Opening Prayer/Blessing (optional)
Blessed are the man and the woman who come together in love,
They have seen through the illusion of separation,
They delight in the way things are,
And keep their hearts and minds open to the wonders that are yet to come.
Everything they do will succeed.
Blessed are the man and woman who come together in love.
Here in Hawaii we exchange flower leis to signify our open hearts and love for one another. The beautiful lei is made with hand picked flowers, which are entwined and carefully tied together with love. Let these leis be a reflection of your love and aloha for each other. As you exchange these leis, you take the first step toward weaving your own lei of life together. And now, with loving aloha, please present your leis to one another.
Candle Lighting (optional, not recommended for outdoor Weddings in Hawaii)
Fire is one of the basic elements on earth. Many ancient people worshipped it as the source of life itself.
Throughout history, many different societies have used candle lighting to celebrate and acknowledge special holidays and events. For us, the light of these candles represents the foundation of love, its beauty, and its vitality.
These three candles represent each of you and your marriage. You will take your individual candles and light the large candle in the center, the candle representing your unity in marriage.
Your individual selves will remain burning and bright even as you become unified in your lives together.
Let the lighting of these candles reflect our thoughts on this day. Prior to this moment you each walked separate paths. Now as you light your candle, you embark on a marital partnership — a single path together.