Wedding Ceremony |
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Outline of Wedding Ceremony |
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Here are some examples of Ceremonies.
The joy we feel now is a solemn joy, because the act of marriage has many consequences, both social and personal. Marriage requires "love," a word we often use with vagueness and sentimentality. We may assume that love is some rare and mystical event, when in fact it is our natural state of being. So what do we mean by love? When we love, we see things other people do not see. We see beneath the surface, to the qualities which make our beloved special and unique. To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty . And to be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other. One who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us. We who love, can look at each other's life and say, "I touched his life," or, "I touched her life," just as an artist might say, "I touched this canvas." "Those brush strokes in the comer of this magnificent mural, those are mine. I was a part of this life, and it is a part of me." Marriage is to belong to each other through a unique and diverse collaboration, like two threads crossing in different directions, yet weaving one tapestry together. To make this relationship work, therefore, takes more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith in each other, it takes faith to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both. While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by. They are not a destination, but a journey. The true art of married life is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two endowments which diminishes neither, but enhances both. It is not only marrying the right partner but being the right partner. (Groom) and (Bride), we want to remind you of the seriousness of the commitment you are about to make to each other. To pledge your life to another person in a lifelong relationship is an awesome, and beautiful act. We want to hear from you your readiness to pledge your vows to each other, and so we ask...(Bride) and (Groom), is it your intention to share with each other, your joys and sorrows and all that the years will bring? Who presents (gives) this woman to be married to this man? VOWS Minister asks for rings: Minister: From the earliest of times the golden circle of the wedding band has been a symbol of wedded love. Your (Grooms name) Repeat after me: (Brides name), wear this ring as a sign of my love and the giving that will last the (Brides name) Repeat after me: (Grooms name), Wear this ring as a sign of my love and the giving that will last the (Groom) and (Bride), remember to treat both yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of UNITY CANDLE CEREMONY (optional): *This is the point where the Unity Candle begins. Choose from the passages in the Unity Candle section. PRONOUNCEMENT Minister: (Groom) and (Bride) In as much as you have consented together in this ceremony to live in wedlock and have sealed your vows in the presence your family and friends and by the giving of these rings, by the power vested in me by the State of Utah, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are Husband and Wife, (Groom) you may now kiss your bride. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to be the first to announce to you Mr. and Mrs.
Who gives this women to be joined with this man in matrimony? FATHER: Her mother and I do (Father gives Bride's hand to the Groom) Minister: Hand in Hand you enter marriage, hand in hand you step out in faith. The hand you freely give to each other, is both the strongest and the most tender part of you body. In the years ahead you will need both strength and tenderness. Be firm in your commitment. Don't let your grip become weak. And yet, be flexible as you go through change. Don't let your hold become intolerable. Strength and tenderness...Firm commitment and flexibility....of such is a marriage made, hand in hand: Remember this well. Also remember that you don't walk this path alone. Don't be afraid to reach out to others when together you face difficulty. Other hands are there: friends, family, and the church. To accept an outreached hand is not an admission of failure, but an act of faith. For behind us, underneath us, around us all, are the outstretched arms of the One from Galilee. It is into his hand, the hands of God in Jesus Christ, that, above all else,we commit this union of husband and wife. Hand in hand you enter into marriage. Bride and Groom, I want to remind you of the seriousness of the commitment you are about to make to each other. To pledge your life to another person in a lifelong relationship is an awesome, and yet beautiful, act. We want to hear from you your readiness to pledge your vows to each other, and so we ask...Bride and Groom, is it your intention to share with each other, your joys and sorrows and all that the years will bring? *Answer together: We Will Minister: Please face each other and take each others hands. Bride and Groom, no other human ties are more sacred than these you are about to assume. You are entering into that holy estate which is the deepest mystery of experience, and which is the very sacrament of divine love. Minister, Groom, repeat after me: I, Groom, take you Bride, to be my wife; I promise in the midst of our family, friends and God, to stand beside you and with you always; in times of celebration and times of sadness; in times of pleasure and times of anger; in times of pain and times of health; I will live with you and love you as long as we live. Minister: Bride, repeat after me: I, Bride, take you Groom, to be my husband; I promise in the midst of our family, friends and God, to stand beside you and with you always; in times of celebration and times of sadness; in times of pleasure and times of anger; in times of pain and times of health; I will live with you and love you as long as we live. Minister: From the earliest of times the golden circle of the wedding band has been a symbol of wedded love. Your rings are made of pure gold, to remind you daily to keep your love pure. Being one unbroken circle, your rings symbolize unending love. May your rings be a constant reminder of this moment when you have pledged your unending love to one another. Heavenly Father, Bless these rings. Grant that Bride and Groom may wear them with deep faith in each other. May they do your will and always live together in peace, love and abiding joy. Groom, take the ring you wish to give to Bride and as you put it on her finger, Repeat after me: Bride, wear this ring as a sign of my love and the giving that will last the rest of my life. Bride, take the ring you wish to give to Groom and as you put it on his finger, Repeat after me: Groom, Wear this ring as a sign of my love and the giving that will last the rest of my life. UNITY CANDLE (Begin Music) Minister: Will the mothers of Bride and Groom please come forward and light their respective candles. Bride and Groom now that you have said your vows and exchanged your rings, expressing your desire to be united as one, the two outside candles have been lit to represent both your lives at this moment. Each light is distinct, each able to go its separate way. Bride and Groom are two persons; unique, complex, individual human beings. And the parents who gave each of you your individuality and uniqueness are now giving you to each other. Two shall be one flesh. From now on, what each of you have been individually, you will become together. What will touch your lives as individuals will become part of a new unity. As you each take a candle and together light the center candle, you will extinguish your own candles, thus let the center fire represents the new unity being celebrated here today. As the center light cannot be divided, neither can your lives or your love. The light that remains is the light of God's love, the light in which you shall be forever as one. And now, by the power vested in me by God and the State of Utah, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. Groom, you may now kiss your bride. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs.
