Standard Wedding Service

Processional

Prayer:

O God, Creator and Father of us all, we thank You for the gift of life and in life for the gift of marriage. Today we think especially of ( ) and ( ) as they begin their life together as husband and wife. With them we thank You for the joy they find in each other. Grant them the special quality of happiness as they establish a new home, build a new family and support each other. We seek Your blessing in the name of Jesus, the Christ, who is the source of all new life.

( ) and ( ), I welcome you to this moment in your lives when you come before your friends and your family, but more importantly, before God to pledge to each other that from this point forward you’ll both live as one. Living as one is quite a challenge, but I believe we live as one when we promise to our wife, to our husband, that from this day forward we will be faithful, honest and true.

I remind all of our guests that you have been invited here for a holy purpose, not just to witness, but to participate fully with your thoughts and prayers, asking God to bless this couple and their married life. You are here because ( ) and ( ) feel close to you and ask that you join with them in this dedication of sacred purpose. You represent symbolically all the people in the world who will be touched in any way by the life of ( ) and ( ). You represent their friends and family, now and forever. They have chosen this act of marriage and this public, holy ceremony in which to proclaim it. Together we all thank God who brought them together and ask Him always to guide their way.

(Joining of the families)

(Giving away or blessing of the union)

I would also like to ask at this time if any of you have any questions concerning this marriage. Now is the time to ask them. After today, I hope any words you say will only be positive ones. Any action you take will only strengthen this bond.

( ) and ( ), I require and I charge you both in the presence of God, that if either of you know of any reason why you may not be lawfully joined together as husband and wife, you now confess it. I need to assure you that as many as are joined together other than God’s word doth allow, they are not joined together by God, neither is their marriage lawful in His sight.

( ) would you repeat after me, please. “I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful reason why I, ( ) may not be joined in matrimony to ( ).

( ) will you have ( ) to be your lawful wedded wife, to live together according to the law of God in the holy estate of matrimony. Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honour and keep her and forsaking all others keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?

( ) will you have ( ) to be your lawful wedded husband, to live together according to the law of God in the holy estate of matrimony. Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honour and keep him and forsaking all others keep you only unto him as long as you both shall live?

First Corinthians Reading

Personal Wish from the Officiant (Homily)

I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, ( ), take you ( ) to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever and ever. According to God’s holy law, I thereto pledge you my faithfulness.

I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, ( ), take you ( ) to be my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever and ever. According to God’s holy law, I thereto pledge you my faithfulness.

Prayer:

O God, we are reminded today in a very special way of Your love. As the circle of these rings has no end, so is it with Your love for us. We think especially of ( ) and ( ) as they give and receive these rings. May they be worn with mutual respect and lasting love. And may they always be a reflection of the vow and covenant made between them this day, and a constant reminder of Your love to them. Amen.

( ), with this ring, I give you my promise that from this day forward you will not walk alone. May my heart be your shelter and my arms your home. I invite you to walk with me through all things. May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are. ( ) with this ring I pledge you my love.

( ), with this ring, I give you my heart. I have no greater gift to give. I will happily walk with you through all things. May you feel deeply loved for indeed you are. May we feel this joy forever. ( ) with this ring I pledge you my love.

Friends and family, for as much as ( ) and ( ) have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before you, but more importantly before God and the visible signs of their love and devotion to each other is the giving and receiving of a ring, the joining of hands and the exchange of vows. As a Marriage Officer in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

I believe that those whom God has joined together, none of us have a right to interfere with or come between.

( ) you may kiss your wife.

Unity Ceremony/Signing of the Register

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, may he lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace, on this most special day and from now on. Amen

Presentation of the couple