Rhema Family Churches Australia

Wedding Ceremony Option 3

Entry Music

Welcome: Pastor ______

______and ______you are surrounded today by your family and friends, who are here to share in your joy on this special occasion. It will be one of the most significant and memorable days of your lives.

On behalf of the Bride and Groom, ______and ______, we welcome you to this marriage ceremony.

To the Father of the Bride:

Who gives this bride in marriage?

To the Groom:

You may take your bride.

To the congregation:

You may be seated.

Pastor ______:

Marriage is a beautiful, honourable and powerful thing that brings a man and a woman together through love.

While marriage is a legal contract, it is much more than that alone. Marriage was given by God for companionship and forms the foundation of the family. But the most powerful mystery is that it brings two distinctly different people together, and makes them one.

A husband is to love his wife as he does his own body, taking care of her and cherishing her. A wife is to adapt and respond to her husband’s love. For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.

To the witnesses:

You are not here simply because of tradition. You are here for a special purpose – to bear witness of this union and to add your agreement before God to that which takes place today.

To the congregation:

These two people stand here because they believe with all their hearts that it is right for them to be joined together in marriage. They have made their decision, so from now until the end of time, I charge you to do everything in your power to see that this union remains solid, strong, happy and prosperous.

To the Bride and Groom:

______and ______, You are about to be joined together as one. Don’t ever regard your marriage lightly. It is a precious thing and when founded on true love, will never fail. Love will endure all that life brings.

The Scriptures say this about love:

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant.

It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs.

It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth.

Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.

Love never comes to an end.

So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.

Vows:

______and ______as you prepare to take your vows, be aware that you are making an exclusive commitment one to the other for as long as you both shall live. With God’s help, your love should never be diminished by difficult circumstances and it will endure until death alone parts you.

To the Groom:

______, do you take ______to be your lawfully wedded wife? To you promise to love her and support her for life? Do you solemnly pledge before God and these witnesses that you will be faithful to her for the remainder of your life?

Groom: I do

To the Bride:

______do you take ______to be your lawfully wedded Husband? Do you promise to love and honour him? Do you solemnly pledge before God and these witnesses that you will be faithful to him for the remainder of your life?

Bride: I do

Pastor ______:

______and ______please turn and face each other and join hands.

May I have the rings please?

The rings you have chosen are made of gold, a precious metal which is least tarnished and most enduring. This represents well the ties that bind a husband and wife. Let these rings be a symbol to you of God’s endless love for you and the endless love which you have in your hearts for each other.

You wear these rings on your hands, parts of your bodies that are exposed for all to see. Your love will be exposed to many changing seasons. Let these rings be a constant reminder of your love for each other that will endure through all seasons of your life together.

To the Groom:

______, please place this ring on ______finger and repeat after me:

With this ring / I give you my love / I pledge you my faith and trust / for as long as we live.

To the Bride:

______, please place this ring on ______finger and repeat after me:

With this ring / I give you my love / I pledge you my faith and trust / for as long as we live.

At this time ______and ______along with their witnesses will sign the registry.

Pronouncement:

For as much as ______and ______have consented together in Holy Marriage and have witnessed the same before God and this company and have declared their faith by joining their hands, by giving and receiving rings thereby becoming one under God, I declare by the authority committed to me as a Minister of the Gospel, that this couple is husband and wife, according to the ordinance of God; in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace, both now and forever more.

______you may kiss your bride.

Presentation:

It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first time

Mr and Mrs ______

Note highlighted sections:

Required wording for Marriages according to the rites of Rhema Family Churches Australia