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?* The joy we feel now is a solemn joy, because the act of marriage has many consequences, both social and personal. Marriage requires "love," a word we often use with vagueness and sentimentality. We may assume that love is some rare and mystical event, when in fact it is our natural state of being. When we truly love someone, we see things other people do not see. We see beneath the surface, to the qualities which make our beloved special and unique. To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty . And to be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other. One who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us. To make this marriage work, takes more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith in each other, it takes faith to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both. While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by. They are not a destination, but a journey. It it remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day, it is never walking out the door without giving each other a kiss......no matter what is happening in your lives....good or bad. It is not only marrying the right partner but being the right partner. Bride and Groom, we want to remind you of the seriousness of the commitment you are about to make to each other. To pledge your life to another person in a lifelong relationship is an awesome, and beautiful act. We want to hear from you your readiness to pledge your vows to each other. Bride and Groom, is it your intention to share with each other, your joys and sorrows and all that the years will bring? VOWS Minister: Please face each other and take each others hands. Bride and Groom, no other human ties are more sacred than these you are about to assume. You are entering into that holy estate which is the deepest mystery of experience, and which is the very sacrament of divine love. Minister, Groom, repeat after me: I, Groom, take you Bride, to be my wife; I promise in the midst of our family, and friends, to stand beside you and with you always; in times of celebration and times of sadness; in times of pleasure and times of anger; in times of pain and times of health; I will live with you, love you and give myself only to you, as long as we live. Minister: Bride, repeat after me: I, Bride, take you Groom, to be my husband; I promise in the midst of our family and friends, to stand beside you and with you always; in times of celebration and times of sadness; in times of pleasure and times of anger; in times of pain and times of health; I will live with you, love you and give myself only to you, as long as we live. Minister asks for rings: These rings are symbols of the commitment which will bind the two of you together. As these rings are an unending circle, let them be a constant reminder of your unending love for each other. As they are made of purest metal, may they remind you to keep your love for each other pure. May your rings be a constant reminder of the love and warmth that brought you both here this day. Our Father in Heaven, Bless these rings. Grant that Bride and Groom may wear them with deep faith in each other. May they do your will and always live together in peace, love and abiding joy. Amen. Bride, take the ring that you wish to give to Groom. As you place it on his finger, Repeat after me: Groom, Wear this ring as a sign of my love and the giving that will last the rest of my life. UNITY CANDLE: Minister: Today Bride and Groom came here from two different families. Out of these two families, a new family will be created. At this time, I would invite the mothers of Bride and Groom to come forward and light the individual candles which represents Bride and Groom at this moment. Each flame represents two separate individuals, each unique, complex and independent. and the mothers who gave them their lives and individuality are now giving you to each other. This candle you are about to light is a candle of Marriage. It's fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love.This candle before you is a candle of Commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame.This candle is also a candle of Unity because both must come together, giving a spark of themselves, to create the new light.As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness. Warmth and safety in the cold. And strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. Bride and Groom, take your individual candle and together light the center candle then extinguish your individual candles. Two shall be one flesh. May your union be forever blessed. Bride and Groom, remember to treat both yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty or fear threatens your relationship, as they threatened all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not on the part that seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the times when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your lives together, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight. In as much as you have consented together in this ceremony to live in wedlock and have sealed your vows, gave each other rings, lit you Marriage Candle, all in the presence of family and friends, by the power vested in me, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you Husband and Wife. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to be the first to announce to you Mr. and Mrs. CHRISTIAN CEREMONY W/ROSE CEREMONY We are gathered here today in the sight of God and angels, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes and blessings to the words which shall unite Bride and Groom in holy matrimony Marriage is a most honorable estate, created and Instituted by God, signifying unto us the mystical union, which also exists between Christ and the Church; so too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love. Who gives Bride to be Married to Groom? Bride and Groom, life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family and friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of life's greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life. But a husband and wife should not confuse love of worldly measures for even if worldly success is found, only love will maintain a marriage. Mankind did not create love; love is created by God. The measure of true love is a love both freely given and freely accepted, just as God's love of us is unconditional and free. Today truly is a glorious day the Lord hath made - as today both of you are blessed with God's greatest of all gifts - the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today - and those here in heart - wish both of you all the joy, happiness and success the world has to offer. As you travel through life together, I caution you to remember that the true measure of success, the true avenue to joy and peace, is to be found within the love you hold in your hearts. I would ask that you hold the key to your heart very tightly. Within the Bible, nothing is of more importance that love. We are assured that "Love conquers all". It is love, which brings you here today, the union of two hearts and two spirits. As your lives continue to interweave as one pattern, remember that it was love that brought you here today, it is love that will make this a glorious union, and it is love which will cause this union to endure. VOWS Would you please face each other and join hands. Groom, do you take Bride to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her forevermore? Bride, do you take Groom to be your Husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only to him forevermore? READING FROM CORINTHIANS A marriage ceremony represents one of life's greatest commitments, but also is a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians a long time ago. