This 'cheat sheet' — a simple, concise guide to performing a basic, standard marriage ceremony — is included in your ordination credentials packet, and provides you with the framework for planning and designing a custom, personalized wedding ceremony with your couples.
Pastor's Wedding Manual
Click here to download a copy of the Wedding Ceremony Cheat Sheet.
Sample wedding ceremony script for marriage ministers and wedding officiants that provides a basic framework for planning the basic ceremony format, from the processional to the vows and the I do's to the first kiss and 'I now pronounce you husband and wife,' as well as signing the marriage license and making it legal. The Pastor's Wedding Manual. Be the first to review this product. Email to a Friend. Qty:-+ Add to Cart. A collection of creative wedding ceremonies and helps to guide the pastor in making the wedding service a worshipful experience. More Information. The Pastor's Wedding Manual. Jim Henry (With) Digital eBook. Sale: $7.49 $7.49 per thing that you specify. Regular Price: $9.99. You Save 25% ($2.50) Bulk Discount: Quantity: Minimum quantity allowed for this product is 1. Maximum quantity allowed for this product is 9999. Add to Cart Add to Cart.
This is just a guide to get you started. Each ceremony is unique, so feel free to adapt the format to fit your situation.
Please note that this sample wedding ceremony script uses male and female pronouns; you may substitute other pronouns as appropriate for your ceremony.
Wedding Ceremony Basics
Please keep in mind that a marriage ceremony represents a legally-binding commitment between two people, and that it must be treated with dignity, sincerity and respect. To solemnize a marriage, you should follow this general procedure:
The parties to the marriage must themselves obtain a valid marriage license from the office of the county clerk (or from the designated issuing authority within their jurisdiction) and present it to the Wedding Officiant before the marriage ceremony.
The Wedding Officiant performs the marriage ceremony; an example of a standard ceremony is included on the back of this page. The ceremony may be personalized to meet the bridal couple's preferences, and they may even write and exchange their own vows as long as those vows reflect their intentions to enter into a legally-binding commitment to each other.
The Wedding Officiant is responsible for completing the certificate portion of the marriage license and returning it to the proper issuing authority within the legally stipulated timeframe after solemnizing the marriage. Please read the marriage license instructions before the ceremony.
Wedding Ceremony Structure
As we've noted, and as you should keep in mind throughout the process, all wedding ceremonies are different, but the standard marriage ceremony format generally follows these basic steps:
Processional
The Groom, Best Man, Groomsmen and Officiant will generally assemble first at the altar, after which the Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids enter up the aisle, followed by the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.
Finally, the Officiant invites the guests to rise as the Wedding March is played and the Bride is escorted to the altar.
Welcoming
The Officiant invites the guests to be seated, then welcomes everyone and announces the purpose of this gathering, which is to unite the Bride and Groom in matrimony.
Opening Reading or Prayer
The Officiant or a guest may read a passage from a favorite poem, story, prayer or sacred tract that has been chosen by the Bride and Groom.
(A favorite musical selection may also be performed or substituted for the reading.)
Declaration of Intentions
The Officiant explains that marriage is a legally binding commitment that both parties enter into with mutual consent, and that entering into a marriage changes the legal status of both parties and gives each new rights and obligations.
The Officiant then asks the Bride and Groom, in turn, if it is their intention to be married to each other at this time.
If each answers affirmatively, the Ceremony proceeds.
Exchange of Vows and Rings
The Officiant invites the couple to face each other and join hands with each other, then leads them through the exchange of vows. (A sample script with standard vows is included below on this page.)
The Bride and Groom may also, at this point, read or recite their own personal vows or expression of love to each other.
The Bride and Groom exchange rings, repeating 'I give you this ring as a token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love' as they place the ring on the other's finger.
Pronouncement and Introduction
The Officiant makes the official public pronouncement of marriage, then introduces the couple to the guests for the first time as Husband and Wife.
(A sample script with the standard pronouncement is included below on this page.)
Recessional
Following their introduction, the married couple exits down the aisle, followed by the Best Man and Maid of Honor, and the other members of the bridal party, generally in the reverse order of their entrance.
