at Church of the Wayfarer
A contemporary ceremony
for modern tastes...
Pastor Norm Mowery is dedicated to celebrating a ceremony that means something to you. After all, this day is about you and the beginning of your life together, and your Carmel wedding should reflect who you are.
You are welcome to personalize the ceremony to fit your faith tradition as you desire. Below you'll find one version of a Contemporary Ceremony which you may use. You can find many more at a book store, through friends and family or on the Internet.
Click here to see a traditional ceremony.
Quick Links
Contemporary Ceremony
Greeting
Pastor:
We are gathered here to witness and celebrate the joining together of Name and Name in marriage, to be with them and rejoice with them in the making of this commitment. Love is a gift from God. Marriage means the pledging of His love, and its strength is built upon imponderables of the spirit, loyalty, trust, joy, laughter and tears. It is the Holy covenant of marriage into which Name and Name come now to be joined.
Response From Families
Pastor says to families:
The marriage of Name and Name unites their families and creates a new one. They ask for your blessing. Will you, their families, give them your blessing and pledge to them your love and acceptance?
Families response: WE WILL.
Respones From Congregation
Pastor Norm to congregation:
Will all of you, do everything in your power to uphold and care for Name and Name in their marriage.
Congregation response: WE WILL.
Father of the Bride lifts the bride's veil (if she is wearing a veil) and /or gives the Bride to the Groom.
Name and Name, I ask you now, in the presence of God and your families and friends to declare your intention to enter into union with one another.
(Question addressed to Groom)
Name, Do you take, Name to your wife, to live together in Holy marriage, to love her, comfort her, honor her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Response: I DO
(Question addressed to Bride)
Name, Do you take, Name to your husband, to live together in Holy marriage, to love him, comfort him, honor him in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Response: I DO
Pastor:
Let us pray.
Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life:
Bless and sanctify with your Holy Spirit Name and Name who come now to join in marriage. Grant that they may give their vows to each other in the strength of your steadfast love. Enable them to grow in love and peace with you and with one another for all of their days. In your name we pray. Amen.
Readings
(If desired, scripture or poetry may be shared at this point in the ceremony)
Exchange Of Vows
The Bride and Groom face each other, joining hands
Groom to Bride:
I, Name, take you, Name, to be my 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, for Now and Forever. This is my solemn vow.
Bride to Groom:
I, Name, take you, Name, to be my 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, for Now and Forever. This is my solemn vow.
Blessing And Exchange Of Rings
Pastor:
These rings are gifts, that each of you present to the other as a symbol of your love. They are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual reality. They remind us of the value of your relationship, and having no beginning or end, they affirm our belief in a love that is enduring.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings that they who wear them may live in your peace, and continue in your favor all the days of their life.
The Bride and Groom face each other, joining hands
Groom to Bride:
Name, I give you this ring, as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have I honor you.
Slip ring on ring finger of Bride
Bride to Groom:
Name, I give you this ring, as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have I honor you.
Slip ring on ring finger of Groom
(If desired, this is the point of lighting the unity candle. )
Pastor:
Now that Name and Name have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving and receiving of rings, I announce that they are husband and wife in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Pastor:
O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of Christian marriage that in it is represented the covenant between Christ and his church. Send, therefore, your blessing upon Name and Name, that they may surely keep their marriage covenant, and so grow in love and godliness together that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord's Prayer (Unison):
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
To the Bride and Groom, the Pastor says:
God the eternal keep you in love with each other for the rest of your days.
To the people:
Bear witness to the love of God in this world, so that those whom love is a stranger will find in you generous friends. The grace of the Lord, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all…
The Bride and Groom share a kiss…
Presentation
Pastor introduces Mr. and Mrs. (Name) to congregation…
