Commitment Ceremonies
For a variety of reasons, a couple may not be able to marry, in the legal sense of current law, or they may choose not to legalize their union. But they may still wish to celebrate and honor their love and relationship and express their deeply felt commitment to each other through ritual and ceremony. There are many ways to create ritual and ceremony for this purpose. One way is a commitment ceremony.
Similar to a marriage ceremony, a commitment ceremony can be created to reflect the couple’s values, beliefs and practices. The ceremony may contain music, readings, spoken vows of love and commitment, and the exchange of rings. The location for the ceremony can be a private place or one that is more public. Family and friends can be present and participate in the ceremony. If the couple has children, they can take part in the ceremony and together all can celebrate their commitment as a family.
I believe any couple’s relationship can be enriched and deepened through ritual and ceremony. For those who cannot legally marry, or who choose to not marry, I believe it is still important to celebrate Love’s presence in their lives. Whether it be an initial blessing and honoring of their love and commitment for each other, or a celebratory renewal of their union, the enacting of ritual and ceremony helps create the deep sacred space for experiencing the mystery of Love’s power to inspire, to transform, to heal.
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