Modern Wedding

MINISTER: WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, AND IN THE FACE OF THIS COMPANY, TO JOIN TOGETHER ** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** IN HOLY MATRIMONY; WHICH IS AN HONORABLE ESTATE, INSTITUTED OF GOD, SINCE THE FIRST MAN AND THE FIRST WOMAN WALKED ON THE EARTH. THEREFORE; IT IS NOT TO BE ENTERED INTO UNADVISEDLY OR LIGHTLY, BUT REVERENTLY AND SOBERLY.

INTO THIS HOLY ESTATE THESE TWO PERSONS PRESENT COME NOW TO BE JOINED.

THEREFORE, IF ANY ONE CAN SHOW JUST CAUSE WHY THEY MAY NOT BE LAWFULLY JOINED TOGETHER, LET THEM SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD THEIR PEACE.

WHO GIVES THIS WOMAN TO BE THIS MAN'S LAWFUL WEDDED WIFE?

FATHER: MY WIFE AND I DO. (Then the bride is given away)

MINISTER: LET US PRAY: FATHER, YOU HAVE MADE THE BOND OF MARRIAGE A HOLY MYSTERY, A SYMBOL OF CHRIST'S LOVE FOR HIS BODY HERE ON EARTH. WITH FAITH IN YOU AND IN EACH OTHER, ** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** PLEDGE THEIR LOVE TODAY. MAY THEIR LIVES ALWAYS BEAR WITNESS TO THE REALITY OF THEIR LOVE. WE ASK YOU THIS IN AND THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

(At this point the couple may improvise by playing a favorite song, reading a scripture, etc. Suggested scriptures might be Genesis 2:21-25, Mark 10:6-8 and 1 Cor 13:4-7)

READER 1: A READING FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS, CHAPTER 2, VERSUS 21 THROUGH 25:

So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

READER 2: A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK, CHAPTER 10, VERSUS 6 THROUGH 8:

"But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.

READER 3: A READING FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL, THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 13, VERSES 4 THROUGH 7:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

MINISTER: Let us pray for this man and woman as they make their marriage vows.

Father, as ** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** PLEDGE THEMSELVES TO EACH OTHER, HELP THEM AND BLESS THEM THAT THEIR LOVE MAY BE PURE, AND THEIR VOWS MAY BE TRUE. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.

MINISTER (Addressing wedding couple):

** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** , YOU HAVE COME TOGETHER THIS DAY SO THAT THE LORD MAY SEAL AND STRENGTHEN YOUR LOVE IN THE PRESENCE OF THIS MINISTER OF HIS WORD AND THIS COMMUNITY OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AND SO, IN THE PRESENCE OF THIS GATHERING, I ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR INTENTIONS:

** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** , HAVE YOU COME HERE FREELY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION TO GIVE YOURSELVES TO EACH OTHER IN MARRIAGE? IF SO, ANSWER BY SAYING "I HAVE".

** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** : I HAVE.

MINISTER: SINCE IT IS YOUR INTENTION TO ENTER INTO MARRIAGE, JOIN YOUR RIGHT HANDS AND DECLARE YOUR CONSENT BEFORE GOD AND THIS GATHERING.

(Addressing the groom who repeats the marriage vows): I ** GROOM ** TAKE YOU ** BRIDE ** TO BE WIFE. I PROMISE TO BE TRUE TO YOU IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH. I WILL LOVE YOU ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.

(Then to the bride): I ** BRIDE ** TAKE YOU ** GROOM ** TO BE HUSBAND. I PROMISE TO BE TRUE TO YOU IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH. I WILL LOVE YOU ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.

MINISTER (Praying over the two rings): LORD, BLESS AND CONSECRATE ** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** IN THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER. MAY THESE RINGS BE A SYMBOL OF THE FAITH THEY HAVE FOR EACH OTHER, AND A REMINDER THAT TRUE LOVE, LIKE THE RINGS, HAS NO END.

OR (if only a single ring ceremony): LORD, BLESS THIS RING THAT HE WHO GIVES IT AND SHE WHO WEARS IT MAY ABIDE IN YOUR PEACE, AND CONTINUE IN YOUR FAVOR UNTIL LIFE'S END, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.

GROOM (Placing ring on bride's finger): WITH THIS RING I THEE WED.

BRIDE (Placing ring on groom's finger): WITH THIS RING I THEE WED.

MINISTER: LET US PRAY

FATHER, WE PRAY FOR ALL MARRIED PERSONS, THAT THEY MAY CONTINUE TO GIVE, BE ABLE TO FORGIVE, AND EXPERIENCE MORE AND MORE OF THE JOY OF THE LORD WITH EACH PASSING DAY. AND ESPECIALLY FOR ** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** , NOW BEGINNING THEIR MARRIED LIFE TOGETHER, THAT THEY MAY HAVE DIVINE ASSISTANCE, THE CONSTANT SUPPORT OF FRIENDS, AND A LONG LIFE WITH GOOD HEALTH. MAY YOUR FULLEST BLESSING COME UPON ** BRIDE ** AND HER HUSBAND ** GROOM ** , FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, FOR EVER AND EVER, AMEN.

MAY JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, ALWAYS BE AT THE CENTER OF THE NEW LIVES YOU ARE NOW STARTING TO BUILD TOGETHER, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THE WAYS OF TRUE LOVE AND KINDNESS. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU BOTH ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIVES AND FILL YOU WITH HIS JOY. AMEN.

(The minister now joins their right hands together and says): THOSE WHOM GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER.

IN SO MUCH AS ** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** HAVE CONSENTED TOGETHER IN HOLY WEDLOCK, AND HAVE WITNESSED THE SAME BEFORE GOD AND THIS COMPANY, HAVING GIVEN AND PLEDGED THEIR TROTH, EACH TO THE OTHER,

AND HAVING DECLARED SAME BY THE GIVING AND RECEIVING OF A RING,

I PRONOUNCE THAT THEY ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE.

(To the couple): I ASK YOU NOW TO SEAL THE PROMISES YOU HAVE MADE WITH EACH OTHER THIS DAY WITH A KISS. (The couple kisses.)

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU MR. AND MRS. ** LASTNAME ** .