I always encourage my couples to have as much input as they wish into creating their wedding ceremony and will provide you with lots of ideas for finding just the right words. Here is a sample of the most popular style of ceremony.

Some people might ask what is the point of a piece of paper when a couple are already in a steady, strong relationship. Today marks a starting point, a new beginning in a relationship that has already been established. This ceremony takes your commitment to a new level and declares both publicly and legally, your hopes and dreams for the future.

So today you will form the ultimate partnership, marriage, and declare to the world and to each other, that this is the one person you trust with all your heart and want to spend the rest of their life with.

What I wish for you, what I wish for every married couple, is that you may stand together at the wedding of your children, or some other significant event in the future and know that you have worked hard on your relationship, and that the promises you made on your wedding day have grown into something substantial and beautiful.

By taking your vows to one another seriously, you will be able to stand side by side at those important events, and look back with pride, saying, "What a good thing we did together!” As, no doubt, your parents are doing today. I now ask them:

....... & ........, do you give your blessing to this marriage and do you welcome .............into your family?
Response: We do

....... & ........, do you give your blessing to this marriage and do you welcome .............into your family?
Response: We do

Knowing that the magic and mystery of marriage will continually surprise, challenge and delight you and that strength, wisdom and unconditional love will be required of you everlastingly, do you still choose to make the promises of marriage.
Response: We do

Do you take .......... to be your husband/wife? Do you promise to love him/her, cherish and care for him/her, share your dreams and your challenges and be true to him/her so long as you both shall live?
Response: I do

Then as it is your sincere intent to be united in marriage, please turn and face each other as you make the promises of marriage.

The Vows
According to NZ law, you are required to make your vows to each other in the presence of witnesses and these are the words you have chosen:

I take you to be my wife. I will share your successes and achievements and be supportive of your goals. I will be your best friend, your ally in conflict and your partner in adventure. I want to share with you, a life of peace and tolerance, fun and laughter. I will stand by you through all our tomorrows, whatever life may bring. Before our families and friends, I join my life to yours.

The Rings
Words are powerful, but fleeting, and the sound of them is soon gone. Therefore, the wedding rings become the enduring symbol of the promises we have just heard. It is worn on the third finger of the left hand, because in ancient times, it was believed that a vein in that finger connected directly to the heart.

Please take the ring for your bride/groom and place it on the third finger of her/his left hand as you repeat after me: "I give you this ring with love and my heart with trust."

Wear your rings with pride and let them remind you of the joy and happiness you feel at this moment. May your relationship flourish and grow through a long and happy life together. By my authority as a civil marriage celebrant, I now pronounce you to be husband and wife.

......You may kiss your bride!

May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May the light of friendship guide your paths together.
May the joy of living for one another, trip a smile from your lips,
And a twinkle from your eye.
From this moment you begin your married life together.
This is your day and from here as one,
you look ahead to all that the future holds.
May your hearts sing, may your hearth be warm
and may every day be filled with joy as you walk through life together.