Sharon D Phillips

Nyillah  and Monchello’s wedding

 

WELCOME / INVOCATION

Announcement: On behalf of Monchello and Nyillah, we warmly welcome you and thank you for being here today. Please take this time to silence your phones.

 

OFFICIANT TO ALL PRESENT

We’re here today to witness the union of Monchello Clay and Nyillah Fofanah in marriage.

 

OFFICIANT TO COUPLE

Today, you two join your lives together, founded in love, laughter, honesty, respect, and friendship. We are gathered here in the presence of God and our Lord Jesus Christ to unite Nyillah and Monchello in holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred covenant, established by God, and is not to be entered into lightly but with thoughtful commitment, reverence, and a deep understanding of the responsibilities that come with it.

As Jesus taught us, love is the foundation of all things, and through His example, we learn that true love is patient, kind, selfless, and enduring. Let Nyillah and Monchello remember that their love for one another should mirror the unconditional love Christ has for all of us.

 

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

Please face each other and join hands.

 

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER Monchello

Do you, Monchello, take Nyillah to be your lawful wedded wife, as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for it? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for better or for worse, and be faithful to her as long as you both shall live, with the grace of Jesus guiding your hearts? 

 

(Monchello says: “Yes, I do.”)

 

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER Nyillah

Do you, Nyillah, take Monchello to be your lawful wedded husband, as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for it? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for better or for worse, and be faithful to him as long as you both shall live, with the grace of Jesus guiding your hearts? 

 

(Nyillah says: “Yes, I do.”)

 

OFFICIANT TO Monchello

Please place the ring on Nyillah's left ring finger, and repeat after me:

I give you this ring,

As a promise of my love,

I did yesterday, I do today, and I always will.

(Monchello places the ring on Nyillah's hand.)

 

OFFICIANT TO Nyillah

Please place the ring on Monchello's left ring finger, and repeat after me:

I give you this ring,

As a promise of my love,

I did yesterday, I do today, and I always will.

(Nyillah places the ring on Monchello's hand.)

 

PRONOUNCEMENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

By the authority vested in me by the State of New Jersey and American Marriage Ministries,it is my great honor to pronounce you husband and wife!

Monchello, you may kiss your bride!

 

I now pronounce you husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Clay.

 

JUMPING THE BROOM CEREMONY

Before we move to our final recessional, we will now honor an African-American tradition—Jumping the Broom. This act symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the leap into a new beginning as husband and wife.

 

(The broom is positioned on the floor for the ceremony.)

 

Nyillah and Monchello, as you prepare to jump together, know that you do so with the strength of your ancestors behind you, the love of your family surrounding you, and a bright future before you.

 

OFFICIANT TO THE GUESTS

Let’s all stand and join together in counting down: 3... 2... 1...

(The couple jumps the broom.)

 

RECESSION

Let the celebration of this joyous union begin!