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Below is a guide to help you construct a traiditional Christian, liturgical
wedding ceremony. First is an order of service that shows what the various elements of the ceremony are. Next
is a list of selections within each of the liturgical sections for you to choose from when creating your own ceremony.
Take the time to read through the various elements and selections and see which ones resonate with you. Remember, it's
your wedding. The ceremony should reflect your ideals and values. You can do whatever you wish.
ORDER OF SERVICE:
1. ENTRANCE RITE.
2. READINGS.
Musical Interlude?
3. HOMILY.
4. DECLARATION OF INTENT.
Selection # ___________ (and) ______________.
5. PLEDGE OF SUPPORT.
Selections: ____, ____, ____, ____, ____
6. EXCHANGE OF VOWS.
Selection # ________________
or check _______
if we will write our own
(Please attach copy)
7. EXCHANGE OF SYMBOLS.
Selections: ____, ____, ____
8. NUPTIAL BLESSING.
Priest only: ________
or, Guests and Priest together: _________
9. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE.
10. RECESSIONAL.
CELEBRATION AND BLESSING OF A MARRIAGE
I.
ENTRANCE RITE
After everyone else is seated, the mothers are
the last escorted in (with husbands). If there is a Unity Candle ceremony later,
the mothers may light the two individual candles. The priest then enters, leading
the groom, best man and other male attendants. They stand to the right and wait
for the bride and her attendants to process in. When the bride appears, the people
stand. Looking toward the front, the bride and her attendants are on the left,
the groom and his attendants are on the right. The bride and groom are in the
center, facing each other, as the attendants face toward the center. The priest
stands between the bride and the groom, facing and addressing the bride and groom, yet the family and friends at the same
time.
Priest: The
Grace and Peace of God the Father, and of our Brother Jesus Christ, and the all-embracing Love of the Holy Spirit be with
you all!
People: And also with you!
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Priest: Welcome,
all of you. We are gathered here to day for one of the happiest occasions in
all human life, to celebrate before God the marriage of a man and woman who love each other.
(Bride) and (Groom), it is our joy to witness and celebrate your wedding in a rich spiritual heritage,
sustained as we are in the mysterious power of all creation, in God who is the begetter and sustainer .
of all life, and whose core is Love. You come here today as individuals. You come to become
one -- not to lose yourselves, but to promise a new life of unity and love.
And we, your family and friends, come to share in your joy
and to ask God, the infinite power in creation, to bless you. Marriage is a gift
of God, sealed by a sacred covenant. God powers all of human love, because God
is love.
And God gives joy.
Through that joy, husband and wife may share their new life with others.
We pray that you may fulfill God’s purpose for the whole of your lives, by always living within this love and
within this joy. With our love we support you as you freely give yourselves to
each other.
To this moment
you bring the fullness of your hearts as a treasure to share with one another. You
bring dreams which bind you together. You bring your particular personalities
and spirits, out of which will grow the reality of your lives together. We rejoice
with you now as you express the outward symbol of your inward union of hearts -- a union that has already been created by
friendship, respect and love.
2. READINGS
The Officiant invites the people to take their
seats.
Reading 1 (Choose from selections attached, or choose another)
Reading 2 (Choose from selections attached, or choose another)
Reading 3 (Choose from selections attached, or choose another)
(You may have as few or as many readings as you wish; the usual number is three.)
OPTION: Musical Interlude
3. OFFICIANT’S TALK- ON LOVE
4. DECLARATION OF INTENT.
Priest: In this sacred and joyful
moment, we call upon the highest in you, (Bride) and (Groom) , the divine inner presence that brought you to love and has
chosen for you the sweet commitment of marriage. For you we ask every blessing
of this moment; a confirmation of the wisdom of your choice; great happiness on the path that is set before you; discretion,
kindness and care as you walk upon it, strength to live out your purpose, grace and peace through each step of your journey,
and beloved family and friends to support you.
(SELECTION 1:)
Priest:
(Bride), are you here to ask (Groom) to be your partner, your lover, your friend and your
husband? Do you intend to give him your deepest friendship and love, not only when you are feeling bright and alive, but also
when you are feeling low? Not only when you remember clearly that you are a manifestation
of God, but even in those times when you do not? Do you announce before God and
those here present that you will seek always to see the Light of Divinity within (Groom), and seek always to share the Light
of Divinity within you?
Bride: I do.
Priest:
(Groom), are you here to ask (Bride) to be your partner, your lover, your friend and your
wife? Do you intend to give her your deepest friendship and love, not only when
you are feeling bright and alive, but also when you are feeling low? Not only
when you remember clearly that you are a manifestation of God, but even in those times when you do not? Do you announce before God and those here present that you will seek always to see the Light of Divinity
within (Bride), and seek always to share the Light of Divinity within you?
