I. The Wedding Procession: The Bride and Groom Enter the Auditorium
The following types of wedding processions are all signals that the wedding is about to begin. Usually, the ushers first guide the bride’s mother into the venue and then notify the pastor that the wedding can start.
When the bride and groom, along with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, enter the venue, they can face the congregation or the altar. In addition, in a relatively small church, sometimes the families of both sides are arranged to sit in the choir seats. At this time, the bride and groom had better choose to face the altar. Generally speaking, most brides and grooms choose to face the altar.
Type 1: Accompanied by the pastor, the groom and groomsmen enter from the room next to the altar and then stand in front of the altar. When the wedding procession entrance music plays, led by the bridesmaids, flower girls, ring – bearers, and candle – bearers, the bride, wearing a wedding dress, enters the venue accompanied by her escort (usually her father).
Type 2: The bride and groom enter the venue together, and the previous wedding guiding procession also enters the venue in pairs. They are also led into the venue by flower girls, ring – bearers, and candle – bearers.
Type 3: The bride and groom can enter the venue in different ways. They can be accompanied by their mothers, sons, or daughters.
II. The Announcement and Prayer of the Wedding
Everything has a beginning. Once the bride and groom, the congregation, and the wedding – related personnel enter the venue, the pastor announces the start of the wedding. First, the pastor asks the congregation if there are any legal factors that prevent the wedding from proceeding. According to past experience, usually no one raises factors that prevent the wedding from proceeding.
After the announcement, a prayer is then offered to ask God to bless today’s wedding. In this wedding, the bride and groom are willing to show their wish to get married in front of God and people. Therefore, they hope to receive spiritual blessings in their upcoming married life. Such a prayer is even more important. Facing different beliefs and cultures, this prayer also shows respect for the different cultures of the bride and groom.
Type 1 of the Announcement:
At this special moment, we, all relatives and friends, gather in the presence of God to witness the union of the groom (full name) and the bride (full name) in a sacred marriage covenant before God.
Just as the Bible says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” The Bible also says, “Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”
The groom (full name) and the bride (full name), you have expressed your wishes to enter this sacred marriage covenant together, and no one has proven that you are unworthy to enter this sacred marriage covenant. If you know that there are still factors between you that prevent you from entering the marriage covenant, I hope you will bravely state them in the presence of God and all people…
Type 2 of the Announcement:
Today, we, all relatives and friends, gather in the presence of God to witness the sacred marriage covenant of the groom (full name) and the bride (full name) and to ask God to bless this couple.
Just as the Bible says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” The Bible also says, “Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”
The groom (full name) and the bride (full name), you have expressed your wishes to enter this sacred marriage covenant together, and no one has proven that you are unworthy to enter this sacred marriage covenant. If you know that there are still factors between you that prevent you from entering the marriage covenant, I hope you will bravely state them in the presence of God and all people…
Type 3 of the Announcement:
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, today we gather here in the presence of God and all the witnesses to witness the groom (full name) and the bride (full name) entering into a sacred marriage covenant before God. This marriage covenant is blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, governed by God’s commandments, and is the most sacred marriage covenant among people. Therefore, this marriage covenant should not be held hastily or easily, but rather with a sacred, cautious, and God – fearing heart.
The groom (full name) and the bride (full name), you have expressed your wishes to enter this sacred marriage covenant together, and no one has proven that you are unworthy to enter this sacred marriage covenant. If you know that there are still factors between you that prevent you from entering the marriage covenant, I hope you will bravely state them in the presence of God and all people…
Traditional Wedding Opening Prayer:
Let us bow our heads in prayer. Almighty and eternal God, in you we live and move and have our being. Grant us clean hearts and upright spirits, that our selfish desires may not prevent us from knowing your will, nor our weaknesses prevent us from obeying your will. Thus, through Jesus Christ, we may see light in your light and find true freedom in you. Be with us at this moment, and bless our gathering today according to your faithfulness, from now until forever. Amen.
