MARRIAGE SERVICE
NAMES___________________________________________________
DATE OF WEDDING_________________________________________
TIME____________________________________________________
SPECIAL NOTES___________________________________________
Dear Beloved ---- We are gathered here in the sight of
God and the presence of these witnesses to join together
________________________ and _______________________ in holy
matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in
the time of man’s innocence signifying to us the union that
is between Christ and His Church. God saw that it was not
good for man to live alone and so he created woman and gave
her to him to be his companion and wife. So it is ordained
that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto
his wife and they two shall be one flesh. It was the first
and nobleness of human contracts instituted of God. Which
holy estate Christ honored and beautified with his presence
at the miracle which he wrought in Cana of Galilee; and is
commended of the Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men
and is therefore not to be entered into lightly, hastily, or
without due consideration but reverently, discreetly, and in
the fear of God. Into which holy estate _________________ and
______________ come now to be joined and to unite two hearts
and lives blending all interests, sympathies, and hopes. I
charge and entreat you both that the vows you take this day
are sacred above words and that your lives hereafter shall be
bound together unbreakable, sundered only by death. but the
security of your marriage should not rest in the rite nor
ritual of this service, nor in the minister before whom you
stand but in God who ordained it and before whom you will
answer --- at the judgment Seat.
Now in the sight of God, the searcher of hearts, and as
you will answer it on the day when the secrets of all hearts
shall be manifest that if you or anyone here present can show
just cause why these many not lawfully be joined together
then let him speak, or else hereafter hold his peace.
I charge you as you stand in the presence of God that
true love and loyalty alone will avail as the foundation of a
happy home. If the vows you make be strictly kept and if you
love the Lord and always put him first in your life then your
lives will be full of joy and the home you are about to
establish will abide in peace. No other vows are more sacred
than those you are about to assume.
THE MINISTER WILL ADDRESS THE MAN:
________________, wilt thou have __________________ to be thy
lawful wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in
the holy estate of matrimony; wilt thou love her, comfort
her, honor, and keep her, in sickness, in health, in
prosperity, and in adversity, and forsaking all others, keep
thou only unto her so long as you both shall live. ANS.- I DO
THE MINISTER WILL ADDRESS THE WOMAN:
________________, wilt thou have __________________ to be thy
lawful wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance
in the holy estate of matrimony; wilt thou love him, comfort
him, honor, and keep him, in sickness, in health, in
prosperity, and in adversity, and forsaking all others, keep
thou only unto him as long as you both shall live. ANS.- I DO
THE MINISTER WILL ADDRESS THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE:
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
ANS.-I DO or WE DO or HER MOTHER AND I DO
THE MINISTER: Join hands and repeat after me ________________
I, ____________________, take thee ______________________ 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 and to cherish, til death alone do us
part, according to God’s holy ordinance and hereto I pledge
thee my promise.
NOW ___________________, repeat after me. I, ________________
take thee _____________________, 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 and to cherish, til death alone do us part, according
to God’s holy ordinance and hereto I pledge thee my promise.
BRIDE HANDS MAID OF HONOR THE BOUQUET.
MINISTER ADDRESSES GROOM: ______________________, What pledge
do you give of the sincerity of your vows? ANS. - This ring
MINISTER TAKES RING AND ADDRESSES BRIDE:
_____________________, Do you accept this ring as a pledge of
the sincerity of his vows? ANS. - I do
MINISTER HANDS RING TO GROOM WHO PLACES IT ON THE 3RD FINGER
OF BRIDE’S LEFT HAND AND REPEATS: With this ring I thee
wed, this day before God and all my worldly goods I thee
endow.
MINISTER: And may this ring which has no end be henceforth,
the chaste and changeless symbol of your love for this woman,
the vows you take this day, and a mark of your faithfulness
to her.
MINISTER ADDRESSES THE BRIDE: __________________, What pledge
do you give of the sincerity of your vows? ANS. - This ring
MINISTER TAKES RING AND ADDRESSES GROOM:
_____________________, Do you accept this ring as a pledge of
the sincerity of her vows? ANS. - I do
MINISTER HANDS RING TO BRIDE WHO PLACES IT ON THE 3RD FINGER
OF GROOM’S LEFT HAND AND REPEATS: This ring I thee give,
in token and pledge, of my constant faith, and abiding
love, and the vows I make, this day before God.
MINISTER: May this ring given be the outward and visible sign
of an inward and spiritual bond that unites your hearts in
love and may it always be.
For as much as __________________ and __________________ have
consented in holy marriage and thereto have given and pledged
their promise each to the other and have confirmed the same
by giving and receiving each one a ring; by the authority
committed unto me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, I now declare you husband and wife according to the
ordinance of God and the laws of this state, in the Name of
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore let
all men take care in the sight of God, this holy covenant
shall ever remain sacred. What God hath joined together, let
no man put asunder.
THE MINISTER CAN NOW SAY: This day marks a new era in your
lives now united. From this day forward you will travel
life’s pathway not alone but together. It is our prayer that
you will allow the Lord Jesus into this life you now walk
together and that he will be accepted as Savior and Shepherd.
For if he is allowed into you lives now united as Savior and
Shepherd, then you will not want in your lives together. Let
love forever be enthroned in your hearts for two cannot walk
together except they be agreed. This day we earnestly commend
you to the care of God with the hope that you will build your
home upon the Lord and His will. If I were to give in one
statement the way for a good, love-filled, lasting marriage,
it would be this. Build a Christian home. Forget not to pray.
Stay close to the Lord. Serve him and regularly and
faithfully attend his house. Then your experience will be as
you travel down life’s road as that of the two disciples who
journeyed from Jerusalem to Emmaus, of whom we read that
Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them. Of no greater
goal could you have for life than that Jesus walk with you
and this shall be our constant prayer.
MINISTER PRAYS FOR COUPLE. (Unity Candles/Music)
THE GROOM MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE
THE MAID OF HONOR RETURNS THE BOUQUET TO THE BRIDE
THE COUPLE (the bride taking the grooms arm) TURNS INWARDLY
(and around) TO FACE THE CONGREGATION
THE MINISTER: It is now our happy privilege to congratulate
and introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. ___________________________
RECESSIONAL BEGINS
OPTIONAL (By minister): You are invited to a reception for
______________________________ at __________________________
immediately upon dismissal.
End