Legal Process
The Marriage is not legal and cannot be registered unless the Marriage License is signed by the Bride and Groom and witnesses (if required), and completed and returned to the issuing authority in a timely manner.
Do not leave the wedding ceremony venue without making certain that the Marriage License is correctly signed and completed!
Wedding Ceremony Basics
Please keep in mind that a marriage ceremony represents a legally-binding commitment between two people, and that it must be treated with dignity, sincerity and respect. To solemnize a marriage, you should follow this general procedure:
The parties to the marriage must themselves obtain a valid marriage license from the office of the county clerk (or from the designated issuing authority within their jurisdiction) and present it to the Wedding Officiant before the marriage ceremony.
The Wedding Officiant performs the marriage ceremony; an example of a standard ceremony is included on the back of this page. The ceremony may be personalized to meet the bridal couple's preferences, and they may even write and exchange their own vows as long as those vows reflect their intentions to enter into a legally-binding commitment to each other.
The Wedding Officiant is responsible for completing the certificate portion of the marriage license and returning it to the proper issuing authority within the legally stipulated timeframe after solemnizing the marriage. Please read the marriage license instructions before the ceremony.
Wedding Ceremony Structure
As we've noted, and as you should keep in mind throughout the process, all wedding ceremonies are different, but the standard marriage ceremony format generally follows these basic steps:
Processional
The Groom, Best Man, Groomsmen and Officiant will generally assemble first at the altar, after which the Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids enter up the aisle, followed by the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.
Finally, the Officiant invites the guests to rise as the Wedding March is played and the Bride is escorted to the altar.
Welcoming
The Officiant invites the guests to be seated, then welcomes everyone and announces the purpose of this gathering, which is to unite the Bride and Groom in matrimony.
Opening Reading or Prayer
The Officiant or a guest may read a passage from a favorite poem, story, prayer or sacred tract that has been chosen by the Bride and Groom.
(A favorite musical selection may also be performed or substituted for the reading.)
Declaration of Intentions
The Officiant explains that marriage is a legally binding commitment that both parties enter into with mutual consent, and that entering into a marriage changes the legal status of both parties and gives each new rights and obligations.
The Officiant then asks the Bride and Groom, in turn, if it is their intention to be married to each other at this time.
If each answers affirmatively, the Ceremony proceeds.
Exchange of Vows and Rings
The Officiant invites the couple to face each other and join hands with each other, then leads them through the exchange of vows. (A sample script with standard vows is included below on this page.)
The Bride and Groom may also, at this point, read or recite their own personal vows or expression of love to each other.
The Bride and Groom exchange rings, repeating 'I give you this ring as a token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love' as they place the ring on the other's finger.
Pronouncement and Introduction
The Officiant makes the official public pronouncement of marriage, then introduces the couple to the guests for the first time as Husband and Wife.
(A sample script with the standard pronouncement is included below on this page.)
Recessional
Following their introduction, the married couple exits down the aisle, followed by the Best Man and Maid of Honor, and the other members of the bridal party, generally in the reverse order of their entrance.
Legal Process
The Marriage is not legal and cannot be registered unless the Marriage License is signed by the Bride and Groom and witnesses (if required), and completed and returned to the issuing authority in a timely manner.
Do not leave the wedding ceremony venue without making certain that the Marriage License is correctly signed and completed!
Sample Marriage Vows
At minimum by law in nearly every jurisdiction, the ceremony must include language spoken (or repeated, or agreed to) by the parties to the marriage through which they acknowledge their binding mutual commitment to each other. The following is a sample of commonly-used wording that meets this requirement.
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Officiant asks SPOUSE 1: '[SPOUSE 1'S NAME], do you take [SPOUSE 2] to be your partner in marriage, to live together in [holy] matrimony, to love, honor, comfort and keep in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?' (SPOUSE 1 responds, 'I do.')
