Outline of Wedding Ceremony

5:30 -- Entire wedding party dressed and in sanctuary for pictures

6:45 -- Wedding party in annex

6:55 -- Solo(s)

7:00 -- Seating of Honored Guests

Begin Processional Music

1. Seat groom's grandmother

2. Seat bride's grandmother

3. Seat groom's parents

4. Seat bride's mother

Begin Processional

1. Pastor and Groom enter from side

2. Groomsmen and Bridesmaids

3. Maid/Matron of Honor and Best Man

4. Flower Girl and Ring Bearer

Begin Wedding March

1. Bride with Father enters (Bride's mother stands as signal for all to stand)

Prayer

Congregation asked to be seated

Initial Remarks

SAMPLE -- We are gathered here in the sight of God and these witnesses to unite Bill and Sue in holy matrimony. As believers in Jesus Christ, they recognize that it was God who instituted marriage, and who said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." The God who made and redeemed them also instituted this relationship they are about to enter.

__________ and _________, the vows you are about to take are not to be taken without careful thought and prayer. For in them you are committing yourselves exclusively the one to the other for as long as you both shall live. This love is not to be diminished by difficult circumstances, and it is only to be dissolved by death.

As God's children by faith in Jesus Christ, the relationship of marriage is especially meaningful. Certainly it is possible for non-believers to marry, but only members of God's family by faith in Jesus Christ can ever experience the joy and fulfillment which God intends for marriage to have. Let me remind you, Bill and Sue, your home will never be what God intends for it to be if you leave Him out of your relationship. As you are obedient to the Word of God, and allow God to control your relationship, your home will be the place of joy and testimony to the world that God intends.

Giving Away of the Bride

See Sample Wedding Ceremonies

Scripture Reading

Congregational Hymn or Solo

(Flower girl and ring bearer sit down)

Congregational Hymn

Wedding Party Moves to Platform

(Bride and groom faces one another)

Wedding Vows

See Sample Wedding Vows and Sample Wedding Ceremonies

Ring Vows

See Sample Wedding Vows and Sample Wedding Ceremonies

Pronouncement

For as much as ________ and _________ have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and these witnesses, and thereto have pledged their faithfulness each to the other, and have pledged the same by the giving and receiving each of a ring, by the authority invested in me as a minister of the gospel according to the laws of the State of ____________, I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those that God has joined together, let no man put assunder.

Prayer

Join with me as we ask God's blessing on this new formed family unit. Shall we pray?

Eternal Father, creator, redeemer, lover of our souls, we now turn to you, and as the first act of this couple in their newly formed union. We as you to protect their home. May they always turn to you for guidance, for strength, for provision, for direction. May they glorify you in the choices they make, in the ministries they involve themselves in, in all that they do. Use them to draw others to yourself, and let them stand as a testimony to the world of your faithfulness. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

The Kiss

You may kiss your bride.

Introduction

Pastor -- Now it is my happy privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. __________.

Recessional

• Bride and Groom
• Matron of Honor and Best Man
• Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
• Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
• Groomsmen/ushers return for honored guests who are escorted out in reversed order of their entrance.
• Ushers may dismiss rest of guests or usher them out row by row.