Tattoo Wedding Ceremony

From Kristine Sihto, who writes:

This is the ceremony I wrote for my own recent wedding. It is a little bit different to most ceremonies in that I've removed ownership traditions (e.g. giving away the bride), the vows are based upon a partnership working in harmony for the betterment of both, and that the rings are tattoos instead of actual rings.

Song: to be played during bridal procession

Reading 1

Celebrant: We have gathered here today to join ________ and ________ in marriage.

(note... ceremony listed is legally required Australian ceremony. Change as applicable.)

Under Australian law, marriage is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life. My name is ____________, and I am duly authorised by law to solemnise this, your marriage, according to the law in Australia. Before _______ and _______ are joined together in marriage in my presence and in the presence of those your family and friends, I am bound as you know to remind you publicly of the solemn, the serious and binding nature of the relationship to which you are about to enter. Marriage as most of us understand it is voluntary and is a full commitment of a man to a woman and a woman to a man. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others and is entered into with the desire, hope and firm intention that it will last for life.

Bride: ____________, This I vow
That I shall be your shield wife
That I shall protect and defend you.
When you falter, I shall be your strength.
When you fall, I shall bear you up.
I shall fight by your side
We shall share our victories with pride
We shall move as one
We shall be as one
I shall make you my home
And make myself yours
As husband and wife, from this day forth,
My love.

Groom: ____________, This I vow
That as you are my shield, I shall be your sword
That I shall protect and defend you.
When you falter, I shall be your strength.
When you fall, I shall bear you up.
I shall fight by your side
We shall share our victories with pride
We shall move as one
We shall be as one
I shall make you my home
And make myself yours
As husband and wife, from this day forth,
My love

Celebrant: As ___________ and __________will write their intention to marry in ink on paper, so too have they written it in their flesh. The tattooed rings they bear indelibly mark them as pair-bonded for life.

(Insert explanation of any symbology of specific tattoos here)

To remind them of this love, the bride and the groom have written their feelings for each other, to be enclosed with a bottle of wine and sealed until their tenth wedding anniversary, or until such a time as it is needed.

Do we have the scrolls?

Place wine in box (WINE, WINE BOX)

Maid-of-honour passes scroll to bride. (SCROLL)

Bride: I wear your ink and will carry it with me through all the days of my life. Please accept my ink, that bears the weight of my love, that you should never be without it.

Bride passes scroll to groom. Place scroll in box.

Best man passes scroll to groom. (SCROLL)

Groom: I wear your ink and will carry it with me through all the days of my life. Please accept my ink, that bears the weight of my love, that you should never be without it.

 Groom passes scroll to bride. Place scroll in box.

Seal box (LIGHTER, SEALING WAX, BRASS SEAL)

Bride and groom clasp left hands

Reading 2

Celebrant: I now pronounce you Mr and Mrs_____________!

Bride and groom kiss

  _________________

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