Wedding Vows Please choose from the following vow options. Should you like to customize, simply make your wedding specialist aware. VOW # 1 Dearly beloved we have gathered at this appointed time to be a part of one of the most joyful yet holy moments of this couple s life. Marriage is a mystical union, a holy estate which Christ adorned and beautified with His presence in Cana of Galilee. & we share with you some of the excitement, ecstasy, and expectations of this occasion, you may not remember everything that I will say to you today, but let me share briefly this counsel from God s word. First Peter 3:8-9 gives this wise counsel for making your home a place of happiness and the fulfilling of your dreams and plans. Peter says: To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; no returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead (NASB). In these brief verses you find five lets. Let all be harmonious. That means of one mind and disposition. You will do all within your power to eliminate discord. Be a peacemaker. There will be struggles for territorial rights, but in marriage you really have no rights. They are all surrendered in a mutual submission that desires peace more than rights! Let all be sympathetic. This sympathy means to stand in the shoes of the other person. It is the willingness to suffer with or rejoice in the happiness of the other. That kind of compassion goes a long way in fortifying a strong relationship. Let all be brotherly is a word that is also translated Love. It means that you are to see each other not just as a housewife of a businessman or a sexual partner, but you are to share and enjoy one another s company. Your spouse is not a secondclass citizen, but one you delight in being responsive to in all areas of life. Let all be kindhearted. This word is also used to describe Christ; yet you are challenged in your marriage to be like Christ! Tenderhearted, sensitive, affectionate. There may be times when you feel the other is deserving of
anger and criticism, but the admonition from God s word is not to retaliate. Instead, be kindhearted. Let all be humble in spirit. This is a peculiarly biblical virtue. It is an attribute of Christ and a spirit, which He rewards, for He promised in the Sermon on the Mount that the possessors of this spirit receive a unique reward, Theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3 NASB). Peter concludes with two all-important principles. One deals with actions: not returning evil for evil. The second deals with words: or insults for insults. Give a blessing instead of an insult or wrong action! If you practice these principles you ll not only get along, you will experience all that the Lord wants to grant you in your prayers for a Christ centered home. You, an you, have you come to me signifying your desire to be formally united in marriage, and being assured that no legal, moral, or religious barriers hinder this proper union I ask: Do You, in taking this woman to be your lawful wedded wife promise to love and cherish her, to honor and sustain her in sickness and in health, in poverty as in wealth, in the bad that may darken your days, in the good that may lighten your ways, and to be true to her in all things until death alone shall part you? Do you so promise and make this commitment to Christ and to Do You, in taking this man to be your lawful wedded husband promise to love and cherish him, to honor and sustain him in sickness and in health, in poverty as in wealth, in the bad that may darken your days, in the good that may lighten your ways, and to be true to him in all things until death alone shall part you? Do you so promise and make this commitment to Christ and to it is my privilege to ask: Who gives this woman to be married to this man? The ring is very special. You have chosen it with careful attention and consideration. It is and will always be a precious reminder of this holy occasion. as you receive this ring will place it on finger and repeat after me to her your vow: I, take you, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this time forward, in times of plenty, or in times of poverty, in health and sickness, I will love you; I will cherish each meaningful day that God unfolds to us, depending on His provisions and grace. I will celebrate the joyous moments with you, and weep with you in sorrow and trouble. I will be faithful to you alone till in death we do part, according to our Father s holy ordinance, and thereto, I pledge you my faith.
Ring Exchange The ring is very special. You have chosen it with careful attention and consideration. It is and will always be a precious reminder of this holy occasion. as you receive this ring will place it on finger and repeat after me to her your vow: I, take you, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this time forward, in times of plenty, or in times of poverty, in health and sickness, I will love you; I will cherish each meaningful day that God unfolds to us, depending on His provisions and grace. I will celebrate the joyous moments with you, and weep with you in sorrow and trouble. I will be faithful to you alone till in death we do part, according to our Father s holy ordinance, and thereto, I pledge you my faith. Prayer Forasmuch as and have made mutual vows of faith to Christ and each other, and have witness the same by the exchange of rings as an outward and visible sign of their inward and spiritual pledge, to signify to all the uniting of their two lives in holy matrimony, by the laws of God, and of the commonwealth of the Bahamas it is my privilege to pronounce you Husband and Wife together in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Introduction of couple to guests.
