Seashell Or Stone Ceremony
In this optionwhich works best for beach weddings or ceremonies taking place near a body of waterMagerman invites both guests and the couple to hold a small seashell or pebble in their hands, give it a wish or a blessing, and then drop it into the water. I talk about the ripple effect of not only the rock or the seashell in the water, but of the couples love for each other and how it has a ripple effect on the entire group, says Magerman. Its another way to get everyone invested.
Bible Principles Of Marriage
Jesus Christ Reminds us, that at the beginning the Creator made us male and female , and said, For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.
God loved us, and created us to love others. Our lives find completion only as we love and are loved in return. Together, we can become what we could never be separately. Marriage is of God.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
________ and ________ come today desiring to be united in this sacred relationship.
What The Pastor Should Say In The Wedding
the two shall become one.
The wedding ceremony is a great timeonce in a lifetime for most peoplefor the pastor to get something across to two people in particular while hundreds are eavesdropping.
Not that they will remember a thing you say.
Friday, April 13, 1962, when Margaret and I stood at the altar, our pastor said some wonderful things that I found fascinating and inspiring. Alas, my mind retained his insightful words for exactly half an hour, so whatever he said is gone forever.
These days, someone is recording your wedding service. So, youll be able to listen later when life returns to normal.
Presumably, thats when the ministers words are finally heard and begin to sink in.
So, what do you tell them, pastor? What words of lasting value and incredible help can you utter during the ceremony which will make a huge difference down the road a year or two or ten? Now, you have only so much time, and this is not the time nor place for a full sermon. Still, choose a few great points you wish to lodge in their hearts forever and give it a shot.
Here are my suggestions on what you want to tell the couple.
1) Tell them this is a holy step they are taking and what that means.
Something holy belongs to God. Sometimes God creates a thing, keeps it for Himself, and announces to mankind that this thing is His and should be treated with great respect.
2) Tell them God is not going to force a great marriage on them.
They get to choose. They have to choose.
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Nuptial Mass Or Celebration Of Marriage
If both members of the wedding couple are Catholic, they may opt for the full Catholic wedding ceremony Nuptial Mass. The Nuptial Mass includes several readings from the Old and New Testament, as well as hymns and psalms. After that, the priest offers a homily, which typically includes readings and teachings on marriage and love. If the couple opts to skip the Nuptial Mass, they’ll have what’s called a Celebration of Marriage, which begins with the Liturgy of the Word.
Pronouncement Of Marriage 14
Forasmuch as you, Bride and you, Groom, have openly declared your wishes to be united in marriage, and in the presence of these witnesses have pledged love to each other, and have confirmed the same by joining hands, exchanging rings and declaring your vows, I as a minister and legally authorized to do pronounce that you are now husband and wife.
You may now kiss the Bride.
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Don’t Forget To Make It Official
A quick final note after performing the ceremony, make sure to fill out the marriage license! IMPORTANT: Laws vary by state, but marriage licenses are generally only valid for a period of 30-90 days. Visit ourState Marriage Laws page for more information. Communicate with the couple and do your homework the license should not be obtained too far in advance, and should be returned promptly to the correct authority after the ceremony to ensure that it doesn’t expire. In a majority of states, this is the officiant’s responsibility. While it is acceptable to mail the license, dropping it off in person is preferred in order to avoid any unforeseen complications.
Once the paperwork has been submitted, you have officially completed the wedding ceremony. Congratulations!
Note: this guide provides a basic overview of how to perform a wedding ceremony. More in-depth information and guidance can be found in the literature shown below.
What Does The Preacher Say When You Get Married
The Bride repeats the vow after the pastor as follows: I, B****, take you, G****, to be my 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, till death us do part, / according to Gods holy plan / and
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Pronouncement Of Marriage 2
BRIDE and GROOM, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. It is with these in mind that I pronounce you husband and wife.
You have kissed a thousand times, maybe more.
But today the feeling is new.
No longer simply partners and best friends, you have become husband and wife and can now seal the agreement with a kiss.
Today, your kiss is a promise.
You may kiss the bride.
What Does The Preacher Say At Weddings
The Groom repeats the vow after the pastor as follows: I, G****, take you B****, to be my 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, till death us do part, / according to Gods holy plan / and with
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Pronouncement Of Marriage 7
You have each betrothed yourself to the other in love and compassion, righteousness and truth.
In the spirit of Jewish tradition, you have taken upon yourselves the responsibilities of a deep and loving friendship.
In the presence of these witnesses and in keeping with tradition, you have spoken the words and preformed rites that unite your lives.
BRIDE and GROOM you are now husband and wife in the sight of God, and of all people.
Affirmation Of Support And/or Marriage Blessing
In the past it was customary for the officiant to ask, Who gives this man/woman to be wed? However, its now common to either skip this section completely, or include a more contemporary version involving an affirmation of support from the audience.
Officiant: “Who supports this union?”
Audience: “We All do.”
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Do You Sit During A Christain Wedding Ceremony
With many different denominations of the Christain faith practices in the United States, there are many variations in the traditions of the marriage ceremony. At Christain wedding guests sit for the duration of the ceremony, only standing when the bride enters and when the officiant announces that the couple is married.
Minister: and you have professed your love by exchanging your vows. You have symbolized your commitment by exchanging rings. And you have expressed the end of your individual lives by the pouring of the unity sand.
Your wedding ceremony is the most meaningful part of the wedding, when you declare your love for each other and promise to support one another. Special touches, like unique wedding ceremony readings, can help make your wedding ceremony even more personal.
