Traditional Wedding

MINISTER: WE ARE GATHERED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND IN THE FACE OF THIS COMPANY, TO JOIN TOGETHER ** GROOM ** AND ** BRIDE ** IN THE SACRED ESTATE OF HOLY MATRIMONY.

PLEASE BE SEATED. (Guests then sit down)

IN EDEN, THIS ORDINANCE WAS INSTITUTED BY THE CREATOR WHO SAW THAT IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE; THEREFORE, WOMAN WAS MADE TO BE A HELPMATE FOR HIM. THIS INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE CHRIST BLESSED AND ADORNED BY HIS PRESENCE AT THE MARRIAGE FEAST IN CANAAN IN GALILEE - COMMENDED TO US BY THE APOSTLE PAUL AS WORTH OF ALL HONOR, EACH PARTY TO THE SOLEMN COVENANT BEING REQUIRED OF GOD TO KEEP INVIOLATE ITS SACRED OBLIGATIONS - SO LONG AS BOTH SHALL LIVE. IT IS A COMMITMENT WHICH SHOULD NOT BE CONTEMPLATED NOR ENTERED INTO LIGHTLY OR INADVISABLY; BUT RATHER, WITH REVERENCE AND SOBRIETY.

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 MARRIED TO THIS MAN?

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

MINISTER (Addressing the persons to be married): I REQUIRE AND CHARGE YOU BOTH THAT IF EITHER OF YOU KNOW ANY IMPEDIMENT WHY YOU MAY NOT BE LAWFULLY JOINED TOGETHER IN MATRIMONY, YOU CONFESS IT NOW. BE ASSURED THAT IF ANY PERSONS ARE JOINED TOGETHER OTHERWISE THAN AS GOD'S WORD ALLOWS, THEIR MARRIAGE IS NOT LAWFUL.

(Addressing the groom): ** GROOM ** , DO YOU TAKE ** BRIDE ** FOR YOUR LAWFUL WEDDED WIFE, TO LIVE TOGETHER AFTER GOD'S ORDINANCE, IN THE HOLY ESTATE OF MATRIMONY? WILL YOU LOVE, HONOR, COMFORT, AND CHERISH HER FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, KEEPING ONLY UNTO HER FOR AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE?

GROOM: I DO.

MINISTER (Addressing the bride): ** BRIDE ** , DO YOU TAKE ** GROOM ** FOR YOUR LAWFUL WEDDED HUSBAND, TO LIVE TOGETHER AFTER GOD'S ORDINANCE, IN THE HOLY ESTATE OF MATRIMONY? WILL YOU LOVE, HONOR, COMFORT, AND CHERISH HIM FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, KEEPING ONLY UNTO HIM FOR AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE?

BRIDE: I DO.

(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.

(Addressing the groom who repeats the marriage vows): I ** GROOM ** TAKE THEE ** BRIDE ** 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, HONOR, AND CHERISH, 'TIL DEATH DO US PART, ACCORDING TO GOD'S HOLY ORDINANCE; AND THERETO I PLIGHT THEE MY TROTH.

(Then to the bride): I ** BRIDE ** TAKE THEE ** GROOM ** 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, HONOR, AND CHERISH, 'TIL DEATH DO US PART, ACCORDING TO GOD'S HOLY ORDINANCE; AND THERETO I PLIGHT THEE MY TROTH.

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): ** BRIDE ** , TAKE THIS RING AS A SIGN OF MY LOVE AND FIDELITY.

BRIDE (Placing ring on groom's finger): ** GROOM ** , TAKE THIS RING AS A SIGN OF MY LOVE AND FIDELITY.

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 ** .