Bonfire Ceremony
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008I was asked to design a ceremony for a couple who wanted something informal but interactive with about 75 guests. The couple had decided to have the wedding on the beach at a nearby lake. It was important to them that the guests felt a part of the cermony. This was truly 75 of their closest family and friends. Because the ceremony was held in the early evening with the reception following at the same location I came up with the Bonfire Ceremony, the fire providing both light and heat.
The Bonfire Ceremony is a wonderful way to include your friends and family in the ceremony and works best with a small to medium outdoor wedding. Before the ceremony a fire pit is dug (a free standing patio fire pit can be used for very small weddings) and is prepared with kindling or fire starter logs and is ready to light.
Before the bride and groom are pronounced husband and wife, the pinecones are collected by the flower girl and ring bearer or whomever the bride and groom designate. The baskets of pinecones are then given to the bride and groom. The baskets are placed in the fire pit by the bride and groom and together they light the fire. The officiate then offers a blessing, after which the bride and groom may wish to address their guests. The ceremony is then concluded.
Here is the ceremony for this wedding
Question - Who gives their blessing to the union of these two people? The family and friends answer “We do.”
Greeting - We are gathered here today, to witness the beginning of two lives united by love and trust. We celebrate with _ and _ and these witnesses, the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has taken place in their lives and brought them here today.
Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, an adventure in the most intimate of relationships. It is the joyous union of two people whose friendship and mutual understanding and trust has flourished.
People say they are getting married because they are in love, but what a broad statement. I found a poem which I think describes it a little better. It is entitled Why Marriage.
Why marriage? Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person, with all my heart, my body, my mind, my soul…
Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me, who won’t hold them against me, who loves me when I’m unlikable, who sees the small child in me, and who never stops seeing the divine potential of me…
Because I need to lie in the warmth of the night with someone who thanks God for me and with someone whom I feel blessed to hold…
Because marriage means opportunity to grow in love in friendship and because marriage is a discipline to be added to a list of achievements…
Because marriages do not fail, people fail when they enter into marriage expecting another person to be soley responsible for their life, their future, their happiness…
Knowing this, I promise to take full responsibility for my own life, my own future, my own happiness. I create my happiness and I gladly share it with you without reservation,
I take half of the responsibility but it is only together we create this marriage. And knowing this, the possibilities for us are endless.
Vows - _, will you have this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Will you love, comfort and honor her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, so long as you both shall live?
_, will you have this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Will you love, comfort and honor him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, so long as you both shall live?
Rings - With this ring, I thee wed from this day forward, you shall not walk alone, my arms will be your shelter, my heart will be your home.
Blessing of The Rings - The rings you have exchanged are merely symbols. But they are symbols of the unbroken circle of love which when freely given has no beginning and no end; no giver and no receiver; for each will give and each will receive. May these rings always remind you of the promises you have made; the love that brought you here today and the vows you have taken. May you share in passion and spirit, compasion and understanding, patience and tolerance. and from this day forward may you be known to all as husband and wife.
Collection and Presentation of Pinecones - Lighting of Bonfire
Bonfire Blessing - “May the blessings and good wishes of your friends and family warm your lives and help light your way. May your marriage never be cold and may you never face the darkness alone. ”
Pronouncement - And now, by the authority granted me, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. May your lives together be filled with abundance and joy. You may kiss the bride.
Introduction - Ladies & gentlemen, Mr. & Mrs._
* I edited parts of the Why Marriage poem to fit my style and the couple. At the time I used the poem it was posted as “Author Unknown”. Since that time I have found the poem was written by Mari Nichols and can be found on several web sites.
© 2008 Mary Spies All rights reserved
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