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Sample Marriage Ceremony

This sample marriage ceremony is a combination of meaningful scriptures and verses mixed with traditional wedding vows. Feel free to personalize it as necessary for the bride and groom.

Sample Marriage Ceremony

Before beginning this wedding ceremony, I would like to share with everyone what marriage is. Marriage is love – one person loving another and being loved in return. Marriage is oneness – one in body, soul, mind, and spirit. One in decision and purpose, one in every aspect of life. Marriage is a relationship, a growing relationship, one with another, growing to know one another more each and every day.

Marriage is symbolic. It symbolizes a spiritual marriage that every person on earth can have with Jesus Christ their creator. Jesus Christ loved us. He loved us enough to give His life for us, and just asks us to love Him in return. He did this so that we might be one with Him just as a husband and wife are one in soul, mind, spirit, decision, and purpose, and in every aspect of life. He did this that we might have a relationship with Him, a growing relationship, growing to know Him better every day, just as a husband and a wife should grow to know one another more each and every day.

If you have not experienced this spiritual marriage with your creator, Jesus Christ, _________________________ and __________________________ would like to invite you to do so right now by turning from your sins and by putting your faith in Jesus Christ.

Marriage is a joyous occasion. It is connected in our thoughts with the magic charm of home, and with all that is pleasant and attractive in the tenderest and most sacred relations of life. When celebrated in Cana of Galilee, it was sanctioned and cheered by the presence of the Lord Himself; and is declared by an inspired apostle to be honorable in all.

And now, if you ________________________ and ________________________ have at present appeared for the purpose of being joined in legal wedlock, you will please to signify this intention by uniting your right hands.

To the man…

____________________________, do you take the lady whom you now hold by the hand, to be your lawful and wedded wife? (I DO). Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and health, for better, for worse, and forsaking all others keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live? (I DO).

To the woman…

____________________________, do you take the gentleman who stands by your side and holds you by the hand, to be your lawful and wedded husband? (I DO). Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and health, for better, for worse, and forsaking all others keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live? (I DO).

Do you both mutually promise in the presence of God, and of these witnesses, that you will at all times and in all circumstances, conduct yourselves toward one another as becomes husband and wife? (WE DO).

That you will, love, cherish, and adhere to one another, until separated by death? (WE DO).

To the man…

____________________________, In the book of Ephesians, the Bible commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and gave His life for her. Have you so chosen to love ____________________________ in this manner? (I HAVE).

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the Bible defines love in this manner; Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand it’s own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly ever notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

___________________________ is it your desire to love ________________________ in this manner, knowing that it would not only make her happy, but would also please the Lord himself? (YES, IT IS).

To the woman…

___________________________ the Bible, in the book of Ephesians commands wives to willingly submit to and obey their husbands in every thing, such as the church obeys Christ. Have you chosen to submit yourself unto __________________________?

The bride has chosen a portion of scripture from the book of Ruth to repeat as part of her wedding vows to _______________________________. Repeat after me:

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn my back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

___________________________, is it your desire to submit to ___________________________ in this manner, knowing it would not only make him happy, but would also please the Lord Himself? (YES IT IS).

Vows and Rings

I _________________________ take thee ________________________ 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 do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and to thee I pledge my faith.

I, __________________________ take thee, _________________________ 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 do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and to thee I pledge my faith. Please reunite your hands.

Having taken these pledges of your affection and vows of fidelity, and having given and received a ring, I do therefore, by the authority of the laws of the state, sanctioned by divine authority pronounce you, ___________________________ and __________________________ lawfully married, husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.

We would like to conclude this ceremony with a brief word of prayer for the bride and groom (prayer). You may kiss the bride.

I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. _______________________________.

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