VOW # 2 Opening Words If life has meaning to us at all, it possesses it because of Love. It is that which enshrines and ennobles our human experience. It is the basis for the peace of family and the peace of the peoples of the earth. The greatest gift bestowed upon humans is the gift of not demanding but of giving love between two persons. Wedding Address In marriage, two persons turn to each other in search for a greater fulfillment than either can achieve alone. Marriage is a going forth, a bold step into the future: it is risking what we are for the sake of what we yet can be. Only in giving oneself and sharing with another can the mysterious process of growth take place. Only in loyalty and devotion bestowed upon another can that which is eternal in life emerge and be known. Two among us, who have stood apart, come now, in our presence, to declare their love and to be united in marriage. The greatest challenge in a good marriage is to love in a manner that would enhance our changes of a lasting affair; these few qualities must pervade our relationship: Ultimate Love pursues the Beloved. Ultimate Love is Unselfish-Undemanding and Compassionate. I will not be a Burden to you Ultimate Love Values the Beloved. I will not seek what is yours, but You Ultimate Love freely assumes responsibility for the welfare of the beloved Ultimate Love gives to the limit without counting the cost. I will gladly spend and be expended for you Ultimate Love grows in expression and does not diminish. Regardless of the nature of the response I will love you even more, Ultimate love is pure in motive and action, unadulterated by self-centered considerations. I will not take advantage of you, I will not exploit you. Everything I do is for your strengthening and building up. Love is a living thing, waiting within each one of us for an awakening touch. In this ceremony, we will celebrate love come to life. May this love grow sure and straight and strong. We rejoice in its presence among us. Introduction to Vows and,
it is a great joy and pleasure for me to be standing here with you on this momentous day, sharing in your marriage ceremony, and witnessing to the life-long commitment you are making to one another this day. I must remind you that the vows you are about to say to one another belong entirely to you. The words I speak have no magical powers, and nothing that I can say or do on this day can ultimately make your marriage endure with beauty, fidelity, and joy. Only you, by the integrity and diligence of your love, can make these vows last. So it is not to lofty words, or institutions even, that we appeal at this hour of commitment; but rather to the resources which you two can draw from deep within yourselves. the deep well of human needs, the need to live united and loving and complete before a broken and imperfect world. So will you now join hand each to each, and repeat your vows after me? Vows I ( ) take you ( ) to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you trusting what I don t yet know, with respect for your integrity and faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life shall bring us, I accept you as my (Wife/Husband). Optional Challenge to couple: Love for Each Other, Love for God, Love for Family From Ruth 1:16 Prayer Ring Exchange This ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love (Repeat). Pronouncement ( ) and ( ) you have told me, and all who are gathered here today that you deeply love one another, and wish to live together now seeking an ever-richer, everdeeper relationship. You have formed your own union-in friendship, in respect for one another, and in Love and it is therefore now my joyful task to acknowledge you as Husband and Wife.
Blessing May your marriage bring you the fulfillment a marriage should bring and may you be given patience, tolerance, and understanding. May it be full of joy and laughter, as well as comfort and support. May you discover the true depth of love through loving one another. Remember that every burden is easier to carry when you have the shoulders of two instead of one. When you are weary and discouraged look to your creator to refresh and strengthen you. May you always want one another not so much to fill your emptiness, but to help you know your fullness. May you always need one another, but not out of weakness. May you always entice one another, but not compel one another. May you find happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you find love and may Y=you find it loving one another. (Couple may kiss)
VOW # 3 Dear friends we have come not to mark the start of a relationship but to recognize bond that already exist. To ensure a healthy lasting marriage, always value each other. You may have disagreements but remember to respect each other s feelings, needs and wants. The institution of marriage was began that you may learn how to love, and in loving find joy. Learn how to share pain and loneliness and in sharing find strength, learn how to give and in giving find communion. Marriage is a promise of companionship, Of having someone to share all of life s experiences. Marriage does not promise that there will not be any rough times, Just the assurance that there will always be someone who cares and will help you through to better times. Marriage does not promise eternal romance, just eternal love and commitment. Marriage can t prevent disappointment, disillusionment, or grief, but it can offer hope, acceptance, and comfort. Marriage can t protect you from making individual choices or shelter you from the world, but it will help to reassure you that there is someone by your side who truly cares. When the world hurts you and makes you feel vulnerable, Marriage offers the promise that there will be someone to listen, to console, to inspire. Marriage is the joining of two people who share the promise that only marriage can make to share the sunshine and the shadows, And to experience a richer, fuller life because of it Vows I, ( ), take you, ( ), to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you trusting what I don t yet know, with respect for your integrity and faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life shall bring us, I accept you as my Wife. I, ( ), take you, ( ), to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you trusting what I don t yet know, with respect for your integrity and faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life shall bring us, I accept you as my Husband. Ring Exchange This ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love (Repeat). A professor once stood before his class and took a large jar and began to fill it with rocks about 2 in diameter. He asked the class if the jar was full to which they replied, that it was. He then took some
pebbles and proceeded to pour them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled everything else. Now, said the professor, I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things- your family, your partner, your health anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff, if you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the Pebbles and the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, you will never have any room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Listen to each other. Have fun laugh with and at each other. Take time to go get medical checkups. There will always be time for work, clean the house, give a dinner party and mow the lawn. Take care of the Rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. Pronouncement ( ) and ( ), you have told me, and all who are gathered here today that you deeply love one another, and wish to live together now seeking an ever-richer, ever-deeper relationship. You have formed your own union-in friendship, in respect for one another, and in Love and it is therefore now my joyful task to acknowledge you as Husband and Wife.
