CHILD RECOGNITION RITUALS PRECEDING THE OPENING OF THE CEREMONY: EXAMPLES
(AS GREETERS)
1. [As Greeters when the guests arrive, children can hand out flowers, candles, a program or copy of the ceremony, or birdseed to throw at the couple after the ceremony]
CHILD RECOGNITION RITUALS in PART 1 - THE OPENING OF THE CEREMONY: EXAMPLES
(SECULAR TRADITIONAL)
2. [As a Flower Girl/Boy or Ring Bearer]
(SECULAR MODERN - AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE)
3. [Child(ren) walk the Bride forward]
Celebrant: Who brings this woman to this man?
Children: We do or We do for the family.
(RELIGIOUS TRADITIONAL - AS PART OF THE OPENING PRAYER)
4. Oh Lord, today we not only celebrate this marriage, but we also celebrate the formation and affirmation of a family with children's names. We pray that you guide __________________ and _________________ as parents to raise and teach children's names with love and respect; and that you protect this new family and keep them always in your care. Amen.
CHILD RECOGNITION RITUALS in PART 2 - SETTING THE STAGE: EXAMPLES
(ASKING CHILDREN'S ACCEPTANCE BEFORE VOWS AS PART OF EXPRESSION OF INTENT. EXAMPLE USING BRIDE'S DAUGHTER AND GROOM)
5. Do you Child's name, love Groom's name, and want him to marry your mother and be your father?
Child: I do.
Do you, ___________ and _____________, promise to provide Child's name with a loving home?
Bride & Groom: We do.
Groom [to Stepdaughter]: Child's name, I love your Mommy, and I love you dearly as well, I want to be a second father to you and I look forward to many happy times as a new family.
[Groom steps toward child and places a necklace around his soon-to-be stepdaughter's neck and says]: Please wear this necklace to remember this special day.
CHILD RECOGNITION RITUALS in PART 3 - CONSUMMATING THE MARRIAGE: EXAMPLES
(SECULAR MODERN - AS PART OF THE VOWS)
6. Groom: I, ___________________, do take you, ____________________, to be my wife. I acknowledge my love and respect for you and I invite you to share my life as I hope to share yours. I promise to support your dreams and aspirations, and to honor your integrity. I also promise that I will love and protect your children, __________________ and ___________________, and any children we may have together.
Bride: I, ____________________, do take you, ____________________, to be my husband. I will cherish and protect you, comfort and counsel you, share with you my hopes and worries, my fears and joys, confide in you and trust you, and in all ways consider your physical and emotional well-being.
(SECULAR MODERN - ASKING CHILDREN'S ACCEPTANCE AFTER VOWS)
7. Do you accept this family and this marriage?
Child(ren): I/We do.
(SECULAR MODERN - NEW PARENT'S VOW TO THE CHILDREN AFTER EACH OTHER'S VOWS)
8. [Child(ren) step forward and face new parent who says]:
Child(ren)'s names, I promise to accept and love you as my own child(ren), and to protect and love you all of my life. I promise to do my best to guide and support you, and to respect you enough to allow you to see the world through your own eyes.
[After this vow, the new parent can place an angel pin or a special necklace on the child(ren)]
(SECULAR MODERN - NEW PARENT'S VOW TO THE CHILDREN AFTER EACH OTHER'S VOWS)
9. [Child(ren) step forward and face new parent who says]:
Child(ren)'s names, your mother (father) and I will continue to respect you as an individual(s). I love you dearly, and promise to be there for you always.
[After this vow, the new parent can place an angel pin or a special necklace on the child(ren)]
(SECULAR MODERN - AS PART OF THE UNITY CANDLE CEREMONY)
10. [Tapers are included not only for the Bride and Groom, but also for the Child(ren). They all light the Unity Candle together as the Celebrant says]:
The lighting of the center candle represents not only the union of __________________ and ____________________ in marriage, but also the union formed in this new family where your lives will now shine as one.
(SECULAR MODERN - A FLOWER RITUAL INVOLVING CHILDREN)
11. ____________________ and _____________________, the two of you are combining your strengths and hopes in this marriage. Your decision to marry will also shape and deeply effect the lives of Child(ren)'s name(s). All of you will touch each other in a special way from now on. Today we are acknowledging both the creation of a marriage and the creation of a family. Each of you will contribute your individual blossoms to this new entity, combining your special selves into a bouquet that is more rich and varied than any you could create by yourselves. I ask you now to symbolize the wonder and beauty of the birth of this new family by each offering your flower to create a single bouquet. [Each puts a flower into a special vase]
Youngest child says: Together our new family will be happy.
CHILD RECOGNITION RITUALS in PART 4 - THE CLOSING OF THE CEREMONY: EXAMPLES
(SECULAR MODERN - AS PART OF THE ROSE CEREMONY)
12. [After the couple exchanges roses, these words are added to the Rose Ceremony by the Celebrant]:
Not only are ____________________ and _____________________ creating a marriage today, but they are also forming a family with Child(ren)'s names. Just as it is appropriate for ______________________ and _______________________ to declare their love for each other in the gift of a rose, they also wish to show you, Child(ren)'s names how much they love you with the gift of a rose.
[The couple give a rose to each child, along with a hug]
(SECULAR MODERN - STATEMENT BY OLDER CHILDREN AFTER THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE AND THE BRIDE AND GROOM'S FIRST KISS)
13. Bride's name, for the past two years you have been both my friend and my mother. I love you and I want to be the first to welcome you into our family.
(SECULAR MODERN - STATEMENT BY OLDER CHILDREN AFTER THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE AND THE BRIDE AND GROOM'S FIRST KISS)
14. Groom's name, you are more of a father than my birth father, and I love you. This marriage will be good not only for you and Mom, but for me (us) also. I welcome you with all my heart.
RECOGNITION OF CHILDREN: FROM AROUND THE WEB