The following can either be performed as a stand alone ceremony with the wording below, or a similarly worded proclamation (without the vows and ring exchange) can be read from an actual scroll, along with the blowing of the conch shell by the minister as an add-on to any of our standard ceremonies!

King Neptune Ceremony  

The Conch Shell is blown, calling all to good order.

(...unsightly scratching and indelicate noises not withstanding...)

TO ALL SAILORS WHEREVER YE MAY BE and to all Mermaids, Sea Serpents, Whales, Sharks, Dolphins, Skates, Eels, Lobsters, Crabs, and other Living Things of the Sea, GREETINGS:

Today, ye be gathered upon the shore of our sovereign, King Neptune's realm that ye may join your lives together and journey the 4 winds and 7 seas for all of your days, shipmates on the grand voyage of life!

Be it with extreme reverence for the offence of oath breaking that ye promise, swear and affirm the following, with the penalty of marooning upon a forgotten shore your eternal punishment for such a vile disgrace:

Do you, (groom), being a worthy Gentleman shellback doth take this young mermaid to be your partner, your first mate, and your wife upon the great voyage of marriage? Do you promise to love her through stormy seas, and when your sails hang slack and becalmed, through life's barnacles and shipwrecks, reefs and typhoons?

(and to walk the plank if you don't?) ("I do")

Do you, (bride), being a worthy Lady shellback doth take this young eel to be your partner, your first mate, and your husband upon the great voyage of marriage? Do you promise to love him through stormy seas, and when your sails hang slack and becalmed, through life's barnacles and shipwrecks, reefs and typhoons?

(and to walk the plank if you don't?) ("I do")

Harken to my words, and repeat unto each other the following:

I, -- take you -- to be my wife, through low tide and high, through calm or gale, through bilge and barnacle, to love you more than treasure, to protect you from shark and pirate, to give you me gold, me heart, me honor, me friendship and me constant love, till the big, red sun sets 'ore my yardarm, and the ship's bell rings it's final toll. This I swear by the key to Davey Jones' Locker.

 -- take you -- to be my husband, through low tide and high, through calm or gale, through bilge and barnacle, to love you more than treasure, to protect you from shark and pirate, to give you me gold, me heart, me honor, me friendship and me constant love, till the big, red sun sets 'ore my yardarm and the ship's bell rings it's final toll. This I swear by the key to Davey Jones' Locker.

'Tis a long standing tradition to exchange the gifte of a ring, a sword, or a marlins pike upon this occasion, and I would ask if such a gifte be present here today.

If so, would the groom present to his mermaid the gifte of a ring with the following words:

"Upon yon finger may this ring linger, a token of my love blessed by 'eaven above."

And then will the bride present to her sailor the ring she bears?

"Upon yon finger may this ring linger, a token of my love blessed by 'eaven above."

KNOW YE: That on this ......., day of .......... 2005, at........................, there appeared at the shores of Our Royal Domain ( Bride) and ( Groom) who have cast off from the single life and embarked upon the voyage of matrimony .

BE IT REMEMBERED: That said land lubbers having been inspected and passed on by Our Royal Staff, and deemed acceptable to enter our realm.

 

AND BE IT KNOWN: By all ye Sailors, Mariners and Land Lubbers, who may be honored by King Neptune's presence, that (Bride) and (Groom), having been found worthy to be numbered as a couple OF OUR TRUSTY SHELLBACKS, have been gathered to our fold and duly married by the SOLEMN MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DEEP.

BE IT FURTHER UNDERSTOOD: That by the Call of the conch and nautilus, and by virtue of the power invested in me by Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Seven Seas, King of the Secret Currents, Lord of the Boundless Waves, Master of the Tides, High Constable of the Coral Caverns and Uttermost Recesses of the Deep, that  I, Donald Old Beach Crab Towne hereby Proclaim and Affirm the Aforementioned couple to be shipmates for life And for Time Without Ending, and command them to henceforth and forevermore to show due honor and respect to King Neptune whenever they may enter His Realm.

  DISOBEY THIS ORDER UNDER PENALTY OF OUR ROYAL DISPLEASURE.

By Order of Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main , it is my honor to present -- and -- as shipmates for life!

Let us pray.

Our father in heaven, you gave us love and laughter so that we may prosper and grow in our lives upon this earth. Today we ask your blessing upon this couple that they may always remember the sacred and binding power of the bond of marriage; that they always remember that true love endures all things, believes in all things, forgives all things. May they always remember that true love never fails. Amen.

 Sand Ceremony

Please take up a handful of sand from beneath your feet and hold it forth. Both repeat the following and pour your sand into the shell.

" I could write your sand in the sand but the waves would wash it away. I could write your name in the sky, but the wind would blow it away. So I wrote it in my heart, and there it will stay! With this sand, I give you my heart, for I have no greater gift to give."

And now, in accordance with the laws of the great state of North Carolina, and as we are all under the realm of almighty GOD, with his eternal blessing as well, I pronounce you to be Husband and Wife, Mr. and Mrs. --!

( Conch Shell is blown for a final time!)

There is a $15 additional fee for this ceremony, and if the commemorative signed decorative, nautical and ornate Certificate from King Neptune is desired, the total will be $25. This large and colorful proclamation certificate (15"x 21") will have this border, with the above wording (minus the vows and ring exchange) in the center. (Shipping costs not included, or I can present it to you after your ceremony!)

This ceremony is the EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY of Beachpeople, and may not be used by anyone without our written permission!