Short Ceremonies CANDLE CEREMONY OFFICIANT: A new family is established in our midst, and we celebrate this new relationship with the bride and groom. The marriage of [GROOM] and [BRIDE] has called us together because this union touches each one of us. (The BRIDE & GROOM light a candle from an altar candle, the OFFICIANT(s) lights his and/or her candle from their flame.  The PRIEST or PRIESTESS lights the candle of GROOMSMAN and the other OFFICIANT lights the BRIDAL Attendant’s candle, who then light the candle of the ATTENDANT next to them. The final ATTENDANT moves to light the candle of a GUEST standing at the northern or eastern quarter of the circle. The flame is passed in this manner throughout the CIRCLE.) OFFICIANT (to COUPLE): This light symbolizes your love and the way in which it has enriched each of our lives. [GROOM] and [BRIDE], may your love continue to light the way on your journey through life together. OFFICIANT (To WITNESSES): To you who are family and friend of [GROOM] and [BRIDE], may the commitment of love which you have witnessed today renew your faith in God and Goddess' (or Deity of choice) love for all Their children. FLOWER AND IVY CEREMONY An ivy wreath is being used as the base (introduced by a friend who will relate it to ivy's traditional meanings, including the marital connection). Various friends and family members will add sprigs of various plants/flowers with traditional meanings related to marriage... PERSON #1 (placing wreath on altar): This wreath symbolizes the marriage that [BRIDE] and [GROOM] are celebrating here today. We, their friends and their family, will create a visual symbol of their vows... A wreath that will decorate their home, as love decorates their lives. This wreath will let them remember the love shared by all of us here today. PERSON #2: The wreath has been created from ivy, a traditional symbol of Matrimony and Friendship. The circular shape of the wreath mirrors the rings that [GROOM] and [BRIDE] have exchanged and symbolizes the never-ending devotion that they pledge each other on this day. Ivy does not "feed upon" the tree or stone it clings to, and this is important to its symbolism. Nothing can separate ivy from a tree it has once embraced, and if the tree falls the ivy stays around it. But the ivy is held to the soil by its own roots. It gets nothing from the substance of the companion, and though it dies on the same spot, it dies in its own time, making its own independent gesture. Today [GROOM] and [BRIDE] have cemented the bond that they share but they have not ceased to grow as individuals. PERSON #3: These are branches of larkspur, a traditional symbol of humor and levity, and dock, a symbol of patience. These are added with a wish that [GROOM] and [BRIDE] never lose the patience and humor which help to sustain their relationship through even the roughest times and which enrich their daily life. PERSON #4: This rosemary symbolizes remembrance. I add this to the wreath with the wish that [BRIDE] and [GROOM] never allow each other to forget the way that they feel today, and that they will always recall the romance and passion that they felt on the day of their meeting. This tarragon symbolizes the unselfish regard with which they should treat one another, today and always. PERSON #5: I add violets and snowdrops that symbolize faithfulness and hope. [BRIDE] and [GROOM] will need these traits throughout their lives together. Their faith and trust in one another will be strengthened as time goes on. Without hope, there is no chance of success. With hope they will realize that they can achieve every goal. PERSON #6: These roses symbolize the passion (hold up red roses before adding to wreath), the beauty (hold up burgundy roses) and unity (hold up red & white roses) that [BRIDE] and [GROOM] feel today. May they always take the time to find the beauty around them, the passion within them, and to feel strength that their unity provides them. May they always recall and honor their vows made this day. ROSE CEREMONY GROOM (As he hands his bride a long-stemmed white rose): "_______, take this rose as a symbol of my love. It began as a tiny bud and blossomed, just as my love has grown and blossomed for you" BRIDE (As she places the rose into a bud vase filled with water): "I take this rose, a symbol of your love, and I place it into water, a symbol of life. For, just as this rose cannot survive without water, I cannot survive without you." GROOM: In remembrance of this day, I will give you a white rose each year on our anniversary, as a reaffirmation of my love and the vows spoken here today" BRIDE: "And I will refill this vase with water each year, ready to receive your gift, in reaffirmation of the new life you have given me and the vows spoken here today." GROOM (As he and his bride join hands around the rose-filled vase) "And so, this rose with be a symbolic memory of my commitment to you this hour; I vow to be a faithful husband to you, to comfort you, honor you, and respect you and cherish you all the days of my life. " BRIDE (As they continue to hold the vase together): "And I commit myself to you, to be a faithful wife, to comfort you, honor you, respect you, and cherish you all the days of my life."