i need an officiant speech. please help, share with me your good speeches

[sapient007]

so somehow i became an officiant for my friends wedding last min. it''s going to be an island wedding, not religious and we''ll all be surrounded by friends. Anyhow, i really need an officiant speech but i really can''t remember any good officiant speeches from my past since i''ve been way too drunk at all of them.. so please help. let me know what works, what to avoid, creative ideas.. etc etc please.. tx

 

[Inanna]

Ok, I''m stealing these directly from my officiant (I''m also having a tropical wedding). Hopefully these will give you some ideas.

Here are her longer ceremony options, which consists of several parts - opening comments, intent, vows, ring exchange, and pronouncement - there are many options for each part, so you can pick and choose what you prefer for each section of the ceremony: http://floridakeysweddings.us/WeddingCeremonyIdeas.htm

Here is a short ceremony script: http://floridakeysweddings.us/Short%20and%20Sweet%20Wedding%20Ceremony.htm

Good luck!

 

[modernsparkler]

not sure if this is what you are looking for but here are a few I really like...

Blessing of the Hands" by unknown author
“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”
“Union” by Robert Fulghum
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.
These symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –
This is my husband. This is my wife.

 

[sapient007]

wow. these are very nice. more ideas please.

i''m planning on throwing some jokes to start things off.. is that a BAD idea?

 

[swimmer]

Do a search, there have been some great threads on this in the past, some folks have posted their entire ceremony.
Good luck!

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.biblio.com/isbn/9781402203435.html Cannot recommend this book enough.

 

[sapient007]

the book might be too much of an overkill for my needs. I'm doing an island officiant speech for about 30 ppl. all friends and family, i'm not in charge of anything else.


i did like the sample ceremony posts above and most likely tweak some of the suggested parts above


side note: any tricks in how to remember these properly?? hide it in a bible?