There are NO magic words. When a minister officiates a marriage ceremony, in that act he/she is acting as an agent of the respective state where the marriage is solemnized. It is the responsibility of the minister to sign the marriage license after the ceremony and make certain all the required information is on the marriage license (witness signatures, etc.), and then to mail it to the proper state office. The minister must also take care to ensure that all marriage proceedings are following the local laws and regulations. Often there is an envelope provided, but not always. Ministers are encouraged to keep a personal journal of the marriages they officiate in case a marriage license gets lost in the mail and is never received by the state and recorded. It is a serious responsibility.

Civil Ceremony:

To the Couple: We are gathered together here to unite this man ____________ and this woman____________ in the bonds of matrimony.

To the Groom: Do you take _________ to be your lawfully wedded wife?
If so answer "I DO."

To the Bride: Do you take ___________ to be your lawfully wedded husband?
If so answer "I DO."

The minister states: By the authority vested in me by the State of ______________ I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Most traditional of ceremonies:

The minister states: Dearly Beloveds and Honored Guests: We are gathered here this day in the sight of God and the company assembled to witness the giving and receiving of the marriage vows.

Marriage is an institution ordained of God and is not to be entered into lightly or in jest and only after much consideration.

To the Groom: Do you __________take this woman _________to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in heath, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?
If so, answer " I DO."

To the Bride: Do you ________take this man _________to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor and obey, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live?
If so, answer " I DO. "

The minister states: If there be anyone present who may show just and lawful cause why this couple may not be legally wed, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.

(Giving or exchanging of the rings)

By the authority vested in me by the State of ___________ I now pronounce you man and wife and what God hath joined together, let no man nor woman put asunder.

Simple Ceremony:

The minister states: I stand before this couple this day to united them in the bonds of matrimony. If there be anyone present that may present just and lawful cause why these two individuals may not be lawfully wed, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.

To the Groom: Do you take __________ as your wedded wife?
If so, answer "I DO."

To the Bride: Do you take __________ as your wedded husband?
If so, answer "I DO."

(Giving or exchanging of the rings)

The minister states: I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Jail House Ceremony:

ULC ministers may be called upon to officiate a ceremony where one of the individuals is incarcerated. There is no reason for anything to be different in the performance of the ceremony from whatever you usually perform or is asked of you. Consideration of the security of the facility will be of vital concern and this will without doubt be monitored. the only "legal" act you perform is to pronounce them husband and wife and sign the marriage license and mail it to the appropriate state office. There are instances, varied in nature, that require just a simple pronouncement.

The minister states: As this couple has agreed to wed and possesses a valid marriage licenses, by the authority vested in me by the State of __________ , I now pronounce you husband and wife.

These are simple examples, which you may alter, or the couple may want to write their own vows. It makes the ceremony even more special when a couple writes their own vows, and it should be encouraged. You can also find several books in the ULC catalog on this site that offer a wide variety of ceremonies, both religious and spiritual in nature.