Welcome 

Who gives Bride to be married to Groom?

We have gathered together in the presence of God and these witnesses to join Groom and Bride in holy matrimony.  Marriage is a gift, from God. Just as you make vows to one another today, God also made vows to you and me that show how much He loves and cares for each one of us. These vows are recorded for us in His Word: “I will betroth you to myself forever in lawful wedlock and love; I will commit myself to you, to have and to hold, and you shall know the Lord.” 

Groom and Bride, today is the beginning of a new life together for you and of new relationships to your families, your friends, and to each other. You have invited these special guests to share the worth and beauty of your love and add their best wishes as you are united today as husband and wife. God knew your needs when He brought you together. He knew exactly what you needed to make you complete. And now, He wants you to commit yourselves to accept each other as the one He has chosen to complete you. 

God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 

And so… 

The Creation of Woman from the Rib of Man 

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 then closed up the place with flesh. 

Then the Lord God formed a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and

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.” 

Woman was made of a rib out of the side of Man. 

She was not created from Man’s head to rule over him, Nor from his feet to be trampled upon by him. 

Instead, Woman was taken from his side, to be equal with him; under his arm, to be protected; and near his heart, to be loved. 

God is the Author of love. In the “Love Chapter”—1 Corinthians 13, it describes the kind of love that must characterize your lives so you may live in joy and harmony and honor with each other, and also before God and your fellow man. Listen to what is says: 

“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. So faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 

And so, Groom if you will love Bride as Christ loves the church, and Bride if you will respond to Groom as unto the Lord, your companionship as husband and wife will blossom into a physical, emotional, and spiritual closeness beyond which nothing can compare. 

Groom please repeat after me. 

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 and to cherish, / till death do us part./ This is my solemn vow. 

Bride please repeat after me. 

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 and to cherish, / till death do us part./ This is my solemn vow. 

The wedding ring is a symbol of what God is. He is without beginning and without end—He is eternal. The ring is without beginning and without end. So I believe this exchange of rings not only reminds us of the unending love you have for each other, but also reflects the eternal love God has for each of you. 

Groom please place Bride’s ring on her finger and repeat after me.

Bride this ring I give in token and pledge/ as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I thee wed. 

Bride please place Groom’s ring on his finger, and repeat after me.

Groom this ring I give in token and pledge/ as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I thee wed. 

Our Heavenly Father, we ask your blessing upon these two lives and the home they are establishing today. May the love they have for each other grow deeper and stronger because of their love for you. Lord, you guided them to each other, now guide them in this new journey as husband and wife. As they walk down this path, light their way so they may keep their eyes focused on your will, their hands holding fast to your truth, their feet firmly planted in Your Word, and their hearts bound together by your love. This we pray in your name. 

Groom and Bride since you have consented together in holy matrimony, and have pledged yourselves to each other by your solemn vows and by the giving of rings, and have declared your commitment of love before God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God hath joined together, let no man separate. 

Kiss 

Groom you may kiss your Bride. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, 

(Mr. and Mrs.) 

We are here today to celebrate the miracle of love. Groom and Bride have found that miracle in each other, and now desire to share their love all the days of their lives. 

Are both of you willing to give your hand to the one whose heart you hold? 

(Both answer): Yes, we are. 

Today you are giving yourselves to one another to love and to live. Your lives are being woven together, and in time, they will intertwine in such a way that you truly will become one in heart, mind, and soul. Listen to these words that reflect this kind of love. 

When a man and a woman are in love, His life lies within hers and her life lies within his. Each lives as an individual, yet they also live for one another. Each strives for independent goals, but they also work together to achieve their dreams. 

When a man and a woman are in love, they will give to one another what they need to survive and help fulfill each other’s wants. They will work as a mirror, reflecting to each other their strengths and weaknesses. They will work together to alleviate the emotional walls that may separate them. 

They will be there to comfort each other in times of sorrow. 

They will be there to celebrate together in times of happiness. 

They will be one another’s friend, guiding each other to the happiness that life holds. When a man and a woman are in love, his life lies within hers 

and her life lies within his. Together they will love one another for the rest of their lives and forever. 

Groom and Bride, may this kind of love always help you keep the promises you are about to make here today. 

Groom, please repeat after me. 

I, Groom, take you, Bride, / to be my wedded wife. / I do promise before God and these witnesses / to be faithful and true, / in plenty and in want, / in joy and in sorrow, / in sickness and in health, / and I will love you and cherish you / for as long as we both shall live. 

Bride please repeat after me. 

I, Bride, take you, Groom, / to be my wedded husband. / I do promise before God and these witnesses / to be faithful and true, / in plenty and in want, / in joy and in sorrow, / in sickness and in health, / and I will love you and cherish you / for as long as we both shall live. 

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond that unites two loyal hearts in endless love. May these rings always remind you that it was love that brought you together, and it is love that will keep you together through all the seasons of your lives. 

This ring I give in token and pledge/ as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I thee wed. 

This ring I give in token and pledge/ as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I thee wed. 

