Brandon & Emma

WEDDING CEREMONY – 4:30 PM ON July 11, 2026

Brandon & Emma WEDDING CEREMONY

30 MINUTES

XX GUESTS Parents:

XX

XY

Grandparents: XX

Bridal Party: XX                      

Pre-Ceremony 0:00

No Ushers

Prelude 0:00

JO Announce NO PHONES

Well we are so excited to celebrate the Marriage of Brandon and Emma this evening! In light of this celebration, the couple has requested that their be no cell phones. If you could please turn it off; that would be a simple way to honor this amazing couple tonight.

Photo and video will be taken care of, and it will be made accessible for all of you; the intent of this is to truly allow everyone to be fully present in this moment. Would you join me in turning off your phone?

Thank you for honoring them in this way.

Bridal Processional 5:00PM

XX - XX

XX - XX

Ceremony 5:05

Giving away of the Bride 5:05

JO: Knowing as a dad you never lose your daughter, but gain a son, “who gives this bride away, and blesses this marriage?"

Emma’s dad: “Mother and I”?

Welcome and Prayer 5:07 (2min)

On behalf of the families of Brandon and Emma, I welcome you to this sacred and joyous occasion. Tonight, we are not only gathered in this beautiful venue with family and dear friends, but also in the presence of God to celebrate the union of Brandon and Emma as husband and wife.

We are here today to witness the blessing of a love founded on Christian values, trust, and the unwavering faith in God's divine plan.

Tonight, let us remember that marriage is not just a union of two individuals, but a covenant made before God. It is a promise to love and honor, to comfort and support, to stand together in times of joy and in times of trials.

So, let's rejoice in this love, in this union, and in the presence of God in this sacred ceremony. Let us prepare to witness the joining of two hearts, not only in the eyes of the law but, most importantly, in the eyes of the Lord.

Would you pray with me?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Wedding Message – 5:09 (12mins)

Brandon and Emma, today’s the day! Would you just take a moment and turn around. Take a deep breath and soak it all in. Look at the faces behind you. These are the men and women who have journeyed through life with you. Each of them represents someone who loves you and is for you. There are many here who have prayed for you, cried with you, laughed with you, traveled with you, played with you, worked with you, and worshipped with you. It is our joy to celebrate this incredibly significant and holy moment with you now.

Emma and Brandon, let me first say, what an honor it is to officiate your wedding. It’s been such a joy to work with the two of you as you have prepared for this day. Thank you for asking me to participate. It’s been a joy to go through pre-marital counseling with you both. I am confident that you have not only prepared for a wedding day, but for marriage.

What you are about to enter into is the most beautiful relationship you will have on planet earth. And while it is the most beautiful, It is also the most challenging. The two of you are not going into this marriage with rose colored glasses on. You know the hard work that is ahead of you as husband and wife. But marriage is also a gift, instituted by God and it is also the most rewarding relationship that you will have this side of eternity.

Emma & Brandon, you both are about to enter into a marriage covenant together, a covenant that requires commitment.

Your willingness to commit your lives to one another for the rest of you life is a reflection of your commitment to Christ.

In one of the most famous Biblical passages on marriage in Paul’s letter to Ephesus he gives definition to what marriage is as well as describing the roles we ought to have in marriage.

However, before doing so, he frames the entire passage with this statement:

Ephesians 5:21 NIV

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Submission is a term often misunderstood and applied emphasized in the direction of one spouse. However, submission is a mutual calling. One that leads not to the inhibition of the good life; but rather it is the pathway towards a marriage that is vibrant and honoring to God.

Brandon, I’ve only known you for a little over a year, and yet it has been such a joy to see your faith grow, especially having the opportunity to baptize you and watch you take such a profound step of faith. You’re intentionality and desire to grow in your faith has encouraged not only me, but others as well.

Emma, I’ve known you a little longer than Brandon, and yet what strikes me about you most is your servant heart. From volunteering through social media, photos, and so many other ways your presence, gifts and servant heart is truly a gift.

In so serving you remind me of the the fullness of joy that Paul describes in Phillpians 2.

In Paul’s letter, to the church in Phillipi, he said this:

Philippians 2:1–4 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Brandon and Emma, you both embody this passage so well in the way you love and honor others before yourself. If you can make this the foundation of your marriage, I am confident it will lead to flourshiment.

Marriage is about not about being self satisfying but about being self-sacrificing. The key to a healthy and vibrant marriage is considering the needs and interests of your spouse both above and before your own. You both have done this so well and my hope is that you would continue to do so.

And yet there is a portion of this passage that I believe Paul is challenging you with: not to create unity but to maintain unity.

Today, through the marital covenant you will become one flesh. The challenge is to maintain oneness of mind, of love, and of spirit.

This is not something you accomplish, but is accomplished by Christ. Through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus, God makes us one with the body of Christ, He unites us with Himself and in marriage, He unites you together.

