Wine Ceremony
(The Wine Ceremony is a unification ceremony which is often included in the regular wedding ceremony, usually after the exchange of rings.)
Celebrant holds up Chalice
Here are some example wording for this lovely, symbolic portion of the wedding ceremony.
"The years of our lives are as a cup of wine poured out for us to drink. Groom and Bride, drink now to each other from this bowl, and may the cup of your lives be sweet and full."
"This cup is a sign of your unity. Although you are two distinct persons, both respecting the equal dignity of the other, you have chosen to unite your lives and to seek your happiness together. You drink from the same cup to be reminded that you will share pain and pleasure, struggle and hope." Drink now, and may the cup of your lives be sweet and full to overflowing.
The years of life are as a cup of wine poured out for you to drink. The cup of life contains within it the sweet wine of happiness, joy, hope and delight. The same cup, at times, holds the bitter wine of disappointment, sorrow, grief and despair. Those who drink deeply of life invite the full range of experiences into their being. Drink now, and may the cup of your lives be sweet and full to overflowing.
This cup is symbolic of the pledges you have made to one another to share together the fullness of life. As you drink from this cup, you acknowledge to one another that your lives, until this moment separate, have become one vessel into which all your sorrows and joys, all your hopes and fears, all your dreams and dreads, will be poured, and from which you will find mutual sustenance. Many days you will sit at the same table and eat and drink together. Drink now, and may the cup of your lives be sweet and full to overflowing.
Drink now, and may the cup of your lives be sweet and full to overflowing. (Present glass to Groom, to sip and pass to Bride)
or add another optional blessing/toast, such as
A Celtic Benediction "The peace of t he running water to you, The peace of the flowing air to you, The peace of the quiet earth to you, The peace of the shining star to you, And the love and the care of all us to you."
Celebrant may invite the guests to repeat this blessing, line by line, or to simply answer "And so say we all" at the close.
or drink from cup and guests may sing 'Drink to me only with thine eyes' following words printed in the program.
"Drink to me only with thine eyes And I will pledge with mine Or leave a kiss within the cup And I'll not ask for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise Doth ask a drink divine But might I of Jove's nectar sip I would not change for thine.
