Sample Partnership and Commitment Ceremony

First allow me to set the scene.

David and Taylor have lived together for 3 years and have 2 dogs Jessie & Lady as their ‘children’.
They have just bought a house together and as part of the ‘House warming’ party they are going to have a surprise commitment ceremony.
They would like to include a commitment vow in their ceremony. The other criteria they have requested is that they would like to be called ‘lifelong partners’. They think a presentation of certificates to their best friends Ben and Joshua, as a token of their ongoing support and friendship would be nice. They would also like to somehow include their dogs in the ceremony.

I am going to assume for this one that Jessie & Lady are lap dogs and instead of Taylor holding a bouquet of flowers she is going to hold Lady. As there is also Jessie to consider, David is going to need to hold him (not traditional for the male counterpart to hold anything but in this instance why not!)

This is what I have created for them.

Welcome everyone to the new home of David and Taylor. My name is Katrina Lavrack and I, with you have been given the honour of warming this home today.

Today is the first of many special days to be celebrated and memories to be made within these walls. A home is a place that we go to feel comfort and protection. It is our sanctuary from the cold (or with the Australian climate the heat)! A place where we invite our dearest family and friends to share in a meal or a simple cup of coffee. But what really makes a house a home?

I would like to read a poem that I have written describing just that.

What makes a house a home?
What makes a house a home?
Is it the straightening of quilts?
Or chatting on the phone?
Is it the flowers in the garden of pink, blue and white?
Or cuddling on the couch on a Friday night?
Or maybe it’s the material possessions
But what if they’re lacking because of recession!
It’s the family within that creates the backbone,
And that my friends is what makes a house a home.
Copyright: Katrina Lavrack 2008

Family is important to David & Taylor and this is why all of you are here today. To them, family extends beyond members of their own bloodline to include their dearest friends and their ‘babies’ Jessie and Lady.

And now before all of you here today, David and Taylor would like to pledge their commitment to one another as Lifelong Partners. Surprise!

Ben and Joshua would you do the honour of acting as witness to this pledge by taking your place beside David and Taylor (and could we have Jessie & Lady please?)

Taylor do you pledge to be the lifelong partner of David. To be ever faithful and committed to him only.
Taylor to respond.

David do you pledge to be the lifelong partner of Taylor. To be ever faithful and committed to her only.
David to respond.

In the words of Nicholas Gordon I would like to say that:

You are a family now, a whole,
Of which you are a part,
And you will hold this family
Safe within your heart.
You do not love each other differently,
Nor would you give up less
Of all that life has given you
To bring you happiness.
There is no limit to your love,
No boundary you might cross,
No price you might be asked to pay,
No need to fear its loss.
You are now one, the four of you,
Windows of one home.
As long as you have life and breath,
You'll never be alone.
Author – Nichols Gordon. Modified by Katrina Lavrack 2008.

(Kiss)

We will now conclude the ceremony by signing the commitment certificates. Katrina to present commemorative certificates to Ben & Joshua.

(A favourite song of David & Taylor's can play whilst we sign the certificates).

All names excluding my own are fictitious and are used for the sole purpose of demonstration.

Copyright: Katrina Lavrack 2008
Notice on Copyright. This ceremony is protected by Australian Copyright Law. All rights are reserved by Katrina Lavrack. No part of this ceremony may be reproduced in anyway without the prior written consent of Katrina Lavrack.