Hi there

I am getting married in 2 weeks, for the second time in less than a
year, to the same guy. Confused? Well, it's really not that
complicated, we got married a year ago as immigration gave us 90 days
to do so (I arrived from Australia to the USA on a fiance visa), and
now we are having our big, proper wedding with all of the family
invited...on our own terms!

Anyway - my husband and I agree that we want a really simple wedding,
though this is easier said than done. We live in Alaska, and I've had
to do everything for the wedding over the internet as we have no
stores in my town....including my wedding dress. I've bought three so
far. I digress...

As far as our ceremony goes, we feel a bit ridiculous doing the whole
thing over. It would feel so fake, and like we were acting in a play
or the likes, so we have composed a very different more fitting
ceremony. We took our original script from our first wedding last
year, and broke it up into parts. Each part was given to 6 special
people in our lives. These 6 people are going to read the ceremony
aloud to the group. My husband and I are going to turn to each other
and say " Do you, ...... take ME to be your lawful wedded
wife....etc.." , then my husband's father (who originally married us)
is going to do the official closing of the ceremony, however we have
added yet another twist.

Each person in witness to our ceremony will say in unison..."???" and
here the problem begins.

Instead of having my husbands father say "and now with the power
vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife" (this seems
redundant, as we are already husband and wife) we want to say
something along the lines of (remember, this is everyone speaking in
unison) "We stand together, united, to bless the wedding rings of
....... and together, we wish them a very happy successful future
together". But, I just can't do it without it sounding either too
bland or far too cheesy!  Any ideas for that last line?

"... to bless the wedding rings of ..., may they always be a symbol to
you both of the vows that bind you, and be a reminder of this day and
joyous occasion.
May your future be blessed with love and forgiveness, hope and happiness."

Neither too bland nor too cheesy, I hope!  

All the very best you both, Myoarin

Great suggestion myoarin - I will definitely use some parts of it. I
am however, hoping to word it in such a way as to emphasize the
significance of having people dear to us in our lives bless the rings
for us. I don't particularly like the intro I came up with "We stand
united"...however I want to say something along the lines of a group
of loved ones and friends blessing the rings....in unity. Blah - I
just don't know...

Rochelleann, 
I think you have a wonderful idea - didn't want to comment on it before.
Some more ideas  - just brainstorming:

"We, whom you have chosen to share  - to be with you -  in this
important moment  bless ..."

I was thinking before of suggesting that they could say something like:
"We pledge to support you ...", but then I thought that this idea  -
somewhat like the role of godparents at a christening -  was probably
going too far, considering the possible geographical distance for some
of them.

I will be very happy to continue to share thoughts with you on the text.
My wife and I (German and US) married in Sydney  - with much less
profound thoughts, but enough, it seems  - 33 years later.  :-)

Myoarin

Thanks Myoarin - I appreciate any help I can get with this! I imagine
the immigration rules are a lot different now to when you got married.
It's been almost a year since our original wedding here in Alaska, and
I still don't have Permanent Residency, or a social security number.
It's a big old pain in the backside! I bet your Sydney wedding was
beautiful! Did you get wedding photos in front of the bridge, or the
opera house?

Anyway - I think we are getting closer with the wording...

"In love and friendship, we bless these rings as a symbol of your
lifelong committment to each other. May your futures be forever happy
and successful."

The thing is, some of the people present at our wedding may not love
us, or be our friends...this sounds strange, but there are 1500 people
in our town and we are running an ad in the paper. Some people will
probably just show up to look and see...this is certainly a unique
situation! :)

Whoops!  I was texting for the six friends.  I would feel kind of
funny about being expected to join in blessing your rings if I were
just there out of curiosity ...  But it is a great idea to invite the
whole world to your wedding.

What about letting those six say the more personal part and a last
line such as you just wrote, and then ask the the congregation to
repeat it?  I guess your father-in-law would be the one to do that: 
"Will you all join in repeating ..."

??  But it is your wedding.

Purely personally, I prefer "future" in the singular  - yours
together, one for ever;  and "successful" to me sounds like a wish for
a business venture  - not that every marriage isn't.

