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To give you an idea of a
formal Church Wedding,
here is the Adjusted
Traditional Form of the
Anglican Service as an
example.
Introduction
The bride and escort
(who may be the groom if
you wish) proceed to the
place where the marriage
will take place. They
face each other but at
this stage don't usually
hold hands, although
these days feel free to
do what you like.
We have come together
here in the sight of
God, and in the presence
of this congregation, to
join together this man
and this woman in holy
matrimony; which is an
honorable state of life,
instituted from the
beginning by God
himself, signifying to
us the spiritual union
that is possible between
Christ and those who
reach out to him. Christ
adorned and beautified
matrimony with his
presence and with the
first sign by which he
revealed his glory, at
the marriage in Cana of
Galilee; and holy
scriptures commands that
all should hold it in
honor. It is therefore
not to be entered upon
unadvisedly, lightly or
merely to satisfy
physical desires; but
prayerfully, with
careful thought, and
with reverence for God,
duly considering the
purposes for which it
was ordained. It was
ordained for the
procreation of children
and that they might be
brought up in the
nurture and instruction
of the Lord, to the
praise of his holy name.
It was ordained so that
those to whom God has
granted the gift of
marriage might live a
chaste and holy life, as
befits members of God's
beautiful creation. And
it was ordained for the
mutual companionship,
help, and comfort, that
the one ought to have of
the other, both in
prosperity and
adversity. Into this
holy manner of life
___________ and
___________ come now to
be joined. Therefore if
anyone can show any just
cause why they may not
be joined together, let
them speak now or
hereafter remain silent.
The Charge
This is addressing a
serious matter like
bigamy. It is said
quietly to the bride and
groom and should not be
printed in a service
sheet.
I charge you both, as
you will answer before
God, who is the judge of
all and from whom no
secrets are hidden, that
if either of you know
any reason why you may
not lawfully be joined
together in matrimony,
you now confess it. For
be assured that those
who marry otherwise than
God's word allows are
not joined together by
God, neither is their
matrimony lawful in his
sight.
The consent
___________, will you
have ___________ as your
wife, to live together,
as God has ordained, in
the holy state of
matrimony? Will you love
her, cherish her, honor
and protect her, in
sickness and in health;
and, forsaking all
others, be faithful to
her, as long as you both
shall live? I will
___________, will you
have ___________ as your
husband, to live
together, as God has
ordained, in the holy
state of matrimony? Will
you love him, cherish
him, honor and protect
him, in sickness and in
health; and, forsaking
all others, be faithful
to him, as long as you
both shall live? I will
With the "giving
away" the man may
receive the woman's hand
from a member of the
family or a friend and
similarly, the woman may
receive the man's hand.
Usually the father gives
the bride away, but both
parents can perform this
rite. You may wish to
have no "giving away".
In this case the bride's
escort sits down after
the processional.
Who brings this woman
to be married to this
man? I do (etc).
Family member may say
these words.
The bride gives her
flowers to her
bridesmaid at this point
in the service Members
of the family may add
their blessing: e.g.
Members of the
families of ___________
and ___________, do you
give your blessing to
this marriage? We do.
The betrothal
Facing each other and
usually repeating after
the minister.
I ___________ take you
___________ to be my
wife, according to God's
holy ordinance: 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, until we
are parted by death. And
to this I pledge you my
word.
I ___________ take you
___________ to be my
husband, according to
God's holy ordinance: 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,
until we are parted by
death. And to this I
pledge you my word.
The exchange of
rings
First the
Groom give his token
(ring) to the Bride,
then the Bride gives her
token to the Groom.
With this ring I wed
you, with my body I
worship you; with all
that I am and all that I
have I honor you: in the
name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
The wedding
Couple now faces the
front, holding hands,
with heads bowed.
Let us pray. Eternal
God, preserver of all
mankind, giver of all
spiritual grace and
author of everlasting
life: send you blessing
upon this man and this
woman whom we bless in
your name; that as Isaac
and Rebecca lived
faithfully together, so
___________ and
___________ may surely
perform and keep the vow
and covenant made
between them, of which
this ring given and
received is a token and
pledge, and may ever
remain in perfect love
and peace together, and
live according to your
laws; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Those whom God has
joined together let not
man put asunder.
The declaration
___________ and
___________ have now
witnessed to their
mutual consent before
God and this company;
they have pledged their
solemn word to each
other; and they have
confirmed it by the
giving and receiving of
a ring and by the
joining of hands. I
therefore declare them
to be husband and wife:
in the name of the
Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God the Father, God the
Son, God the Holy
Spirit, bless, preserve,
and keep you; the Lord
mercifully with his
favor look upon you and
fill you with all
spiritual blessing and
grace, that you may so
live together in this
life, that in the world
to come you may have
life everlasting. Amen.
The bride and groom
kiss at this point. The
bridesmaid gives back
the bride's flowers.
Interlude.
Song, Poem, Reading,
Word of encouragement,
etc. Optional
The Bible readings and
address (5 minutes
maximum)
Closing prayer
If you are printing
a service sheet, always
print the Lord's Prayer
in full. This part of
the service can be as
short or long as you
want. For example, the
service could finish
with just the Lord's
Prayer.
Almighty God, who by
joining man and woman
together taught us from
the beginning that we
should not separate what
you have joined as one;
we praise you that you
have consecrated the
state of matrimony to
such an excellent
purpose that in it is
signified the spiritual
marriage and unity
between Christ and those
who reach out to him.
Look mercifully on these
your servants that this
man may love his wife,
according to your word,
as Christ loved broken
humanity, and gave
himself up for us,
cherishing us as
himself; and also that
this woman may be loving
and generous, responsive
and faithful to her
husband. O Lord, bless
them both, and grant
them to inherit your
everlasting kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
God the Father enrich
you with his grace, God
the Son make you holy in
his love, God the Holy
Spirit strengthen you
with his joy. The Lord
bless you and keep you
in eternal life. Amen.
Signing of the
register and musical
interlude
The register may be
signed in front of the
guests or in a private
place. A soloist could
perform at this point.
Recessional
The bride and the groom
lead the wedding party ,
followed by the parents.
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