Couples who love Nature and the outdoors often decide to share outdoor wedding vows amid the forest in wedding ceremonies created specially for them by Christina Brittain, wedding celebrant.

Some engaged couples look for unique ways to bring Nature into their wedding ceremony. A special way is to make Nature the wedding guest of honor. For them, this wedding element truly embraces Nature.

MARRYING WITH NATURE AS YOUR HONORED GUEST

A special wedding element that invites Nature into your new marriage as a lifelong source of joy

NATURE ELEMENT:
SPECIAL WEDDING CEREMONY

This special Wedding Element offers a way for couples to honor Nature as a special guest at their marriage ceremony. They honor Nature’s presence by exchanging some unique object that each of them gathered from a natural area. The exchange can take place anywhere in the ceremony, but seems to fit best at the end, just before the officiant pronounces the couple ‘Husband and Wife.’

Gathering Special Objects

Shortly before their wedding day, the bride and groom, either alone or together, go to a natural area that appeals to them. Upon arriving at the area, each pauses for a moment and verbally asks Nature for permission to enter. If, after a few minutes, the area continues to feel welcoming, it can be accepted that Nature has given its consent.

While walking through the area, all thoughts or concerns of daily life should be set aside, while encouraging the innate senses to be the guide to some natural attraction, such as a flower, stone, branch, blossom, blade of grass, twig, leaf, etc.

(One should in mind that the object he/she selects must be one that can be removed from its setting safely without harm, such as to its host plant or other things around it, and without trespassing on private property. A majestic fir tree may be a wonderful positive attractive, but would be a bit difficult to bring to the wedding. However, a small fir branch would be a wonderful gift to offer.)

When one finds an attractive object, he/she should connect to all aspects of it, including such attributes as its color, texture, feel, smell, size, shape, etc. After getting to know it, the finder should ask: “Is this small part of Nature attractive and special enough to me to give it to my partner at our wedding ceremony?”

If the answer is “Yes,” one should pause once again to ask the object’s consent to remove it from its natural setting. Permission should always be requested of any object, even if it’s a rock or twig, before taking it away from the place it was found. It is appropriate to accept that consent has been given if the object is still attractive after permission to take it has been asked. If the answer is “No,” the person should keep on looking until the right object is found.

The object should be put safely away where it can be easily retrieved for the upcoming ceremony. If it is a living object, such as a leaf, it may be possible to keep it fresh in water; it can also be pressed and dried in a book.

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WEDDING CEREMONY with NATURE ELEMENT

Below is a Wedding Ceremony created by Christina Brittain to honor Nature as a Special Wedding Guest and incorporate Chosen Natural Objects into the Ceremony. She encourages couples to personalize it as they choose. She then prints and binds it for the ceremony, and gives it to the couple as a keepsake of their special day.
© 2000 Christina Brittain and EcoPlace

PAGE 1

Marriage

of

________ _____ _____

and

________ _____ _____

Place, State
Month Day, Year

PAGE 2

LOVE

Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful
     or proud or rude.

Love does not demand its own way.

Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record
     of when it has been wronged.

It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices
     whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up, never loses faith,
     is always hopeful, and endures
     through every circumstance.

Love will last forever.

PAGE 3

Marriage of

_______ _____ _____

and

WELCOME

Officiant: Welcome! We are here today in honor of the lives of (Groom) and (Bride) becoming one. We are here in the presence of Nature’s spirit,( Name of nature place where ceremony takes place) to celebrate the joining, of two hearts. Today , in this natural, supportive place, we are honored to share in (Groom‘s) and (Bride‘s) expression of lifelong commitment and love

MESSAGE TO BRIDE AND GROOM

Officiant: As your relationship first began, love was only spoken softly in your hearts. During silent moments, through stolen glances, with knowing smiles, you both began to know. Today, the whispers are gladly proclaimed aloud as loud as the wind down a canyon and the roar of a falls. Your love for each other has given you the courage, to speak the words, I love you, aloud. And today, you are ready to let the journey of marital love begin.

FIRST READING

Officiant: Here is a special wish for your marriage:

May this be a day of new beginnings with sun shining on you like a fragrant apple,
and summer air blowing softly on your hands.

