The Double Ring Wedding Ceremony

Friends:

We are gathered here

in the presence

of these witnesses

for the purpose of legally

joining in marriage this man

and this woman,

(names of bride and groom).

 

If there be any among you

who know of any reason

why this should not

be done,

let them now speak,

or forever remain silent.

(Pause)

 

All being in accord, we

shall proceed.

 

(Groom’s name),

is your reality

of the love you have

for (bride’s name) such

as you will be

constantly creating

through health

and sickness;

through adversity

as well as good fortune?

 

Can you confront

and grant forgiveness

for shortcomings

as readily as you give praise

for all her many

admirable qualities?

(Answer)

 

And have you communicated

your love to (bride’s name)?

(Answer)

 

(Bride’s name),

have you acknowledged

(groom’s) love?

(Answer)

 

(Bride’s name), is your

reality of the love you have

for (groom’s name) such as

you will be constantly

creating

through health and

sickness;

through adversity

as well as good fortune?

 

Can you confront

and grant forgiveness

for shortcomings

as readily as you give praise

for all his many sterling

qualities?

(Answer)

 

And have you

communicated

your love to

(groom’s name)?

(Answer)

 

(Groom’s name),

have you acknowledged

(bride’s) love?

(Answer)

 

Then may I say to you both

that through your love

together

with your agreement

upon its reality,

and by your communication

of these two beautiful

truths,

you have completed the

ARC Triangle,

and thereby consummated

the only true marriage,

which is beyond the power

of any individual

or group of individuals

to add to or detract from

in the slightest manner.

 

However,

the law and custom

of our society

requires that this union

shall be made a matter

of public acclaim

and record.

It is my honor

to have been selected by you

to perform the ceremony.

 

The acceptance of an honor

carries with it

an obligation

of comparable magnitude,

and I would be remiss

in that responsibility

if I failed to attempt

a contribution,

not to what you have

already created,

which no one can do,

but to the permanency

of its continued creation

on your future time track.

 

Man has ever

employed symbols

to impress upon the mind,

wise and important truths,

that these symbols

might prove

an ever-present reminder

of the necessity

of ceaseless creation

of our desires.

 

And I am certain

that your one joint desire

in present time

is that the love

you have created

shall remain a reality

throughout your

future years.

 

Best man, have you a ring?

(Answer)

 

May I have it please?

(Receives the ring.)

 

Thank you.

 

Bridesmaid

(or maid of honor),

have you a ring?

(Answer)

 

May I have it please?

(Receives the ring.)

 

Thank you.

(Holding up a ring between the thumb and

forefinger of each hand:)

 

These rings consist

of circles,

and the circle

has been an emblem

of permanency to Man

since time immemorial.

In fact, it represents

time and space—

which are without ending.

 

I want you to look upon

these two emblems

and mock-up

the ARC Triangle

in the center of each.

 

Have you done it?

(Answer)

 

Thank you.

 

As long as these emblems

remain with you,

I want you to see

that triangle in their center

as a reminder

that the reality

of their symbolism of

permanency

will hold true only so long

as that triangle remains

unbroken.

 

I should like to see you

make a pact between you

that you will never

close your eyes in sleep

on a broken triangle.

Heal any breach

with the reality of your love

through communication.

If you will do this,

these emblems

of your greatest desire

in present time

will remain a reality

throughout your

future time track.

 

Let us proceed.

 

(Groom’s name),

will you take this ring

and with these words,

place it upon

(bride’s name)’s finger.

 

“With this symbol

of my love”

(Answer)

 

“I take thee,

(bride’s name),”

(Answer)

 

“As my true and lawful

wedded wife”

(Answer)

 

“I pledge thee to keep

this love”

(Answer)

 

“Ever living, ever real.”

(Answer)

 

(Bride’s name),

will you take this ring

and with these words,

place it upon

(groom’s name)’s finger.

 

“With this symbol

of my love”

(Answer)

 

“I take thee,

(groom’s name),”

(Answer)

 

“As my true and lawful

wedded husband”

(Answer)

 

“I pledge thee to keep

this love”

(Answer)

 

“Ever living, ever real.”

(Answer)

 

And now,

in the name of the

Church of Scientology

and by virtue of the powers

vested in me by the state,

I declare you,

(groom’s name),

and you, (bride’s name),

to be truly and legally,

husband and wife.

 

I will ask that you seal this

ceremony with your lips.

(Wait for the kiss)

 

And I will ask these

witnesses present

to join me in blessing

this ceremony

with the postulate

that the trust and love of

the present

shall become ever stronger

with each passing year.

(Pause)

 

Did you do it?

(Answer)

 

Thank you.

 

(Be the first to congratulate

them both, and the first to address

the bride as Mrs.)

 

L. Ron Hubbard