Wedding Ceremonies in the United States
This website contains selections from the book For As Long As We Both Shall Live, copyright 1993, by Roger Fritts and published by Avon Books. In the United States you can buy a copy in local bookstores or online bookstores. You are welcome to use passages that appear at this site in wedding services.
REVIEWS of the book For As Long As We Both Shall Live from The Washington Post and other sources.
THE OPENING WORDS are a brief statement about the meaning and value of love and marriage.
THE READINGS from the Bible or another source, affirm and support the opening statement about love and marriage.
THE QUESTION OF INTENT asks the couple to promise the community that they will create a stable, lasting marriage.
THE VOWS are the promises the couple make to each other.
THE RINGS are blessed by the cleric and exchanged as symbols of the promises made in the vows.
THE BLESSING is a request by the cleric to God, asking God's support for the marriage.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OR DECLARATION is a summary and affirmation of what has just occurred.
THE CLOSING WORDS are a statement of hope for the future.