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels - but do not have love, I am only sounding brass or tinkling cymbals. Though I have the gift of prophecy and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love endures and is kind. Love is not envious or jealous. Love wants not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, it is not easily provoked, and thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness - but in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Where there are prophecies, they shall fail, where there be tongues, they shall cease, where there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, that which is part shall be done away with. When I was a child I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child. When I became an adult, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly - as in a mirror - but then we shall see face to face. At present I know partially, then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain- these three- but the greatest of these is love. RING VOWS Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of Bride and Groom in marriage. As these rings are an unending circle, may they remind you of your unending love for each other and as they are made of purest metal, may they remind you to keep your love for each other pure. (Bride and Groom) will repeat these vows as they place the ring on the other*s finger:) "With this ring, I thee wed. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." CHALLENGE TO COUPLE Bride and Groom, as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect. Remember, it is not only marrying the right partner but being the right partner PRAYER Our Father in heaven, our hearts are filled with great happiness on Bride and Groom's wedding day, as they come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together is such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense of jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may the home they are creating today, truly be a place of love and harmony, where your spirit is ever present. Bless this union we pray, and walk beside Bride and Groom throughout all their lives together. We ask these things in Jesus name; AMEN PRONOUNCEMENT Bride and Groom, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and the joining of your hands, I now declare you to be husband and wife. ROSE CEREMONY: Thru out your courtship, you have exchanged many gifts and today, your gift to each other has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other. Please exchange roses; As husband and wife, you have now exchanged your first gift, the greatest gift of all, the gift of love that will last forever.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you, and give you peace. I present to you Mr. and Mrs |
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There are many different variations |
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OPENING STATEMENTS - "DEARLY BELOVED"
1. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Real love in marriage is something beyond the warmth and the excitement and romance of being deeply in love. It is as much about the welfare and happiness of your marriage partner as about your own. But real love is not being absorbed in each other. Love makes burdens lighter because you divide them, it makes joys more intense because you share them. It makes you stronger so you can reach out and become involved with life in ways you dared not risk alone. The beautiful thing about love is that it's an experience we share with the whole of mankind throughout the world. And yet, to everyone who falls in love, it is the most unique, precious thing in the world. A really happy marriage is founded on love. There is nothing in life that love cannot change. Love is, of its nature, unselfish, understanding and kind. True love, too, is a commitment of heart and mind. There can be no stronger bond to ensure a happy married life. Harmonious wedded life is a precious gain to both man and woman because, even though marriage increases the scope of responsibility, it adds the dimension of love to life, giving it new meaning and purpose. On this day, (Groom) and (Bride) the day of your marriage, you are standing somewhat apart from the rest of us as a symbol of the open expression of your love. This is as it should be, but love is not meant to be the possession of two people alone. Rather it should be the source of a common energy, which gives you the strength to live your lives with joy, happiness and with courage. 2. Family and Friends, we have been invited here today to be witness to the love and commitment that (Groom) and (Bride) are about to make to each other in holy matrimony. The little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner. 3. We are gathered here in the presence of God, family and frineds to join in holy matrimony, (Groom) and (Bride) and to bear witness to the love they have for one another. Marriage is an honorable estate and therefore is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and with God's blessing. Today you will receive god's greatest gift; another person to share life's blessing with, care for, learn with, trust in, change with and to discover the greatness of God's glory. Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conciet, nor rude, nor selfish. It is not quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs, does not gloat over others sins, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love can not face, there is no limit to its faith, its hope and its enduring. True love never ends. 4. Dearly beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God, to join this man and this woman in holy marriage, which is instituted of God, regulated by his commandments, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be held in honor among all men. Let us therefore reverently remember that God has established and sanctified marriage, for the welfare and happiness of mankind. Our Savior has declared that a man shall forsake his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. By his apostles, he has instructed those who enter into this relation to cherish a mutual esteem and love, to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; in honesty and industry to provide for each other and for their household in temporal things; to pray for and encourage each other in the things which pertain to God; and to live together as heirs of the grace of life. 6. Good people, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and proclaim the joining together of this man and this woman in marriage. About this way of life, hear what our God says:"From the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'"'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.' So they are no longer two shall be alone. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." It is ordained: That husband and wife may give to each other lifelong companionship, help, and comfort, both in prosperity and in adversity; That God may hallow and direct the natural instinct and affections which were pronounced "good" at creation, and which are guided by the teachings of Christ; That children may be born and brought up in families in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God; That marriage being thus held in honor, human society may stand upon firm foundations. 7. Dearly beloved friends, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in Paradise, in the time of man's innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained: One was the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord and praise of God. It was also ordained for the mutual society, help and comfort that the one ought to have for the other, both in prosperity and adversity: into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, it any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully 8. