Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding! Whether your wedding ceremony is at St. David’s or elsewhere, may you be blessed with many years of ever deepening and enriching love.
Most wedding ceremonies I officiate take between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many elements you include. In the outline below, optional items are italicized. As you can see, there is a lot of flexibility in what we can include - this is your wedding, not a generic service. It is my hope that together we will make the service meaningful and just right for you.
Rev. Dan Chambers
Music (will you want a piano or organ? instrumentalist or CD?)
Lighting the Candles
Sometimes a couple will ask their mothers to light candles on the communion table as a sign that the service is about to begin, and a symbol that the light of love is in this place.
Processional
Welcome and Purpose
Prayer
Special Reading:
Perhaps you have a poem or prose piece that expresses what you feel is important, beautiful and good about love or relationship or marriage.
Scripture Reading:
Whether or not you read from scripture is optional, but my preference is naturally to include some reading as a recognition of the source of Love which I believe is the reality we call God. Here are a few options:
I Corinthians 13 Hymn to love
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 A seal upon your heart
Isaiah 61:10,11; 62:5b God rejoices in you
Matthew 22:35-40 Love, the greatest commandment
John 13:34-35 A new commandment
Ephesians 3:14-21 Rooted and grounded in love
I John 3:18-24; 4:7-8 Let us love, not in word but in action
Message:
If you like, I can offer a message on love and your life together as husband and wife. When a message is included, I make it personal, not generic, usually including the particular relationship you enjoy, the qualities you bring to it and your hopes for how you live into your marriage.
Recognition of Parents/Family:
Some like to thank their parents and/or family for the love and care they offered that served as a foundation for the love you share with each other. This may take some explanation for you to get a sense of what happens, so maybe we can talk about it when we get together.
Declaration of Intent:
This is your public statement of intent to care for each other “for better, for worse, in sickness, in health…” I ask you, “Do you take this woman/man as your wife/husband, for better or worse…”, and you respond with “I do.”
Vows:
These are the promises you make to each other; they express how you will love each other and respect each other. You can write your own vows, look at other sources, use five possibilities I have, or cut and paste. The important thing is that you are making promises to each other that are meaningful for you.
The Exchange of Rings:
If you choose to exchange rings, you might say something like:
I give you this ring, as a symbol of my vow;
and with all that I am, and all that I have,
I honor and cherish you.
Or, more traditionally,
I give you this ring, In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost.
(or, the Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit).
Blessing the Rings:
Symbolic Action (any or none of the following):
Cup of Life
drink together from one cup symbolizing the life you share together as a couple
Unity Candle
each of you light a pillar candle from two tapered candles, symbolizing the love that joins you together (the two tapered candles are not extinguished, as your individuality is not extinguished even though joined by love)
Communion
this may be given to just the couple or to the gathering of friends and family
Signing:
You do not have to sign during the ceremony, though most do so to avoid interrupting the reception following.
Benediction
The Pronouncement
The Kiss
The Presentation:
(will you keep your own last name, assume your partner’s, or combine names?)
Recessional
If you choose to have your wedding at St. David’s, I look forward meeting with you!
