Home | Ceremonies | Calendar | Packages | Questionnaire| Contact Us
Traditional Christian Wedding Ceremony
This is a non-denomination, traditional Christian Ceremony that you may modify or add to.
We are gathered here today in the sight of God and angels, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate
one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes and
blessings to the words which shall unite _____________and________________ in holy matrimony
one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes and
blessings to the words which shall unite _____________and________________ in holy matrimony
Marriage is a most honorable estate, created and Instituted by God, signifying unto us the mystical union, which also
rests between Christ and the Church; so too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love.
rests between Christ and the Church; so too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love.
Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or
forever hold their peace. (You may delete this if you wish)
forever hold their peace. (You may delete this if you wish)
(If bride is escorted forward)
Who is it that brings this woman to this man? (If the father, he may answer "her mother and I", "her father
on behalf of the family" or simply "I do" . He will place the bride’s hand with the groom's and steps back. )
on behalf of the family" or simply "I do" . He will place the bride’s hand with the groom's and steps back. )
______________and____________________ life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to
live together. Love is give to us by our family and friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and
living together is one of life's greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life.
live together. Love is give to us by our family and friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and
living together is one of life's greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life.
But a husband and wife should not confuse love of worldly measures for even if worldly success is found, only love
will maintain a marriage. Mankind did not create love; love is created by God. The measure of true love is a love
both freely given and freely accepted, just as God's love of us is unconditional and free.
will maintain a marriage. Mankind did not create love; love is created by God. The measure of true love is a love
both freely given and freely accepted, just as God's love of us is unconditional and free.
Today truly is a glorious day the Lord hath made - as today both of you are blessed with God's greatest of all gifts -
the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today - and those here in heart
- wish both of you all the joy, happiness and success and the world has to offer.
the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today - and those here in heart
- wish both of you all the joy, happiness and success and the world has to offer.
As you travel through life together, I caution you to remember that the true measure of success, the true avenue to
joy and peace, is to be found within the love you hold in your hearts. I would ask that you hold the key to your
heart very tightly.
joy and peace, is to be found within the love you hold in your hearts. I would ask that you hold the key to your
heart very tightly.
Within the Bible, nothing is of more importance that love. We are told the crystalline and beautiful truth: "God is
Love". We are assured that "Love conquers all". It is love, which brings you here today, the union of two hearts
and two spirits. As your lives continue to interweave as one pattern, remember that it was love that brought you
here today, it is love that will make this a glorious union, and it is love which will cause this union to endure.
Love". We are assured that "Love conquers all". It is love, which brings you here today, the union of two hearts
and two spirits. As your lives continue to interweave as one pattern, remember that it was love that brought you
here today, it is love that will make this a glorious union, and it is love which will cause this union to endure.
VOWS
(You may selection other vows, pick for our different denomination vows, or write your own)
Would you please face each other and join hands.
(Groom ) ___________________do you take _________________to be your wife?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her
forevermore? ("I do")
forevermore? ("I do")
(Bride ) ________________do you take_________________ to be your Husband?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only to him
forevermore? ("I do")
forevermore? ("I do")
Reading from Corinthians
A marriage ceremony represents one of life's greatest commitments, but also is a declaration of love.
I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians a long time ago. I believe this
is a true model of love, and it is a model of love I would hope you both would pursue in your marriage:
I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians a long time ago. I believe this
is a true model of love, and it is a model of love I would hope you both would pursue in your marriage:
" Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels - but do not have love, I am only sounding
brass or tinkling cymbals. Though I have the gift of prophecy and understanding all mysteries and
all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains – but do not have love,
I am nothing. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
brass or tinkling cymbals. Though I have the gift of prophecy and understanding all mysteries and
all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains – but do not have love,
I am nothing. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love endures and is kind. Love is not envious or jealous. Love wants not itself, is not puffed up,
does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, it is not easily provoked, and thinks no evil.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness - but in the truth.
does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, it is not easily provoked, and thinks no evil.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness - but in the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails.
