Christian Wedding Ceremony

I. Processional

Reverend, Groom, and Groomsmen

Bridesmaids

Bride

II. Invocation

Let us Pray

Our Heavenly Father, at every turn of life's way we should stop to seek Your blessings. We thank you that you are love, and that You have created us after your image. We thank You for planting love for women in the heart of man, and love for man in the heart of woman. Richly bless these two lives now to be made one by this bond of love. May they love each for the other, and both for You. Amen.

III. Giving of the Bride

Rev : Who gives this woman to be married?

Father: Her Mother and I do.

(Groom takes brides arm)

IV. Introduction

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate instituted by God signifying onto us the mystical union between Christ and the Church. This holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and the first miracle in Cana. Now into this holy estate you two come to be joined.

V. Reading

I would now like to read from 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 1-13: New International Version.

1 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.

2 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.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

VI. Consent

True matrimony is the holiest of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with full understanding of its sacred nature. The life that each of you experienced now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united. I trust that you both understand this?

Both : We do

Groom, will you have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; forsaking all others keep thee only unto her so long as you both shall live?

Groom : I will

Bride, will thou have this man to be thy wedded husband to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; forsaking all others keep thee only unto him so long as you both shall live?

Bride : I will

VII. Vows

Groom, repeat after me:

I Groom, take you, Bride, to be my lawfully wedded wife/ to have and to hold/ from this day forward/ for better or for worse/ for richer or for poorer/ in sickness and in health/ to love and to cherish/ to honor and obey/ until death do us part.

Bride, repeat after me:

I Bride, take you, Groom, to be my lawfully wedded husband/ to have and to hold/ from this day forward/ for better or for worse/ for richer or for poorer/ in sickness and in health/ to love and to cherish/ to honor and obey/ until death do us part.

VIII. Rings

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond, which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. The wedding ring is the most significant ring a person can wear in this day and time. Above all the wedding ring denotes purity, loyalty, and spiritual grace. It is made of the purest metal to speak of the purity of the marriage and is made in a circle to note the never-ending commitment you are about to enter. "

Groom, repeat after me :

This ring I give/ in token and pledge/ as a symbol of my love and devotion. With this ring I thee wed.

(Place ring on Bride's finger)

Bride, repeat after me :

This ring I give/ in token and pledge/ as a symbol of my love and devotion. With this ring I thee wed.

(Place ring on Groom's finger)

XI. Benediction

Let us Pray

Oh God, send thy blessing upon this man and this woman, that they may perform and keep the vow and covenant between them, and ever remain in perfect love and peace together. Look graciously upon them, that they may honor and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience and that their home be a haven and a place of peace. In Your name we pray. Amen.

X. Closing

For as much as _______________ and _______________ have consented together in holy wedlock and witness the same before God and this company. And there to have given and pledged their troth either to other and declared the same by given and receiving rings and by joining of hands. In the name of God and by the power vested in me by the State of Texas, I now pronounce that they be man and wife together.

I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Bridegroom.