Alex & Lindsey Wedding Ceremony

1. Seating of the Grandparents (Song: Instrumental Track)

Seating of the Groom’s Grandmother (Escorted by Alex)

Seating of the Bride’s Grandmother (Escorted by Alex)

2. Seating of the Parents (Song: Instrumental Track)

Seating of the Groom’s Parents (Escorted by Alex)

Seating of the Bride’s Mother (Escorted by Alex)

Pastor Mike will go center stage with Alex

3. Bridal Processional (Song: Jupiter- Piano Guys)

Wedding party enters down center isle (ending with Matron of Honor and Best Man)

Flower Girl and Ring Bearer enter.

Mute Computer sound

Unmute Pastor Mic

4. Wedding March (Song: Perfect- Played by Allison on Piano)

Pastor Mike will announce “All Rise”

Lindsey and Jerry will enter.

5. Opening Remarks/Statement of Purpose

“You all may be seated”.

“We are gathered here today in the sight of God, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments. We want to give recognition and value to the wonderful union that God has created called marriage, and to add our blessing and best wishes upon this new couple.

Alex and Lindsey, I want you to first take note off and look around for just a second at all the people who have come here today in support of you. These are the people that have cared for you, encouraged you, helped you grow. They’ve prayed for you, joked with you and likely even about you. And some of these people have had, at times, simply put up with you because of their love of you. But all that have come here today have come because you have in some small way or another impacted their life and they today want to show you their appreciation of that and also to support you again in this great decision of marriage. What a privilege and blessing it is to have these kind of relationships in our lives. This is what God intended it to be like and to Him be the glory.

I remind you audience… that though you have come to wish Alex and Lindsey a joyful marriage and to celebrate with them, you also have responsibility here as well.

That is the responsibility of worshiper and witness...

1. Worshiper:

It has been completely clear to me throughout this wedding ceremony planning that Alex and Lindsey have no desire to be the center focus of all the festivities today. Their wish is to magnify and glorify God with what happens today, and make Him the center focus. For all of us, it should be the same, that He/God would be praised. For without God, there is no marriage. Without God, there is no love.

1 John 4:7 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Without God, there can be no real union. He is the author and perfecter of not only our faith but also our marriages. Sure there might be marriages that “make it work”. But it’s only because they borrow from the ideas of love that God created. Love that is like God’s love will be always self-sacrificing and also the most rewarding and good. So today, we come not to only celebrate this joining of two people, but we come to worship thee God/our God that saw fit to make this marriage and all marriages possible and to praise His name for His provision.

2. Witnesses:

The Word of God tells us that we need to guard each one’s integrity but also to hold each other accountable to the decisions we make so that we may protect one another. Marriage is holy covenant. A powerful promise before God. God created marriage in so many ways to represents our relationship with Christ. We are told as husbands to love our wives as Christ loves the church. Therefore, we should treat it with the utmost care and responsibility. How others see our marriages can significantly effect how people see Christ’s love for His bride. He never forsakes us and His love is always true for us and remains unchanged. So especially in today’s culture, where marriages are a quickly thrown away, we are followers of God need to guard these marriages and show the true love God through them to our spouse. A marriage thrives when God is at the center. Those gathered here, hold true and fast to your commitments as well as do your best to strengthen, encourage, and protect this marriage as witnesses of it today.

6. Prayer (Invocation)

Stephen Roney (friend of Bride and Groom) will come to the mic stand ( stage)

7. Giving Away of the Bride

Mark 10:6–8 ESV

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Today, we have the privilege to witness this joining together, this uniting as one, however, before this is to occur, scripture states a man or woman must leave the care and the protection of his or her father and mother, and give it over to their spouse.

So I ask, who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Father of the Bride answers: “ Her mother and I.”

(Alex will then go down and take Lindsey by the arm, turning facing forward, Jerry will return to his seat)

At this time, we would like to invite you to join us in worshipping the Lord in song and the reading of Scripture. Following that, Pastor Danny of Anchor Baptist Church in Des Moines Iowa where Alex attended during his time spend at Faith Baptist Bible College.

Pastor Mike exit stage right and stand off in the back.

Luke will come forward and lead the music

8. Congregational Song-

“Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery”

Pastor Mike’s mic muted/ Unmute stand mic

9. Scripture Reading

Eph.5:22-23/Rev. 19:6-9

Nate Hatting will come to mic stand (on stage)

10. Congregational Song- Behold Our God

Following song… Groom & Bride will take center stage, and Pastor Danny will enter stage right.

Unmute Pastor Danny

11. Charge- Pastor Danny

Following charge, Pastor Danny exit stage right, Pastor Mike resume center

Unmute Pastor Mike, mute Pastor Danny, unmute Alex lapel

12. Vows

As we move into the time of sharing our vows, I want to remind you of the importance of the words you are going to share as you pronounce them publically. Malachi 2:14 tells us that the Lord of Hosts, the God of Angel armies, is the ultimate witness of your vows… “Because the LORD is acting as witness between you and the wife of your youth...” He is every watching and holding you to it.

