We
are assembled today in the presence of God and the
face of these witnesses to celebrate the joining of
_____________ and __________ into the bonds and unity
of marriage.
This
is a time you will never forget. A time that is one
of the most precious moments of your life. A time
when your separate lives with their individual memories,
hopes and dreams... all merge into one. A time that
you will look back on and say to each other, "do
you remember the time we were married in Las Vegas?
We had a wonderful time together with our family and
friends."
Marriage
is a meaningful word, meaningful because it means
the end of your search for that special person you
looked forward to, (and prayed about) to complete
your life. Marriage also speaks to us about the fulfillment
we have found and the love we have given to each other.
Marriage
began back in the Garden of Eden where God performed
the first marriage ceremony by saying, It is not good
that man should be alone!" and gave Eve to Adam.
Later marriage was spoken of by St. Paul as being
"more honorable above all." Also, marriage
was sanctified and beautified by our Lord and His
own presence at the wedding in Cana of Galliee where
He performed His first miracle.
So,
marriage is an institution blessed by God, that institution
of marriage that you are about to enter.
It
is our prayer that you have a wonderful marriage and
that you have peace and prosperity on the road of
life you have chosen to travel together...and may
all of your dreams come true. With this in mind...
II. Vows
TO
THE GROOM: ____________ do you take ___________
to be your lawful wedded wife?
TO
THE BRIDE: ____________ do you take ____________
to be your lawful wedded husband?
GROOM:
Then to your Bride say: "_______ I take you
to be my wife!"
BRIDE:
Then to your Groom say:"________ I take you
to be my husband!"
Now,
together and to each other repeat:
"For
better or for worse,
For richer or for poorer,
In
sickness and in health,
To have and to hold,
To love
and to cherish,
To honor and to respect,
From this
day Forward!"
III. Rings
TO
THE GROOM: Have you a ring for your Bride? Place
your ring on her ring finger.
TO
THE BRIDE: Have you a ring for the Groom? Place
your ring on his ring finger.
Hold
your ring hands together, and repeat to each other:
"As
a token of my faith in your love for me and as a sign
of my love for you, I give you this ring. Wear it
in peace and love always.
___________
and ____________, remember that as you wear these
rings, they are visible symbols of the love and trust
you are giving to each other. Being round in circumference
they remind us that our love for each other is to
be without end. Being made of precious metal, reminds
us of the preciousness of your love that you have
placed in each others trust.
Prayer:
Father God, may these rings ever signify the love
of ________ and __________ to each other. May the
incorruptible substance of these rings represent a
love glowing with increasing luster through the years.
Amen!
IV. Exhortation
TO
THE GROOM: ___________ do you love __________?
and
TO
THE BRIDE: ____________ do you love __________?
Someone
has asked ... "What is love?"
St.Paul
has
catalogued the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians
13 when he wrote: "Love is patient and kind,
it is gentle, joyful and long-suffering. Love does
not know hate, anger or jealousy, is not proud, arrogant
or sel-serving. But, love believes, hope and endures,
for love never fails.
TO
THE GROOM: There is a verse for you in
Proverbs 18:22 which reads:
"Whoso
finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtaineth favor
of the Lord!"
________
look at your wife! She is a gift to you from the Lord.
God's pretty good isn't He? And, as a gift from the
Lord, you are to honor her, cherish her, protect her,
take care of her and love her all the days of your
life. Amen?
And
____________, you are to honor and respect your husband
because he is a gift to you from the Lord, too. Amen?
V. Conclusion
You
are being married in our chapel today and later on
you will be joining together [if more
than the couple present] (your family
and friends) to celebrate this wonderful and happy
occasion... your wedding day. Then, __________, you
and ___________ will be waking up in the morning,
your first day together as husband and wife...facing
all the challenges that life that (City and State)
has to offer. As you face those challenges of life,
be very protective of the love that you have for each
other. Not only protect your love, but cultivate your
love and let your love grow and endure in all that
you do together.
Attending
God's house together and praying together as a couple
and a family.
But,
best of all, staying together till death do you part.
Giving
glory and honor to God Who has given you your love
for each other because love comes from God and God
IS love.
Is
this acceptable to both of you?
THEN
TOGETHER AND TO EACH OTHER REPEAT AFTER ME: "With
this ring, I marry you. I join my life with yours,
all that I am, all that I have, and all of my love,
I truly and freely give to you."
LET
US PRAY: "Heavenly Father, we bring
into Your presence ______ and ______, who have come
here to become husband and wife. Who have joined their
lives together to begin their walk in their road of
life. We pray that the home they establish in ______,
______ will be a home of peace, a fortress and a refuge
from the storms of life. That they will purpose in
their hearts and to each other that nothing will ever
separate them fromYour love for them or their love
for each other. That indeed, their love will grow
stronger and deeper, richer and fuller as the years
go by. We bless this marriage, this couple and their
families and all that are here today. And, we pray
that each one will arrive home safely from this place.
We pray this in Jesus' name, our risen Lord and Saviour...
AMEN!
___________
and ________, both of you have agreed to become husband
and wife, each agreeing to be married to each other.
By the giving of rings and the intent of the vows
you have expressed to each other in the company of
these witnesses. Therefore:
By the
powers vested me by the State of Nevada, and as a
Minister of the chapel, I pronounce you and present
you as ... HUSBAND and WIFE!
_________,
You may kiss your Bride!
Ladies
and Gentlement, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. ____________.
The
Recessional plays and the Bridal party exits the chapel,
back down the aisle.
After
the bridal party exits, all the guests are asked to
come forward and exit the chapel to their right, out
the chapel front door. *Those needed for photos are
asked to stay behing in the chapel.
*Bridal
party reenters the chapel for photos (subject to photo
package selected by bride and groom).
Wedding
Vows