Wedding Ceremony
Ephesians 5:22-32
The covenant of marriage is a picture of Christ’s covenant with us.
Processional
Opening Script
On behalf of this beautiful couple and their families, we want to thank you all for celebrating this momentous occasion with us.
Today, Kevin and Edna stand before God, as well as you all, to join themselves together in the covenant of marriage. This is not a simple or light commitment. What they carry out today is a deep promise of love, faithfulness, and enduring strength. We take joy in this commitment, and we stand beside this couple—not simply looking to them, but joining with them in this beautiful journey. A journey that reflects God’s love and grace for all of us.
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Let’s take a moment to pray for Kevin and Edna as they begin their lives together.
Let us pray. Lord of life and love bestow upon Kevin and Edna here today your never-ending grace and seal this marriage with your love as they begin this covenant commitment to each other and to you. As they were brought together by you and your divine providence sanctify them with your Spirit in their giving fully of one to the other. Give them strength and patience with such a deep love for one another that they will mutually bless themselves and your most holy name. Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful blessing and gift of marriage. In Jesus Name, Amen!
You may be seated.
Ephesians 5:22-33
22 wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
30 because we are members of his body.
31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church
33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
The Covenant of Marriage
Today, both of you are stepping into the covenant of marriage; one of the oldest most sacred institutions created and designed by God. In the passage I just read, Paul writes about how Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. In the same way, the covenant of marriage is a picture of Christ’s covenant with us. His love caused him to pursue, sacrifice, and restore us. In fact, he loved us so much that he gave his life for us.
Those who have placed their faith in Jesus are a part of the church: the Bible tells us God’s church is his bride. And, as Paul writes here in Ephesians, just as Jesus pursued us, now you are called to pursue one another:
Kevin, in the same way Jesus pursed his bride, you are called to love Edna. You are to selflessly give to her, to lay your life down for her, to honor and take care of her as if she were your own body—which spiritually she is.
Edna, you are called to pursue Kevin. You too are to love him, to selflessly honor him, and to sacrifice for him.
The love that is required is a selfless love that never gives up and that extends grace time and time again. A love that forgives and a love that pursues when times are good and when times are bad. This is the love Jesus has for us, and the love we must not only show each other, but model for the world to see.
This love is seen in First Corinthians Thirteen. In this chapter so aptly named the love chapter, the apostle Paul writes that love is patient and kind, it does not brag nor is it arrogant. Love is not rude or self-seeking, love is rejoiceful in truth and not falsities. Love seeks to honor, care for, strengthen, bear up, and endure all things.
What we see is love is more than an emotion. This emotion you are feeling today will fade down, but love will remain. Love is action that brings out an emotion. Love is always there even if you are angry at one another. Love is actively seeking one another and the willingness to suffer for the other but always respecting each other.
Today, take a look back to remember the love that has been built up until this moment. In addition, look forward to the love that will make many more beautiful moments as you step into the covenant of marriage.
Vows
At this time, please turn and face each other.
Kevin, do you take Edna to be your wife, to live with her in the covenant of marriage according to the Word of God? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor her, cherish her, and guide her, forsaking all others, and be a husband to her alone, as long as you both shall live? If so, answer, “I do.”
Kevin repeat after me.
I, Kevin take you, Edna to be my wife, my partner in life. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.
I will trust you and honor you,
I will laugh with you and cry with you.
Through the best and the worst,
Through the difficult and the easy.
Whatever may come, I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold
So I give you my life to keep
Edna, do you take Kevin to be your husband, to live with him in the covenant of marriage according to the Word of God? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor him, cherish him, and guide him, forsaking all others, and be a wife to him alone, as long as you both shall live? If so, answer, I do.
Edna repeat after me.
I, Edna take you, Kevin to be my husband, my partner in life. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.
I will trust you and honor you,
I will laugh with you and cry with you.
Through the best and the worst,
Through the difficult and the easy.
Whatever may come, I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold
So I give you my life to keep
The Rings
May I have the rings?
Kevin, if you will, take this ring, place it on Edna’s finger and repeat after me:
Edna, this ring is a sign of my love and faithfulness. As I love the Lord, so do I love you. I receive you as God’s gift to me. I will support and encourage you. Through any adversity, I will be a faithful husband to you. All that is mine is forever yours. For as long as we both shall live.
Edna, if you will, take this ring, place it on Kevin’s finger and repeat after me:
Kevin, this ring is a sign of my love and faithfulness. As I love the Lord, so do I love you. I receive you as God’s gift to me. I will support and encourage you. Through any adversity, I will be a faithful wife to you. All that is mine is forever yours. For as long as we both shall live.
Pronouncement
Kevin and Edna my hope for you is that you never forget the weight and significance of the covenant you’ve made today.
With the blessings of all the family and friends who are here today, and in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Kevin, you may kiss your BRIDE.
Announcement
Ladies and gentlemen, would you please rise as I present to you for the very first time:
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin and Edna Lee
Thank You
Once again, on behalf of the bride and groom and their families, I would like to thank you for celebrating with us today.