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God. It is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined. 9. Dear friends, out of affection for (Groom) and (Bride) we have gathered together to witness and bless their mutual vows which will unite them in marriage. To this moment they bring the fullness of their hearts as a treasure to share with one another. They bring the dreams which bind them together. They bring that particular personality and spirit which is uniquely their own, and out of which will grow the reality of their life together. We rejoice with them as the outward symbol of an inward union of hearts, a union created by friendship, respect and love. 10. Friends, we are gathered here in God's presence, but in the midst of a divided and broken world, to witness the marriage of these two people who stand before you in love, in trust and in hope. They ask God to bless their coming together and to sustain them through the years to come. And they ask us to be present with them, to rejoice in their oneness and to share in their joy. They hope that we will sustain them and participate with them in daily celebrations of the healing and renewing power of love to which God calls all of his children. 13. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God to join this man and this woman in marriage. This is a way of life instituted by God, and Holy Scripture commands all men to hold it in honor. Our Lord Jesus Christ blessed it by his presence at Cana in Galilee.About this way of life, hear what our Lord says: "From the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.' So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."Marriage is therefore not by any to be undertaken lightly or ill advisedly but seriously and prayerfully, duly considering and purposes for which it is ordained.It is ordained: That husband and wife may give to each other lifelong companionship, help, and comfort, both in prosperity and in adversity; That God may hallow and direct the natural instincts and affections created by himself and redeemed in Christ; That children may be born and brought up in families in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to the 14. Beloved family and friends, we have gathered to bless and consummate the fruit of God's loving activity in (Groom) and (Bride), and to be present as they are joined together by God. The Church of the Living God is the community of love. Where love is, God is. Love comes from God, and everyone who truly loves is a child of God. We love because he first loved us. Marriage is ordained by God for his glory and for the welfare and the happiness of his children. Of all the institutions which have within them the possibilities for good, none surpasses it. We may all be instruments for the fulfillment of God's holy purposes. By accepting (Groom) and (Bride) into the fellowship of the church, strengthening them in faith, nurturing the children reared by them in Christ-like ways, and sharing their joys and burdens, it is within our power to strengthen and enrich their union. 15. Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the presence of God and in the fellowship of this community to join together this man and this woman in Christian marriage. Christian marriage is a covenant of faith and trust between a man and a woman, established within their shared commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. Therefore, it requires of both man and woman openness of life and thought, freedom from doubt and suspicion, and commitment to speak the truth in love as they grow up into Christ who is the head of the Church. Marriage, furthermore is a covenant of hope that endures all things in which both husband and wife pledge to interpret each other's behavior with understanding and compassion, and never give up trying to communicate with each other. Christian marriage is a covenant of love in which both husband and wife empty themselves of their own concerns and take upon themselves the concerns of each other in loving each other as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it. Therefore, this covenant is not entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and soberly in the fear of God. Into this holy relationship these two persons now come to be joined. 17. Dear friends and loved ones of (Groom) and (Bride): Through out religious history, man has felt a need to celebrate the great moments of life. At those times he calls upon his friends to help commemorate the high moment. Man felt he could not do justice to the moment alone. But even more so he has felt the need to hold these mountaintop experiences up before God. Thus in this sanctuary, before these loved ones and friends and in the presence of the Almighty, (Groom) and (Bride) come to speak their eternal vows of marriage. 1. (Groom) and (Bride), you are giving yourselves to each other in unselfish love. You will make a solemn vow to each other, a deliberate promise that come what may, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health you will be true and faithful to each other.This means thoughtfulness and patience, ready sympathy and forbearance, talking over and sharing your special interests. Thus you will learn to bear each other's burdens, making your life journey together one of radiant joy and hope. This service is far more than the exchange of solemn vows. It is one of blessing. If is only with God's help that you can steadfastly keep the promises you will here make to each other. The everliving Christ is here to bless and guide you. He will always be by your side to help you. The nearer you keep to God, the closer and dearer you will be to each other. (Groom) and (Bride), we want to remind you of the seriousness of the commitment you are about to take to each other. To pledge your life to another person in a lifelong relationship is an awesome, and beautiful, act. We want to hear from you your readiness to pledge your vows to each other, and so we ask...(Bride) and (Groom), is it your intention to share with eath other, your joys and sorrows and all that the years will bring? 2. In the presence of God and of these friends, I charge you, (Groom) and (Bride), to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow, in honesty and industry to provide for each other; to pray for and encourage each other in the things which pertain to God; and to live together as heirs of the grace of God. But you can not do this alone. Trust in God, pray to him daily, give your talents to the church, find your place in its fellowship, and accept its ministries to inspire, to instruct, and to keep alive the love of God in your hearts which has brought you together and which sustains you. God is joining you together. He will seal you covenant with His. Thus you will be the instruments of his will and purpose for yourselves and for others. Your love is not your own; it is God's love implanted within you to which you in freedom have joyously responded. Now he will create out of your love something which did not exist before - a holy marriage. Marriage is more than your love for each other; it is God's holy ordinance; it is his act before it is yours. By the will of God you belong to each other until death will part you. (Groom) and (Bride), we want to remind you of the seriousness of the commitment you are about to make to each other. To pledge your life to another person in a lifelong relationship is an awesome, and yet beautiful, act. We want to hear from you your readiness to pledge your vows to each other, and so we ask...(Bride) and (Groom), is it your intention to share with eath other, your joys and sorrows and all that the years will bring? 