Page 105 - BMIN191 Beginnning Internship

Appendix A—Sample Wedding Ceremonies 105

Ceremony 1: Blended Contemporary

and Traditional

Address to the Assembly

In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we welcome you on this special occasion. As family,
friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ, we have come together to celebrate with (groom’s name) and (bride’s
name) as they commit their lives to one another. We encourage you to make this a time of celebration and
worship for God, Who has brought us to this point, is with us now. As on every day, He deserves first place in
each heart on this special day. We witness this event, that is covenant, celebration, and worship. Vows spoken
today are spoken not only before loved ones—each of you are witnesses of this covenant—but also spoken
before God, Who is present to witness these vows.

Giving of the Bride
Who gives this woman to be married to this man? [Reply.]

Address to Couple

(Groom’s name) and (bride’s name), we stand before these friends and family today to celebrate your union
with joy and thanksgiving. In a few moments, we will ask you to take vows of marriage and commit yourselves
to one another in this sacred hour. There is no denying the importance and specialness of this day in your lives.
We all rejoice with you.
Let me direct your attention to the truth of God’s Word found in Revelation 21:9. In this passage, a day is
spoken of that is symbolized by our actions here. It is the day of the marriage of God’s Son to one who is called
His bride. In God’s eternal plan, He has extended the invitation not only to attend the wedding, but to be the
bride. The bride is the church, those who will accept the love and relationship He has shown us through His
Son, Jesus.
Each of you has made special preparation for today. You have come dressed in your finest garments,
prepared yourself emotionally and spiritually for the commitment you are about to make to one another, and
done your best to arrange every detail of this day. Even so, God has made every preparation for the day His
Son is joined with His bride. He has offered us spotless and glorious garments, garments of forgiveness and
cleansing from all that would make us an unworthy bride. He has made all the necessary arrangements for us to
live eternally with Him in the glorious place He has prepared.
I charge you as you rejoice in this day, and I charge each one who has come to share in your joy, to be
certain that you have made your preparation for that wedding that is yet to come. Make Jesus Christ, the
bridegroom, the center of your life, your union, and your home.
(Groom’s name) and (bride’s name), remember that God’s intention is for marriage to be a relationship of
mutual submission and sacrifice. The decisions that you make should be based on your sacrificial love for each
other. That sacrificial love is the kind of love that Christ has for the church. He gave himself up for His bride,
the church, in order that she might become all that God intended—holy, blameless, without any defect.
Most of all, I urge you both—as you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, as you become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ—strive for that kind of
relationship where together you find the mind of Christ for every moment of your joined lives.