Rose Exchange
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 each other.
You now have what remains the most honorable title which
may exist between a man and a woman...the title of husband
and wife. For your first gift as husband and wife, you have selected
a single rose.
In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love
and single rose always meant only one thing...it meant the
words “I
love you”. So it is appropriate that your first gift as husband
and wife would be a single red rose.
As you exchange your roses, it may seem like you have not done
anything at all. Just a moment ago, you were holding one rose...and
now you are hold one rose. You both have given and received one of
the most precious gifts of life. I hope you will always remember
the gift you have given and received is the gift of true and abiding
love within the devotion of marriage.
[bride] and [groom] I would ask that wherever
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 place for roses; so that on each anniversary of
this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a single red rose
to that place as a recommitment of your marriage. A recommitment
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 whom we love the most and
it is also easiest to be feel hurt by those we love the most. When
the occasion occurs that one of you have hurt the other, it might
be difficult sometime to find the words like “I’m sorry” or “I
forgive you”, “I need you” or “I am hurting”.
When this should happen-let the rose speak for you. Simply leave
a rose in that special place which both have you have selected...for
that rose will say what matters most. That rose will say the words “I
still love you”. The other should accept this rose for the
words which could not be found, and help you remember the love and
hope you both share today.
[bride] and [groom] if there is anything you remember
of this marriage ceremony today, let it be that is was love which
brought you here today.
But it is only love and forgiveness which can make it a glorious
union,
and it is by love and forgiveness which your marriage shall
endure.