May berries melt like honey on your tongues.

May your hearts rise in wonder at the clouds drifting across the sky.

May the trails under your boots be covered in pine quills.

May leaves rain down like memories in the autumn of your hearts.

May snow beneath your footsteps be as soft as watered silk.

May the cold air kiss your cheeks, turn them red as summer's roses.

May rivers always flow with their amazing beauty, as the first freshet of snow melts
with the rush of early spring.

May you always walk in gladness on whatever path or highway;
may you always walk within the golden circle of your love.”

PAGE 4

QUESTION OF CONSENT

Officiant: (Groom) and (Bride), have you come here today of your own free will to marry? (Groom) and (Bride): We have.

BLESSING OF THE RINGS

Officiant: I understand that you wish to exchange rings as tokens of your love.

Officiant with hand over them during the blessing says:

Officiant: These circlets of precious metal are fitting symbols of the soul of your marriage; your love that has no beginning, no end.

We humbly ask the Great Spirit who has given us the heavens, lives in the rivers and oceans, who is the voice we can hear in the wind, feel in the heat of fire and the cool of rain; to bless this marriage. And we ask all of nature to grant blessing on your union that is symbolized by these rings.
 

VOWS AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS

Groom’s Vows

Officiant: Hands ring to Groom: Please place this ring on (Bride’s) hand and repeat after me:

I ask you, (Bride), to be my wife. I vow to love, honor and cherish you. I will be at your side for all the risings and settings of the sun, for all the days of fullness and challenge. I pledge my heart to you and promise you a shared life of friendship, adventure, and love.

Brides Vows

Officiant: Hands ring to Bride: Please place this ring on (Groom’s) hand and repeat after me:

I ask you, (Groom), to be my husband. I vow to love, honor and cherish you. I will be at your side for all the risings and settings of the sun, for all the days of fullness and challenge. I pledge my heart to you and promise you a shared life of friendship, adventure, and love.

PAGE 5

HONORING NATURE in WEDDING CEREMONY

Officiant: You have pledged your love to each other by exchanging vows as a statement of your marital commitment and love for each other. With those vows, you agreed to accept the most honorable title that can exist between a man and a woman - Husband and Wife.

Before the final Pronouncement, you have chosen to honor Nature on this day and all your days to come by exchanging a small part of Nature with each other. The object each of you chose as a gift to your new spouse is blessed by the Earth and says, I love you.

Please exchange the objects you hold. (Bride and Groom exchange gifts.)

Officiant: As you look at the new object in your hand, it may seem that you have done nothing special at all. Just a moment ago, you were holding a tiny part of Nature - and now you still do. But there’s a significant difference. You gave and received one of life’s most valuable and precious gifts - one to be remembered always -the gift of abiding love.

(Groom) and (Bride), wherever you make your home in the future - be it a large, elegant home or a small, humble one, reserve in it a special place for Nature.

And, on each anniversary, rekindle the memory of the simple exchange by going to Nature together and creating a new memory as a way of recommitting yourself to your partner and your marriage.

In times of angry emotions that will come between you, as they do, turn to Nature to nurture your relationship. If the words, I’m sorry, or I forgive you; or I need you, or I am hurting are difficult to say, gather a part of Nature and leave it for the other to find. Let the natural object speak what matters most: I still love you. The recipient should accept it for the caring that could not be expressed, recalling fond memories of the love you share today.

Officiant: (Groom) and (Bride), always remember that natural love for each other brought you here today, and only love will make assure a marriage that endures.

PAGE 6

BLESSING

Officiant: Here is a blessing from Nature for your marriage:

May you always have a have warm fire burning in your hearth, a full moon to light a dark night, and sweet water in your well.

May you always have time to walk along winding river banks together and listen often to its song.

May you always give thanks for the love you share.

May your future bring adventure, peace, and great joy!
 

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

Officiant: And now, by the power vested in me by the state of (STATE), I am honored to pronounce you husband and wife.
 

KISS!

Officiant: Congratulations, you may now kiss!
 

PRESENTATION

Officiant: I now present for the first time Mr. & Mrs. (Groom’s first / last name).

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