Marriage Service - 2

(After day and time appointed for the marriage service, the persons to be married should come into the church,
or shall be ready in the house with their friends and neighbors.
They shall stand together, the man on the right hand and the woman on the left, and the ministers shall say):

Dearly beloved:
We are gathered together here in the sight of God, then the face of this company, to join together
this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is commended of St. Paul to be horrible among all men;
and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly,
and in the fear of God.
Into this holy estate, these two persons come now to be joined.

(Now speaking unto the persons who are to be married, you will say to the man:)

____________________________ , Will thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together
after God's ordinance, and the holy estate of matrimony?
Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others,
keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?

(The man shall answer, "I will.")
Then the minister shall say to the woman:

______________________________, Will thou have this man to be thy wedded husband,
to live together after God's ordinance, and the holy estate of matrimony?
Wilt thou love him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others,
keep thee only unto him as long as you both shall live?

(The woman shall answer, "I will.")
Then the ministers shall say:

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

(Then shall they give their vows to each other in this manner:
The minister, receiving the woman at her father's or friend's hand, shall ask the man with his right hand
to take the woman by her right hand, and to repeat after him as follows:)

________________________, take thee, ________________________, to be my wedded wife,
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or 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 thereto I pledge the my love.

(Then they shall loose their hands; and the woman with her right hand taking the man by his right hand,
shall likewise repeat after the minister:)

___________________________, 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 thereto I give the my love.

(Again they shall loose their hands, and the man shall give unto the woman a ring.
And the minister taking the ring shall give it unto the man, to put it up on the third finger of the woman's left hand.
And the man, holding the ring there, and taught by the minister, shall say:)

"With this ring I thee wed.:

(Then the minister shall ask them to join their right hands together, and the minister will say:)

"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

(Then the minister shall speak unto all who are gathered:)

Forasmuch as _______________________, and ________________________, have consented together
in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and hereto have given
and pledge their love each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving the rings,
and by joining hands: I pronounce them husband and wife and the sight of God
and all those who are assembled here.

(Usually the pastor would have prayer, and then have the husband and wife to turn and face those
who are in attendance, and then say to them: "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. _______________."

(Then the music will play as they leave.)

(There are some ministers who would add this blessing:)
"God the Father, Go the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, preserve, and keep you:
The Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace.
Amen."
(Or other such spiritual benedictions.)

(The minister might be asked to thank everyone for coming to the wedding.
And when all the wedding party has left, the minister leaves.)


This ceremony can be found in The Pastor's Manual by James Randolph Hobbs.