them with all my heart forever.”

___, I promise to be a good and faithful partner to you, and also a patient, loving mother to (Say children's names), caring for and providing for them as my own. I promise to be their strength and their emotional support, loving them with all my heart forever.”

“As an important part of a loving blended family, do (Say all the children's names) promise to love and respect your parents and the lifetime commitment that they have made this day? Do you promise to support their relationship and this new family? Do you promise to accept the responsibility of being their children, and to do everything in your power to help this family to grow and thrive over time? If this is your intention please answer now “We do.”

Children: “We Do.
 

Option 9 - Ring or jewelry ceremony for children:

Often marriage is viewed as the union of two people. Yet marriages not only unite the couple, it unites the families. With the changing structure of what a family is in today's world we are offered unique and wonderful opportunities to simply increase the number of loving caring relationships we have in our lives.

During a wedding ceremony rings are exchanged with a promise. It is the promise of a safe haven free from judgment that offers unconditional love and support under any and all circumstances.Therefore, _____ and _____ thought it appropriate that (say children's names) should also receive a token of their promise to him/her/them this day. They wanted to find a way to let him/her/them know special they are and how blessed they feel to be his/her/their parents.

They also wanted (Say children's names) to have a physical reminder for the future that as he/she/they grows and becomes a young adult.

The ring is presented to the child.

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Possible reading for children to do:

A FAMILY
A family is a place where you can cry and laugh,
and be silly, or sad, or cross, where you can ask for help,
and tease and yell at each other, and know that you will always be loved.A family is made up of people who care about you when you are sad, who love you all the time, no matter what, and who share your good times.
They don't expect you to be perfect, but just want you to try to be the best you can be.A family is a safe place like a circle,
where we learn to like ourselves, where we learn about making good choices,
where we learn to think about things before we do them,
where we learn to be honest, and to have table manners,and respect for other people,
where we are special, where we share ideas,
where we listen to them and they listen to us,
where we learn the rules of life to prepare ourselves for the world.The world is a place where anything can happen.
If we grow up in a loving family… like our family
we are ready for the world.

-Unknown Author

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