(Note: Below is an actual wedding ceremony that took place in 2001. Last names have been removed for obvious reasons. No claim to originality is made for this ceremony. Parts of it may be recognizable in the ceremonies of other traditional weddings. We make this available after numerous requests from Preacher's Study subscribers to provide guidance for conducting weddings. An order of service that was used in this wedding is also provided. -- Editor)

(Bride and her father stop at foot of steps. Music stops.)

Who brings this woman to be married?

(Father of bride says, "Her mother and I." Jason steps down, takes Amber’s hand, and brings her to the minister.)

Please remain standing while we pray.

Heavenly Father, we request your presence here among us on this joyous occasion. We pray that our minds and hearts will be open to the importance this time. We ask for clarity of mind and sincerity of heart in all of us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Please be seated.

Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of Jason and Amber and their families, I want to welcome each of you to this very special ceremony that will unite this couple in marriage. A wedding is one of the most joyous occasions within the human experience, perhaps overshadowed only by the event of conversion to Jesus Christ. Jesus placed His stamp of approval on marriage long ago in Cana of Galilee where He did His first miracle in turning water into wine. From that time down to the present, the mood at a wedding is properly both happy and serious. It is happy in all of its anticipation of a new beginning of life together. It is serious in that it is the time and place when a man and a woman, each having made the choice of a life partner, exchanges promises of mutual faithfulness that they intend to keep for the rest of their lives.

The joy of a wedding is shared by all. To those among us who are single who cannot help but think ahead to the possibility of our own hopes of matrimony, it is a reminder of the great privilege God has given to mankind in this institution of marriage. To those of us already married, it is a reminder of the vows we ourselves made when we stood where Jason and Amber stand today. To those among us who watch our grown children take these vows, it is the culmination of a great portion of our life effort. A tear of joy, a sigh or relief, a bittersweet "goodbye", a cheerful and hearty "hello" to a new family unit, a realization of just how quickly what once seemed like it would take forever has suddenly passed by so quickly.

Marriage is the basic unit of our society and culture. It's sober commitments and serious vows taken in God's presence are essential to our very existence. Strong commitment to God makes good character. Good character makes strong marriages. Strong marriages make strong families. Strong families produce strong citizens, which in turn make our society and culture thrive and succeed.

Jason and Amber, all of us here want you to know that we share your joy and anticipate great potential in this union that you are about to make. We want to remind you that marriage, which is ordained by Almighty God, is a serious commitment - one that is intended for life. You will soon repeat a vow to one another that says, "for better or worse, as long as we both shall live." We exhort you not to take this vow unless you intend with all your heart to keep it. We will assume when you take this vow that you intend nothing less than to honor it until death parts you.

Are you ready to take your vows? (Bride and groom answer "yes.")

Jason and Amber, marriage is the lawful estate into which two devoted hearts must enter in order to find the deeper experience of oneness that God intended for man and woman. In reading the Bible, we find that when God had created man and put him on the earth, He saw that it was not good for him to be alone. And so, from the man's side He brought forth woman, a helper suitable for him. "For this cause," the Bible says, "shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall become one flesh." That very first marriage in the garden, officiated by God Himself, became the standard for all time and every place.

We have all gathered here to witness your vows that will unite you for life. The Bible says, "Let marriage be held in honor among all..." We hold marriage in honor when we keep its commitments. To hold marriage in honor you, Jason, must honor your wife above all else except God Himself. To hold marriage in honor, you Amber, must honor your husband above all else except God Himself. The two of you should be ever vigilant to preserve your marriage and let nothing come between you.

So I ask you, Jason, do you take Amber to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together with her in the God ordained estate of marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her, as long as you both shall live? (Jason says, "I do.")

And I ask you, Amber, do you take Jason to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together with him in the God ordained estate of marriage? Do you promise to you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him, as long as you both shall live? (Amber says, "I do.")

Will the two of you join hands, please?

Jason, please repeat after me.

I, Jason, take you, Amber, to be my wife - to have and to hold from this day forward - for better or worse - for richer or poorer - in sickness and in health - to love and to cherish - as long as we both shall live.

Amber, please repeat after me.

I, Amber, take you, Jason, to be my husband - to have and to hold - from this day forward - for better or worse - for richer or poorer - in sickness and in health - to love and to cherish - as long as we both shall live.

May I have the rings?

The rings you exchange today are symbolic. They represent the promises you have just made to one another. You should continue to wear them as a reminder to yourselves and to others that you are married and are therefore unavailable to anyone else. To yourselves, when you look at these rings, remember these vows you made today.

Each ring is made of a material that does not tarnish. This signifies that your love for one another should never become tarnished, but should always remain true and faithful.

Each ring is made also in a circle, signifying that which has no end. Such should be your determination to love one another.

Jason, place this ring on Amber's finger and, looking at her, repeat after me: "With this ring I thee wed - With loyal love - I thee endow - All my worldly goods - with thee I share."

Amber, place this ring on Jason's finger and, looking at him, repeat after me: "With this ring I thee wed - With loyal love - I thee endow - All my worldly goods - with thee I share."

Shall we pray?

Heavenly Father, we ask that you bless this union that has been made here today. We pray for your guidance to be with Jason and Amber wherever they go, and ask that if it is Your will, they might enjoy a long, happy, and prosperous life together. We pray that their marriage will glorify You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The unity candle is a symbol of the extinguishing of the individual, single life, and the beginning or the together, married life. As the center candle is lighted and the two outside candles are extinguished, a new order of relationship is begun. Jason and Amber, may it be from this time forward that you live for each other rather than for yourselves. Always remember that the single life that you had in the past is now behind you for as long as both of you live. From now on, your marriage must be first and your concern must be for one another first.

(Light Candle)

Inasmuch as Jason and Amber have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and all of us here today, and have pledged their faithfulness by giving rings, I now, according to the law of God and the laws of the State of Oregon, pronounce that they are husband and wife.

Jason and Amber,

As hand in hand you enter
a life that's bright and new,
May God look down from heaven
and bless the two of you.
May He give you understanding
enough to make you kind,
So that you may judge each other
with your heart and not your mind.
May He teach you to be patient
as you learn to live together,
Forgiving little "human rifts"
that arise in stormy weather -
And may your love be big enough
to withstand the strongest sea -
So that you may dwell forever
in love's rich tranquillity.

---Helen Steiner Rice

Jason and Amber, my fondest hope for you is that God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will bless you and preserve you and keep you. May He fill you with every spiritual blessing as you live together in this life.

Jason, you may kiss your bride.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The bride and groom request your presence at the reception that is to be held at this location and will be underway shortly. Please remain seated until the ushers return to dismiss you by rows, beginning at the front. A receiving line will form in the area to your immediate left.

And now, without further delay, it gives me very great pleasure to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Jason ____________.

Copyright © 1996-2003 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

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