Wedding Ceremony “Example” (25 to 30 Min)
Background Music.
Ushers: The bride’s side is the left side of the church when looking from back to front. First few rows are reserved for immediate and extended family members.
____s brother ____seats ____s grandma.
____s brother ____seats ____s mom. Dad follows.
Mark seats ____s mom.
Opening Presentation.
Candle lighters: ____and ____light candles.
____, ____, and ____sing two songs.
Fathers bring candles to mothers to light.
The officiate, groom, and best man wait at the altar.
Groomsmen (who walk in from the side):
Song: “…..” during processional.
Bridesmaids (starting with the attendant who will stand farthest from the bride):
Flower girls: (can be seated with their mom once they reach the front)
Ring bearers: Jonathan and Caleb (can be seated with their dad once they reach the front)
Matron of Honor: Renee
______plays sax along with “Chain of Hearts” when ____ and Dad come.
GREETING
Dear friends, we have come together in the presence of God
to witness the marriage of ____ and ____,
to surround them with our prayers, and to share in their joy.
The scriptures teach us
that the bond and covenant of marriage is a gift of God,
a holy mystery in which man and woman become one flesh,
an image of the union of Christ and the church.
As this woman and this man give themselves to each other today,
We remember that at Cana in Galilee
our Savior Jesus Christ made the wedding feast
a sign of God’s reign of love.
Let us enter into this celebration
confident that through the Holy Spirit,
Christ is present with us now.
We pray that this couple may fulfill God’s purpose
for the whole of their lives.
(Guests please be seated)
CHARGE TO THE MAN AND WOMAN
____ and ____,
your marriage is intended to join you for life
in a relationship so intimate and personal
that it will change your whole being.
God offers you the hope, and indeed the promise,
of a love that is true and mature.
TO THE GROOM:
____, do you take ____ to be your wife,
and do you commit yourself to her,
to be responsible in the marriage relationship,
to give yourself to her in love and work,
to invite her fully into your being,
so that she can know who you are,
to cherish her above all others
and to respect her individuality,
encouraging her to be herself
and to grow in all that God intends?
____: I do.
TO THE BRIDE:
____, do you take ____ to be your husband,
and do you commit yourself to him,
to be responsible in the marriage relationship,
to give yourself to him in love and work,
to invite him fully into your being,
so that he can know who you are,
to cherish him above all others
and to respect his individuality,
encouraging him to be himself
and to grow in all that God intends?
____: I do.
TO ____S PARENTS:
Who presents this woman to be married to this man?
BERT AND MARISE: We do.
TO ____S PARENTS:
Who presents this man to be married to this woman?
____________: We do.
TO CONGREGATION:
Do you, as people of God,
pledge your support and encouragement
to the covenant commitment
that ____ and ____ are making together?
PEOPLE: We do.
OPENING PRAYER
O gracious and ever-loving God,
you have created us male and female in your image:
Look mercifully upon this man and this woman
who come to you seeking your blessing,
and assist them with your grace,
that with true fidelity and steadfast love
they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make;
through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
SCRIPTURE READING
____reads I Corinthians 13:1-8 (or another)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
HOMILY
RICHARD speaks on “What is Love?” (2 to 4 min)
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Eternal God, without your grace no promise is sure.
Strengthen ____ and ____ with patience,
kindness, gentleness,
and all other gifts of your Spirit,
so that they may fulfill the vows they have made.
Keep them faithful to each other and to you.
Fill them with such love and joy
that they may build a home of peace and welcome.
Guide them by your Word to serve you all their days.
Help us all, O God,
to do your will in each of our homes and lives.
Enrich us with your grace so that, supporting one another,
we may serve those in need
and hasten the coming of peace, love, and justice on earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
____:
I promise to be faithful to you,
open and honest with you.
I will respect, trust, help, and care for you.
I will share my life with you.
I will forgive you as we have been forgiven.
I will lead with you a simple, just, and peaceful life
as Christ has called us to live.
And with you I will work to further simplicity, justice,
and peace in our world.
I will love you
and be thankful for the blessing of your love
until death parts us.
____:
I promise to be faithful to you,
open and honest with you.
I will respect, trust, help, and care for you.
I will share my life with you.
I will forgive you as we have been forgiven.
I will lead with you a simple, just, and peaceful life
as Christ has called us to live.
And with you I will work to further simplicity, justice,
and peace in our world.
I will love you
and be thankful for the blessing of your love
until death parts us.
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
These rings are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of ____ and ____ in holy marriage.
By these symbols of covenant promise, Gracious God,
remind ____ and ____
of your encircling love and unending faithfulness
that in all their life together
they may know joy and peace in one another. Amen.
____: ____, I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.
____: ____, I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.
UNITY CANDLE AND COMMUNION
____ and ____ light the unity candle,
Symbolizing that in marriage they are no longer two people,
but in Christ they become one flesh.
_______sings while ____ and ____ light the unity candle and have communion
DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
____ and ____,
you have committed yourselves to each other
in this joyous and sacred covenant.
Become one. Fulfill your promises.
Love and serve God, honor Christ and each other,
and rejoice in the power of the Holy Spirit.
TO CONGREGATION:
By their promises, made before us this day, ____ and ____
have united themselves as husband and wife
in sacred covenant.
Those whom God has joined together let no one separate.
BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE
The grace of Christ attend you; the love of God surround you; the Holy Spirit keep you that may grow in holy love, find delight in each other always, and remain faithful until your life’s end.
DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING
As God’s own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
THE KISS
____returns bouquet to ____.
TO CONGREGATION:
I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. ____ and ____ ____.
_______plays music.
