Weddings and Life Partnerships

WEDDINGS AND LIFE PARTNERSHIP CEREMONIES

What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together—to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness, to be one with each other in the silent, unspoken memories? —George Eliot

Wedding

We welcome requests from couples (heterosexual, gay or lesbian) who are not Congregation members, and who are searching for a minister for their wedding or life partnership ceremony.

Of special note: We realize that many gay and lesbian couples have been together and committed for a very long time. Whether you wish your ceremony to be designed and called a wedding, or a recommitment ceremony, we are pleased to help you create it. We work with couples to design their own unique ceremony that speaks of their relationship, dreams and commitment.

As a way of beginning planning, we provide a ceremony packet listing common components of weddings, with many examples of each component to choose from. Some components include:

Partnership Ceremony
  • Music
  • Processional
  • Welcome by Minister
  • Parental Blessing
  • Optional Readings
  • Homily on Marriage
  • Declaration of Intent
  • Vows/Pledges
  • Rings
  • Community Blessing
  • Wine Ceremony/Unity Candle
  • Marriage Wisdom Sharing
  • Blessing Proclamation
  • Kiss
  • Pronouncement

We also encourage couples to contribute their own ideas, and to involve friends and family members in their ceremony.

Of Special Note: Our religious tradition has decades of commitment to gay and lesbian couples, officiating life partnership ceremonies. Unitarian Universalists are also committed to bringing about full legal and civic equality for all loving couples. Our congregation worked long and hard for the civil right to marry for everyone, and we are delighted now to officiate legal weddings for all!

All couples may contact us to arrange a time to meet and to explore further, including how we would work with you to plan your ceremony, and appropriate rental and minister fees. Ceremonies can be in our church sanctuary or somewhere else in the wider community. Just give us a call for more information.

Rev. Peg Rev. Dr. Mark Newton
Rev. Peg Morgan Rev. Dr. Mark Newton
206 935-0418 206 935-0418
minister@wsuu.org chaplain@wsuu.org