Wedding Ceremony Script With a Reading and a Blessing

Isaac waits at the front with Nadine. Gloria walks in with her father, and the music ends.

Please be seated.

Good afternoon, and welcome. My name is Nadine, and Gloria and I have been friends since our first week of college, when we got assigned to the same laundry room.

Gloria and Isaac are so glad you're here. Their faith matters a great deal to both of them, and they asked for a ceremony that has room for it. They also asked for a ceremony that has room for everyone in this pavilion, whatever you believe. So in a few minutes you'll hear a blessing and a reading. Some of you will hear them as prayers. Some of you will hear them as the hopes of people who love Gloria and Isaac very much. Both are welcome here.

Gloria and Isaac met three summers ago at a repair weekend their church puts on every June, when volunteers fix up houses for neighbors who need the help. The two of them were assigned to the same porch. It belonged to a retired mail carrier named Mr. Delgado, and it had about forty loose boards.

Isaac was in charge of the screws. Gloria was in charge of the drill. For most of that Saturday morning, Isaac handed her the wrong size screw, she handed it back, and he apologized and tried again. By lunch, Mr. Delgado had pulled up a lawn chair to watch. He told Gloria, loud enough for Isaac to hear, that this young man was clearly not paying attention to the screws.

They finished the porch on Sunday. Isaac asked her to dinner on Monday, and he showed up with a box of screws in every size, as a joke. Gloria still keeps it in the junk drawer. Mr. Delgado got a wedding invitation, and he's sitting in the second row.

What I've seen in the two of them since then is a lot of quiet work. They show up early to set up chairs. They drive Gloria's grandmother to her appointments on Tuesdays. They pray before meals, even in restaurants, even when it's just a basket of fries. They're the kind of people who fix the porch and then come back a month later to make sure it's holding up.

Gloria's grandmother, Bea, has been married for fifty-two years. She's prayed for Gloria every day of her life, and she asked if she could say a blessing over the two of them today.

Grandma Bea comes up and stands beside the couple. Gloria and Isaac hold hands and bow their heads.

Grandma Bea: [The blessing Bea has chosen]

Bea hugs them both and goes back to her seat.

Thank you, Bea.

When I asked Bea what she'd learned in fifty-two years, she told me she and Grandpa Walt never once went to bed without saying good night, even on the nights they weren't speaking. She said some nights good night was the only thing they said, and it was enough to start again in the morning.

Isaac's sister, Ruth, is going to read a passage the two of them picked together. Isaac told me Ruth is the one who used to read to him at night when they were kids, so there was never any question who they'd ask.

Ruth: [The passage Gloria and Isaac have chosen]

Ruth goes back to her seat.

Before the vows, Gloria and Isaac have asked for a short moment of quiet. You can pray, or think about the two of them, or just take a breath. I'll let you know when it's time.

Everyone sits quietly for about twenty seconds.

Thank you.

Gloria and Isaac have written their own vows. Isaac, you're first.

Isaac reads his vows. Then Gloria reads hers.

The best man hands Nadine the rings.

These rings are simple, and they're made to be worn every day. When you look at them, I hope you'll remember the promises you made here, and the people who stood with you while you made them. Bea has worn hers for fifty-two years. It's thin now, and a little bent on one side, and she says she wouldn't trade it for anything.

Isaac, place this ring on Gloria's finger and repeat after me.

Isaac: Gloria, I give you this ring as a sign of my promise. I'll love you, I'll honor you, and I'll be faithful to you all my life.

Gloria, place this ring on Isaac's finger and repeat after me.

Gloria: Isaac, I give you this ring as a sign of my promise. I'll love you, I'll honor you, and I'll be faithful to you all my life.

Isaac, do you take Gloria to be your wife, to love her, honor her, and care for her, when life is easy and when it's hard, for as long as you both live?

Isaac: I do.

Gloria, do you take Isaac to be your husband, to love him, honor him, and care for him, when life is easy and when it's hard, for as long as you both live?

Gloria: I do.

Gloria and Isaac, you've made your promises in front of your families, your friends, and your faith. By the power vested in me by [the State of ___], I pronounce you husband and wife.

Isaac, you may kiss your bride.

They kiss.

Everyone, please stand and welcome Gloria and Isaac, married.

The recessional music starts, and they walk back down the aisle together.

Nadine, Gloria, Isaac, and two witnesses sign the license. Gloria asked for Grandma Bea to be one of the witnesses.