Wedding Liturgy (Taken from the Book of Common Worship)

Sentences from Scripture

1) 1 John 4:16

God is love, and those who abide in love, abide in God, and God abides in them.

2) Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

3) Psalm 106:1

O give thanks, for the Lord is good.  God’s love endures forever.

Statement on the Gift of Marriage

Friends,
we gather to celebrate the marriage of N. and N.,
to witness their vows,
pledge our support,
and seek God’s blessing upon them.
From the beginning,
God created us for relationship
and kept covenant with us.
Jesus gave himself in love
and taught us to continually forgive.
And the Holy Spirit, given in baptism,
renews God’s grace within us day by day,
enabling us to grow in faith, in hope, and in love.
Those who marry are called to a way of life
marked by grace, fidelity, and mutual respect,
as they bear one another’s burdens
and share one another’s joys.
As N. and N. make their promises today,
families are joined,
friendships are strengthened,
and a new community of love is formed.
Let us surround N. and N. with our affection and prayer,
giving thanks for their love for one another
and for all the ways
that God’s love is made manifest in our lives.

Prayer

Gracious God,
you are always faithful in your love for us.
Look with kindness upon N. and N.,
who come seeking your blessing.
Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them
so that with steadfast love
they may honor the vows they make this day,
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Declarations of Intent
The minister addresses each member of the couple individually:

N., do you desire to enter the covenant of marriage,
giving of yourself in every way,
with mutual love and respect?

Answer: “I do.”

Affirmations of the Families
The minister may address the families of the couple:

Do you, the families of N. and N.,
give them your blessing,
promise to uphold them in their marriage,
and encourage them in their life together?

The families answer: “We (I) do.”

Affirmation of the Congregation
The minister may address the congregation, saying:

Do all of you witnessing these vows
promise to uphold N. and N. in their marriage
and encourage them in their life together?

Answer: “We will.”

A psalm, hymn, spiritual, or anthem may be sung.

Reading(s) from Scripture

Sermon

A psalm, hymn, spiritual, or other music may follow.

Vows
The minister addresses the couple:

N. and N., join your right hands
and make your vows to one another.

The couple face each other and join right hands. They then make their vows to each other:

Each in turns says:

N., you are my beloved,
and I promise,
before God and these witnesses,
to be loving and faithful to you
in plenty and in want;
in joy and in sorrow;
in sickness and in health;
as long as we both shall live.

Exchange of Rings (or Other Symbols)
        When the rings are presented, the minister may say the following prayer.

By your blessing, O God,
may these rings be for N. and N.
symbols of unending love and faithfulness,

and signs of the covenant they have made this day,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

As each ring is given, the one giving the ring says:

This ring I give you,
as a sign of our constant faith
and abiding love,
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Lord’s Prayer


Announcement of Marriage

Before God
and in the presence of this congregation,
N. and N. have made their solemn vows to each other.
They have confirmed their promises by the joining of hands
[and by the giving and receiving of rings].
Therefore, I proclaim that they are now married.

Those whom God has joined together let no one separate.

Charge to the Couple

1) “As God’s own, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, and patience,
forgiving each other
as the Lord has forgiven you,
and crown all these things with love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

2) Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God through him.”

Blessing
1) “The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord be kind and gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor
and give you peace.”

2) “The grace of Christ attend you,
the love of God surround you,
the Holy Spirit keep you,
that you may live in faith,
abound in hope,
and grow in love,
both now and forevermore.”