Prelude
Honored Family & Friends:
Into my hands has been delivered a license, issued according to law, which authorizes me to unite in marriage Richard Smith and Christine Jones. For this purpose we are now assembled here.
Let us ask the blessing of God. (Brief prayer)
Address: Marriage is ordained of God to promote the spiritual, social, and material well-being of the family and the home. Therefore its obligations should be entered into with deep devotion, unselfish love, and upright purpose, its bonds being assumed in the sight of God with reverence and sober consideration. The scriptures give us insight into the origin and nature of the marriage covenant and the quality of love it requires:
From Genesis 2:18 King James Version (KJV) we read.....
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
And from Genesis 2:24: New King James Version (NKJV)
24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
From Matthew 19:6 : New King James Version (NKJV) we read
6So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
Probably the best example of the type of love required in marriage, and in fact, all relationships, is found in 1 Corinthians 13, where we read that:
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails.
Individual Marriage Vows
Richard, Do you take this woman to be your lawful wife, to love, honor, and cherish her both in sickness and in health, whether in prosperity or adversity, and to be virtuous and faithful as long as you live?
Answer, “I Do”
Christine, Do you take this man to be your lawful husband, to love, honor, and cherish him both in sickness and in health, whether in prosperity or adversity, and to be virtuous and faithful as long as you live?
Answer, “I Do”
Joint Marriage Vows
You have pledged your commitment to each other separately, as individuals. Now, you will pledge your commitment to each other as ONE by answering this question as ONE:
Richard & Christine, “Do you both mutually agree to be each other’s companion, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition; that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other and from all others as long as you both shall live?”
Both answer in unison, “We Do”
Ring Ceremony:
May I have the rings?
Richard, as a token of the endless and pure love which you have for Christine, you may place her ring on the third finger of her left hand.
Christine, as a token of the endless and pure love which you have for Richard, you may place his ring on the third finger of his left hand.
Pronouncement
Since you have mutually pledged yourselves to each other in the holy bonds of marriage, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by the authority vested in me by the State of Florida,
I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
Honored Family & Friends, may I present to you:
Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Christine Smith
Benediction
May God continue to add His blessings upon you both for the covenant you have made today. Amen
Note: Text in red above are required by my license to be used in the wedding ceremony.
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