But, again, it's your wedding.  What does the groom's father suggest? 
He may have a good idea  - and appreciate being asked.

Myoarin

That's a really good point. I was going to print out little notes for
people so they knew what they were going to say. I'll definitely make
it optional if people in the audience want to join in...I'm so glad
you are here to help me think through this!!! My husband is not much
help at all in this department, but great in others. Can't have
everything :)

I totally agree - future, not futures...that sounds so silly reading over it again!

What if....We get the 6 special people to say: "In love and
friendship, we bless these rings as a symbol of your lifelong
committment to each other. May your future together be forever happy
and successful."

And then, Keith's Dad can say: "Will you all join in blessing this marriage"..

And the congregation can say something like "We bless this
marriage"...or something a little more meaningful, but not as long
winded as the sentence the 6 people say...???

Glad you appreciate...  It's fun to be able to help.

Yes, something like that.  I was thinking that the congregation could
repeat the last sentence that the six said, maybe without using a
note.  That would distract rather than concentrate attention on their
words.

Perhaps Keith's Dad could say:  "Rochelle's and Keith's friends wish
to bless the couple.  You are all invited to join in repeating their
last words,"
which would be  "May your future together be forever happy and successful."
Or whatever you decide.  

The six would have to lead in repeating, of course, and hopefully the
congregation would have enough experience to join in.

Personally, I wouldn't burden the congregation with the words:  "We bless ..."

Are we getting closer ...?

Myoarin

This should really come from you..but I think you should incoperate
into the last line something to do with the fact that you have
overcome all these odds and obstacles to be together, and still have
managed to come to this place.

ummm "and may this celebration be a symbol of the deepest strength
your love has possed thus far throughout the journeys in which you
have embarked, and may there be many more to come filled with the
undeniable love that has brought you this far, to where you surround
yourself by loved ones to witness this proclamation of your devotion
to each other."

its wordy, but you could revise it. you get the general idea.

Last night I printed out this page, and showed him the back and forth
between myoarin and I...he really liked what we came up with, but said
that he wants everyone in the audience to participate in the final
words...not to seperate it between the 6 "special" people, and then
the audience following....back to square one...

Where were we, perhaps I need to come up with a really simple
one-liner that does not assume that people love us and also does not
put words in their mouhts. I feel kind of funny making people say "We
wish you...." when this might not be something they wish, though I'm
sure there is no reason they would object, it is weird.

Perhaps just this, said by all: "May your future together be forever
happy and successful."

Okay, it's his wedding too  :)

(But if you get anything printed, we want a credit at the bottom:  
"The above text was prepared with the help of Google Answers  - www. ....")  
No?  It was just a joke.

It has been a pleasure trying to help.  Maybe it gets back to Kieth's
Dad saying:  "The couple would like you all to join in ...."

I'll be here, if you want more suggestions.

If not, have a wonderful wedding and a great life!
Myoarin

Thanks Myoarin :)

Perhaps Keith's Dad could say...."Keith & Rochelle would love if you
would join in the blessing of their marriage. Let us ay together...."

"May your future together be forever happy and succesful!"

But then, he ceremony is sort of left hanging...how would I end it
after that? As this is the very last part of our ceremony....

Hug, kiss, shake hands or hug Dad, if appropriate also the Big Six 
while the music starts, and then sweep out of the building  (or out of
the altar area).
....

Luckily  - for me  - I have no idea about your taste in music.  Bach's
Toccata in (D?), to "We are the Champions".  (But if there is an
organist, don't ask him or her for the Bach, not that piece anyway,
it's pretty difficult.)

Again, all the best to you both, Myoarin

Perfect! You're the greatest :)
We won't have anyone doing the music as we are having an outside
wedding at the harbor, however a hug, kiss and handshake is perfect.
I'm so tightly wound at the moment with planning this thing all by
myself that I'm not thinking clearly. Again, I really appreciate all
of your useful help!!!

Rochelle

And then jump in the boat and sail away into the sunset,  with Bing
Crosby crooning to Grace Kelly:  "And here's to you, a-and here's to
me, true love ..."

It's going to be swell!  Take care, Myoarin