The minister welcomes the people using these or other appropriate words:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you

This sentence may be used

God is love, and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them. 1 John(4.16)

This prayer may be said

You chose as your first hymn. This is just a guide. You might like to discuss other choices with your Vicar.

These words or alternative wording are used

In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of Bride's Name and Groom's Name, to pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy and to celebrate their love.

Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.

The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the delight and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment to the end of their lives. It is given as the foundation of family life in which children are [born and] nurtured and in which each member of the family,in good times and in bad, may find strength, companionship and comfort, and grow to maturity in love.

Marriage is a way of life made holy by God, and blessed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with those celebrating a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty which all should uphold and honour. It enriches society and strengthens community. No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God.

Bride's Name and Groom's Name are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other

and make solemn vows, and in token of this they will [each] give and receive a ring. We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfil God's purposes for the whole of their earthly life together.

The minister says to the congregation

First, I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now.

The minister says to the couple

The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts; therefore if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.

The minister says to the bridegroom

Groom's Name, will you take Bride's Name to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

He answers

I will.

The minister says to the bride

Bride's Name, will you take Groom's Name to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

She answers

I will.

The minister says to the congregation

Will you, the families and friends of Bride's Name and Groom's Name, support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?

The minister invites the people to pray, silence is kept and the minister says the Collect

God our Father, from the beginning you have blessed creation with abundant life. Pour out your blessings upon Bride's Name and Groom's Name, that they may be joined in mutual love and companionship, in holiness and commitment to each other. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

You chose . This is the minimum number of readings you'll need for your church wedding. If you'd like more, talk to your Vicar about others you might like.

The marriage

You chose as your second hymn. This is just a guide. You might like to discuss other choices with your Vicar.

The couple stand before the minister.

The minister introduces the vows in these or similar words

Bride's Name and Groom's Name, I now invite you to join hands and make your vows,

in the presence of God and his people.

The bride and bridegroom face each other. The bridegroom takes the bride's right hand in his.

These words, or alternative, are used

I, Groom's Name, take you, Bride's Name,

to be my wife,

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,

till death us do part;

according to God's holy law.

In the presence of God I make this vow.

They loose hands. The bride takes the bridegroom's right hand in hers, and says

I, Bride's Name, take you, Groom's Name, to be my husband, 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, till death us do part; according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.

They loose hands.

The minister receives the ring(s), and says this prayer or an alternative prayer.

Heavenly Father, by your blessing let these rings be to Bride's Name and Groom's Name a symbol of unending love and faithfulness to remind them of the vow and covenant which they have made this day; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The bridegroom places the ring on the fourth finger of the bride's left hand and, holding it there, says

Bride's Name, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

If rings are exchanged, they loose hands and the bride places a ring on the fourth finger of the bridegroom's left hand and, holding it there, says

Groom's Name, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

If only one ring is used, before they loose hands the bride says

Groom's Name, I receive this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The minister addresses the people

In the presence of God, and before this congregation

Bride's Name and Groom's Name have given their consent

and made their marriage vows to each other.

They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands

and by the giving and receiving of rings.

I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife.

The minister joins their right hands together and says

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

The husband and wife kneel. The minister may use the following blessing or an alternative one

Blessed are you, O Lord our God,

for you have created joy and gladness,

pleasure and delight, love, peace and fellowship.

Pour out the abundance of your blessing

upon Bride's Name and Groom's Name in their new life together.

Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts

and a crown upon their heads.

Bless them in their work and in their companionship;

awake and asleep,

in joy and in sorrow,

in life and in death.

Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that banquet

where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home.

We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

The minister says to the couple

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord mercifully grant you the riches of his grace, that you may please him both in body and soul, and, living together in faith and love, may receive the blessings of eternal life.

You chose as your third hymn. This is just a guide. You might like to discuss other choices with your Vicar.

These or other suitable prayers are used. The prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence: Thanksgiving Spiritual(growth) Faithfulness, joy, love, forgiveness And healing Children, other family members and friends

Faithful God, holy and eternal, source of life and spring of love, we thank and praise you for bringing Groom's Name and Bride's Name to this day, and we pray for them. Lord of life and love:

May their marriage be life-giving and life-long, enriched by your presence and strengthened by your grace; may they bring comfort and confidence to each other in faithfulness and trust. Lord of life and love:

May the hospitality of their home bring refreshment and joy to all around them; may their love overflow to neighbours in need and embrace those in distress. Lord of life and love:

May they discern in your word order and purpose for their lives; and may the power of your Holy Spirit lead them in truth and defend them in adversity. Lord of life and love:

May they nurture their family with devotion, see their children grow in body, mind and spirit and come at last to the end of their lives with hearts content and in joyful anticipation of heaven. Lord of life and love:

The prayers conclude with the Lord's Prayer.

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

(or)

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

You chose as your fourth hymn. This is just a guide. You might like to discuss other choices with your Vicar.

The minister says

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Thank you for taking the time to look though this Ceremony Planner, available on www.yourchurchwedding.org.This is a new development being piloted by the Archbishops' Council's Weddings Project. It shows couples the flexiblility of a CofE wedding and encourages their involvement in making choices. It is also designed to provide you with helpful information about the couple's preferences, but emphasises that you are best placed to advise them on their unique ceremony. We'd be pleased to hear what you think about the Planner, and whether you and the couple found it helpful.

To find out more and send us your comments, visit www.yourchurchwedding.org/project.

Some material included in this service is taken from Common Worship: Pastoral Services, copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000-2005

Created at www.YourChurchWedding.org - Page 10 of 10