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Rachel Marks English

Option I (Secular)

As we weave our two lives together into one, we promise to love, respect, encourage, and inspire one another. We will always endeavor to be open and honest, understanding and accepting, loving and forgiving, trusting of and loyal to one another. We promise to do the most that we can to bring out the best in the other. We will strive to bring to fruition both our shared and our individual hopes and dreams, always evolving together. Through life’s sorrows and challenges we will comfort and support one another, through life’s joys and pleasures we will laugh and celebrate together. For many years to come, may we maintain a relationship that fosters intimacy, honesty, and communication. Let us build a home that emanates warmth, generosity, and love, and may it be filled with the joyful voices of our family and friends. May our lives be blessed with harmony, health, and happiness. With our dearest family and friends as witnesses, we commit all this to each other. All this is valid and binding.

Groom/Bride Groom/Bride
Witness Witness
Witness Witness
Officiant


Option II (Secular)

On this day, the [ number ] of [ Month ] in the year [ number ], in the community of [ City, State ], we [ Full Name ] and [ Full Name ] enter into the covenant of marriage. As we begin our life together, we promise to love, respect, encourage, and inspire one another. We promise to be faithful friends and equal partners and to comfort and protect one another through life’s joys and sorrows. May our love help us to bring to fruition both our shared and our individual hopes and dreams. For many years to come, may we maintain a relationship that fosters intimacy, honesty, and communication. Together we will create a home where the traditions of our ancestors are honored and celebrated. Let us build a home that emanates warmth, generosity, and love, and may it be filled with the joyful voices of our family and friends. May our lives be blessed with harmony, health, and happiness. Surrounded by our dearest friends and family as witnesses, we commit this to each other: from this day we combine our separate lives into one. All this is forever valid and binding.

Groom/Bride Groom/Bride
Witness Witness
Witness Witness
Officiant


Option III (Same Sex- by Rabbis Elliot Dorff, Daniel Nevins and Avram Reisner)

On the [ number ] day of the week, the [ number ] day of the month of [ Month ] in the year five thousand seven hundred [ number ], corresponding to the secular date of [ Month/Day ], [ year ] here in [ City, State ] in the country of [ Country ] we, [ Full Name ] the daughter/son of [ Full Names ], and [ Full Name ] the daughter/son of [ Full Names ], before the people and the congregation make this holy declaration: “Let it be known that our souls are bound one to the other with bonds of love and mutual devotion, and that it is our intention, with God’s help, to be exclusively faithful to each other all the days of our lives upon this earth." As our Sages taught: "A person should find a partner with whom to eat, drink, read, study, sleep, and share every secret, secrets of Torah and secrets of life."

We shall share from this day a complete partnership, joyfully and wholeheartedly establishing a household in common with moral and financial responsibilities for one another. We shall be loving partners for each other and will cherish, respect, sustain, and assist one another in righteousness and faithfulness. With God’s help may our dwelling be filled with love and harmony, peace and companionship, and may we be privileged to nurture together our Jewish heritage, our love for our fellow Jews, and the dignity of every creature.”

We, the witnesses, attest that everything that is written and specified above has been done in our presence and is valid and effective.

Groom/Bride Groom/Bride
Witness Witness
Witness Witness
Officiant


Option IV (Same-Sex Reform)

Under the Chuppah, before God and all those present, on the [ number ] day of the week, the [ number ] day of the month of [ Month ] in the year [ number ] corresponding to the [ number ] day of [ Month ] in the year 57 [ number ]  , here in [ City, State ], the beloveds, [ Full Name ] the daughter/son of Full Name ] and [ Full Name ], and [ Full Name ], the daughter/son of Full Name ] and [ Full Name ], entered into the covenant of marriage, in accordance with the laws of Moses and Israel. They pledged: "We will be partners in marriage, and we will cherish, respect, and support each other, all the days of our lives. We promise to be full and equal life partners and to comfort and protect one another through life’s joys and sorrows. May we always be kind and compassionate towards one another, and as our love matures, may we hold on to the passion and affection for each other that we feel today. May we strive to always learn from one another and to encourage each other to grow together and as individuals. We will materially sustain and support each other and our household, providing for each other’s physical needs and sharing between us all our material possessions. We vow to always value our responsibilities to family above any other commitment. Ours will be a family filled with love and learning, joy and laughter, comfort and compassion. We will strive to establish a home that honors and celebrates the traditions of the people of Israel, committed to Jewish values and enriched by the traditions of our families. May our home be a place of warmth, generosity, and love, and may it be always welcoming of our family and friends, and those we have yet to meet. May our love provide us with the determination to be ourselves and the courage to pursue our chosen paths. With this ceremony, we affirm our intention to provide for each other the protections and privileges of all loving couples. May our lives be intertwined forever and be as one in tenderness and devotion. These rings symbolize our commitment to each other as beloveds and friends before God and these witnesses. We joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept its obligations. And everything herein is forever valid and binding.

