Traditional Christian Ceremony
(This is a non-denomination, traditional Christian Ceremony that you may modify or add to. I conduct the ceremony in the legal capacity as an ordained Christian minister.)
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 _____________and________________ 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.
Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace. (You may delete this if you wish)
(If bride is escorted forward)
Who is
it that brings this woman to this man? (If
the father, he may answer "her
mother and I", "her father on behalf of the family"
or simply "I
do". He
will place the bride’s hand with the groom's and steps back.
______________and____________________ life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is give 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 and 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 told the crystalline and beautiful truth: "God is 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
(You may selection other vows, pick for our different denomination vows, or write your own)
Would you please face each other and join hands.
(Groom)___________________do you take _________________to be your wife?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her forevermore? ("I do")
(Bride)________________do you take_________________ to be your Husband?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only to him forevermore? ("I do")
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. I believe this is a true model of love, and it is a model of love I would hope you both would pursue in your marriage:
" 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.
(For more OLD& NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE VERSES RELATED TO WEDDINGS - click here)
(Vows to be repeated)
(you may change these vows or write your own)
[Groom] I,________________ take thee _________________, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.
[Bride] I,___________________ take thee ________________ to be my Husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.
Exchange of Rings
(rings are not required for a marriage ceremony)
Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of this man and this woman in marriage.
(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."
(If a
song is being sung, it is often added at this point)
Reading from Ephesians (Some couples delete this passage from the ceremony)
In Ephesians, the relationship between husband and wife is compared to between Christ and the church:
" Submit yourselves one to another as
the fear of God. Wives, show reverence for your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
church and He is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto
Christ, so let the wives be to their own Husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wife, even as
Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that He might present it
to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkles or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives
as their own body; He that loves his wife loves himself.
For no man ever yet hateth his own
flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church. For we are
members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall man leave his
father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and the two shall become
one flesh. This mystery is a profound one and I am saying this as it refers to
Christ and the Church; however, let husband love his wife as himself, and let
the wife see that she respect her husband."
(For more OLD& NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE VERSES RELATED TO WEDDINGS - click here)
Charge to the Couple
______________________ and ___________________ 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.
PRAYER
(If there are
minor children coming into the marriage, it is important they be mentioned in
the prayer - See adding children
to the prayer.
Please provide their names – write the names in the side margin.)
"Dear
heavenly Father (or "Oh Lord"), our hearts are filled with great happiness on
_____________ and _________________’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 _________________ and ________________
throughout all their lives together. We ask these things in Jesus name; AMEN
(Some couples will
have the minister ask guests to join in the Lord’s Prayer or it may be sung or
played in tape – CD. Other couples will ask someone else to read the prayer
above or say their own prayer.)
UNITY
CANDLES
(If unity candles
are used – optional – it will be at this point in the ceremony)
"___________________ and ________________ the two lighted candies symbolize your
separate lives, your separate families and your separate sets of friends. I ask
that you each take one candle and that together you light the center candle.
The
individual candies represent your individual 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."
(You can also involve children in the unity candle ceremony)
Rose Ceremony may be added at this point
(The Rose
Ceremony is a special addition found on in these materials. If it is used, it is
added at this point in the ceremony.)
Pronouncement as Husband & Wife
____________________ and ___________________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.
BENEDICTION (may be deleted if you wish:)
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.
Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.
I present to
you Mr. and Mrs. ____________________________.
(After the
couple have exited, I will thank everyone for coming on the Bride and Groom’
behalf and make any reception announcements you wish.