Christian Ceremony Script With Salt Covenant

PROCESSIONAL

• Guests are seated followed by the entrance of the Bridal Party.

BLESSING OF PARENTS

OFFICIANT TO PARENTS OF PARTNER B

"Who is giving this woman to be married to this man?"

PARENTS OF PARTNER B TO OFFICIANT
"We do."

officiant to parents of partner b
"You are not losing a daughter but rather you are gaining a son."

officiant to parents of partner a
"Who is giving this man to be married to this woman?"

parents of partner a to officiant
"We do."

officiant to parents of partner a"You are not losing a son but rather you are gaining a daughter."

PRAYER

officiant to the reception

"Let us join in prayer: Lord, we thank you today for [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B]'s love for each other. We thank you for the love and the good news which you have given them. I pray that You would guide their hearts back to You and to each other. I also ask that everyone here would feel the desire to encourage [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] in their marriage and finally that You would be here with us in this ceremony. In Your name we pray, Amen."

INVOCATION

officiant to the reception

"Greetings. We have come together in the presence of God to witness the joining together of this man and this woman in the bond of marriage. The sacred relationship of marriage was established by God as an example to be followed, and is meant to show true love for one another It is at once one of man̢’s greatest blessings and also one of his most awesome responsibilities. Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but intentionally as a way to honor God and one another.

[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] thank you for joining them and sharing in this very special day. [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] also wish for me to share with you part of what makes this day significant for them.

In the bible and in the book Ephesians 5, Paul writes to us that marriage is an analogy for Christ and the church. The church submits to Christ and Christ gave himself up, gave up his position in heaven for the church. The church is synonymous for the wife and Christ is synonymous for the husband.

At first glance it seems that wives are being asked to be submissive and husbands are being asked to give up things for their families. However, this is done out of love and a desire to submit to one another.

So, in a way, this IS the good news - the gospel. This marriage is the good news and the gift represented that God is love, that God has given freely. If you have never heard the gospel put in such terms, [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] both want to encourage you to join their joy and find the time to come to - or recommit - to Jesus.

[PARTNER A], [PARTNER B], your lives will not be all about sacredness and seriousness, but I pray that you would find sacredness in the joy, laughing, arguing and loving that you two have been given. The only thing that should ever come between you two from now on should be God and your love for Him and one another."

DECLARATION OF INTENT

officiant to the couple

"Please join hands."

officiant to partner a
"Do you [PARTNER A] take this woman whose hand you hold to be your lawful wedded wife; and do you pledge before God and man to love, honor, and protect her through good and bad times; keeping yourself unto her alone until death do you part?

If so, answer 'I Do̢'."

• partner a responds with 'I do'.

officiant to partner b
"Do you [PARTNER B] take this man, whose hand you hold, to be your lawful wedded husband; and do you pledge before God and man to be to him a loving and true wife, through good and bad times, keeping yourself unto him alone, until death do you part?

If so, answer 'I Do'."

• partner b responds with 'I do'.

VOWS EXCHANGE

officiant to the couple

"These vows are a promise to one another and an important marker of your dedication to one another. Use these to keep in mind the importance of today."

officiant to partner a
"[PARTNER A], repeat after me:I, [PARTNER A] take you [PARTNER B], to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, excluding all others, as long as we both shall live.With God as my witness, I give you my pledge."

• partner a repeats the vows.

officiant to partner b
"[PARTNER B], repeat after me:I, [PARTNER B] take you [PARTNER A], to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, excluding all others, as long as we both shall live.With God as my witness, I give you my pledge."

• partner b repeats the vows.

RINGS EXCHANGE

officiant to the couple

"You have chosen to seal your vows by the giving and receiving of rings. The ring forms a perfect circle, without a beginning or an end, and is thereby a symbol of eternity and signifies the duration of the commitment you are making. The metal of which the rings are made signify the purity and value of the relationship into which you enter. Let us now exchange these rings.

The ring made of precious metals which was crafted so carefully is there to remind you of your commitment to one another. It should always be a reminder and an outward sign of who your heart belongs to.

Repeat after me:I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and with all that I have, I will honor you."

• the couple repeats the vows and exchanges their rings.

SALT COVENANT

officiant to the reception

"Traditionally we might be lighting a unity candle, but [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] have chosen to do something a little different. In biblical times people would often perform a salt covenant.

Salt being important to life it was used in a ceremony that unites and binds. In this ceremony two people might pour salt into a container symbolizing how inseparable they are and their lives.

No matter what happens these two will have become One. If ever there is a time when they forget this they can look to this container and remember how tied together they are.

[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] have chosen to use sand, knowing that their sands can never be separated from each other and neither [PARTNER A] or [PARTNER B] can ever take back theirs and leave the rest. This is done to show their dedication to one another as a family."

• the couple pours their salt into the vessel.

PRONOUNCEMENT

officiant to the reception

"Lord, please bless this new family as they navigate the times ahead, help them to know what Your will is and the decisions they need to make. We ask that you would continue to bless them and help them to know You are near.In Your name we pray, Amen."

RECESSIONAL

End of the Wedding Ceremony.