Passages for 2nd part of wedding: ring exchange and closing of marriage

Ring exchange

A

THIS RING, I GIVE TO YOU AS A TOKEN OF MY LOVE AND DEVOTION TO YOU. I PLEDGE TO YOU ALL THAT I AM AND ALL THAT I WILL EVER BE AS YOUR ______

WITH THIS RING, I GLADLY MARRY YOU AND JOIN MY LIFE TO YOURS.

B

I GIVE YOU THIS RING IN GOD'S NAME, AS A SYMBOL OF ALL THAT WE HAVE PROMISED AND ALL THAT WE WILL SHARE.

C

I GIVE YOU THIS RING AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE FOR YOU. LET IT BE A REMINDER THAT I AM ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE AND THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE A FAITHFUL PARTNER TO YOU.

D

I GIVE YOU THIS RING AS A SYMBOLE OF MY LOVE, MY FAITH IN OUR STRENGH TOGETHER, AND MY COVENANT TO LEARN AND GROW WITH YOU.

E

LET THIS RING BE A SYMBOL OF MY PROMISES TO YOU AND A REMINDER OF MY DEVOTION TO YOU. I AM HONORED TO CALL YOU MY WIFE/HUSBAND.

F

I GIVE YOU THIS RING TO WEAR WITH LOVE AND JOY. AS A RING HAS NO END, NEITHER SHALL MY LOVE FOR YOU. I CHOOSE YOU TO BE MY WIFE/HUSBAND THIS DAY AND FOREVERMORE.

Rings 1

The wedding ring is a symbol of married love, the precious metals show that your love is your most precious possession and the unending circle symbolizes that your love may never cease. 

As you place the ring on (her/his) finger, please repeat after me:

_____, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love.  I ask you to wear it as a sign to the world that you are my wife.  With this ring, I thee wed. 

_____, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love.  I ask you to wear it as a sign to the world that you are my husband.  With this ring, I thee wed.

Rings 3

Marriage is a stage in which two people come together and create a union that is greater than the sum of its parts.  It is difficult to express in words the profound relationship that is love.

Since the beginning of time, the ring has been an emblem of the sincerity and permanence of a couple’s love for one another and regard for their marriage.

As the circle can begin a new at any point, so a good marriage can pick any point to renew itself.  These rings are symbols of your eternal love.

____ as you place this ring on_____ finger, please repeat after me:  I give you this ring as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, In all times, In all places, And in all ways, forever.

_____as you place this ring on____ finger, please repeat after me: I give you this ring as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, In all times, In all places, And in all ways, forever

 Concluding prayer 3

IT WAS LOVE THAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TODAY. IT'S LOVE THAT MAKES YOURS A GLORIOUS UNION. AND IT WILL BE LOVE THAT MAKES YOUR MARRIAGE ENDURE.LOVE HAS GIVEN YOU WINGS, AND YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS TODAY. WHEREVER THE WIND MAY CARRY YOU, YOU WILL STAY BY EACH OTHER'S SIDE.I THEREFORE JOIN WITH EVERYONE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN EXTENDING TO YOU OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT, AND OUR WISH FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO JUST SIMPLY FLOURISH AND GROW THROUGHOUT A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER. 

Concluding prayer

Dearest God, I ask that you bless and sanctify this union of these souls _____and _____.

As they live in Your love, awake and asleep, at work and at play, and as they seek Your wisdom and understanding, let them find all of those secret joys You have especially for them. amen

Marriage Pronouncement 1

Throughout this ceremony, _____and _____ have vowed, in our presence to be loyal and loving towards each other.  They have formalized the existence of the bond between them with words spoken and with the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore, it is my pleasure to now pronounce them husband and wife.

You may now kiss your bride!

Presentation of Couple 1

Ladies and Gentleman, family and friends, it is my pleasure to present, for the first time anywhere, Mr. and Mrs. 

Marriage pronouncement 

TODAY ____________AND _____________ HONORED YOU WITH THEIR INVITATION TO BE PRESENT WITH THEM TODAY FOR THIS CEREMONY.AND SO , THIS DAY, THEY DECLARE BEFORE ALL OF US THAT THEY SHALL LIVE TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE.IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY THEY ENTERED INTO THEIR MARRIAGE WITH THE JOININ GOF HANDS, THE MAKING OF VOWS AND PROMISES, AND THE GIVING AND RECEIVING OF RINGS, AN OUTWARD SYMBOL OF THEIR VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER.THEREFORE IT IS MY PLEASURE THAT I NOW PRONOUNCE THEM AS HUSBAND AND WIFE.YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT FOR THE FIRST TIME ANYWHERE

Passages for beginning of ceremony Gathering Words, Charge to Couple, Vows, Promises

Gatherine words 1:

 Friends and family of the bride and groom , welcome and thank you for being here on this important day.  We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between ____ and _____ by joining them in marriage. 