Groom: I do.
(SELECTION 2:)
Priest: Will
you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up knowing the love of Christ and the community of Christ’s Church?
Both: We will.
5.
PLEDGE OF SUPPORT
Please note: you may have more than one or two
selections in this Section 5, as the family situation dictates.
(SELECTION 1:)
Priest: Who
presents (Bride) to (Groom) to be married?
Bride’s
Parents: We do.
(SELECTION 2:)
Priest: Who
presents (Groom) to (Bride) to be married?
Groom’s
Parents: We do.
(SELECTION 3:)
Priest: Would the immediate
families of (Bride) and (Groom) please rise. (PAUSE) This is an important day
for the families of (Bride) and (Groom). And so, I ask you: do you bless them
as they are married to each other?
Parents/
Families: I do.
Priest: Will the other family
members and the friends of (Bride) and (Groom) please rise. PAUSE. Will all of you witnessing this union today do all in your power to encourage (Bride)
and (Groom) in their marriage?
All: We will.
Priest: And so, let us pray
for the families of (Bride) and (Groom) who have given their blessing to this union:
O God our Father and Mother, who in infinite wisdom
has provided families as the protecting and nurturing units of our natural existence, we thank you for the families of (Bride)
and (Groom) for the strength, character, and joy which they have shared with them through the years. Thank you also for such
good friends, whose love and friendship has mutually enriched each others’ lives.
Amen. (Thank you; please be seated.)
(SELECTION 4:)
Priest: (To the new step-parent:) (Name), will you promise to guide, nurture and love (names of children) with
unfaltering devotion? Will you care for (him/her/them) as your own from this
day forward?
Answer: I will.
Priest: (To the natural/present
parent:) (Name), will you share the joys and responsibilities of (names of children) with (spouse)? Will you trust (his/her) sincerity and accept (his/her) love for (names of children)?
Answer: I will.
Priest:
(addressing children from previous relationships:) (Name/s),
you are entering a new family. Will you give to this new family your trust, love
and affection?
Children: I (we) will.
Priest: Let us pray for the
children who are entering this new family life. O God, Father and Mother of us
all, we ask you to bless with your great love this/these wonderful child/children, ________,
_________, ________, ________, ________. They deserve the warmth, security and environment of a loving family.
Give to this new family unit the peace and power and love which you have promised to all of us, Your children. Amen.
6. EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Priest: (Bride) and (Groom),
God wants for you what you want for you. Because God is the power behind
all love, the full creative energy of the universe is here with you this moment. As
you dedicate yourselves to one another, we are mindful of the presence of God around us.
(SELECTION 1:)
Groom: (Bride), we entered into each
others lives and experienced love and happiness. Today I am confirming my promise
for all of my life to love and respect you, to be faithful and honest with you, to give you encouragement and strength and
trust, to stand together in our times of joy and of sorrow. I pray that our home
will be one of love and understanding and patience ... not to remain the same, but to grow better and stronger with the passing
of time, and through the love we have for one another. Our lives have become
joined with the times we have shared, and will be more complete by the memories ahead, ready to be made. I am promising from this day forward that I will be your husband, to walk with you throughout all your
tomorrows. I love you.
Bride: (Groom), we entered
into each others lives and experienced love and happiness. Today I am confirming
my promise for all of my life to love and respect you, to be faithful and honest with you, to give you encouragement and strength
and trust, to stand together in our times of joy and of sorrow. I pray that our
home will be one of love and understanding and patience ... not to remain the same, but to grow better and stronger with the
passing of time, and through the love we have for one another. Our lives have
become joined with the times we have shared, and will be more complete by the memories ahead, ready to be made. I am promising from this day forward that I will be your wife, to walk with you throughout all your tomorrows. I love you. (SELECTION 2:)
Groom: I, (Groom), take you, (Bride), to be
my 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, to honor and to cherish
unconditionally. Forsaking all others,
I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bride: I, (Bride)
, take you, (Groom), to be my 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, to honor and to cherish unconditionally. Forsaking all others, I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(SELECTION 3:)
Groom: (Bride), I give myself to you
to be your husband. I promise to love and sustain you in the covenant of marriage,
from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.
Bride: (Groom), I give
myself to you to be your wife. I promise to love and sustain you in the covenant
of marriage, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we
both shall live.
