Wedding Ceremony
STARTING TIME 6:00
SAX SOLO
MEN TO LIGHT THE CANDLES
FLUTE SOLO
GRANDPARENTS TO ENTER
SOLO # 1 “SEEKERS OF THE HEART”
PARENTS ENTER LIGHT THE CANDLES FOR THE UNITY CANDLE
SOLO # 2 “PARENT’S PRAYER”
“PACHELBEL’S CANON IN D”
GROOM PASTOR AND GROOMSMEN TO ENTER.
BRIDESMAIDS TO ENTER
RUNNER TO BE PULLED
“BRIDAL CHORUS”
BRIDE TO ENTER
Thank you, you may be seated
WELCOME
Dear Friends and Family,
We have come to the House of God today for some very special reasons:
1. We have come to witness the joining together of Stephen Phillips and Lorraine Clemons in holy matrimony consummated by the exchanging of vows and the giving of gifts.
2. We have come to share in the festive joy that such a special time brings.
3. We have come to witness the miracle of God which takes place has He takes two completely different individuals and make them one by His marvelous grace and for His glory.
4. We have come to worship the Lord our God as we are reminded how the church is called the bride of Christ and the great love that He has for us.
5. We also have come to show to you Stephen and to you Lorraine our loving support as you endeavor to do the Lord’s will for life.
CHARGE TO THE PARENTS
What a joy it is as pastor to see such a fine couple standing before me ready to do God’s wonderful will for their lives. We all must realize that this did not happen by chance I Thank God for loving parents who live lives that are exemplary that inspire their children to trust the Lord and to live for the Lord and to do His will. Now because of that to you Mr. Mrs. Phillips and to you Mr. and Mrs. Clemons God is giving you all a reward as you see that special gift that He as for you children as in the prayer of Jabez he enlarges your coast. As she becomes your daughter and He becomes your son.
GIVING OF THE BRIDE AWAY
We remember back in the garden when God saw Adam alone
Gen. 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Then in verse 22 the bible reads:
“And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
The giving of the bride away is a godly honor therefore in this sacred hour believing this to be the will of God for this young couple who gives this woman to this man in holy matrimony?
SOLO # 3 THE FATHER SAYS I DO”
PRAYER
CHARGE TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM
Realizing this to be Gods will for your life. Signifying that neither of you knows of any barrier to prevent this union Lorraine will you hand your bouquet to your maid of honor will you join hands and face each other. Stand closer.
At he dawn of creation God gave us this beautiful gift we call marriage.
Marriage is an honorable and an holy institution of God. It is a good thing for a man to be married but marriage should not be rushed into or approached upon unadvisably but with great caution and much prayer should we come to this place in our life.
As we have already stated here it was God who gave the first bride away.
God saw that man was alone and said that it was not good for man to be alone. Therefore he made him an helpmeet. But I want you to notice when God formed this woman he took a very special bone from Adam. It was not a bone from his foot that she might be his slave, nor from his head that she might be his master. But it was a bone from his rib, a bone next to his heart that she might be the love of his life.
When Jesus was to begin His great ministry it was at a wedding that He started. This signifies to us that if your marriage is to be successful you must have Jesus as the permanent quest of your home.
Stephen and Lorraine this day marks a new era in your lives now united. From this day forward you will travel lifes pathway not alone but together. It is our prayer that you will allow the Great Shepherd to lead you, that your journey may be fulfilling in all that you do. Remember for two cannot walk together except they be agreed. If I were to give in one statement for a good, love-filled, lasting marriage, it would be this. Build a Christian home. Forget not to pray. Stay close to the Lord. Serve him and regularly and faithfully attend his house. Then your experience will be as you travel down lifes road as that of the two disciples, who journeyed from Jerusalem to Emmaus, of whom we read that Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them.
The Questions
Stephen & Lorraine, you both must realize for this day come, much sacrifice has been made not only for today but also through the years on your behalf.
Do you realize this?
Stephen & Lorraine, you must realize that if this union is to be strong and stand against the storms of life, which will assuredly come, you both must be willing to sacrifice your will for the good of the other.
Do you realize this?
Stephen, the Bible says of the man that when he finds a good woman he finds a treasure far above the price of rubies. Therefore Stephen you must cultivate a relationship between you and Lorraine so that your home will be a place of peace and that your children may grow up with security knowing that their Father loves their Mother.