All of us need and desire to love and to be loved.  And the highest form of love between two people is within a monogamous, committed relationship. ____ and ______, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts.  Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world hand-in-hand.

Marriage is going to expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one another. To be successful, you will need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humor.

So, let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again.

___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Gathering Words 2

Good evening, welcome to this most important moment in the lives of this couple.  We invite you to leave behind the worries and concerns of everyday life and join us in the celebration of their marriage.

This is an opportunity for us to share not only in the joy of _____and _____love but also to reaffirm and appreciate the love and the friendship we experience in our own lives.  May we all celebrate by being fully present during our short time together. _____and _____ have chosen this setting in which to be married because it provides an appropriate backdrop for the public affirmation of their love. _____ and _____ view marriage as a coming together at all levels of being-mind, body and spirit.  A marital commitment includes the willingness to be open and vulnerable, and the courage to take risks. Marriage is a conscious act of will.  To remain in marriage we must continually renew our will to be married.  Marital partners accept the challenges that living together in love offer.  They decide that they will face the fears that are necessary part of establishing and nurturing an intimate relationship.  And you _____and _____ have made the commitment to create and recreate this conscious partnership.

Those of us who are married or in relationships may take this moment to consciously reaffirm our commitment to our partners and ourselves. Marriage  consists  of entrusting our deepest selves into the loving care of another.  It is a public and legal act to be sure.  It is also an emotional and spiritual act.  The spiritual aspect of marriage must be embraced openly, seriously, and completely for the marriage to endure. _____ AND _____ commit themselves today to each other in sacred trust.  They promise to embrace conflict as well as peace; to work as well as play; to struggle as well as coast; to give as well as receive; and to be with, stay with, and move toward one another

Charge to couple 1

____and _____, I counsel you, as husband and wife, to always give respect to one another even when you disagree, to bear with each other’s weaknesses, to comfort each other in times of trouble or sorrow, to work with generous hearts to provide for the material needs of each other and the household, and to help one another experience spiritual, mental, emotional and physical comfort.

Charge to couple 2

_____ and _____, as you stand here today, I remind you of the serious nature of the relationship you are about to enter.  Marriage is the voluntary and full commitment of two consenting adults to love each other for a lifetime.

For a marriage to be successful, you must each be loyal to each other, stand firm in your defense of each other and to be supportive of one another’s life goals and dreams.  It is a solemn, binding, yet challenging relationship.

Charge to couple 4 

___ and____ by coming here today, you have now taken the initial step in what hopefully will be a wonderful and lasting life together. Understand, that a union between two people takes work.  Just as Rome was not built in a day, neither is a relationship ever complete.  It needs constant nurturing. A good marriage is one that fosters respect, a devoted love, and a willingness to make sacrifices for each other. These are the foundation blocks of a newly formed union.  Symbolically you have been brought together as one, yet are still two separate entities with unique ideas, talents, and ways of being.  Respect and value those differences, and your relationship will flourish.

Vows 2

Please repeat after me:

I, ___, take you, ____, to be my wife.

I, ____, take you, _____, to be my husband.

To share all that I am and all that I have, for all time to come.  And I promise to do all in my power to keep my love as deep and as strong as it is today.

Vows 3 

This wedding ceremony is the public recognition of a commitment that ____and _____ have already made privately in their hearts.  But it’s also their commitment to all of you who know and love them. By inviting you to bear witness to their vows this day, they have chosen to take you with them on the first step of their journey into marriage.

I, _____, take you _____ to be my wife.

I, _____, take you _____ to be my husband.

Your love is my anchor. Your trust is my strength. I will give you all my love from now until eternity ends. You make my life complete.

Vows 4

___AND ___KNOW THAT THIS WEDDING IS A CELEBRATION OF THE MARRIAGE THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED IN THEIR HEARTS, A MARRIAGE THAT WILL GROW NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGE AND ADVERSITY, BUT WITH PATIENCE, LOVE AND THE BELIEF THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN WISELY IN CHOOSING EACH OTHER.

____PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME

_____ ,AS YOUR HUSBAND, I PROMISE TO CARE FOR YOU, TRUST YOUR LOVE BE RESPONSIVE TO YOUR NEEDS, COMMUNICATE MY FEELINGS, AND BEHAVE IN A WAY THAT SHOWS MY LOVE AND RESPECT. I SAY THESE THINGS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND WANT TO LIVE OUT THE DAYS OF MY LIFE WITH YOU.

_____PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME

_____, AS YOUR WIFE, I PROMISE TO CARE FOR YOU, TRUST YOUR LOVE BE RESPONSIVE TO YOUR NEEDS, COMMUNICATE MY FEELINGS, AND BEHAVE IN A WAY THAT SHOWS MY LOVE AND RESPECT. I SAY THESE THINGS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND WANT TO LIVE OUT THE DAYS OF MY LIFE WITH YOU.

Vows 5 

I ___________ TAKE YOU ________ TO BE MY WIFE. I PROMISE TO BE TRUE TO YOU ALWAYS, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, IN POVERTY OR WEALTH, IN MY THOUGHTS AND IN MY SPEAKING. I WILL BE YOUR DEAREST FRIEND, YOUR LOVER, AND THE FATHER OF YOUR CHILDREN. WITH THESE VOWS, I COMMIT MYSELF TO YOU.

I _________TAKE YOU________ TO BE MY HUSBAND. I PROMISE TO BE TRUE TO YOU ALWAYS, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, IN POVERTY OR WEALTH, IN MY THOUGHTS AND IN MY SPEAKING. I WILL BE YOUR DEAREST FRIEND, YOUR LOVER, AND THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN. WITH THESE VOWS, I COMMIT MYSELF TO YOU.

Vows 6

________ PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME:

TODAY, I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR TOMORROWS.

I PROMISE TO LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE CAN;

TO GIVE YOU MY STRENGTH AND ASK FOR YOURS IN RETURN.

TO HELP YOU IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD.

I GIVE YOU ALL MY TRUST AND ASK YOU TO ACCEPT ME AS YOUR HUSBAND.

_______PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME:

TODAY, I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR TOMORROWS.

I PROMISE TO LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE CAN;

TO GIVE YOU MY STRENGTH AND ASK FOR YOURS IN RETURN.

TO HELP YOU IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD.

I GIVE YOU ALL MY TRUST AND ASK YOU TO ACCEPT ME AS YOUR WIFE.

Promises 3

Do you, ____, welcome _____ as your wife, offering her your love and encouragement, your trust and respect, as together you create your future?

Do you, _____, welcome _____ as your husband, offering him your love and encouragement, your trust and respect, as together you create your future?

Promises 4

We are here today, to celebrate the love, which ____ and ___ have for each other, and to give social recognition to their decision to commit their lives and accept each other totally.

Do you ___ take____ to be your lawfully wedded wife, to share your life openly, standing with her in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in hardship and in ease, to cherish and love forever more?

Do you ____ take____, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to share your life openly, standing with him in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in hardship and in ease, to cherish and love forever more?

Traditional Promises 

___As you place this ring on ___________ finger please answer with I do

Do you____take___to be your lawfully wedding wife? From this day forward to have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish til death do you part:

___As you place this ring on ___________ finger please answer with I do

Do you____take___to be your lawfully wedding wife? From this day forward to have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish til death do you part

I Do

Engaged: A Wedding Workshop

my table at the event

Evonne owner of Beautiful Creations at the event

Hi Everyone, I had the great pleasure of being a speaker last weekend at the Engaged A Wedding Workshop and it was a huge success.  Bride St. Louis is putting on another event like this next year, so be ready for a great time in February.

me speaking at the even

t

me handing out a prize to a bride

As most of you know, BrideStLouis.com is all about educating brides because an educated bride is a happy bride.  In talking with many engaged couples at our recent  “Engaged! A Wedding Workshop” you confirmed this philosophy and asked for more!  The comments that we received were “This is so great, we learned so much.” and  “I wouldn’t have even thought about asking about some of those things. ”   So, we decided to do it again… bigger and better !!!
So watch for our announcement for our next Engaged! A Wedding Workshop II” on February 16^th, 2014 at the Holiday Inn at Route 66.  This time we will have four rooms dedicated to mini-sessions that you can selected from.  You can choose which speakers, if any, you want to visit with.  We will expand the vendor marketplace to 75 of the Best Wedding Professionals in the industry.  Some of our preliminary topics include things such as:

