The Rose Ceremony is simple yet profoundly moving. The bride and groom exchange two red roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire married life.

Below is some sample wording for your Rose Ceremony. These words can be edited or expanded to suit your individual taste.

Sample Rose Ceremony 1:

"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 one another. You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman. You share 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 the gift 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. You have given 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 re-commitment to your marriage - and a re-commitment 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 cannot 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 it was love that 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."

Sample Rose Ceremony 2: (Includes Parents)

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. (Groom) and (Bride) 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. (Groom & Bride exchange hugs with her parents and present a rose to her mother. Groom and Bride exchange hugs with his parents and present a rose to his mother.)

Sample Rose Ceremony 3: (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. Their love for you did not diminish as they met these challenges. This is a great lesson you can bring into your marriage. As you embrace one another also embrace the families which have been brought together on this happy occasion. As a token of your love and gratitude for your families and as a symbol of your eternal love for your mothers please present your mothers with these roses. (Groom and Bride hand rose to Bride's mother and hug. Groom and Bride hand rose to Groom's mom and hug.)

Sample Rose Ceremony 4: (For Children)

Not only are (Groom) and (Bride) creating a marriage today, but they are also forming a new family with (Child/Children's Name(s)). 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 Name(s)) with the gift of a rose. (Groom and Bride hand child or each of the children a rose and give them a hugs.)

Sample Rose Ceremony 5:

This is a day steeped in tradition. We are surrounded by symbols of all kinds. Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. (Groom) and (Bride) 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 your 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. When you receive the rose you will both remember this day and renew the vows you've made today. May your love continue to grow and may each year you receive the flower be symbolic of an ever deeper and more beautiful feeling of love.

(Bride) holds the vase of water. Because water is the one element which without we would surely perish. (Groom) the water symbolizes the importance of your love in (Bride's) life. Water, like love, can take many forms. Sometimes it is a stream, 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 renewing feelings of love. (Bride puts rose in 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 is enhanced by the water, just as (Groom's) life is enhanced by (Bride). The vase is lovely because of the rose, just as (Bride's) life is better because of (Groom). (The bride and groom both hand the vase with the rose in it to the officiant to be placed on a table in the alter area.) On each anniversary may you remember the joy you felt in your hearts today as you pledged your lives and love to each other. May this be only the first of many cherished traditions in a home filled with happiness.

Sample Rose Ceremony 6:

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." 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 repeat after me. (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, present it to (Groom) and repeat after me. (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, and as a reaffirmation of your love and of the vows you have each spoken I ask that you each give to the other a single red rose on your anniversary each year.

In every marriage there are times when it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt and be hurt by the one we most love. There are times in your marriage when it may be difficult to say "I'm sorry" or "I forgive you" or "I need you" or "I'm hurting." I ask that where ever you may make your home that you select a special spot for roses. At times when words fail leave a red rose at that spot. That single red rose will say what matters more than all other words. "I still love you."

Remembering loved ones:

You can lay a single white rose on a chair during your ceremony, or you can lay a group of several roses on a chair or a table to remember loved ones. You can place a memorial arrangement on a table in honor of deceased loved ones and add pictures, a poem and a candle to the table.

Roses

All roses symbolize love, but their colors have special meaning. Use the list below to choose the shade that best matches the feeling you want to convey.

Red - Love, passion, respect and courage

Yellow - Joy, friendship and freedom

Pink - Happiness, gratitude, appreciation, admiration

Cream - Thoughtfulness, charm and graciousness

Orange - Admiration, fascination, enthusiasm and desire

White - Innocence, purity, secrecy, reverence and to honor those who are deceased

For additional suggestions contact an Armistead Events Wedding Consultant or a Marriage Celebrant.