Stephen Do you realize this?
Lorraine, the Bible says that a woman must lovingly submit to her husband. Therefore, Lorraine, you must be the constant example of love in your home. This will allow your children to grow up with peace being ever confident of the love their Mother has for their Father.
Lorraine, Do you realize this?
SOLO # 4 ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Having answered these questions: Are you now ready to commit sacred vows of holy matrimony?
Stephen & Lorraine, we have come now to a very important part of this ceremony. You will share vows between each other. You will be making a holy covenant, a sacred promise not to be kept for an indefinite period of time but broken only by the death of one partner. This covenant or vow will be witnessed not only by these that love you dearly but also by the very God who created you and has brought you to this point in your life.
These vows will never become inviolate for any reason. Stephen Are you ready?
Do you Stephen Phillips; take this young lady whose hands you now hold to be your lawfully wedded wife to live together after Gods ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?
Do you promise to love her and comfort her?
Do you promise to cleave unto her and her only?
Do you promise to be a true and faithful husband as long as you both shall live?
Lorraine realizing the sacredness of the vows you have just heard are you now ready to make the same vows?
Do you Lorraine Clemons; take this young Man whose hands you now hold to be your lawfully wedded Husband to live together after Gods ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?
Do you promise to love him and comfort him?
Do you promise to cleave unto him and him only?
Do you promise to be a true and faithful wife as long as you both shall live?
SOLO # 5
At this time Lorraine would like to dedicate a song to Stephen.
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
When coming into a covenant relationship like this it has been a long time custom to exchange gifts to consummate the vows that you have just given and just received.
Stephen, What Gift do you give to your bride pledging the sincerity of your vows?
Will you notice that it is a circle no beginning and no ending Now may this ring which has no beginning or ending be henceforth, the chaste and changeless symbol of your unending love for this precious woman.
Place it on her wedding finger and repeat after me.
I Stephen take thee Lorraine to be my wedded wife
To have and to hold from this day forward,
For better or worse I promise before God and these friends
To love you and to cherish you
In good times and in bad times,
In times of joy and in times grief,
I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.
I promise, forsaking all others,
To cleave to you and to you only so long as we both shall live.
May this ring be a symbol of my priceless devotion and unending love that I have for you? May it serve as a consistent reminder of the commitment we now make together? With this ring I thee wed and, all the worldly good I have with thee I share.
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen
Lorraine, What Gift do you give too your Husband pledging the sincerity of your vows?
Will you notice that it is a priceless metal Now may this ring given be the outward visible sign of your priceless devotion that you have one for another.
Place it on his wedding finger and repeat after me.
I Lorraine take thee Stephen to be my wedded Husband
To have and to hold from this day forward,
For better or worse
I promise before God and these friends
To love you and to cherish you
In good times and in bad times,
In times of joy and in times grief,
I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.
I promise, forsaking all others,
To cleave to you and to you only so long as we both shall live.
May this ring be a symbol of my priceless devotion and unending love that I have for you? May it serve as a consistent reminder of the commitment we now make together? With this ring I thee wed and, all the worldly good I have with thee I share.
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen
DUET # 6 CHERISH THE TREASURE
UNITY CANDLE
Stephen & Lorraine Behind us are two candles that have been lit by those who truly love you and support you in this hour.
The candles that are lit represent your lives unto this day two separate flames. You will now take the two flames and make one flame symbolizing your lives after today. No more 2 but 1. This is a wonderful mystery of God when he takes 2 lives and makes them one. Please light these candles.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
DUET # 7 ONE LOVE
PRESENTATION OF NEW COUPLE
For as much as Stephen and Lorraine have consented in a holy marriage covenant and thereto have given and pledged their promise each to the other and have confirmed the same by the giving and receiving of gifts which we all have witnessed.
With the authority committed unto me as a minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I now declare you husband and wife according to the ordinance of God and the laws of the Great State of Florida, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
Now upon you Stephen and upon you Lorraine his wife we pray heaven’s richest benedictions on you. May all you come to know you love you?
You are now one, one in love one in life one in destiny.
Stephen you may kiss your bride!
Ladies and gentlemen it is my privilege to introduce to you for the first time in public
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Phillips!
RECCESSIONAL
PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS ESSCOTED OUT
Giving of thanks with reception and receiving line details by the pastor