Improved Wedding Opening Prayer: Let us bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, you are the creator of all things in heaven and on earth. You created humanity and care for humanity, and we rely on your great power for protection. Grant us clean hearts and upright spirits, that our selfish desires may not prevent us from knowing your will, nor our weaknesses prevent us from obeying your will. Bless the groom (full name) and the bride (full name). When they come before you and are willing to enter into the marriage covenant together, let us share the joy from you with this couple and support them in building their new family. We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
III. Lighting the Candles
The candles and candlesticks are prepared by the couple. There are three candles, usually white, but other colors can also be chosen. The three candles are placed in front of the couple. The middle candle is called the “Candle of Marriage” or the “Candle of Unity,” and this candle is larger than the two “Candles of Family” on the sides. If the candles are brought in only when the wedding starts, then the middle candle should be placed first, and only the two family candles on the sides are brought in.
When lighting the candles, a piece of music can be played, or a choir, an individual can offer a song, or the entire congregation can sing hymns.
In the wedding process, the candle – lighting procedure is divided into two parts. The first part is to light the family candles, and the second part is to light the middle marriage candle. The second part is lit after the vows and the marriage announcement are completed.
The first – part candle – lighting procedure can be held at this time or can start earlier. For example, it can be lit before the bride’s mother sits down. Usually, the bride’s mother is the last to sit down before the wedding starts. The candles can be lit when the mother sits down. If this is the case, the following words do not need to be said.
Type 1:
First – part Candle – lighting – The candles represent the lives of the groom (full name) and the bride (full name) and the families of both sides. These candles will be lit by the mothers, friends, or children of both sides ((Full name of the person lighting the candle on the groom’s side), (Full name of the person lighting the candle on the bride’s side)).
Second – part Candle – lighting – The groom (full name) and the bride (full name) will now light the candle of unity, representing their lives becoming one from now on.
Or Second – part Candle – lighting – At this moment, the groom (full name) and the bride (full name) will light the marriage candle from the already – lit family candles. By doing so, it represents their lives becoming one from now on.
Type 2:
First – part Candle – lighting – These two candles standing on both sides are lit by the families of both sides, representing the lives of the groom (full name) and the bride (full name) before this moment. Their candlelight represents the faith, wisdom, and love they received from their parents. Before this moment, their candlelights burned separately, but after exchanging vows, the groom (full name) and the bride (full name) will jointly light the middle candle, representing their lives becoming one from now on.
Second – part Candle – lighting – The bride and the groom will now light the middle unity candle, symbolizing their lives becoming one. From now on, they should consider each other, share joys, and go through hardships together. After the middle candle is lit, the candles on the sides continue to burn, symbolizing that they still need to fully accept each other’s different characteristics to achieve complementary benefits.
IV. Reading Scriptures and Other Writings
Usually, two or three passages of scriptures are read in a wedding, and generally, three passages are read. Reading scriptures is often undertaken by family members, relatives, friends, or church members, and the last passage of scriptures is read by the pastor. The relatives and friends responsible for reading should also participate in the wedding rehearsal.
Many couples, in addition to reading scriptures, also like to read general articles in the wedding, such as poems, meditations, or other articles about marriage (written by others or other brides and grooms). These articles can be read by guests, the couple, or the host. These short passages can be read before or after reading the scriptures. The following are some scriptures and general writings commonly used in weddings.
1 Corinthians 13 (usually read by guests)
- If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
- If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
- If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- It does not dishonor others, it is not self – seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
- Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
- It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
- Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
- For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
- but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
- When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
- For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
John 15:9 – 12 (usually read by the officiant) - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
- If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
- I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
- My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
General Writing 1: When God Created Man
When God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone. So God prepared a woman for man to help him and be with him. In the work of creation, God did not create woman from man’s head so that woman would rule over man, nor did God create woman from man’s foot so that woman would be subservient. Instead, God created woman from man’s rib so that woman would be equal to man and closest to man’s heart. Therefore, a man must love, cherish, and respect the woman he loves. God brought the woman to the man, asking them to be with each other and support each other. Marriage is a gift from God to the world, so that we no longer feel lonely. Marriage allows us to receive this precious gift from God and also give this precious gift from God to the one we love.
General Writing 2: Marriage is a Promise of Love
Marriage is a commitment of personal dedication. In this commitment, two people give themselves and also find themselves. In marriage, two people share and grow together, and no other relationship in the world can compare with marriage. The commitment of marriage is physical, spiritual, and for a lifetime.