Short Wedding Ceremony
(5 minutes)
Wedding Ceremony for
GroomFull
& BrideFull
Place
Date
Opening Logistics
- Background music
- Music changes (this is the official start of
the ceremony)
- Grandparents are ushered in by groomsmen,
best man, or Groom
- Parents are ushered in by groomsmen, best
man, or Groom
- Music changes
- Maid of honor and
Bride
s maids enter individually
- Ring barer, and flower children, and
bell ringer enter individually
- Music changes to bridal march
-
Bride
is escorted in
- Music stops briefly then continues (low
volume) throughout ceremony
Introduction
Dearly beloved, we
are assembled here in the presence of God and these witnesses to celebrate the
joining of this man and this woman in the unity of marriage. There are no
obligations on earth sweeter 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 form. True marriage is the
holiest of all earthly relationships. The state of matrimony is based this deep,
invisible union of two souls who seek to find completion in one another.
Do you understand this?
(Respond by yes, nodding, etc.)
Recognition of
those who could not be with us today
Specifically name parents, grandparents or siblings that have
either passed or were physically unable to attend. For those passed, a
remembrance table off to the side with pictures of them is appropriate.
Giving of the Bride and
Groom
Who gives this woman in
marriage?
Parents or Sponsors: We do.
Who gives this man?
Parents or Sponsors: We
do
The Challenge
Will you please face each
other and join hands?
Groom
, will you take this woman, whose hands you hold, choosing her alone to be your
wedded wife? Will you live with her in the state of true matrimony? Will you
love her, comfort her, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health,
honor her at all times, and be faithful to her?
Bride
, will you take this man, whose hands you hold, choosing him alone to be your
wedded husband? Will you live with him in the state of true matrimony? Will you
love him, comfort him, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health,
honor him at all times, and be faithful to him?
Exchange of Vows and Rings
As you take these I would have you remember:
To love is to come together
from the pathways of our past and then move forward...Hand in hand, along the
uncharted roads of our future, ready to risk, to dream, and to dare.... And
always believe that all things are possible with faith and love in God, and in
each other.
Will you repeat after me?
I
Groom
, take you Bride
to be my wife, to love and cherish, from this day forward, and
thereto pledge you my faith,
I,
Bride
, take you Groom
, to be my husband, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, and thereto
pledge you my faith.
I understand you have brought
rings as a token of your sincerity?
Bless O God these rings, that
each gives, receives, and wears as a token of the covenant between them and God,
and may they ever abide in thy peace, living together in unity, in love, and in
happiness, and with good purpose do thy will. Amen.
Groom
, will you repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed. Let it ever be to us a
symbol of our love.
Bride
, will you repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed. Let it ever be to us a
symbol of our love.
Declaration of Marriage
In as much as you,
Groom
, and you Bride
, have consented together in the union of matrimony and you have pledged your
faith each to the other in the presence of God and this company, now by the
authority vested in me as a minister, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife!
You may kiss your Bride!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I now
present Mrs. Bride and Mr.
GroomFull
Ending
Logistics
-
Bride
and
Groom
depart
to the back and position themselves to the right or left to begin the
formation of a receiving line.
- Groomsmen
and
Bride
's
Maids recess.
- Groomsmen
return to usher Parents out to join the
Bride
and
Groom
at
the reception line.
- Audience
is now dismissed.