Pronouncement Of Marriage 31
Forasmuch as you, NAME and NAME have consented together to join in wedlock, and have before witnesses and this company pledged vows of your love and faithfulness to each other, and have declared the same by the joining of hands, and by the giving and receiving of rings now, therefore, by the authority vested in me, I pronounce you wed, Congratulations.
You may now kiss each other.
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Perform A Wedding Ceremony
If you have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony, don’t feel intimidated or confused. Many ministers have become ordained through the Universal Life Church for this very reason. To help you prepare to perform a wedding ceremony, we have compiled this three-step set of instructions to ensure that it is legally binding.
Can I Ask My Officiant To Remove The Phrase From Our Ceremony
Absolutely! Though most secular officiantsand many religious ministersalready omit the phrase, theres no harm in double-checking. Whats more: A wedding ceremony script should be heavily influenced by your relationship with your officiant. If they know this phrase feels antiquated to you or doesnt represent your values, they should respect that decision.
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What A Minister Says At A Wedding
The minister at a wedding has the enormous task of not only legally marrying the couple, but also making the ceremony unique to the bride and groom and meaningful to all in attendance. Although there are some slight variations among the different denominations, there are specific statements that apply to every wedding ceremony.
Explore this article
Wedding Ceremonies From Around The World
Commonly, wedding ceremonies around the world share rituals that are influenced by various cultural traditions. Among the many rituals practiced during wedding ceremonies, the most essential and constant element is the symbolic expression of the unification between the man and woman. The union can be signified by exchanging rings, joining of hands, tying together the garments owned by the bride and groom, or other gestures that could be a representation of the union between the couple. Likewise, many rituals that are incorporated within the ceremony are done in order to emphasize the wedding as a passage for the foundation of the family. For example, in Hindu wedding ceremonies, the couple circles a sacred fire in order to promote the fertility of their union .
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Should A Minister Officiate At The Weddings Of Unbelievers
Early in my ministry, I found myself staring at the ceiling for hours each night, night after night. I had a decision to make, and I didnt know what to do.
A couple, both of whom I cared about, asked me to officiate at their wedding. Neither of them were followers of Jesus. It was a torturous quandary because I wanted an ongoing relationship with them, as an inroad to the gospel.
This couple wasnt in disobedience to the Word of God. This wasnt the unequal yoking of a believer to an unbeliever. That would have been an easy decision, since the Scripture forbids it as sin.
If Id been in another Christian communion, I guess I could have called my Bishop. Im a Baptist though. I was the bishop.
I called several pastors I know. One told me he marries virtually whoever asks, provided it fits with his schedule, but he saves the really nice ceremony for those who are believers. Another told me he routinely married unbelievers, as a means of sharing the gospel with them in premarital counseling.
I went away from these conversations depressed. It seemed to me there was something trivializing about these conversations, trivializing of both marriage and the call to preach.
Thats about as directly as I can put it. A minister of the gospel shouldnt officiate at the weddings of unbelievers.
First of all, a minister of the gospel needs to know that he has no personal authority.
Talk About The Reception
If I have a great relationship with the couple, Ill try to stay for the reception.
However, if you know that you have a busy weekend, politely let the couple know that you wont be able to stay for the reception or that youll only be there for a little while.
Set this expectation up front, so they dont expect you to stay if you cant.
Plus, you dont want them to assume you are staying and pay for your meal. Youll save them money by letting them know you cannot attend.
Often, Ill just explain that I do a lot of weddings and the receptions run for hours that take me away from my family and I simply cannot stay for all of them, or that I have other commitments early the next day.
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Renewal Of Declaration Of Consent 32
BRIDE and GROOM do you now take each other to continue to be your lawfully wedded spouse to continue to love and be loved for who you actually are to celebrate your similarities and to rejoice in your differences to approach your last years with the same joy as you approached the first?
We do
Do you promise to create a new awareness of what to expect and what to forgive? To plan your future together after the children have grown, the bank account has dwindled and the grandchildren have descended upon you?
We do
And, do you pledge to acknowledge your expectations of each other, based more upon what you now know as reality and less on what you discovered was fantasy?
We do
Renewal Of Declaration Of Consent 34
BRIDE, you have rejoiced in the highs and endured all the lows of marriage, and you have shown the strength and wisdom it takes to persevere. With an intimate knowledge of what such a union entails, do you still choose GROOM to reaffirm your promises of marriage?
I do.
Do you still desire to love GROOM, to hold him above all others and have him as the husband of your heart and partner of your life?
I do.
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What Does An Officiant Say At A Wedding
Most of our ministers get ordained to officiate a wedding and have never done so before. One of the first things they want to know is, what to say when officiating a wedding. Luckily we have anticipated this question and have an entire section of our site dedicated to what to say during a wedding ceremony.
To learn more about your role as a wedding officiant we encourage you to read through the wedding officiant training section of our site. The first thing we recommend you read is our guide on the Parts of a Wedding Ceremony. This page covers the basic wedding ceremony template and breaks the ceremony down into its constituent parts from the Invocation, to the Declaration of Intent, to the Pronouncement.
Once you understand how a wedding ceremony is structured we urge you to read our guide on Writing a Wedding Ceremony Script. For inspiration, you can also check out the Sample Wedding Ceremony Scripts we provide on our website.
We also encourage you to check out our book, Asked To Officiate. This is a resource dedicated almost entirely to answering the question of what to say during a wedding ceremony.
officiating wedding ceremonies