• Creative Lighting for your reception
• Great Ideas for Fabulous Wedding Showers
• Guys like to look great too!
• Learn How to Make a Broche Wedding Bouquet
• Create Beautiful Table Centerpiece on a tight budget
• Fabulous Floral Bouquets – Learn all about which flowers express you.  See, touch, and smell many variety of flowers.
• All about Wedding Albums – Traditional, Flushmount, and more  (Lots and lots of albums to see and touch.)
• Themed Wedding Ideas – wild and crazy ideas for you to explore.
• Great Photo Locations in our area – and some perfect for that hot, hot day!
• Dance Lessons for Couples – learn some basic moves in just 1 hour!

 Jeff and Coty were married at Windows on Washington on 9-27-13.  Windows on Washington is located in Downtown St. Louis.  This is a picture of the ceremony site along with the head table setting. 

 The doormen at Windows on Washington will greet you with a warm hello and smiling goodbye after you have ate, drank and danced your night away and Jason will make sure you get to your car safely.

Here is the story of Jeff and Coty: 

 

Jeff moved to Illinois in 2010 to further his career in radio, but it wasn’t until January of 2011 that Jeff and Coty first laid eyes on each other. One night each with their group of friends got together at a bar, one of Coty’s friends was talking trash on Jeff without really knowing him so they didn’t speak to each other that night, but looks were exchanged. About a month later Jeff’s friend was begging Jeff to be his wingman once again (and it helped that it was dollar beer night). Jeff really, really, really didn’t want to see the friend who was talking trash on him again but he knew there was a chance Coty would be there, but he had little hope that Coty would give him a chance with the crazy chatter-box friend in her ear. That night they had a connection though; it was crazy, like they had known each other for years. They stayed at that bar even after they closed and almost got literally thrown out, Jeff had to be on the air by 5 a.m. that morning and it was already after 2 a.m. but he didn’t care one bit, he says he thinks he smiled during the whole two hours of sleep he did have. A couple days later they went bowling with one of her friends as a semi-official first date; on Valentine’s Day of all days, and after bowling Jeff cooked Coty dinner. Their official first date they went to Dave and Busters and since then have been in-separable. Coty never officially moved in to Jeff’s apartment in Illinois but she was there about as much and sometimes more than he was. After some time an opportunity came up to move to Jeff’s hometown, Saint Louis, and after a quick weekend tour, Jeff had Coty hooked. They moved in to the Shaw neighborhood in October of 2011. At that time Coty started dropping hints… she wanted a ring, and Jeff was so happy because he was secretly thinking the same thing. Jeff says Coty didn’t see it coming when he carved “Marry Me” into the tree behind their apartment (still have a pic if ya want it). When Jeff tried to show it to Coty she wouldn’t come outside so he had to coax her outside with some ridiculous story. Then when Coty realized what it said Jeff was on one knee with a ring. Ever since then their mothers and fathers have been waiting for grandchildren. In October of 2012 they bought a house in South County, and then all out wedding planning started by the beginning of 2013. They think buying, fixing and learning how to be a homeowner while planning a wedding was tough but they had their families and friends to lean on and trust me they needed it. When the wedding day finally came it was soooo surreal. It was more than beautiful, it was more than they dreamed, it was absolutely amazing. Everyone always told them that the day would go really quick, that they needed to enjoy it and they did every second, but it still went by so quick. Fortunately they had a remarkable honeymoon, and they hope they never come back from it, at least mentally.

The Wedding of Zachary and Ashley at The Thaxton

Ashley called me after being referred to me by her friend Nina.  I Officiated Nina's wedding at The Lodge at Grant's Trail in November 2012.  Zachary and Ashley were engaged and she was excited to start planning her wedding.  Zachary had proposed to Ashley at Kemoll's with a stuffed animal ( a long family tradition).

Zachary and Ashley Fry

Zachary and Ashley are one of the sweetest couples I have met.  You could tell they were madly in love with each other the first day I met them both and what great families they both have. 


Zachary and Ashley decided to write their own vows for each other.  This really makes a ceremony more personal.  

