at Church of the Wayfarer
A traditional ceremony that
reflects your faith...
Pastor Norm Mowery is very flexible regarding the ceremony. Your Carmel wedding represents the beginning of your life together, so your ceremony should be an expression of your beliefs and values.
You are welcome to personalize the ceremony to fit your faith tradition as you desire. Below you'll find one version of a Traditional 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 contemporary ceremony.
Quick Links
Traditional Wedding Ceremony
Gathering
While the people gather, instrumental or vocal music may be offered.
During the entrance of the wedding party, there may be instrumental music, or a hymn, a psalm, a canticle, or an anthem.
Greeting
Pastor to people:
Friends, we are gathered together in the sight of God to witness and bless the joining of Name and Name in Christian marriage.
The covenant of marriage was established by God, who created us male and female for each other.
With his presence and power, Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and in his sacrificial love, gave us the example for the love of husband and wife.
Name and Name come to give themselves to one another in this holy covenant.
Declaration By The Man And The Woman
Pastor to the persons who are to marry:
I ask you now, in the presence of God and these people, to declare your intention to enter into union with one another through the grace of Jesus Christ, who calls you into union with himself.
Pastor to the woman:
Name, will you have Name to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Woman: I will.
Pastor to the man:
Name, will you have Name to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Man: I will.
Pastor: Who presents (Bride) to be married to (Groom)?
Prayer
Pastor:
Let us pray.
God of all peoples, you are the true light illumining everyone. You show us he way, the truth, and the life. You love us even when we are disobedient. You sustain us with your Holy Sprit. We rejoice in your life in the midst of our lives. We praise you for your presence with us, and especially in the act of solemn covenant; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Scripture Lesson(s) Or Other Readings
A hymn, psalm, canticle, anthem, or other music may be offered before or after the readings.
Intercessory Prayer
An extemporaneous prayer may be offered, or the following may be prayed by the
pastor:
Let us pray.
Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, giver of all grace:
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 all their days, that they may reach out in concern and service to the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Exchange Of Vows
The woman and man face each other, joining hands.
Man to woman:
In the name of God,
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.
Woman to man:
In the name of God,
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
The pastor may say:
These rings (symbols) are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to us the union between Jesus Christ and his church.
The pastor may bless the giving of rings or other symbols of the marriage:
Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings (symbols), that they who wear them may live in your peace and continue in your favor all the days of their life; through Jesus Chris our Lord.
Amen.
The giver(s) may say to the recipient'(s):
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, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(If desired, this is the point of lighting the unity candle.)
The wife and husband join hands. The pastor may place a hand on, or wrap a stole around, their joined hands.
Pastor to husband and wife:
You have declared your consent and vows before God and this congregation. May God confirm your covenant and fill you both with grace.
Pastor to People:
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 to you that they are husband and wife; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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.
Amen.
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.
Blessing (Pastor)
The Bride and Groom share a kiss…
Presentation
Pastor introduces Mr. and Mrs. (Name) to congregation…