Groom/Bride Groom/Bride
Witness Witness
Witness Witness
Officiant


Option V (Reform)

Under the Chuppah, before God and all those present, on the [ number ] day of the week, the [ number ] day of the month of [ Month ] in the year [ number ] corresponding to the [ number ] day of [ Month ] in the year 57 [ number ], here in [ City, State ], the beloveds [ Full Name ] and [ Full Name ] entered into the covenant of marriage, in accordance with the laws of Moses and Israel.

The groom and bride declared: "As we begin our life together, we promise to love, respect, encourage, and inspire one another. We will always endeavor to be open and honest, understanding and accepting, loving and forgiving, trusting of and loyal to one another. We promise to do the most that we can to bring out the best in the other. We will strive to bring to fruition both our shared and our individual hopes and dreams, always evolving together. Through life’s sorrows and challenges we will comfort and support one another, through life’s joys and pleasures we will laugh and celebrate together. For many years to come, may we maintain a relationship that fosters intimacy, honesty, and communication. Let us build a home that emanates warmth, generosity, and love, in accordance with Jewish traditions. May it be filled with the joyful voices of our family and friends. May our lives be blessed with harmony, health, and happiness. All this is valid and binding.

Groom/Bride Groom/Bride
Witness Witness
Witness Witness
Officiant


Option VI (Reform)

On the [ number ] day of the week, the [ number ] day of the month of [ Month ] in the year [ number ] corresponding to the [ number ] day of [ Month ] in the year 57 [ number ], here in [ City, State ], the beloveds [ Full Name ] and [ Full Name ] entered into the covenant of marriage, in accordance with the laws of Moses and the Jewish people. 

We exchange these rings as symbols of our commitment to each other as beloveds and friends before God and these witnesses. We promise to love, respect, encourage, and inspire one another all the days of our lives. We will always endeavor to be open and honest, understanding and accepting, loving and forgiving, trusting of and loyal to one another. We promise to do the most that we can to bring out the best in the other. We will strive to bring to fruition both our shared and our individual hopes and dreams, always evolving together. Through life’s sorrows and challenges we will comfort and support one another, through life’s joys and pleasures we will laugh and celebrate together. For many years to come, may we maintain a relationship that fosters intimacy, honesty, and communication.

We vow to create a home where the Jewish traditions of our families are honored and celebrated. Let us build a home that emanates warmth, generosity, laughter, and understanding. We join hands today and promise to help build a world filled with harmony, peace, and love. With our dearest family and friends and witnesses, we commit this to each other: from this day we combine our separate lives into one. All this is forever valid and binding.

Groom/Bride Groom/Bride
Witness Witness
Witness Witness
Officiant


Option VII (Conservative Lieberman)

We testify that on the [ number ] day of the week, the [ number ] day of the month of [ Month ], in the year 57  , corresponding to the [ number ] day of [ Month ], [ year ], here in [ City, State ], the groom [ Full Name ] said to the bride, Full Name ]: “Be my wife according to the laws and traditions of Moses and the Jewish people. I will work on your behalf and honor, sustain, and support you according to the practice of Jewish men, who faithfully work on behalf of their wives and honor, sustain, and support them. I obligate myself to give you the sum of [ number ] zuzim as the money for your ketubah, to which you are entitled according to [ type ] law. I will provide your food, clothing, and necessities, and I will live with you in marital relations according to universal custom.” The bride, [ First Name ], agreed to these terms and to become his wife, to participate together with him in establishing their home in love, harmony, peace, and companionship, according to the practice of Jewish women. The groom, First Name ], accepted responsibility for the full dowry that she brought from her [ Father/Mother/Parents ] house, whether in silver, gold, jewelry, clothes, or furnishings, amounting to the sum of zuzim and agreed to increase this amount from his own assets with the sum of zuzim, for a total of zuzim. The groom, [ First Name ] said: “I take upon myself, and my heirs after me, the obligation of this ketubah, the dowry, and the additional sum, to be paid from the best part of all my property, real and personal, that I now possess or may hereafter acquire. From this day forward, all my property, wherever it may be, even the shirt on my back, shall be mortgaged and liened for the payment of this ketubah, dowry, and an additional sum, whether during my lifetime or thereafter.” [ First Name ], the groom, took upon himself all the obligations and strictures of this ketubah, this dowry, and this additional sum, as is customary with other ketubot made for Jewish women in accordance with the enactment of our sages, may their memory be for a blessing. [ First Name ], the groom and [ First Name ], the bride, further agreed that should either contemplate dissolution of the marriage, or following the dissolution of their marriage in the civil courts, each may summon the other to the Beit Din of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary, or its representative, and that each will abide by its instructions so that throughout life each will be able to live according to the laws of the Torah. (This paragraph constitutes the Lieberman clause.)

This ketubah is not to be regarded as mere rhetoric or as perfunctory legal form. We have performed the act which in Jewish law makes the obligation of this document legally binding on the part of [ First Name ], the groom, to [ First Name ] the bride, and on the part of First Name ], the bride, to [ First Name ] the groom, with an instrument fit for that purpose, in order to confirm all that is stated and specified above, which shall be valid and immediately effective.

