Short & Sweet: Marriage Ceremony

Gathering Words

Dearly Beloved, We are gathered here in the sight of God and these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in Holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate created by God.

Charge

Marriage is an institution ordained of God, and it is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but reverently, deliberately, and only after much consideration, for in coming together in marriage you are committing yourselves exclusively, the one to the other, for as long as you both shall live.

Consent

Knowing this, I ask you this question:

_____________________________,

Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the Holy estate of matrimony?

Will you honor her, and keep her, in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep yourself only unto her so long as you both shall live?

If so, please answer: I DO

_______________________________,

Will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the Holy estate of matrimony?

Will you love him, comfort him, honor and kepp him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep yourself only unto him so long as you both shall live?

If so, please answer: I DO

Exchange of Vows

Then, if you would, please turn to face one another and join hands as you each take your marital vows:

Beginning with you, :____________________

Do you, :_____________________________,

take :_________________________________,

to be your lawfully wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's Holy ordinance? If so, please answer: I DO.

And now you, :__________________________

Do you, :_______________________________,

take :________________________________,

to be your lawfully wedded husband; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, or for worse, for richer, or for poorer, in sickness, and in health to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's Holy ordinance? If so, please answer: I DO.

Ring Exchange

Do we have some rings?

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in holy matrimony through the church of Jesus Christ our Lord.

May the rings that you hold symbolize the nature of God in your lives, and as often as either of you see them, may you be reminded of this moment and the endless love you have promised.

_________________, as you present

_______________with her wedding ring and pledge your love and your life to her, will you please repeat after me:

______________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. With all that I am, and all that I have, I promise to love and honor you always. With this ring, I thee wed.

____________________as you present

______________with his wedding ring and pledge your love and your life to him, will you please repeat after me:

_____________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. With all that I am, and all that I have, I promise to love and honor you always. With this ring, I thee wed.

Pronouncement

__________________________and _______________________, inasmuch

as you have consented to be joined together in the holy state of matrimony, and having pledged and sealed your vows by the giving and receiving of rings in the presence of both God and this company, it is with great pleasure that I now pronounce you husband and wife.

What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

Congratulations! You may kiss the bride.

Presentation

It is with great joy and honor that I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. ________________ and _______________________!