(SELECTION 4:)
Groom: (Bride), I want you to be my
wife. I promise to give you the best of myself and to ask of you no more than
you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and to realize that
your interests, needs and desires are no less important than my own. I promise
to share with you my time and my attention, and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship. I promise to keep myself open to you to let you see through the windows of my world into my innermost fears
and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along with you, to be willing
to face changes as we both change in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all I feel inside, in the only way I know
how ... completely and forever.
Bride: (Groom), I want
you to be my husband. I promise to give you the best of myself and to ask of
you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and
to realize that your interests, needs and desires are no less important than my own.
I promise to share with you my time and my attention, and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship. I promise to keep myself open to you, to let you see through the windows of my world
into my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along
with you, to be willing to face changes as we both change in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all I feel inside, in the only
way I know how ... completely and forever.
7. EXCHANGE OF SYMBOLS
You may choose any, all or none of the following selections.
(SELECTION 1:)
BLESSING OF RINGS
Priest:
Let us bless these rings! O God,
these rings are circles, symbols that represent
the Sun, and the Earth, and the universe. Symbols of holiness, of perfection
and peace ... that which has no beginning and no end. And so, in this moment, bring
your blessing to these rings to also be symbols of unity, of joining and of encirclement.
Grant that their love, which is that way now,
unconditionally. Forsaking all others,
I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bride: I, (Bride)
, take you, (Groom), to be my 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, to honor and to cherish unconditionally. Forsaking all others, I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(SELECTION 3:)
Groom: (Bride), I give myself to you
to be your husband. I promise to love and sustain you in the covenant of marriage,
from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.
Bride: (Groom), I give
myself to you to be your wife. I promise to love and sustain you in the covenant
of marriage, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we
both shall live.
(SELECTION 4:)
Groom: (Bride), I want you to be my
wife. I promise to give you the best of myself and to ask of you no more than
you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and to realize that
your interests, needs and desires are no less important than my own. I promise
to share with you my time and my attention, and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship. I promise to keep myself open to you to let you see through the windows of my world into my innermost fears
and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along with you, to be willing
to face changes as we both change in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all I feel inside, in the only way I know
how ... completely and forever.
Bride: (Groom), I want
you to be my husband. I promise to give you the best of myself and to ask of
you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and
to realize that your interests, needs and desires are no less important than my own.
I promise to share with you my time and my attention, and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship. I promise to keep myself open to you, to let you see through the windows of my world
into my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along
with you, to be willing to face changes as we both change in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all I feel inside, in the only
way I know how ... completely and forever.
7. EXCHANGE OF SYMBOLS
You may choose any, all or none of the following selections.
(SELECTION 1:)
BLESSING OF RINGS
Priest:
Let us bless these rings! O God,
these rings are circles, symbols that represent
the Sun, and the Earth, and the universe. Symbols of holiness, of perfection
and peace ... that which has no beginning and no end. And so, in this moment, bring
your blessing to these rings to also be symbols of unity, of joining and of encirclement.
Grant that their love, which is that way now,
unconditionally. Forsaking all others,
I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bride: I, (Bride)
, take you, (Groom), to be my 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, to honor and to cherish unconditionally. Forsaking all others, I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(SELECTION 3:)
Groom: (Bride), I give myself to you
to be your husband. I promise to love and sustain you in the covenant of marriage,
from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.
Bride: (Groom), I give
myself to you to be your wife. I promise to love and sustain you in the covenant
of marriage, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we
both shall live.
(SELECTION 4:)
Groom: (Bride), I want you to be my
wife. I promise to give you the best of myself and to ask of you no more than
you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and to realize that
your interests, needs and desires are no less important than my own. I promise
to share with you my time and my attention, and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship. I promise to keep myself open to you to let you see through the windows of my world into my innermost fears
and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along with you, to be willing
to face changes as we both change in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all I feel inside, in the only way I know
how ... completely and forever.
Bride: (Groom), I want
you to be my husband. I promise to give you the best of myself and to ask of
you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and
to realize that your interests, needs and desires are no less important than my own.
I promise to share with you my time and my attention, and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship. I promise to keep myself open to you, to let you see through the windows of my world
into my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along
with you, to be willing to face changes as we both change in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all I feel inside, in the only
way I know how ... completely and forever.
7. EXCHANGE OF SYMBOLS
You may choose any, all or none of the following selections.
(SELECTION 1:)
BLESSING OF RINGS
Priest:
Let us bless these rings! O God,
these rings are circles, symbols that represent
the Sun, and the Earth, and the universe. Symbols of holiness, of perfection
and peace ... that which has no beginning and no end. And so, in this moment, bring
your blessing to these rings to also be symbols of unity, of joining and of encirclement.
Grant that their love, which is that way now,
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