Alex and Lindsey, it is for this reason we do not take our vows lightly. Ecclesiates 5:4-6 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has not pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”

As I read these statements, think carefully what is being said, and purpose in your heart to fulfill these. Those watching, I hope that you too will hear these things and reaffirm your own vows to each other.

(Turn and face each other)

Alex, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in God’s Holy and precious state of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

(I WILL)

Lindsey, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in God’s Holy and precious state of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

(I WILL)

Now the couple will exchange their vows that they have written to each other.

Alex please repeat after me.

I, Alex,....... give myself wholly.... and faithfully to you, Lindsey,

And I take you........ as my wife........ in a covenant with God.

I promise to love....., honor....., and cherish you .......from this day forward,

For better or worse,....... for richer or poorer, .......in sickness and in health,

And to lead....., serve....., and love you...... as Christ loves the church,

so long as we both shall live.

Now, Lindsey, please repeat after me

I, Lindsey,....... give myself wholly.... and faithfully to you, Alex,

And I take you..... as my husband..... in covenant with God.

I promise to love....., honor....., and cherish you..... from this day forward,

For better or worse......, for richer or poorer....., in sickness and in health,

And to submit to you..... as the church is subject to Christ,

So long as we both shall live.

13. Exchange of Rings

The covenant commitment you are making before God, and in front of your family and friends, can best be symbolized by a wedding ring. A wedding ring is, of course, a universal sign to the outside world that the wearer is committed to another. To you, the ring provides a reminder of union and the promises that have been made. The rings you bring here today are, in many ways, representing of the very nature of love and marriage. Made in a circle, their design tells us that love must never come to an end; it must always be continuous.· As you notice, the rings are often used of precious metals and diamonds. Beautiful on the outside but also durable. Able to weather the toughest of hardships. These rings will not always shine as brightly as they do today. But so is true in the marriage relationship. From time to time they must be cleaned and polished up, just as from time to time your marriage relationship must be refreshed and renewed. Alex and Lindsey, as you exchange these rings today, be aware that in your life together you will go through many cycles. This is just the beginning of a long journey. As you go through your life journey together, remember that your love for each other and your commitments to one another are never ending, they are rare and precious and by God’s grace and strength will sustain you throughout the journey ahead.

To Alex: “Do you have a token of your love?”

“Yes, I do.”

(get ring from Best Man)

As you put this ring on Lindsey’s finger, I would like you to repeat these words.

“This ring I give you........ as a token and pledge........ of our constant faith and abiding love.”

To Lindsey: “Do you have a token of your love?”

“Yes, I do.”

(Get Ring from Best Man)

As you put this ring on Alex’s finger, I would like you to repeat these words.

“This ring I give you........ as a token and pledge....... of our constant faith and abiding love.”

14. Marriage License/Special Music

Mute Alex & Pastor Mic, unmute special music mics.

Silent Prayer during Marriage License signing

O great God of love, you have established marriage and only with you can it be worked out with joy.

We ask that you would bless Alex. Bless him as the provider and protector of his home. May his strength be her protection, his character be her joy and assurance as He draws strength and good character from you. May he live in a way that Lindsey may find in him the haven for which her heart would truly long for.

Please bless Lindsey. Thank you for her earnest desire towards you and towards Alex. Give her a deep sense of understanding and a great faith in You. Give her that inner beauty of soul that never fades. May she so live that he may be pleased to always treasure her.

Teach them that marriage is not living simply for each other but a uniting and joining of hands... to serve You, the living God. Guide them together toward your purpose for their lives. May they seek first the kingdom that is yours, and its righteousness. Loving you first, and in that they shall love each other all the more. And as they are faithful unto You in all ways, we know that faithful unto each other they will remain.

May they not expect perfection of each other because that belongs to you alone. May they not dwell on each other’s weaknesses, but be swift to praise and magnify each other’s strengths, and see each other through a lover’s kind and gracious eyes.

Give them a little something to forgive each day, that they may grow in the grace of long-suffering and in true biblical love. And may they be as forbearing with each other as You are with them.

May they serve You joyfully, fully, faithfully, and always together, until at last one shall lay the other in Your arms or if you should call them both home. This we ask through our Savior, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master of all Marriage, and the great lover of our souls. Amen.

15. Scripture Reading - Deut. 6:4-9

Mute Bekah’s vocal mic

16. Congregational Song- Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

Luke Come forward and lead song

Unmute mic stand on stage

17. Announcement/Presentation - Pastor Mike

Therefore since Alex and Lindsey have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealed their vows in the giving and receiving of rings and have expressed their complete and pure dedication to one another before God and to those gathered here today then it is by the authority granted to me by the Lord Jesus Christ and His church, that I do now pronounce you husband and wife. “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Alex, would you like to kiss your Bride?

Fellow worshippers and witnesses, it’s my joy to present to you for the first time, Mr. & Mrs. Alex Moore!

18. Recessional-

Song: