Episcopal Wedding Ceremony Script with the Lord's Prayer

PROCESSION / PROCESSIONAL 

• THE CEREMONY BEGINS

INVOCATION

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE AND RECEPTION

Dearly beloved, we have come here today in the presence of God and the church, to join (Partner A) and (Partner B) in the holy sacred bonds of matrimony; which is consecrated by God, and to be held in honor among all of God’s people.

The bond of marriage was established by God during creation. Therefore, I want to remind you that marriage is a binding covenant and is not to be taken lightly but with reverence and holy faithfulness.  

I ask that if anyone here can show just cause why they should not be lawfully married in the presence of God today, speak now, or forever hold your peace. 

• THE OFFICIANT WAITS FOR few seconds for a response. IF THERE IS NOT ONE, THE SERVICE CONTINUES.

oFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

I ask you both in the presence of God and the church that if either of you know of any reason why you should not be united in marriage lawfully, and in accordance with God’s holy word, please confess it publicly now. 

• THE OFFICIANT WAITS FOR few seconds for a response. IF THERE IS NOT ONE, THE SERVICE CONTINUES.

declaration of intent / consent

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

(Partner A) and (Partner B) you will now be making your verbal commitment to each other. With your words, I require that you promise, with the help of God, to fulfill the obligations which Christian marriage requires.  

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A

Therefore, I ask you, (Partner A), do you take (Partner B) to be your (wife /husband / spouse), to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love (him / her ), comfort (him / her), honor and keep (him / her), in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to (him / her) as long as you both shall live? 

Partner A 

I do.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER b

And do you, (Partner B), take (Partner A) to be your (wife /husband / spouse), to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love (him / her ), comfort (him / her), honor and keep (him / her), in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to (him / her) as long as you both shall live? 

Partner b 

I do.

officiant to the reception / congregation

Family and friends, as you have witnessed the verbal commitment of (Partner A) and (Partner B), I will now ask for your blessings on their marriage.

 As (Partner A) and (Partner B) exchange vows of love and fidelity today, in the presence of God and the people of the Church, they become bound to one another in a sacred lifelong covenant. Will all of you gathered here give your pledge to honor and uphold them, and to recognize them as a family in this community, to guide and pray for them in times of trouble, to celebrate with them in times of joy, to respect the bonds of their covenant, and seek to discern the continuing presence of Christ within them?

Recepeption / Congregation

We will.

Officiant to the reception

God grant that all married persons who have witnessed these vows will find their lives and their commitment to each other strengthened.

Prayer for the Couple & Ministry of The Word

Officiant to the reception and the couple

Everyone please bow your heads as I say a prayer for (Partner A) and (Partner B).

Today I ask you, gracious God, creator of life, author of salvation, and giver of grace, look with favor upon (Partner A) and (Partner B). Make their life together a beacon of your love in this broken world and unity that overcomes all. Give them the bonds of mutual affection that will always encourage them to reach out in love to each other. Give them desires to be knit together in your will, and their spirit in your Spirit. Help them to grow in love and peace with you and one another for all the days of their lives. Amen.

Officiant to the couple

(Partner A) and (Partner B) may the Lord be with you as you go forth in marriage and create a home of which to live and create a life to celebrate. I want to remind you both and everyone here that we are given the bible to direct our path while on this earth. So today I will read First Corinthians 13: 4-8, which is an example of how we should act in love towards one another.    

I encourage everyone here to remember this verse as they live their lives and encounter others daily. Love is the greatest gift God gave us. Just as He loved us, so shall we love others. 

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love."

exchange of vows

Officiant to the couple

(Partner A) and (Partner B), please turn and join hands. As you hold the hand of your dearest friend and companion, you will now make those promises which God will witness and bless, to weave your two hearts, and two lives, into one.

Officiant to Partner A

(Partner A), please repeat after me:

In the Name of God, I, (Partner A), take you, (Partner B), to be my (wife / husband / spouse), 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, until death parts us. This is my solemn vow.

Officiant to Partner B

(Partner B), please repeat after me:

In the Name of God, I, (Partner B), take you, (Partner A), to be my (wife / husband / spouse), 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, until death parts us. This is my solemn vow.

THE COUPLE'S PRAYER

officiant to the couple

Thank you both. Please kneel now, and pray with me.

• The couple kneels and prays along as the officiant recites the following prayer.

Officiant & couple

Dearest God of love and grace, you brought us to each other and led us to this special day. With humbleness, we thank you for the blessings of your guidance and this beautiful journey of love.

Please go with us as we start this new life. Bless our home that we create together with your abiding love. Help us to give our best to each other and most of all be trusting in your love that you give freely to us. Amen.

• the officiant motions to the guest who holds the wedding rings, asking them to step forward, and the couple stands.

blessing OF the RINGS & exchange of rings

officiant 

As I hold these rings in my hand, I ask you, O Lord, to bless them as represent an unbroken circle of fidelity. Just as your faithfulness and love to us is never ending so shall their love for each other. Give them strength to remember the commitment the rings represent to you and to the saints. 

Officiant to the couple

Please repeat after me and place the ring on your partner’s hand.

Officiant to Partner b

(Partner A), I give this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

• PARTNER B PLACES THE RING ON PARTNER A'S FINGER.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A

(Partner B), I give this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

• PARTNER a PLACES THE RING ON PARTNER A'S FINGER.

oFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE AND THE RECEPTION

Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.

Officiant's charge to the couple

Officiant to the couple 

I want to remind you to keep God and His principles at the center of your marriage at the center and heart of your marriage. Always remember this day, and the promises you have made to each other and to God. Stand humbly beside each other. It is a promise of true fidelity and steadfast love that honors Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

the LORD’S PRAYER

• reading of the lord's prayer is optional, and you may choose to replace this section with a reading of your favorite prayer or scripture. 

Officiant to the reception and the couple

Please bow your heads and pray the Lord’s prayer with me. It was given to us in the Bible as an example of how to pray, so let’s honor God as we say these words.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen."

+ Or substitute a contemporary version of this prayer:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen."

blessing of the marriage

Officiant to the couple

We ask for God’s blessing on this marriage. As marriage was created for a couple’s mutual joy and happiness; each partner should give help and comfort to the other in prosperity and adversity; and let all things be done in God's will. I humbly ask God for his blessings, mercy and grace as (Partner A) and (Partner B) enter into this union reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God during creation.  

• the officiant quietly directs the couple to kneel. 

Officiant

Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born as a baby and become human to make the way through the cross to be the way to eternal life. We thank you for consecrating the union of (Partner A) and (Partner B) in your holy Name.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this marriage. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death.

Finally, with your mercy, bring them to the table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, as one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

• The couple stands. 

PRONOUNCEMENT & INTRODUCTION of the couple

officiant to the couple

Marriage is a covenant between you, made here in the eyes of God. I encourage you to commit yourselves, steadfastly, with God’s help, asking daily for his mercy, tenderness, and grace. I also encourage you to live by the principles of this covenant and to lead your family toward Godly goals and do not focus on earthly things. So from all of us here present today to witness this ceremony we send you forth on your journey of life together in marriage with blessings and love.

Here in God’s presence and in the presence of these guests, I pronounce you (husband and wife / spouses).

You may now seal your marriage with a kiss. 

Officiant to the reception / congregation

I formally present (Mr. and Mrs. Willams / whatever terms the couple prefers).

Everyone go forth in love. May the Lord bless and keep you, may the peace of the Lord be always with you.

Reception / Congregation

And also with you! 

• guests applaud and cheer

RECESSION

• The ceremony ends