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Minister: We are gathered here today in the
sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join
together (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name) in holy
matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God,
since the first man and the first woman walked on the earth.
Therefore; it is not to be entered into unadvisedly or
lightly, but reverently and soberly.
Into this holy estate these two persons present come now
to be joined.
If any one can show just cause why they may not be
lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold
their peace.
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Father: My wife and I do.
(Then the bride is given away)
Minister: I require and charge you both that if either of
you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined
together in matrimony, you confess it now. Be assured that
if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God’s
word allows, their marriage is not lawful.
(Minister: addressing the groom)
(Groom’s Name), do you take (Bride’s Name) for your lawful
wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the
holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and
cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others,
keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?
Groom: I do.
(Minster: addressing the bride):
(Bride’s Name), do you take (Groom’s Name) for your lawful
wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance, in
the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort,
and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others,
keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?
Bride: I do.
(At this point the couple may improvise by playing a
favorite song, reading a scripture, etc. suggested
scriptures might be genesis 2:21-25, mark 10:6-8 and 1 cor
13:4-7)
Reader 1: A reading from the book of Genesis, chapter 2,
versus 21 through 25:
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;
and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and
closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a
woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he
brought her to the man. The man said, “this is now bone of
my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ’woman,
’ for she was taken out of man.“ for this reason a man will
leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and
they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both
naked, and they felt no shame.
Reader 2: A reading from the gospel of Mark, chapter 10,
versus 6 through 8:
But at the beginning of creation God made them male and
female. For this reason a man will leave his father and
mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become
one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.
Reader 3: A reading from the Apostle Paul, the first
letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 4 through 7:
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 alwaysprotects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres.
Minister: Let us pray for this man and woman as they make
their marriage vows.
Father, as (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name) have chosen
each other, help them and bless them that their love may be
pure, and their vows may be true. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.
(Minister: addressing the groom who repeats the marriage
vows):
I (Groom’s Name) take thee (Bride’s Name) to be my wedded
wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better
for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health,
to love, honor, and cherish, ’til death do us part,
according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee
my troth.
(Minister: then to the bride who repeats the marriage
vows):
I (Bride’s Name) take thee (Groom’s Name) to be my wedded
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, honor, and cherish, ’til death do us part,
according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee
my troth.
(The Minister then gets the brides ring from the best man)
Minister: (praying over brides ring): Lord, bless this
ring that he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in
your peace, and continue in your favor until life’s end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
(Groom: placing ring on bride’s finger):
With this ring I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love
and commitment.
Minister: (praying over groom’s ring): Lord, bless this
ring that she who gives it and he who wears it may abide in
your peace, and continue in your favor until life’s end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
(Bride: placing ring on groom’s finger):
With this ring I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love
and commitment.
(Music may be inserted here.)
(The wedding song)
Minister: Let us pray
Father, we pray for all married persons, that they may
continue to give, be able to forgive, and experience more
and more of the joy of the Lord with each passing day. And
especially for (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name), now
beginning their married life together, that they may have
divine assistance, the constant support of friends, and a
long life with good health. May your fullest blessing come
upon (Bride’s Name) and her husband (Groom’s Name), from
this day forward, for ever and ever, Amen.
May Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, always be at the
center of the new lives you are now starting to build
together, that you may know the ways of true love and
kindness. May the Lord bless you both all the days of your
lives and fill you with his joy. Amen.
(The minister now joins their right hands together and
says):
Those, whom God has joined together, let no man put
asunder.
In so much as (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name) have
consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the
same before God and this company, having given and pledged
their troth, each to the other, and having declared same by
the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they
are husband and wife.
Minister: (to the couple): Seal the promises you have made
with each other with a kiss.
(The couple kisses.)
Minister: Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and
Mrs. _________________.
Now let us pray as Jesus has taught us:
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen |