The Marriage Ceremony

 Of

Nicolas and Brittaney

November 26, 2008

By

Shelby G. Floyd

This has been a busy year in our family. We have been honored with performing the marriage ceremony of my two grandchildren. They are fine young people and we wish them both all the joy and happiness that life affords.

This ceremony is posted in honor of Brittaney my oldest granddaughter and her handsome husband Nicolas.

It is also being put on the web for the practical use of young preachers, who when starting their careers do not have access to a marriage ceremony. You may feel free to use this ceremony or change it to fit your needs. --Shelby G. Floyd

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Who is it that brings this woman to this man? 

FAMILY BLESSING

And who blesses the marriage of this man to this woman? 

Brittaney,

You are our firstborn and our only daughter.  Your Dad and I along with your brothers want you to know how very blessed we feel to have you as part of our lives and our family!

Today, as you and Nic begin your own family and add a new branch to our family tree, we would like to give you our blessing. Always know that we love you both and will be there for you whenever you need us and we know you will do the same because we are a family and that’s what family’s do!

Brittaney and Nic,

Out of all the people in all the world you could have chosen, you have chosen each other.  And we believe you have both chosen well. 

May you always find love and honesty in each others eyes.

May you always find comfort and support in each others arms.

May you always be best friends and be first in each others hearts.

When you look at each other, may you always see your high school sweetheart!

May you always have in this life much more joy and laughter than tears.

May God bless your family with good health, and prosperity, and fill your home with happiness.

We are a family. For one another, we are love and trial, strength and trouble. Even when far apart, we belong to one another.  May we speak kind words, listen more, respect differences, and show patience.  May we make wise choices, keep promises, and be honest. May we be forgiving, and let go of hurts and overlook shortcomings.  May we have hope during times of difficulty and change. And may God’s love strengthen our bonds as we become blessings for one another.

INTRODUCTION

Friends,

We have been invited here by the ____________ and ____________ families to share with Brittaney and Nicolas in a most important time in their lives. In the time they have been together, their love for each other has grown and matured. Now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. They are grateful that you have honored their wedding day by your presence.

A PERSONAL WORD

Brittaney,

You were our first grandchild and we waited with great anticipation for your birth. What a joy you have been to us. We’re so thankful we were a part of your life growing up in Indiana.

As you became a young adult we celebrated your graduation from High school and College.

Today as you and Nic experience the joys of becoming husband and wife, we know we speak for all the family, in wishing you both the best that life has to offer.

READING

Jacob, brother of the bride will now read the,

Apache Wedding Prayer

Now you will feel no rain, For each of you will be shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will warmth to the other.

Now there is no more loneliness, For each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies, But there is only one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place, To enter into the days of your togetherness.

And may your days be good, And long upon the earth.

                                    —Anonymous

We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite Brittaney and Nicolas in marriage. Life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family and friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of life's greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life.

READING

At this time, Emily, sister of the groom, will read,

Sonnet Number Seventeen

Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz, or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms, but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance, risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way than this: where I do not exist, nor you, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

SERMON

In the beginning God created man and woman, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27.) Therefore, man and woman are of divine origin.

Marriage is of Divine Origin

In the beginning God also created the marriage relationship between a man and a woman:

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18.)

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:20-23.)

Adam marveled that the woman God had created was such a wonderful and appropriate companion that he exclaimed, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man."  (Genesis 2:23.)

The reason that it is natural for a man to leave his father and mother and seek and cleave to his wife is because he is not complete without her:  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24.) Marriage that honors God requires that both of you leave your primary loyalty to parents and be bonded foremost to each other in the closest intimacy of one flesh.

Love is of Divine Origin

Mankind did not create love; love is created by God. The measure of true love is a love both freely given and freely accepted, just as God's love of us is freely given and to be freely accepted.

Today truly is a glorious day the Lord has made—as today both of you are blessed with God's greatest of all gifts—the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today—and those here in heart—wish both of you all the joy, happiness and success that the world has to offer.

As you travel through life together, I caution you to remember that the true measure of success, the true avenue to joy and peace, is to be found within the love you hold in your hearts. I would ask that you hold the key to your heart very tightly.

Within the Bible, nothing is of more importance than love. We are told the beautiful truth: "God is Love." We are assured that "Love conquers all."  It is love, which brings you here today, the union of two hearts and two spirits. As your lives continue to interweave as one pattern, remember that it was love that brought you here today, it is love that will make this a glorious union, and it is love which will cause this union to endure.

Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace.

STATEMENT OF LOVE AND COMMITMENT

Nicolas and Brittaney

HOLDING HANDS CEREMONY

Nicolas and Brittaney, if you have freely and lawfully chosen one another as husband and wife, please join your hands.

God, bless these hands that you see before you on this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress, and the days of disillusionment. Keep them tender, and gentle, as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship, founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection. Lord let Nicolas and Brittaney see their hands, as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen

VOWS

(Groom) Nicolas, do you take Brittaney to be your Wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?  ("I do")

(Bride) Brittaney, do you take Nicolas to be your Husband?  Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?  ("I do")

WEDDING RINGS

Wedding Rings are the tokens of your love and devotion that you have to offer one another.

Wedding rings are visible signs of the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in marriage. May these rings be the blessed symbol of your affectionate unity. Your two lives are being joined today in one unbroken circle of commitment. May these rings, soon to be on your fingers, symbolize the spirit of love that is in both of your hearts.

(Groom) I Nicolas, take you, Brittaney to be my Wife. To have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, according to God’s law, this is my solemn vow, and I promise my love to you forevermore.

(Bride)  I Brittaney, take you Nicolas, to be my Husband. To have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, according to God’s law, this is my solemn vow, and I promise my love to you forevermore.

Nicolas and Brittaney, as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together—as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other.

BIBLE READING

A marriage ceremony represents one of life's greatest commitments. But it is also a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and it is a model of love I hope you pursue in your marriage:

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.                                                     NKJV

AFFIRMATION OF THE WITNESSES

Marriage is a covenant relationship and as such, witnesses are a normal part of the agreement between two parties. Today, we call heaven and earth as witnesses to the marriage covenant between Nicolas and Brittaney.

Will the Bridesmaids and the Groomsmen signify that you are committed to encourage and pray for Nicolas and Brittaney to be accountable to their covenant promise by saying, WE WILL?

Will all of you in the audience signify that you are committed to encourage and pray for Nicolas and Brittaney to have a faithful and happy marriage by saying, WE WILL?

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with great happiness on Nicolas and Brittaney’s wedding day, as they come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that Nicolas and Brittaney may ever be true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding; rid them of all pretense or jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, best friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may they find great contentment in the rich joy of senior companionship. May the home they are creating today truly be a place of love and harmony, where Your Spirit is always present? Bless this marriage we pray and walk beside Nicolas and Brittaney throughout all of their lives together. We ask these things in Jesus name; Amen

BENEDICTION

May the Lord bless you and keep you. And may the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. May God give you his peace in your going out and your coming in, in your lying down and in your rising up, in your labor and in your leisure, in your laughter and in your tears, until that day when you come to stand before Jesus Christ in that day in which there is no sunset and no dawning, but only eternal glory.

PRONOUNCEMENT

Nicolas and Brittaney, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Holy Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the joining of your hands and the giving of these rings, I now by the power vested in me as a minister of the gospel and by the authority of the state of _____________ declare you to be Husband and Wife.

“Whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”                   —Jesus Christ

Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.

It is my privilege to present to you,

Nicolas and Brittaney—Husband and Wife.

WEDDING CELEBRATION MEAL

Today, it is customary to celebrate a covenant relationship like marriage, with a fellowship meal among family, friends and guests. Jesus Christ honored a marriage feast in Cana of Galilee with his presence. And today Jesus is also our honored guest who recognizes this marriage relationship. We invite all of you to praise the awesome God that brought Brittaney and Nicolas together, by joining together in a joyous meal of celebration.