|
(The following
Christian wedding ceremony is typical of non-denominational or
general ceremonies, and may be altered significantly with
addition of music, readings, etc.)
Minister:
"We are gathered here today to
celebrate the value of family and the beauty of love. We come
to join _______________________ and ______________________ in
holy matrimony."
Minister's
Prayer
The Minister may begin the
ceremony with a prayer to set the stage for his sermon and the
ceremony.
Wedding
Sermon:
Minister Delivers
The wedding
sermon is a short speech aimed at setting the stage for the
wedding. In this message the minister will usually quote a few
scriptures, describe the purpose of the wedding, and make a few
comments about the value and nature of marriage. If there are
children of the bride and/or groom; the minister may add
details about the character of the family and values of love,
respect, giving, commitment, and similar values.
 
"If anyone who has just cause why
this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak
now or forever hold their peace." (Usually deleted
today.)
Giving
Away Of Bride
(If the bride is escorted
forward.)
"Who gives this woman to be
married to this man?"
(Most commonly the father of the
bride escorts the bride, but it could be a brother, children,
uncle, or other relative.)
Response: "I do", "I do on behalf
of her family and friends" "We do.", "Her Mother and I do."
(This person then steps back and the groom takes the bride's
hand.)
The
Magic Of Making
Up
Minister:
"____________________ and
_______________________ , God has blessed you with life and
filled your hearts with love. Now our Blessed God wants to
bless you even more. His desire is that you become one complete
person, united in your love, united in your purpose, and in
your life. God is the author of love and he reveals his special
gift in many ways. Love is given to us by our family or by our
friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and
living together is one of the greatest challenges of life - and
is the shared goal of a married life.
PLEDGES
(These are your general
commitments to God and society.)
Minister to
Groom:
___________________, do you take
________________ to he your lawfully wedded Wife; to have and
to hold; to love and to cherish; forsaking all others to keep
your self only unto her; until death do you part?
Groom: "I
do"
Minister to
Bride:
___________________, do you take
________________ to he your lawfully wedded Wife; to have and
to hold; to love and to cherish; forsaking all others to keep
your self only unto her; until death do you part?
Bride: "I
do"
Wedding
Video Secrets:
Vows
Minister:
"Since you
declare this to be you intention, will you now repeat your vows
to each other." (Minister reads the following vows as the bride
and groom repeat after him.)
(Groom) I
_____________, take thee , ________________ to be my Wife. To
have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in
health, and there to I promise to love you
forevermore.
(Bride) I _________________ ,
take thee _______________, to be my Husband. To have and to
hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and
there to I promise to love you forevermore.
Wedding Ring Ceremony:
Minister:
"Wedding rings are an outward and
visible sign of your deepest heart commitment. Notice its shape
is in the form of a circle depicting a never endling love.
Notice too, it is made of the most precious of metals because
it symbolized the supreme value of your love."
(If there are children of either
couple, sometimes couples may give a ring or small gift such as
a necklace or ring to the child and say a short statement that
they also are now part of the new family. Mention each child's
name in the ceremony. Special vows may be added or simply gifts
given to honor and involve the children.)
Minister: (He
hands the ring to Groom and then to the bride who repeat after
him."
Groom: "With
this ring I thee wed, will all my hearts affections I thee
endow."
Bride: "With
this ring I thee wed, will all my hearts affections I thee
endow."
Wedding Planning For Brides And
Grooms.
UNITY CANDLES
(Optional)
The Minister
speaks while the bridal couple move to join their candles and
light the unity candle.
Alone two separate candles burn
symbolizing separate lives, separate families and separate sets
of friends. Now as the two candles join together a single
candle remains. At first two people lived separately, but as
the flames of love unite, may the light of love and hope and
harmony always glow brightly.
The individual
candles represent your lives before today. Lighting the center
candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one
light, and represents the joining together of your two families
and sets of friends to one.
ROSE CEREMONY
(Optional)
Minister Reads
while the couple distributes the roses to their
mothers.
"The rose,
long a symbol of love, is chose once more to symbolize the love
passed down from one generation to another and returned from
Bride and Groom to the mother of the other.
PRAYER OF
BLESSING
"Since you
have declared your love for each other, committed your selves
to eachother before God in this company, have declared your
vows to each other, have joined hands, and exchanged rings, let
us seal this bond in prayer."
At this point
in the ceremony, the minister offers a special prayer of
blessing seeking Gods favor and blessing upon the marriage and
lives of the bride and groom.
"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 to you, and give you peace."
 
Declaration
and Pronouncement:
Minister:
"In so much as the two of you
have agreed to live together in Holy Matrimony, have promised
your love for each other by these vows, the joining of your
hands and the giving of these rings, I now declare you to be
Husband and Wife. Whom God hath joined together, let no one put
asunder."
"You may kiss your
bride."
"May I present Mr. & Mr.
______________________"
Professional
Custom Design, Sewing, &
Alterations
Professional
Custom Embroidery &
Design
|