3. I charge you both, as you stand here in this high moment of your lives, to remember that love and loyalty alone will stand as the foundations of a happy and enduring home. If the vows you make this day are kept, your life together will be full of joy and peace, and the home which you make shall abide through every unknown future. In this new life together, I counsel you to recall ever anew the thrill of your early love. Cherish always the visions and hopes you have this day, and let them not be tarnished by common events or routine habit. Believe in your ideals for this marriage, and diligently pursue them, and they shall indeed become realities. I charge you both to make your love for each other a growing part of your lives, feeding it from the very best resources of your living. You must grow to the point where each gains major satisfaction in giving happiness to the other. Give of yourself to the other, deeply and freely and generously, ever recalling the words of the poet who has said: It is also necessary to recognize that marriage is a relationship of two persons who are not always at their best, and even in these moments of human failing, I counsel you always to act with charity and compassion toward one another, sharing the spirit expressed in the Book of Ephesians: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. 4. Hand in Hand you enter marriage, hand in hand you step out in faith. The hand you freely give to each other, is both the strongest and the most tender part of you body. In the years ahead you will need both strength and tenderness. Be firm in your commitment. Don't let your grip become weak. And yet, be flexible as you go through change. Don't let your hold become intolerable. Strength and tenderness...Firm commitment and flexibility....of such is a marriage made, hand in hand: Remember this well. Also remember that you don't walk this path alone. Don't be afraid to reach out to others when together you face difficulty. Other hands are there: friends, family, and the church. To accept an outreached hand is not an admission of failure, but an act of faith. For behind us, underneath us, around us all, are the outstretched arms of the One from Galilee. It is into his hand, the hands of God in Jesus Christ, that, above all else, we commit this union of husband and wife. Hand in hand (couple, church, God) you enter marriage. Let us step out in faith. Amen. (Groom) and (Bride), we want to remind you of the seriousness of the commitment you are about to make to each other. To pledge your life to another person in a lifelong relationship is an awesome, and yet beautiful, act. We want to hear from you your readiness to pledge your vows to each other, and so we ask...(Bride) and (Groom), is it your intention to share with eath other, your joys and sorrows and all that the years will bring? 5. (Groom) and (Bride), you have recognized that your love for each other is a gift from God. Will you now ask God to be at the center of your marriage and your home? Will you pledge that you will try to make your home a vortex of love not only for yourselves but also for others; a place where Christian love is shared? Will you pledge yourselves to making Christ the Head of your home? (Groom and Bride says these words together) We have received our love from each other as a gift from you, our God. We want you to be at the center of our marriage and our home. We want our home to be a vortex of love not only for ourselves, but also for others. We want our home to be a place where your love is shared. We pledge ourselves to making Christ the Head of our home. 1. Who presents (gives) this woman to be married to this man? (I do) or (Her mother and I do) or, in unison (We do). 2. Who presents (gives) this woman and this man to be married to each other? (All parents answering in unison: I do or We do.) 3. Doubly blessed is that couple which come to the marriage altar with the approval and blessings of their families and friends. Who has the honor of presenting this woman to be married to this man? 4. Will the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom please stand. (Brides parents), having nurtured and cared for your daughter in a multitude of ways. Likewise (Grooms parents) having nurtured and cared for your son, (Bride) and (Groom) express their gratitude for the inspiration of your love that enabled you to bring forth your children for us all to know and enjoy. As you have held them close, fitting them for maturity, will you now willingly and freely release them to love and care for each other? And will you support and encourage their life together that it, too, may be a blessing for generations to come? *(Response in unison: We do). 5. That couple is richly blessed who comes to the marriage altar with the blessing of family and friends. Will the parents of the bride and the groom please stand? (Brides parents names), it was your joy to give birth to (Bride) and to nurture her in her years of childhood and growing maturity. You have invested your love and joy in her. Do you now give your blessing to her marriage? (Brides parents answer): We Do. (Grooms parents names), it was your joy to give birth to (Groom) and to nurture him through his childhood and into maturity. You have invested your love your joy in him. Do you now give your blessing to his marriage? (Grooms parents answer): We Do. 6. Parents are very special to a bride and groom. They have helped shape life to this point. Their continued love and support are needed. We want to give the parents of both the bride and groom the opportunity to publicly affirm your relationship. Groom's parents: We welcome (Groom) into our family and give our blessing to this marriage. Bride's parents: We affirm your relationship, welcome (Bride) into our family, and give our blessing to your marriage. 7. When a man and woman marry, they form a new family unit. The Gospel of Mark states it this way, "From the beginning of creation, *God made them male and female.* *For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.* So they are no longer two, but one flesh." (Mark 10:6-8) A man and a woman leave their respective homes, but they do not leave their relationships with their parents and families. These relationships take on a new dimension. It is important for the bride and groom to feel the support of their parents. And so we ask the parents of both bride and groom, do you give your blessing to this marriage? Both sets of parents: We give our blessing to this marriage. 8. In ancient times it was the custom for a young woman to be under the authority and protection of the man who was the head of the family this was usually her father. When she became married this responsibility and the authority passed to her husband. This was the origin of the "Giving Away" ceremony. Times have changed, and so indeed have women, but we still remember this as an ancient custom. Nowadays however, we like to make it the occasion when the families and friends of the bride show their approval of the marriage. Since you are all here, we may take it that this is token enough, and invite (Persons Name who is giving the Bride away) to speak on behalf of all family and friends present.*Who, then, on behalf of all of us, presents this woman to be married to this man.*Father: Her entire Family. 9. As (Groom) and (Bride) become husband and wife, they leave their separate family units to create a new one. As their parents, your relationship with them enters a new phase. They are still your children, but they are also adults creating a new family unit. As their parents, how do you greet the new relationship into which they are entering? 11. Family and friends, the rhythm of life seems to demand a time for holding and a time for releasing what is held close. Mr. and Mrs. (Brides Parents) have nurtured and cared for their daughter in a multitude of ways. Likewise, Mr. and Mrs. (Grooms Parents) through their love have nurtured and cared for their son. Mr. and Mrs. (Brides Parents) and Mr. and Mrs. (Brides Parents), we who now know (Groom) and (Bride), express gratitude for the inspiration of your love that enabled you to bring forth your children for us all to know and enjoy. As you have held them close, fitting them for maturity, will you now willingly and freely release them to love and care for each other? And will you support and encourage their life together that it, too, may be a blessing for generations to come?
2. In the presence of God and these our friends, I take you (Groom/Bride) to be my (husband/wife) promising with Divine assistance to be unto you a loving and faithful (husband/wife) as long as we both shall live. 3. I, (Groom/Bride), pledge to you (Bride/Groom) the rest of my life, as your (husband/wife), your lover and your friend. 4. I, (Groom/Bride), take you (Bride/Groom), to be my (husband/wife), and in doing so, commit my life to you, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all hardships and triumphs, all the experiences of life; a commitment made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope, and eternally made new. 5. I love you (Groom/Bride) as I love no other. All that I am I share with you. I take you to be my (husband/wife) through health and sickness, through plenty and want, through joy and sorrow, now and forever. 6. I take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), loving you now and in your growing and becoming. I will llove you when we are together and when we are apart; when life is peaceful and when it is in disorder; when I am proud of you and when I am disappointed in you; in times of leisure and in times of work. I will honor your goals and dreams and help you to fulfill them. From the depth of my being, I will seek to be open and honest with you. I say these things believing that God is in the midst of them all. 7. I, (Groom/Bride) , give myself to you (Bride/Groom) completely as your (wife/husband). I accept you as, my (wife/husband) to live and to understand, to stay by your side in sickness and in health, at all times, for all the days of my life. 8. (Groom/Bride), I promise with God's help to be your faithful (husband/wife), to love and serve as Christ commands as long as we both shall live. 9. (Groom/Bride), I have freely chosen you to be my (wife/husband). I pledge my love to you as long as we both live. I give you this ring as a reminder of this day and our covenant of love. 10. (Groom/Bride), I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish 'til death do us part. 11. I (Groom/Bride) take you (Bride/Groom) to be my (wife/husband), and these things I promise you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you. I will respect, trust, and help and care for you. I will share my life with you. I will forgive you as we have been forgiven; and I will try with you better to understand ourselves, the world, and God; through the best and the worst of what is to come as long as we live. 12. I will be your (husband/wife). I give you all my love without reservation. We have so many joyful times ahead of us, so many decisions and many possibilities. I promise to place our personal growth and the continuous growth of our love above all other considerations. I will be honest with you. I will accept you as an equal and as a unique individual. I will be open with my affection and support. Together I know that we can build a life filled with satisfactions. I'm happy we found each other. I love you. 15. (Bride/Groom), I promise to share my whole life with you. I pledge to celebrate with you all the joyful memories we create, the comfortable silences we will have, the confused and depressing times we may come to know, but also the refreshing laughter and deepening closeness we hope the coming years will bring. I will always be honest with you and respect what you are now and what we will become together. I will honor those decisions we make together and will work to establish a home where peace, joy and prayer reign and where Christ is the center of our lives. 16. (Groom/Bride), do you take (Bride/Groom) to be your (wife/husband), to live together in the holy bond of married life? Do you promise to honor and uphold (her/him), and to join with (her/him) in making a home that shall endure in love and peace? Do you affirm your purpose of a deeper union with (her/him) whereby you both shall know joy and the fulfillment of love? Do you pledge to (her/him) your complete faithfulness through all the changing experiences of life? And, of your own free volition, do you now give yourself to (her/him) completely, body, mind, and soul--that from this day forth and will be (his/hers) alone so long as you both live? Reply: "Yes, I do." 17. (Groom/Bride), I take you to be my (wife/husband), to be faithful to you alone, to share all that is to come, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all hardships and triumphs, all the experiences of life; a permanent commitment made in love, kept in faith, lives in hope, and eternally made new. 18. (Groom/Bride), with joy I make this vow to be your (wife/husband). I have chosen you as the one I want to be my life's partner. I covenant to love you in the midst of the everydayness and the specialness of life; in times of sorrow and times of joy. I want to share the responsibility of building a Christian home together with you. I want to accept and affirm your personhood and your uniqueness. I want to join with you to seek the meaning and fulfillment of our lives under God. I love you (Groom/Bride), and before God, our family, and our friends, and by God's grace, I commit myself and my life to you in marriage relationship, now and forever. 19. I (Groom/Bride), take you (Bride/Groom), to be the (wife/husband) of my days.... to share with me all that life brings to each of us, alone and together. I seek in this marriage to be my own person. I wish for you in this marriage to be your own person. With the help of God and persons who care I want to make our commitment to each other, not a duty but a gift....giving unconditionally as Christ gave unto us. When I am worse, help me become better. When I am sick, locate my disease and help me to recover my health if you can. When I am poor or rich in spirit or goods, help me to accept my poverty.
