The Wedding Book, A Resource for Planning A Unique Christian Wedding
Published by David Y Bevington at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 by David Y Bevington
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased by you for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Perspective
What's in a wedding? Your perspective will be determined by your gender. To the groom, the wedding might be special, but not that big a deal. To the bride, the wedding is the fulfillment of a life-long dream. She has planned every detail of the perfect wedding long before she even met ‘Mr. Perfect.’ Her wedding is the most important event she will ever organize. She will remember her wedding forever.
When I began to write poetry, I began to record both the serious and humorous events at weddings. I tried to put the thoughts of the participants in poetic form. For that reason, some of my work in this wedding book is serious, and some is humorous. In the more serious vein, I began to incorporate poetry into the vows and ring ceremony. I wrote a poetic benediction. It was just the spark that was needed. Wedding audiences noticed that it wasn’t the 'same old thing.'
To introduce my book, let me begin with the comments of a four-year-old boy who had never been inside a church building before. He was at the wedding rehearsal. This what he said, in poetic form.
Hey! There goes God!
The wedding party stood around,
and not one soul made any sound.
They wanted to get under way
with their rehearsal there that day.
One child had never been inside
a church before; his eyes were wide!
He really seemed to like the place,
and joy was written on his face.
"Hey! There Goes God!" I heard him say
as I walked down the aisle that day.
The truth comes through with clarity:
I was the one the boy could see!
Please know, that it does frighten me
that this young boy was watching me!
My witness and my acts of love
would help him trust in God above.
Note: During the rehearsal, remind the wedding party that the wedding is a serious event: no gimmicks, false rings, dropping false rings down registers, etc. will be permitted. This could save a lot of embarrassment later. Also instruct the wedded couple not toleave the altar until the benediction (poetic form) has been prayed.
The Wedding Outline
Wedding Service: Parts of the wedding vows have been adapted from the traditional service: poetry and the cover photograph are original.
[Include this poem in the wedding bulletin.]
Parents of the bride,
Today is that special day
when the one you love
will be given away
to the man of her dreams.
You pray that this union
is truly ordained by God,
and that the vows made this day
In the presence of God
and this company
will be established in their lives;
all the hopes,
all the prayers
that have led up to this day
seem to be worth it at this moment.
You smile through your tears of joy,
so happy at this expression
of true love.
Marriage, a living portrayal
of the mystical union
of Christ and His Bride, the Church.
[Let us pray]
A Wedding Prayer
[Used as an invocation]
We gather to honor this couple
who stand here before us today;
We covet Your promise of blessing
as we bow our heads to pray.
Our Father in heaven, provide them
the wisdom they need to endure,
And help them to say, “I forgive you,”
“…I’m sorry”...”I want to do more.”
In these days of turmoil and tension,
with marriages falling apart,
Please give them a solid foundation...
a love that will strengthen the heart.
When they might be tempted to waver
from this great commitment they make,
Please help them to ask for your guidance
to know the right pathway to take.
Amen.
[Read the poem with great feeling, not in a sing-songy manner]
What is Love?
What is love?
Love is more than
A flash,
a spark that burns its power in a moment?
Love is emotion, but more than emotion.
It is not something reserved for the young,
nor is it a fleeting thing that comes and goes.
Love is not like a kindled flame that dies when spent.
Love is a quality of life that hopes, and dreams,
and expects the best in all.
Wedding Scripture
I Corinthians 13
[Read by pastor or by other person ... relative ... mother of bride or groom]
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophesy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, It profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Note: The wedding party has arrived at the front of the sanctuary. The bride is being escorted down the aisle by her father or other escort. In a sanctuary setting, the escort stops several pews from the wedding party. At this point, the groom steps out to meet the escort,, shakes his/her right hand of, and ushers the bride to her proper place. The father or escort either stands in his place until the bride is given away or takes a seat, standing momentarily at the giving away of the bride.
TO THE PERSON GIVING THE BRIDE AWAY:
[To the person giving the bride away:]
“Who presents this woman to be married to this man’?”
[Responses may be varied] [Bride’s Father or escort is seated]
[Ask the couple to face each other; bride passes her bouquet to matron or bridesmaid.]
TO THE GROOM:
______________ _______________________(man) Is it your intention to be committed to
TO THE BRIDE:
______________ _______________________(woman) as your wife, to live according to God’s laws in the relationship of marriage?
[Response]
“Will you love her, care for her and watch over her, both in times of health and in times of sickness? Will you focus your attention on her and remain loyal to her as long as you shall live?”
[Response:]
If you agree, say, “I will, God being my helper.”
TO THE BRIDE:
_______________ ________________________(woman) Is it your intention to be committed to
____________________ _________________(man) as your husband, to live according to God’s laws in the relationship of marriage?
Will you love him, care for him and watch over him, both in times of health and in times of sickness?
Will you focus your attention on him and remain loyal to him as long as you live?
[Response]
If you agree, say, “I will, God being my helper.”
The Vows
TO THE GROOM: [_________________,
[please repeat after me]:
I, _______________ _______________ desire to have you, _______________ ____________ as my wife. I promise to be loyal to you all the days of my life, to love you, and to give you my full devotion and attention. I will do my best to be a good husband, to love you whether we are doing well or poorly, wealthy or poor, sick or healthy. I promise my faithfulness to you as my wife.
TO THE BRIDE: _________________________, please repeat after me:
I, __________________ _____________________ desire to have you_______________ _____________ as my husband. I promise to be loyal to you all the days of my life, to love you, and to give you my full devotion and attention. I will do my best to be a good husband, to love you whether we are doing well or poorly, wealthy or poor, sick or healthy. I promise my faithfulness to you as my husband.
[Get the ring from the best man, and hold it up while you pray the poem below]