Officiant asks SPOUSE 2: '[SPOUSE 2'S NAME], do you take [SPOUSE 1] to be your partner in marriage, to live together in [holy] matrimony, to love, honor, comfort and keep in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?' (SPOUSE 2 responds, 'I do.')
Officiant states to SPOUSE 1: 'Please repeat after me: I, [SPOUSE 1], take you [SPOUSE 2], to be my partner in marriage, 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 as long as we shall live.'
Pastor Manual Free
Officiant states to SPOUSE 2: 'I, [SPOUSE 2], take you [SPOUSE 1], to be my partner in marriage, 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 as long as we shall live.'
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
Officiant asks SPOUSE 1 to place the ring on SPOUSE 2's finger and to repeat the following, 'I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love.'
(Repeat the same directions for SPOUSE 2.)
PRONOUNCEMENT
Officiant asks the couple to join hands, then declares, 'By virtue of the authority vested in me, and in accordance with the laws of the state of [STATE NAME], it is my honor to now pronounce that you are married to each other. You may now kiss each other to seal your vows.'
Are you legally authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in your state? The ordination process is fast and easy!
Click here to request ordination now.
Have a question or comment, or need more information? Contact us!
Wedding ceremony artwork by ArtInspiring.
Recognizing the varied global and cultural contexts regarding marriage, the Church of the Nazarene suggests the following principles:
- Equality between husband and wife
- Covenantal relationship reflecting the covenantal relationship between Christ and His church
- Use of language that is legally and culturally appropriate. This ritual does not eliminate or replace the legal requirements of any country.
The following ceremony is offered as a resource.
At the day and time appointed for the solemnization of matrimony, the persons to be married—having been qualified according to law and by careful counsel and guidance by the minister—standing together, the couple shall face the minister, and the minister shall address the congregation as follows:
Dearly Beloved: We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together (Name of Groom) and (Name of Bride) in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the innocence of Eden, symbolizing the mystical union between Christ and His Church. This holy estate Christ adorned and sanctified with His presence and first miracle that He performed, in Cana of Galilee, and the writer to the Hebrews commended as being honorable among allpeople. It is, therefore, not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God.
Into this holy estate these persons present now come to be joined.
Addressing the couple to be married, the minister shall say:
_________________________ and _________________________, I require and charge you both as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that the commitment to marriage is a commitment to permanence. It is the intent of God that your marriage will be for life, and that only death will separate you.
If the vows you exchange today be kept without violation, and if you seek always to know and do the will of God, your lives will be blessed with His presence, and your home will abide in His peace.
Following the charge the minister shall say unto the man:
_________________________, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?
Response: I will.
Then shall the minister say unto the woman:
_________________________, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?
Response: I will.
Then the minister shall ask:
Will you as (parents of the bride and groom, members of the families, and/or members of God's family) give your blessings to this union?
Response (by parents of the bride and groom, members of the families, and/or members of God's family): We will.
Facing each other and joining right hands, the couple shall then exchange the following vows:
The man shall repeat after the minister:
I, _________________________, take you, _________________________, 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 us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge you my faith.
The woman shall repeat after the minister:
I, _________________________, take you, _________________________, 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 us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge you my faith.
If desired, a ring ceremony may be inserted at this point. The minister receives the ring from the groomsman and, in turn, passes it to the groom. As he then places it upon the bride's finger, he shall repeat, after the minister:
This ring I give you as a token of my love and as a pledge of my constant fidelity.
Repeat for double ring ceremony.
The couple then shall kneel as the minister offers the following, or an extemporaneous prayer:
Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life, send Your blessing upon these Your servants, (Name of Groom) and (Name of Bride), whom we now bless in Your name; so they may keep the vow and covenant made between them this hour and may ever remain in love and peace together, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the minister say:
Forasmuch as this man and woman have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and have declared the same by joining of hands, I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. Amen.
The minister shall then add this blessing:
Pastor's Manual Pdf
God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with His favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace. May you so live together in this life that in the world to come you may have life everlasting.
Pastor's Manual For Funerals
The minister may then conclude with an extemporaneous prayer and/or benediction. (532.7, 533.2, 534.1, 538.19)