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Rose Ceremony
In the Rose
Ceremony, the Bride and Groom give each other a Rose. Two roses
are all that is necessary. The Rose Ceremony is placed at the
end of the ceremony just before being pronounced husband and
wife. In the old language of flowers, a single red rose always
meant "I love you". The Rose ceremony gives recognition to the
new and most honorable title of "Husband and Wife".
"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 can not 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." |
