Wedding Ceremony

Ethan Whitfield and Katie Phillips

Saturday March 8th, 2025

THE MINISTER SAYS:

Friends, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, and signifying to us the mystical union which exists between Christ and His church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with His presence in Cana of Galilee.  It is, therefore, not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God.  Into this holy estate, these two persons come now to be joined.  If anyone can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let them now speak, or forever hold their peace.

PRAYER

Addressing the persons to be married, the minister shall say:

I require and charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, before whom the secrets of all hearts are disclosed, that having duly considered the holy covenant you are about to make, you do now declare before this company your pledge of faith, each to the other.  Be well assured that if these solemn vows are kept inviolate, as God’s Word demands, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it, and will establish your home in peace.

To Ethan:

Ethan Whitfield, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony?  Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only to her as long as you both shall live?

Ethan says:  I will

To Katie:

Katie Renee Phillips: will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only to him as long as you both shall live?

Katie says:  I will

THEN SHALL THE MINISTER SAY:  Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Katie’S DAD WILL ANSWER:  Her mother and I do  

ETHAN will you take KATIE by the right hand and repeat after me:

I, Ethan, take you Katie, to be my wedded wife,

to have and to hold,

from this day forward,

for better or for worse,

for richer or for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

till death we do part,

according to God’s holy ordinance

and this I pledge to you my faith.

Loose hands, KATIE, will you take ETHAN by the right hand and repeat after me:

I, Katie, take you Ethan, to be my wedded husband,

to have and to hold,

from this day forward,

for better or for worse,

for richer or for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

till death we do part,

according to God’s holy ordinance;

and to this, I pledge to you my faith.

RING CEREMONY:

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of this man and this woman in holy matrimony through the church of Jesus Christ our Lord.  The ring, in its simplest form, is a circle.  A circle has no beginning and no end; therefore, it symbolizes forever.  When you look at these rings, they should be a constant reminder of your pledge to love and honor one another forever.   

PRAYER OVER THE RINGS

Get KATIE’S ring and give it to ETHAN

Ask him to place it on the third finger of KATIE’S left hand and repeat after me:

In token and pledge

of our constant faith and abiding love,

with this ring I you wed,

in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  

Get ETHAN’S ring and give it to KATIE and

Ask her to place it on the third finger of ETHAN’S left hand and repeat after me:

In token and pledge

of our constant faith and abiding love,

with this ring I you wed,

in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  

PASTORAL REMARKS

Genesis 2:22–24 “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ ” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”

This is also expressed in Matthew 19:5, Ephesians 5:31-33.

Eve was not made from his feet - she is not to be trampled on

Eve was made from his side - she is equal, but under his arm and near his heart

You two are now joined together and nothing, family, or jobs, or friends or anything should come between you

Love each other, respect each other and remember that you have chosen each other to be your partner in life.

If you keep this idea at the forefront of your marriage, you will experience God’s blessings.

PRAYER OF BLESSING

ETHAN and KATIE will join hands TO THE CONGREGATION

Forasmuch as Ethan and Katie have consented together in holy matrimony, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and have pledged their faith each to the other and have declared the same by joining hands and giving and receiving rings; I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder.  Amen.

YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE

CONGREGATION PLEASE STAND

I now present to you MR. AND MRS.ETHAN WHITFIELD