Witness 1 Witness 2
Rabbi
Groom Bride


Option VIII (Orthodox)

We testify that on the [ number ] day of the week, the [ number ] day of the month of [ Month ], in the year 57 [ number ], corresponding to the [ number ] day of [ Month ], [ year ], here in [ City, State ], the groom [ Full Name ] said to the bride, [ Full Name ]: “Be my wife according to the laws and traditions of Moses and the Jewish people. I will work on your behalf and honor, sustain, and support you according to the practice of Jewish men, who faithfully work on behalf of their wives and honor, sustain, and support them. I obligate myself to give you the sum of [ number ]  zuzim as the money for your ketubah, to which you are entitled according to  [ type ] law. I will provide your food, clothing, and necessities, and I will live with you in marital relations according to universal custom.” The bride, [ First Name ], agreed to these terms and to become his wife, to participate together with him in establishing their home in love, harmony, peace, and companionship, according to the practice of Jewish women. The groom, [ First Name ], accepted responsibility for the full dowry that she brought from her [ Father/Mother/Parents ] house, whether in silver, gold, jewelry, clothes or furnishings, amounting to the sum of zuzim and agreed to increase this amount from his own assets with the sum of zuzim, for a total of zuzim. The groom, [ Full Name ] said: “I take upon myself, and my heirs after me, the obligation of this ketubah, the dowry and the additional sum, to be paid from the best part of all my property, real and personal, that I now possess or may hereafter acquire. From this day forward, all my property, wherever it may be, even the shirt on my back, shall be mortgaged and liened for the payment of this ketubah, dowry, and additional sum, whether during my lifetime or thereafter.” [ First Name ] , the groom, took upon himself all the obligations and strictures of this ketubah, this dowry, and this additional sum, as is customary with other ketubot made for Jewish women in accordance with the enactment of our sages, may their memory be for a blessing.

This ketubah is not to be regarded as mere rhetoric or as perfunctory legal form. We have performed the act, which in Jewish law makes the obligation of this document legally binding on the part of [ First Name ], the groom, to [ First Name ] the bride, and on the part of [ First Name ], the bride, to [ First Name ] the groom, with an instrument fit for that purpose, in order to confirm all that is stated and specified above, which shall be valid and immediately effective.

Witness 1 Witness 2


Option IX (Orthodox)

On the [ number ] day of the week, the [ number ] day of the month [ Month ] in the year 57  , as we are accustomed to reckon it here, in [ City, State ], we hereby testify that the groom [ Full Name ] said to the bride [ Full Name ] “You are consecrated to me as my wife, with this ring, according to the laws of Moses and Israel”, and that the bride [ First Name ] said to the groom “You are consecrated to me as my husband with this ring, according to the laws of Moses and Israel”. The groom [ First Name ] and the bride [ First Name ] accepted all the conditions of betrothal and marriage as set forth by biblical law and by the rulings of the Sages of blessed memory. The groom and bride further agreed willingly to work for one another, to honor, support, and nurture one another, to live with one another, and to build together a household of integrity as befits members of the Jewish people. The bride accepted a ring from the groom, and the groom accepted a ring from the bride, for the purposes of creating this marriage and to symbolize their love. The groom and bride also accepted full legal responsibility for the obligations herein taken on, as well as for the various property entering the marriage from their respective homes and families, and agreed that the obligations in this Ketubah may be satisfied even from movable property. We have had both the groom and the bride formally acquire these obligations to the other, with an instrument fit for such purposes. Thus all is in order and in force.

Witness 1 Witness 2
Rabbi
Groom Bride


Option X (Quaker Wedding Certificate)

This is to certify that on this [ number ] day of [ Month ] in the year [ number ], [ bride ] and [ groom ] appeared in the presence of family and friends at [ place ] in [ City, State ] to celebrate the ceremony of their marriage. Taking each other by the hand [ First Name ] and [ First Name ] did declare:

We promise to love, respect, encourage, and inspire one another all the days of our lives. We will always endeavor to be open and honest, understanding and accepting, loving and forgiving, trusting of and loyal to one another. We promise to do the most that we can to bring out the best in the other. We will strive to bring to fruition both our shared and our individual hopes and dreams, always evolving together. Through life’s sorrows and challenges we will comfort and support one another, through life’s joys and pleasures we will laugh and celebrate together. From this day forward we unite our lives together.

Beloved Beloved

As Witnessed By:



Option XI (Anniversary)

Today, on our [ number ] anniversary, we renew our pledge to love, respect, encourage, and inspire one another, as we have done throughout our lives together. We will continue to be open and honest, understanding and accepting, loving and forgiving, trusting of and loyal to one another. As our love matures, may we hold on to the passion and affection for each other that we feel today. Our home has become a source of warmth, generosity, and love, and may it continue to be filled with the joyful voices of our family and friends. May the rest of our lives be blessed with harmony, health, and happiness.

Wife Husband