Where there are prophecies, they shall fail, where there be tongues, they shall cease, where there
be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that
which is perfect is come, that which is part shall be done away with.
be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that
which is perfect is come, that which is part shall be done away with.
When I was a child I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child. When I became an
adult, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly - as in a mirror - but then we shall
see face to face. At present I know partially, then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith,
hope, love remain- these three- but the greatest of these is love.
adult, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly - as in a mirror - but then we shall
see face to face. At present I know partially, then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith,
hope, love remain- these three- but the greatest of these is love.
(Vows to be
repeated)
repeated)
(you may change these vows or write your own)
[Groom] I,________________ take thee _________________, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness
and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.
and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.
[Bride ] I,___________________ take thee ________________ to be my Husband. To have and to hold, in
sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.
sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.
Exchange of Rings
(rings are not required for a marriage ceremony)
Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, signifying to all the
uniting of this man and this woman in marriage.
uniting of this man and this woman in marriage.
(Bride and Groom will repeat these vows as they place the ring on the other’s finger:)
"With this ring, I thee wed. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
(If a song is being sung, it is often added at this point)
Reading from Ephesians
(Some couples delete this passage from the ceremony)
In Ephesians, the relationship between husband and wife is compared to between Christ and the
church:
church:
Charge to the Couple
______________________ and ___________________ as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as
husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always
remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and
suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it
together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened
by your love and respect.
husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always
remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and
suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it
together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened
by your love and respect.
PRAYER
(If there are minor children coming into the marriage, it is important they be mentioned in the prayer - .
Please provide their names – write the names in the side margin.)
Please provide their names – write the names in the side margin.)
" Dear heavenly Father (or "Oh Lord"), our hearts are filled with great happiness on _____________ and
_________________’s wedding day, as they come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another.
Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together is such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into
their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense of jealousy. Help them
to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares
and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may the home they are creating today, truly be a
place of love and harmony, where your spirit is ever present.
Bless this union we pray, and walk beside _________________ and ________________ throughout all their lives
together. We ask these things in the name of Jesus the Christ. AMEN
_________________’s wedding day, as they come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another.
Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together is such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into
their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense of jealousy. Help them
to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares
and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may the home they are creating today, truly be a
place of love and harmony, where your spirit is ever present.
Bless this union we pray, and walk beside _________________ and ________________ throughout all their lives
together. We ask these things in the name of Jesus the Christ. AMEN
(Some couples will have the minister ask guests to join in the Lord’s Prayer or it may be sung or played in
tape – CD. Other couples will ask someone else to read the prayer above or say their own prayer.)
tape – CD. Other couples will ask someone else to read the prayer above or say their own prayer.)
UNITY CANDLES
(If unity candles are used – optional – it will be at this point in the ceremony)
"___________________ and ________________ the two lighted candies symbolize your separate lives,
your separate families and your separate sets of friends. I ask that you each take one candle and that
together you light the center candle.
The individual candies represent your individual lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents
that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and
sets of friends to one."
(You can also involve children in the unity candle ceremony )
your separate families and your separate sets of friends. I ask that you each take one candle and that
together you light the center candle.
The individual candies represent your individual lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents
that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and
sets of friends to one."
(You can also involve children in the unity candle ceremony )
(The Rose Ceremony is a special addition found on in these materials. If it is used, it is added at this point in
the ceremony.)
the ceremony.)
Pronouncement as Husband & Wife
____________________ and ___________________in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together
in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and the joining of
your hands, I now declare you to be husband and wife.
in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and the joining of
your hands, I now declare you to be husband and wife.
BENEDICTION
(may be deleted if you wish:)
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be
gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you, and give you peace.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be
gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you, and give you peace.
I present to you Mr. and Mrs. ____________________________.
(After the couple have exited, I will thank everyone for coming on the Bride and Groom’ behalf and make
any reception announcements you wish.
any reception announcements you wish.
| Home | Ceremonies | Calendar | Pricing | Questionnaire| Contact Us |