Sand Ceremony

personal vows to each other

Zachary and Ashley also decided to do a blending of the sands ceremony.  This ceremony represents your unique selves and unique families blending into one.  This is a very popular ceremony, and the sand is something you can keep for a lifetime.

Fred Bird also decide to show up for their wedding.




The Thaxton is a wonderful venue for a wedding.  It is unique and sophisticated.

The team at The Thaxton,,,Peter Terry (aka Mad Dog) and Kim.  They are great at what they do and will make sure your wedding/reception is the best!

the team

This is the dining room ready to go for a delicious dinner.

The SpeakEasy, which is located on the lower level of the banquet hall is a really unique place to go.  After your wedding, guest can ease their way down to the SpeakEasy for a drink and appetizer and then after dinner, you can dance the night away.

Marriage License Information State of Illinois

Hi, I wanted to pass along information for getting your license in the state of Illinois.  In the state of Illinois, there is a one day waiting period before you can use your license and the license is good for 60 days.

State of Illinois:

Madison County: 618-692-6290/ Office of Mark Von Nida Madison County Clerk Administration Bldg, 157 North Main, Suite 109, Edwardsville, Il 62025. Office Hours 8:30-4:30pm Monday-Friday except holidays, license is $30.00 cash certified copy $10.00 cash, you will need your drivers license or state ID, if divorced need to know date divorce was finalized you do not need papers.

St. Clair County: 618-277-6600/ 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. Office hours are

8:30am to 4:00pm Monday-Friday and the 1^st Saturday of the month 8:30am to 11:30am.

License fee is $32.00 cash if writing check, check needs to be over #300 and banking in St. Clair County, certified copy is $11.85. 2 forms of ID valid drivers license or state ID,or passport, if divorced within 1 year you must bring divorce papers, after 1 year need to know date and county the divorce was finalized in.

Jersey County: 618-498-5571 200 North Lafayette, Jerseyville, Il 62052, office hours are: Monday-Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm and Friday 8:00am to noon. 2 forms of ID, 1 must have a picture, license is $35.00 cash or check and $10.00 for certified copy. If you are divorced, you will need date, county and state of divorce.

Clinton County: 618-594-2464 ext 630 Mary Rakers County clerk 850 Fairfax Street, Carlyle, IL 62231, Office hours 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday, license is $21.00 cash or check, certified copy is $13.00. Valid drivers license needed, if divorced need to know date and county of license. 

Please feel free to contact me anytime at 314-704-1092 or michelle@weddingsbymichelle.net.

Thank you

Reverend Michelle Spies 

Marriage License Information State of Missouri

Hi, I wanted to give everyone information for getting a marriage license in the state of Missouri

This the information for getting a marriage license in St. Charles County, St Louis City,    St Louis County and Jefferson County.  You both have to be present to apply for the license, you have to be at least 18 years of age, you must bring a drivers license and social security card, if either of you are divorced, you must have been divorced for more than 30 days and you will need to bring your divorce papers.  The license is good for 30 days from the date you get the license with no waiting period.

Where to apply in St. Charles:  Office of Barbara J. Hall, Recorder of Deeds, St. Charles County Administration Building, 201 North Second Street, Suite 338, St. Charles, Mo 63301  636-949-7506.  Office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday except legal holidays.  Arrive no later than 4:00 pm.  48.00 cash. They do accept Visa/Mastercard but a service fee will be added.  You can pre-pay for a certified copy at time of application for $9.50 

St. Louis City: $48.00 cash Visa or Mastercard. Certified copy is $12.50. City Hall, Room 127 phone number 314-622-3257. City Hall is on the corner of 12^th and Market located downtown St. Louis.  Office hours are 8:00am to 5:00 pm Monday-Friday except legal holidays.  Arrive no later than 4:30pm.

St. Louis County: $47.00 cash only, certified copy is $9.00.  41 S. Central Ave. 4^th Floor in Clayton Missouri, phone number 314-615-7102. Office hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm on M-W-F and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on T-Th except legal holidays.

Jefferson County: $51.00 cash only, certified copy is $9.00. You do need your birth certificate, 729 Maple Street, Hillsboro, MO 63050. Office hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Phone number 636-797-5414.

In the state of Missouri, you do not need to get the license in the county you are getting married in, as long as it is issued in the state of Missouri,

I hope this information helps and please feel free to contact me anytime at 314-704-1092 or michelle@weddingsbymichelle.net

Reverend Michelle Spies
Ordained Minister/Wedding Coordinator