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TRADITIONAL
WEDDING CEREMONY
by David Shook |
(bridal party enters-processional)
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
1
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His
holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy
diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with
lovingkindness and tender mercies:
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed
like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5
(prayer)
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"The guests may be seated, thank you."
"Someone has rightly said, a wedding is for a day, a marriage
is for a
lifetime. The scriptures declare, 'Marriage is honourable in all,'
therefore,
we have the assurance that we are doing something good and proper
at this
time. Marriage is a civil institution and there is a license
issued by the
state of California. But before that, marriage is a sacred
institution. We
find the basis for this in the book of Genesis in the Bible where
God created
the first man, Adam. Adam was alone. He named the animal kingdom,
male and
female, but he was alone. God said, 'It is not good that the man
should be
alone;' From Adam's own body, God made the woman, Eve, and placed
them
together. It is recorded, 'and they shall be one flesh.'
The uniting of a
man and a woman together in holy matrimony was born in the very
heart of God.
It is a sacred institution.
May I ask, who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
(Bride's escort answers)
(groom), you may now receive your bride. (groom takes the place of
the
bride's escort)
"Marriage is at the same time a solemn occasion and a joyous
occasion.
(groom) and (bride). You will be exchanging legal, sacred vows,
yes, it is a
solemn matter. However it is also a time of celebration! It is a
celebration
of a commitment. I commend you for this. Jesus chose a wedding
feast to
perform His first miracle. He turned the water into wine. Wine is
symbolic of
joy.
In addition to this, marriage is a picture of God's plan of
eternal life and
abundant life. Just as pictures are taken of your special
day to preserve
the memories of this wonderful day, marriage is a beautiful
picture.
The first picture of God's plan of eternal life and abundant life
is
freewill. Have you (groom) and (bride), freely and deliberately
chosen each
other as partners for life? "
(groom and bride answer)
"This is the way it is in God's plan. He offers eternal life
and abundant
life, but He does not force Himself on anyone. Each person must
make the
choice of either accepting God's Son or rejecting Him.
Secondly,
marriage is a beautiful picture of God's plan of eternal life and
abundant life in a final relationship. (groom) and (bride), you
will be
making a promise to each other, "for as long as I both shall
live." This is
meant to be a final and lasting relationship upon earth. This
pictures that
when someone freely receives Christ, God gives to that person
eternal life, a
final eternal relationship.
Thirdly, marriage pictures God's plan of eternal life and abundant
life in
faithful provision. You see, God uses people to meet many of our
needs. In
God's plan, He does not want us to be alone. In marriage He
provides someone
to share our life and dreams with. Someone to be a friend, mate,
partner and
lover. This pictures how God loves us and provides for us. The
Apostle Paul
said,
'But my God shall provide all your need according to his riches in
glory by
Christ Jesus.'
Philippians 4:19
(groom) and (bride), please come and stand before me as you become
husband
and wife.
(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, or poorer, in
sickness
and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as we both shall
live.
And now, (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 for as long as we
both shall
live. |
May
I have the rings, please?
The ring is a beautiful symbol of marriage. It pictures the
ingredients that make a successful marriage.
First,
love. Love means, 'giving to meet the needs of another with no
thought
of repayment.' In other words, 'give and give,' not 'give and
take'.
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From the writings of the Apostle Paul:
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth
not itself, is not puffed up.
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily
provoked, thinketh no evil.
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all
things.
8 Charity never faileth.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The second ingredient to a successful marriage is loyalty, being
true and
faithful to each other. Another word we use is commitment.
The third ingredient to a successful marriage is communication,
being open
and honest with each
other.
(groom), please take this beautiful ring and place it on your
bride's ring
finger. Holding it in place, please repeat after me, 'As a token
of our vows,
with this ring I thee wed.'
(bride), please make this beautiful ring and place it on your
groom's ring
finger. Holding it in place, please repeat after me, 'As a token
of our vows,
with this ring I thee wed.'
In addition to the ring, there is another symbol of marriage, it
is the unity
candle. (groom) and (bride), please take the two outside candles
and light
the center candle. After doing so, please extinguish the two
individual
candles, leaving the center candle lit, picturing the two become
one.
(groom and bride return to position of standing before minister)
(prayer)
Forasmuch, then, as you (groom) and you, (bride) have offered
yourselves to
each other, by the authority give me by God and the state of
California, I
pronounce you husband and wife.
(groom), you may kiss your bride.
Ladies and gentlemen, I now have the delightful pleasure of
presenting to
you, and would you please warmly welcome Mr. and Mrs. (groom's
first name,
bride's first name, groom's last name),
Congratulations and God bless you!!
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