3. What token do you give as symbols of your affection and integrity? 4. The minister shall take the ring and shall deliver it to the man to put it upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand. The man, holding the ring there, and led by the minister shall say: With this ring I thee wed: with my body I thee worship: and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then the minister shall pray: Bless, O Lord, this ring, that he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in thy peace, and continue in thy favor, unto their life's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the minister takes the other ring and shall deliver it to the woman to put on the fourth finger of the man's left hand. There follows the same pledge and the same prayer. 6. Bless, O Lord, this ring that he who gives it and she who wears it may live in your peace and continue in your favor, all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The giver places the ring on the ring-finger of the other's hand and says: I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God. 7. The ring is the symbol of the commitment which binds these two together. There are two rings because there are two people, each to make a contribution to the life of the other, and to their new life together. Let us pray: Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide together in your peace and grow in one another's eyes. Each saying to the other: 8. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, tears, celebration, grief, joy. May these rings glow in reflection of the warmth and love which flow through the wearers today.
1. This candle you are about to light is a candle of Marriage. It's fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love.This candle before you is a candle of Commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame.This candle is also a candle of Unity because both must come together, giving a spark of themselves, to create the new light.As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness. Warmth and safety in the cold. And strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits.May your union be forever blessed. 2. From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls who are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together, and a single, brighter light goes forth from their united being. In this spirit, bride and groom, take your individual candles and light together a third candle which signifies your marital bond.May the light of love, and the light of understanding, and the light of respect, and the light of tolerance shine eternally for you both. 3. Now, we're going to engage in a ceremony of spiritual symbolism. Ancient sages tell us that for each of us, there is a candle, a symbol of our own inner light, but that no one can kindle his or her own candle. Each of us needs someone else to kindle it for us.When two people fall in love, they kindle each other's candles, creating great light and joy and glorious expectations. Now, (Bride) and (Groom), I'd like you to remember when it was in your relationship that you first realized you were truly in love and wanted to spend the rest of your lives together. And holding that thought... (Groom), (pick up candle), take this candle, symbol of the inner light in (Bride), lit by the eternal light, with the With these candles, we can see how to achieve a beautiful marriage. In your marriage, you will try to bring these lights, the symbols of yourselves, closer and closer to each other, until they become (join the flames) one great torch of light a radiant symbol of love, joy, peace and harmony. (hold flames together) This is the mystery of the union two becoming one.Yet, it is vitally important to remember that there are always really two (divide the flames) in a marriage, each with his or her own desires, yearnings, dreams and wishes. And these must be respected and responded to with great love, with great compassion and with genuine tenderness.We know that it is the prayer of your beloved, as it is the prayer of each of us here, that you will continuously light these candles of love, so that there will always be light and joy, peace and harmony in your hearts and in your home. 4. The scripture tells us that life is like a flame, It has its own warmth, and its own brillance, But it's in the union of Two, that something brighter, warmer, more wonderful takes place. You have chosen the Unity Candle as a symbol of your love and life to come, and the lighting of the Unity Candle signifies that you are now TWO in ONE flesh. 6. (Bride) and (Groom), the two outside candles burning here represent your lives at this moment. Each light is distinct, each able to go its separate way. (Bride) and (Groom) are two persons; unique, complex, individual human beings. And the same parents who gave each of you your individuality and uniqueness is now giving you to each other. The scriptural mystery shall be fulfilled. The two shall become one flesh. From now on, what each of you have been individually, you will become together. What will touch your lives as individuals will become a part of a new unity. As each of you take a candle, carry the flame to the center candle, and extinguish the small candle, thus let the center fire represent the new unity being celebrated in this service. As the one center light cannot be divided, neither can your lives. May the one in whose name you are joined, who worked in your lives as individuals, continue to walk with you in your life together. 7. (Religious Variation to the above passage)The two outside candles have been lit to represent both your lives in this moment. They are two distinct lights, each capable of going their separate ways. To bring bliss and happiness to your home, there must be the merging of these two lights into one light. This is what the Lord meant when He said, "On this account a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall be one flesh." From now on your thoughts shall be for each other rather than your individual selves. Your plans shall be mutual, your joys and sorrows shall be shared alike. As you each take a candle and together light the center one, you will extinguish your own candles, thus letting the center candle represent the union of your lives into one flesh. As this one light cannot be divided, neither shall your lives be divided but a united testimony in a Christian home. May the radiance of this one light be a testimony of your unity in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Like a journey along a road, marriage has its ups and down, its rough, thorny parts and smooth parts. These roses have a similar message, as you examine the branch, it can be seen that the outer part is smooth and shiny and that at irregular intervals, a spike or a bump appears. As we travel along the smooth surface and circumnavigate the bumps, we arrive at the beautiful petals of the rose which reminds us all of the beauty and elegance of life. Bride and Groom as you now travel along your journey of marriage and love for each other, I ask you to remember the message of the rose. Bride and Groom, I offer you each a rose as a symbol of the journey you begin today. (Minister gives a rose to the Bride and Groom) Give each other a rose at very regular intervals in your future life, so as to remind yourselves and each other that the journey is truly worth it. At the end, the glory, the beauty and the elegance is well worth the bumps and the thorns along the way. As a token of your journey and to fully experience the excitement and the spirit of each other a rose, I now say, give your roses to each other as your first reminder of the love you have for each other. 2. Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings, which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect, and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman, the title of husband and wife. Now for your first gift, as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose. Please exchange your first as husband and wife. In some ways it seems you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose, and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways a marriage ceremony is like this. Tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday, but in fact today, just now, your both gave given and received one of the most precious gifts of life, one I hope you always remember, the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage. Bride and Groom, I would ask that wherever you make your home in the future, whether it be a large and elegant home or a small and graceful one, that you both pick one very special location for roses, so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion, you both may take a rose to that spot, both as a recommitment to your marriage and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based on love. 3. Bride and Groom, you will remember this day for the rest of your lives. Those of us who are already married know that marriage, like life, brings with it many joys and also many challenges. We also know that love, while beautiful, does not always show its prettiest face. There are days when we may find it hard to express the depth of our love for one another. It is my hope and prayer that the two of you will set aside a special place in your home for roses, ancient symbols of love. When words fail you, or when the challenges of life or marriage begin to weigh on you, go out and get a rose, and put it in that special place in your home, so that the other will be reminded of this moment, and of the love you feel for one another. As a token of that love, I would like to ask you to make these roses your first gifts to one another as a married couple. 1. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his continence upon you, and give you peace. 2. May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob be with you, and my he fulfill in you his blessing. May you see your children's children to the third and fourth generation. Through the help of our God Jesus Christ. Who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, God forever and ever. 3. May the love of God be above you to over-shadow you, Beneath you to uphold you, Before you to guide you, Behind you to protect you and close beside you and within you to make you able for all things: And to reward your faithfulness with the joy and peace which the world cannot give--neither can it take away. Through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom be glory now and evermore. Amen. 4. And now, go out into the world in peace, be of good courage, hold fast to that which is good; render to no man evil for evil; support the weak, help the afflicted, love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in his presence as he goes with you always. Amen. 5. And, now may the courage of the early morning's dawning, The strength of eternal hills and wife open fields, The joy of silent streams and of the gentle wind, The beauty of flowered gardens and the song of birds, And the faith of youth be in your hearts: And the love of God, that alone can build happiness that makes family love flourish with the radiance of great joy, Be with you always and the peace of a quiet evening's ending and of the midnight, Be yours now and forever. Amen. 6. Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others; they too have their story. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass....nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe....the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God....in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. Go in peace. 7. May Almighty God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage, pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that you may please him both in body and soul: and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen 8. May the Lord fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace that you; May live together in the fullness of life. May you have peace; Not of the stagnant pool, but of deep water flowing. May you have poise, not of the sheltered trees, but of the oak, deep rooted, storm strengthened, and free. May you have power, not of fisted might, but of the quickened seed stretching toward infinite light. Amen 1. By the authority committed to me as a minister of the Church of Jesus Christ, I declare that (Groom) and (Bride) are now husband and wife, according to the ordinance of God, and the law of this state: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. 2. Forasmuch as (Groom) and (Bride) have pledged to each other their fidelity and love in the sight of God and this company, I therefore by virtue of the authority vested in me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Whom therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder. 3. Forasmuch as (Groom) and (Bride) have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have pledged their trust each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands (and by giving and receiving a ring), I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 4. Forasmuch as you, (Groom) and (Bride) have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company by pledging your love and faithfulness to each other, and have declared the same by the joining of hands (and by the giving and receiving of rings) now, therefore, by the authority vested in me as a minister, I pronounce you husband and wife in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no man put asunder. 5. Because (Groom) and (Bride) have desired each other in marriage, and have witnessed this before God and our gathering, affirming their acceptance of the responsibilities of such a union, and have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealing their vows in the giving and receiving of rings, I do proclaim that they are husband and wife in the sight of God and man. Let all people here and everywhere recognize and respect this holy union, now and forever. 6. (Groom) and (Bride), you are now man and wife according to the witness of this church and the law of the state. Become one, Fulfill your promises. Love and serve the Lord. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder. 7. (Groom) and (Bride), by their promises before God and in the presence of this congregation, have made themselves husband and wife. Blessed be the Father and the Son and the Holy spirit now and forever. 8. (Groom) and (Bride), you have made a solemn covenant of marriage before God, and before all of us here. I now declare you to be husband and wife; in the name of god the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