The challenge is when circumstances, pride, selfishness, and emotions rise to not allow them to lead to divisiveness but rather to maintain the oneness established by your faith in Jesus.

The passage goes on to say this:

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The reason we love and value others more than ourselves - is because that is what Christ modeled to us with His life.

Present Gospel

The love that we’re celebrating today, the love that Brandon and Emma share - is not one that they were born with. Rather they recieved it from God and have chosen to share it with you and most importantly with one another.

If you want to receive that love today, you can do so by putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ today by simply declaring to Jesus that you recognize you’ve sinned, you’ve messed up. You want a relationship with Him, and you believe that He died on a cross and rose again.

If you made that declaration to God today, would you let the bride and groom or myself know; we’d love to celebrate that with you.

It is the gospel that unites us both to God and to one another

With this in mind the bride & groom are now going to light a unity candle. To symoblize the fact that when we make this covenant before God he takes two individuals and makes them one.

Brandon and Emma, you may light the candles.

During this time, I am now going to invite Aaron to do a reading.

Unity Candle Moment

Now, we come now come to your declaration of intent, Brandon & Emma

Declaration of Intent – 5:21 - (30secs)

Brandon and Emma, you are about to assume mutual relationships and responsibilities, and to pledge to each other your undying devotion and faithfulness.  From this day forward you will no longer be two, but one flesh.  Your paths will be parallel.  Your responsibilities will increase but your joy will be multiplied if you are earnest in your relations with one another.

By coming into the presence of God you recognize that this commitment you make this day is not only a legal contract but is also a bond of union made in heaven.

Exchange of Rings

[XX} please hand me the rings.

Exchange of Rings 5:34 - (5mins)

You will now seal your vows, "to honor, to love, to cherish," by the giving and receiving of rings. The giving and receiving of rings is a very important part of a marriage ceremony, because the rings are made in the symbol of that which is eternal. This ring is an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual bond, signifying unto all the uniting of Kyle and Sanisa in holy matrimony.

This is in accord with God's creation plan, and it brings honor to the One who created you to glorify Him. The precious glistening gold of these rings symbolizes all that is pure and holy in the marital bond. As these metals were refined to fashion these beautiful rings, may God ever refine and purify you both as new creations in Christ Jesus. As you wear these rings, may they ever remind you of your love and of the commitment you have made this day.

these are also the special symbols you will wear before the world. when people look at you, they will look at your hand and notice the ring on your finger.

They will know that you belong to someone special and that someone special belongs to you.

Everyday for the rest of your lives, every time you wash your hands or reach out to touch each other, these rings will be there to remind you of the great love that you share and of the wonder that the person standing in front of you loves you as much as you love them.

Brandon (groom), place this ring on Emma’s (bride's) finger and repeat after me:

Groom: "I, _________ (groom), take you, ____________ (bride), to be my wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward. I pledge before God and these witnesses to place your good above mine, now and always, no matter the circumstances. I promise 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, ’Til death do us part."

Emma (bride), place this ring on Brandon’s (groom's) finger and repeat after me:

Groom: "I, _________ (groom), take you, ____________ (bride), to be my wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward. I pledge before God and these witnesses to place your good above mine, now and always, no matter the circumstances. I promise 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, ’Til death do us part."

Vows Solidified 5:33 - (1mins)

These vows are as binding in prosperity as they are in adversity. They should be broken only by death. If you are prepared to make such a serious commitment, then we will solidify the vows at this time.

Brandon (groom), in taking Emma (bride) to be your wife, do you so promise to honor, to love, and to cherish her in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in hardship as in blessing, until death alone shall part you?

Groom responds: "I do."

Emma (bride), in taking Brandon (groom) to be your husband, do you so promise to honor, to love, and to cherish him in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in hardship as in blessing, until death alone shall part you?

Bride responds: "I do."

(SHORT) Prayer of Blessing 5:39 - (1min)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you! Thank you for what we have witnessed today. Thank you for a young man and young woman who are profoundly in love with each other and their God.

….

This we ask through Jesus Christ, the Great Lover of our souls – AMEN.

Pronouncement of Marriage 5:40 (30secs)

Through their words today, Brandon & Emma have joined together in holy matrimony. They have exchanged their vows before God and these witnesses, have pledged their lifelong faithfulness each to the other, and have declared the same by the giving and exchanging of rings. Therefore, by the authority vested in me as a minister of the Gospel by the laws of the Great State of Texas, it is my great joy and privilege to declare you husband and wife by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Those whom God has joined together, let no one separate!

 “Brandon you may kiss your bride!”

It is now my pleasure to present to you for the first, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence

Recessional –

Bridal Party will recess (JO w/Recessional)

Parents dismissed

JO Announcement:

At this time I would like to invite all of the guests, to exit out to the left and join us in the reception hall.

If the family of Brandon & Emma could please remain seated and in this room, we will take a moment for photos of the family.

Thank you for celebrating the marriage of the Brandon and Emma today.