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Wedding Planning > Vows
& Passages
The Rose Ceremony
The Rose Ceremony is simple
yet profoundly moving. The
bride and groom exchange two red roses, symbolizing the giving and
receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire
married life. The Rose
Ceremony also conveys how to use the rose and its symbolism
in difficult times in order to forgive each other.
"Your gift to
each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings -
which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love
and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other.
You now have what
remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a
woman - the title of "husband" and "wife." For
your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single
rose.
In the past, the
rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant
only one thing - it meant the words "I love you." So it is
appropriate that for your first gift - as husband and wife - that
gift would be a single rose.
Please exchange
your first gift as husband and wife. In some ways it seems like
you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were
holding one small rose - and now you are holding one small rose. In
some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow
is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today,
just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable
and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the
gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
_________ and
_____________, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the
future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and
graceful one - that you both pick one very special location for
roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion
you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your
marriage - and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based
upon love.
In every marriage
there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is
easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by
who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say
"I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need
you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you
simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which
both of you have selected - for that rose than says what matters
most of all and should overpower all other things and all other
words.
That rose says the
words: "I still love you." The other should accept this
rose for the words which cannot be found, and remember the love and
hope that you both share today.
__________ and
________, if there is anything you remember of this marriage
ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is
only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love
which your marriage shall endure."
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