ROSE CEREMONIES
# 1 Rose Ceremony
This Rose Ceremony is usually placed near the beginning of the ceremony, just after the Officiant's welcoming statements and introduction to the ceremony.
This wedding is also a celebration of family. It is the blending of two families, separate up to this moment, but united from this day forward -- blending their different traditions, strengthening the family tree. Parents plant so that their children may harvest. Mothers cry when their children hurt, and welcome pain and burden to give their sons and daughters the gift of life. Bride and Groom wish to honor this blending of the families by presenting a rose to their mothers -- to thank their parents for the many selfless sacrifices they have made and for their unconditional love so freely given to their children. Bride & Groom exchange hugs with her parents and present a rose to her mother. Bride & Groom exchange hugs with his parents and present a rose to his mother.
#2 Rose Ceremony (for mothers)
Marriage is a coming together of two lives, and a celebration of the love of two people. But it is more. The love that you feel for one another is the flowering of a seed your mothers planted in your hearts many years ago. When you were first born, you were a bundle of diapers and tears, and your mothers lost sleep caring for you. Their love for you has brought them great happiness and great challenges, and their love did not diminish as they met these challenges. That is the great lesson you can bring into your marriage. As you embrace one another in your love, so too do you embrace the families which have been brought together on this happy occasion. As a token of your gratitude for your families, I would like to ask you to offer these symbols of eternal love, these roses, to your mothers.
Both bride and groom can hand the roses to each mother together, offering the mothers kisses if they wish.
#3 Rose Ceremony
This Rose Ceremony is usually placed near the end of the ceremony, just before you are pronounced husband and wife.
In the elegant language of flowers, red roses are a symbol of love, and the giving of a single red rose is a clear and unmistakable way of saying the words "I love you." For this reason it is fitting that the first gift you exchange as husband and wife be the gift of a single red rose.
Groom take one of the roses, present it to Bride and say to her these words: Bride, take this rose as a symbol of my love. It began as a tiny bud and blossomed, just as my love has blossomed and grown for you. Bride take the other rose, presents it to Groom, and say to him these words: Groom, take this rose as a symbol of my love. Once closed so tightly, it opened to the warmth of the sun, just as my heart has opened to the warmth of your kindness.
Groom and Bride, in remembrance of this day, I would ask as a reaffirmation of your love and of the vows you have spoken here today that you give each other a single red rose each year on your anniversary. In every marriage there are times when it is difficult to find the right words, and the ones we love the most are the ones we can most easily hurt. There are times when it may be difficult to say "I'm sorry" or "I forgive you" or "I need you" or "I'm hurting." So I would also ask that wherever you may make your home, that you choose a special spot. And at those times when words fail, that you leave a red rose at that spot you have both selected -- a rose that will say what matters more than all other words..."I still love you."
#4 Rose Ceremony
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.
Groom and Bride 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.
Groom and Bride, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that love 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.
#5 Rose Ceremony
This is a day steeped in tradition. We are surrounded by symbols of all kinds -- something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. We are comforted and encouraged by the familiarity of such symbols and yet we know that a marriage cannot survive if it looks only to the past. Therefore, Bride and Groom have elected today to begin a new tradition, a custom which now becomes uniquely their own. Groom, give Bride your rose. Because this beautiful flower grew from a tiny seed, it symbolizes the way his love for you has grown. From the first faint tingling of its inception, it has become stronger and larger until today it blossoms for all to see. Each year on your wedding anniversary, Groom will give you another rose. In so doing, you will both remember this day and renew the vows you've made today. May each year that flower will be symbolic of ever deeper and more beautiful feelings of love.
Bride, give Groom the vase of water. Because water is the one element without which we would surely perish, it symbolizes the importance of your love in Bride’s life. Water, like love, can take many forms. Sometimes it is steam, sometimes ice. But no matter what happens to it, even if, for a time it seems to disappear, it always returns. Each year on your anniversary, Bride will refill this vase, offering it to you as a symbol of her ever renewing feelings of love. (Bride puts the rose in the vase and they both hold the vase together.) Without water, the rose would die. Without the rose, the vase of water would not be beautiful. The rose enhanced by the water, just as Groom’s life is enhance by Bride. The vase is lovely because of the rose, just as Bride’s life is better because of Groom. (They hand the rose and vase to the officiant)
On each anniversary, as you re-enact the giving and receiving of the rose and the water, may you remember with joy this day when you pledged your love and your lives to each other. May this be only the first of many cherished traditions in a home filled with happiness.
#6 Family Rose Ceremony
Not only are Groom and Bride creating a marriage today, but they also are forming a family with Child/Children's names. Just as it is appropriate for Groom and Bride to begin their marriage by affirming their love for each other by exchanging Rings and Roses), they also wish to show their love for Child/Children’s names with a gift of a Rose. The Bride and Groom then hand the child or each of the children a rose, give a hug and whisper "I love you".
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