VOW # 4 Dear friends we have come not to mark the start of a relationship but to recognize bond that already exists. To ensure a healthy lasting marriage always value each other, you may have disagreements but remember to respect each other s feelings, needs and wants. The institution of marriage was begun that you may learn how to love, and in loving find joy. Learn how to share pain and loneliness and in sharing find strength, learn how to give and in giving find communion. Marriage is a promise of companionship, of having someone to share all of life s experiences. Marriage does not promise that there will not be any rough times, just the assurance that there will always be someone who cares and will help you through to better times. Marriage does not promise eternal romance, just eternal love and commitment. Marriage can t prevent disappointment, disillusionment, or grief, But it can offer hope, acceptance, and comfort. Marriage can t protect you from making individual choices Or shelter you from the world, but it will help to reassure you that there is someone by your side who truly cares. When the world hurts you and makes you feel vulnerable, Marriage offers the promise that there will be someone to listen, to console, to inspire. Marriage is the joining of two people who share the promise that only marriage can make to share the sunshine and the shadows, And to experience a richer, fuller life because of it. Vows ( ) You are entering into a relationship with many privileges but also many obligations. The woman you love is about to become your wife. In no other way could she tell you of her love for you as by her willingness to turn from loved ones true and tried to make her home with you. Your Joys will be her joys, your sorrows will be her sorrows, and your God, her God. ( ) You too are entering into a relationship with many privileges and many obligations. The man you love is about to become your husband. He tells the world not only of his willingness but also of his expressed desire to turn from all others to you for all life ahead. Your love must be his inspiration and your prayers his tower of strength. And now here in the presence of these witnesses do you take each other as husband and wife, agreeing to love each other devotedly and to promote each other s happiness until this union into
Which you are now entering is dissolved by death? I ( ) take you ( ) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish, till death do us part. Prayer Ring Exchange This ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love (Repeat). Pronouncement ( ) and ( ) you have told me, and all who are gathered here today that you deeply love one another, and wish to live together now seeking an ever-richer, ever-deeper relationship. You have formed your own union-in friendship, in respect for one another, and in Love and it is therefore now my joyful task to acknowledge you as Husband and Wife. Blessing May your marriage bring you the fulfillment a marriage should bring and may you be given patience, tolerance, and understanding. May it be full of joy and laughter, as well as comfort and support. May you discover the true depth of love through loving one another. Remember that every burden is easier to carry when you have the shoulders of two instead of one. When you are weary and discouraged look to your creator to refresh and strengthen you. May you always want one another not so much to fill your emptiness, but to help you know your fullness. May you always need one another, but not out of weakness. May you always entice one another, but not compel one another. May you find happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you find love and may you find it loving one another (Couple may kiss.)
VOW # 5 Dearly Beloved, We are gathered here to witness and to share in the union of these two lives. We have come not to mark the start of a relationship but to recognize a bond that already exists. To ensure a healthy, lasting marriage always value each other. Although you will disagree, remember to respect each other s feelings, needs and wants. And above all, never lose your sense of humor. The institution of Marriage was begun - So that a man and a woman would learn how to love and, in loving, know joy. So that a man and a woman might learn how to share pain and loneliness and, in sharing, know strength. So that a man and a woman, might learn to give and, in giving, know communion. Marriage is an everlasting covenant. You are to be committed to each other for life as friends, lovers and companions. Vows I ( ) take you ( ) to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you trusting what I don t yet know, with respect for your integrity and faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life shall bring us, I accept you as my (Wife/Husband ). Prayer Ring This ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love (Repeat). As you begin your married life there are three things I want you to remember. The first is presents, a gift. Always give gifts to each other. Presents are good to commemorate special occasions. Don t forget that sometimes presents are nonmaterial. The giving of yourself, your personhood, your time, your words like I love you, and I m sorry. The gift of total commitment. The gift of unselfishness, the gift of praying for each other, the gift of desiring that the other becomes all he or she is capable of becoming in Christ. Our Lord taught us
this life-style of giving when He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35, NASB). The second is a purpose. Every one needs a purpose. Every couple needs a purpose. Marriage is not two people standing eye to eye but shoulder to shoulder, looking to similar goals. Competition is good in many areas, but it can kill a marriage. By meaningful worship, prayer, and a lot of communication you will discover God s purpose for your life and your home. I enjoin you to obey Jesus who said, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33). The third is a power. The power is a person. His name is Christ. The word home in one nation means a shrine of the gods. In the Christian life it means the place where Jesus is Christ is Lord. There cannot be a successful home if money, prestige, activity, or even people are more important than Christ. Without Christ your marriage would probably fail. With Christ as the power in your heart and home, your marriage cannot fail. Jesus promised: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20, NASB). Heaven in the home: you can have it with these three, a present, a purpose, and a power. Pronouncement ( ) and ( ) you have told me, and all who are gathered here today that you deeply love one another, and wish to live together now seeking an ever-richer, ever-deeper relationship. You have formed your own union-in friendship, in respect for one another, and in Love and it is therefore now my joyful task to acknowledge you as Husband and Wife. Blessing May your marriage bring you the fulfillment a marriage should bring and may you be given patience, tolerance, and understanding. May it be full of joy and laughter, as well as comfort and support. May you discover the true depth of love through loving one another. Remember that every burden is easier to carry when you have the shoulders of two instead of one. When you are weary and discouraged look to your creator to refresh and strengthen you. May you find happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you find love and may you find it loving one another. (Couple may kiss.)