Dearly beloved…  We are gathered together in the sight of GOD, and the face of this company, to join together this man, and this woman, in the Holy estate of matrimony.  If any man knows reason why  _____ & _____  should NOT be joined together, let him speak now, or forever hold his peace.

Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?  (optional)

For as much as _____ & _____  come now, from their community of family and friends, and ask our support as they begin their journey together…. We do well to remember our LORD, as he came not to rule but to serve, so we could live together in love and harmony, and in the end … have everlasting life… Let us Pray    

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Charge to the couple:

_____ & _____ , in a few moments you will publicly declare your love, one to another. And just moments after that, you will indeed be husband and wife. From this day forward, the date (mm/dd) will always have a special meaning for you as the day you vowed to love and cherish each other in all ways, for all time.

So each year when you come upon your anniversary, I encourage you to rededicate yourselves to the promises and commitments you made here today. Take stock of where you are in your marriage and how you are doing as marriage partners. Express your gratitude to each other for the ways that you have effectively loved and supported one another, and forgive yourselves and each other for any judgments that may have come between you.

Show each other that you can be trusted and counted on as a comfort when facing difficult times, and celebrate abundantly the successes and joys life brings your way. Let your love lead the way and be more important than anything else. Do that, and I promise you, your lives will be filled with blessings and joy.

(followed by)  A reading from I Corinthians 13

Love is patient……….Love is kind.  It is not jealous, it does not brag, it is not arrogant, it does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own; It is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered ……… Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things….. Believes all things….. Hope all things….. Endures all things.

Love never fails….. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away.  If there are tongues, they will cease.  If there is knowledge, it will be done away.

For we know in part, and we prophesize in part, but when the PERFECT comes, the partial will be done away.

When I was a child….. I spoke as a child….. Thought as a child, reasoned as a child.  When I became a man, I did away with childish things.

For now, we see in a mirror dimly - but THEN..… FACE TO FACE….. Now I know in part, but THEN I will know fully just as I also, have been fully known.

But now faith, hope, and love abides these three…..but the greatest of these is LOVE   

Perhaps equally important as the LOVE which has brought you together, is the FRIENDSHIP and RESPECT that you share for each other; for with these three things I submit to you that: “A successful marriage is a never ending journey that two people take… hand in hand…With the love of GOD to shine as a beacon in the difficult times…And as a golden sunrise in the happy times.”

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Do you _____  take this woman to be your wife: to live together in the Holy estate of matrimony; and do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her… so long as you both shall live?  I DO (repeat for Bride)  

I,  _____ take you _____ to be my wedded wife / to have and to hold / from this day forward / for better or worse / for richer for poorer / in sickness and in health / to love and to cherish / till death do us part. (repeat for bride)

(Minister asks for the rings)  The wedding rings, are an outward and visible sign, of an inward, and spiritual grace. Made of the purest of metals, may these rings represent the type of love that you both have… without beginning or end…  
(Groom is instructed by Minister to place the wedding ring on the bride’s finger…and to repeat the following):  ____ I give you this ring/ as a token of my love /  and with all that I am / and all that I have / I honor you in the name of GOD.  (repeat for the bride)    Let us pray

*        ……. Unity Candle / Unity Sand ceremony. (Optional)

For as much as _____  & _____  have come together in front of you… their family and friends, and by their promises to one another…..I as a Minister of the word of GOD, and according to the state of (appropriate state); am proud to pronounce you “Husband and Wife”. You may kiss your bride… 

Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. & Mrs. ________



© Germantown Wedding Ministers LLC