May god bless you with Hope enough to keep sunshine in your love, and strength enough to keep you holding hands in the dark; Unity enough to keep your roots entwined, and Separation enough to keep you reaching for each other; Harmony enough to keep romance in your song, and Discord enough to keep you tuning your love so it becomes sweet music to all who may hear it. 

Groom and Bride now that you have shared with each other these words of love and commitment, and we have witnessed the expression of your love as you have given each other these rings, and you have joined your hands and hearts before your family and friends, it is with great joy that I pronounce you husband and wife. 

Kiss 

Groom you may kiss your Bride. 

(The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr. and Mrs.) 

Who presents (Bride) _____________________ to be married to (Groom) ______________________? 

(The Escort shall say): Her Mother and I or I do or We do or Her family or other. 

(Bride gives bouquet to Maid of Honor.) 

Friends and family of the Bride and Groom, we are here today because love has gathered us together. On this day, (Groom’s full name) __________________and (Bride’s full name) ________________________________ will pledge their lives as one, and commit themselves to each other forever in marriage. 

(Groom)________________ and (Bride) ________________________, there are no obligations on earth more sweet or tender than those you are about to assume. There are no vows more solemn than those you are about to make. There is no human institution more sacred than that of the home you are about to establish. Marriage is the holiest of all earthly relationships. Yes, marriages are made in heaven, but they have to be maintained here on earth. May you see that your love is truly a gift from God. And may your marriage be such that all will know of your deep love for one another, as well as for God, the One who brought you together. 

(Groom)_______________________, will you have (Bride) __________________to be your wife, to live together in the bonds of marriage? Will you commit yourself completely to her and her alone? And will you promise to love her, care for her, and stand by her through all that life may bring, as long as you both shall live? 

(The Groom shall say): I will. 

And (Bride) ____________________, will you have (Groom) _________________ to be your husband, to live together in the bonds of marriage? Will you commit yourself completely to him and him alone? And will you promise to love him, care for him, and stand by him through all that life may bring, as long as you both shall live? 

(The Bride shall say): I will. 

Today you are giving yourselves to one another to love and to live. Your lives are being woven together, and in time, they will intertwine in such a way that you truly will become one in heart, mind, and soul. Listen to these words that reflect this kind of love. 

When a Man and a Woman are in Love 

When a man and a woman are in love, His life lies within hers and her life lies within his. Each lives as an individual, yet they also live for one another. Each strives for independent goals, but they also work together 

to achieve their dreams. 

When a man and a woman are in love, 

they will give to one another    what they need to survive and  help fulfill each other’s wants. 

reflecting to each other their strengths and weaknesses. They will work together to alleviate the emotional walls that may separate them. 

They will be there to comfort each other in times of sorrow. 

They will be there to celebrate together in times of happiness. 

They will be one another’s friend, guiding each other to the happiness that life holds. When a man and a woman are in love, his life lies within hers and her life lies within his. 

Together they will love one another  for the rest of their lives and forever. 

(Groom)______________ and (Bride) _________________, may this kind of love always help you keep the promises you are about to make here today. 

(The Officiant shall say): (Groom) ______________________________, please repeat after me. 

(Bride)_________________I thank God for bringing you into my life./ I choose you this day/as my wife, my love, and my best friend./ I commit myself to you/ openly, exclusively, and eternally./ I promise you my unconditional love, / I give you my unwavering trust, / and I share with you all the days of my life. 

(The Officiant shall say): (Bride) _________________________________, please repeat after me. 

(Groom)____________________, I accept you / as the one God has chosen to complete me. / I join with you now/ to share all that life may bring. / I will be yours/ through weakness and strength, / through sorrow and joy, / through failure and triumph. / I give my love to you and you alone/ with all my heart, soul, and mind / now, forever, and always. 

You are about to give to each other a ring. The wedding ring is a symbol of many things. It is made of precious metals that symbolize a love that is pure and enduring. It is made of rare gems that symbolize a love that is priceless and irreplaceable. It is made in a perfect circle that symbolizes a love that is permanent and everlasting. Whenever you look at this ring, may it forever remind you of the promises you have made this day to keep your love pure, priceless, and permanent.  

(Groom) You may now place (Bride’s) ring on her finger and repeat after me.

(Bride)________________________, This ring I give in token and pledge/ as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I thee wed. 

(Bride) You may now place (Groom’s) ring on his finger and repeat after me.

(Groom)________________________, This ring I give in token and pledge/ as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I thee wed. 

Dear Lord, we pray that You will bless this man and this woman as they begin their new journey together. In all the experiences of life, may they always stay close to You and to each other as they share the joys and blessings, as well as the trials and heartaches. Help them to honor and keep the promises made here today, and remind them daily of Your great love for them so they, in turn, may reach out in love to others. Give them such love and devotion that each may be to the other a strength in need, a comfort in sorrow, a counselor in difficulty, and a companion in joy. Amen. 

(Groom)______________ and (Bride) ______________, we have witnessed today the joining of your two lives in holy wedlock. You have exchanged your vows, and given and received these rings in token of your love and commitment to each other. And so, I now bestow upon you the most honorable titles that may exist between a man and a woman; I pronounce you husband and wife.