I am writing up our wedding ceremony and am having a hard time deciding when the unity candle should be lit.This is how I have it right now.
Welcome everyone and thank you all for joining us today as Kevin and Danice exchange wedding vows and leave here tonight as husband and wife.
Kevin and Danice,
On your wedding day, as you trade vows,
No ordinary moment hurries by.
You partake, as far as time allows,
Of something more than time, Earth and sky:
Unknowable, invisible, yet there;
Resplendent to the heart if not the face;
More than both of you, yet less than air;
A transcendental act conferring grace.
Reason might say, How can this be true?
Return then to the heart, for this is love.
In making vows, you make one out of two,
A mystery beyond what words can prove.
Go then as one flesh, one home, one heart:
Each still a whole, yet also now a part.
The candle you are about to light is a candle of Marriage. Its fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love. The candle before you is a candle of Commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame.(Kevin and Danice light unity candle together then return to center)
Danice repeat after me
I Danice take you Kevin to be my husband and my partner in life from this day forward.I will cherish our friendship, trust and honor you,laugh with you and love you always through good times and bad.I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and friendship,and as a promise to always be faithful to you.(Put Kevins ring on)
Kevin repeat after me
I Kevin take you Danice to be my wife and my partner in life from this day forward.I will cherish our friendship, trust and honor you,laugh with you and love you always through good times and bad.I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and friendship,and as a promise to always be faithful to you.(Put Danice's ring on)
By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife.You may now kiss the bride.