Wedding Template - Simple

I. Introduction

Bride and Father approach

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

1. Seating and Prayer

“You may be seated”

Please bow with me in prayer,

Father,

We thank You for this day, and for allowing us to gather for this celebration. We are thankful for their love, friendship, and commitment to one another.

We are thankful for your institution of marriage. We know that you ordained marriage as a picture of the love and faithfulness that You have for Your people. We pray now, that this marriage of Jeremiah and Ashylnn will reflect that kind of love. A love that is patient, kind, faithful, sacrificial, and enduring.

We want to pray now for Jeremiah:

That You would give Jeremiah wisdom and strength as he leads and loves his wife. That you would make him to be a man who is faithful to You first, and who faithfully cares for this woman that You, her father, and her mother, have entrusted to him.

We also pray for Ashylnn:

That You would give her grace, wisdom, and joy as she walks alongside her husband. Help her to encourage him, support him, and love him faithfully through every season of life.

I pray, that their home would be a place filled with Your presence, Your Word, and Your peace. May their marriage be a testimony to their families, their friends, and everyone who has the opportunity to know them. And above all, may they always remember that the strength of their marriage is not ultimately found in themselves, but in You.

Thank You for the family and friends who have gathered here today to love and support them. Thank You for the memories that have brought us to this moment and for the memories that are still to come.

And now, as Jeremiah and Ashylnn begin this new chapter together, we ask that You would bless their marriage, protect their relationship, guide their steps, and give them many years of love, faithfulness, and joy together.

We give You this day, we give you this marriage, and we ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

2. Welcome

Family and friends,

We have gathered here today, in the presence of God, to celebrate the marriage of Jeremiah Bursch and Ashylnn Potter.

On behalf of the Bride and Groom, I would like to thank you all for coming.

I would also like to remind you one final time, that this is an “unplugged” wedding. The bride and groom have asked that you silence your phones, and do not take any pictures or recordings.

II. Scripture and Charge

1. Scripture Reading

To introduce the charge for the bride and groom, I want to read from God’s Word.

The text for today is from the book of Ephesians 5:22-33

Let us hear from God concerning His ordinance of marriage:

Ephesians 5:22–33 NKJV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

2. Sermon

God’s Word says that marriage is from Him.

It says that marriage is to be a picture of His great love for His people.

a. First, Scripture Gives Charge to the Woman

God says that the wife is to be submissive.

Submission, according to God, does not mean “inferior.” Submission simply means “responsive.”

This means, that as your husband leads, you are to respond to his leadership.

Submission requires humility. It requires respect. It requires willingness.

Therefore, to be submissive, you must remain humble, respect your husband, and willingly uphold your commitment to him.

God also says that the husband is the head.

This simply means that he is responsible for the well-being of his family.

Not only that, but it means that God has placed him in a position that is worthy of respect.

When you say “I do,” you are agreeing with God that you will respect the position of your husband, even when his character is not there.

Finally, to the woman, he says subjection.

The Bible affirms in many places that men and women are equal before God.

But in marriage, there must be an intentional effort by the bride to place herself under the care and leadership of her husband in everything.

b. Then, There is the Charge to the Man

God says that the husband is to love unconditionally.

He says to treat our wives as the Lord Jesus Christ treats us.

The Lord Jesus, even when though we didn’t deserve it, laid down His life for us.

In the same way, the husband is to love his wife unconditionally, and vow to care for her and to love her, even on her worst days.

God says to cleanse her by the word.

This means that the man is to be the spiritual leader of the family.

The man must initiate both prayer in the home and active service in the church.

That is the burden of the leader and that is what the wife is charged with responding to.

God also says to love your wife as you love yourself.

At times when you are not in agreement with your wife, this means that you are not in agreement with yourself.

For, the Word of God says that you are entering into a relationship of oneness with your wife.

To disdain your wife, or to neglect to care for her, is to neglect yourself.

c. Finally, There is the Charge to Both of You

I want to read v. 33 again.

Ephesians 5:33 NKJV

Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

God’s Word says, above all else, love your wife and respect your husband.

To the groom: Love for your wife is summarized by gentleness, intimacy, and leadership.

To love her well, you must be gentle.

God’s Word describes her as “the weaker vessel.”

To be the weaker vessel does not mean that she is incapable; it simply means that she must be handled with great care.

The picture of the vessel is that of a valuable and irreplaceable vase that is easily broken. Therefore, handle her with great care.

Proverbs 31:10 NKJV

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

To love her well, you must also be intimate.

She desires an intimacy with you that is far beyond physical intimacy.

She has a desire that you be both mentally and emotionally vulnerable to her, but most importantly, spiritually vulnerable to her.

She will never respect you more than if you are willing to share your feelings with her.

To love her well, you must be a leader.

Not the boss, not a commander, but a leader.

God’s Word makes it clear that leadership is marked by service.

If you desire to be the leader, then serve her with everything you have.

Now, to the bride: Respect for your husband is summarized by a quiet spirit and a responsive heart.

To respect him, live with a quiet spirit!

Never tear him down, but always encourage him.

Tell him the truth, but tell him in a way that reaffirms his leadership, and doesn’t make him feel as though he is not enough for you.

Speak with him openly and non-emotionally before you get to the place where you are resentful.

If he hurts your feelings by the way that he has talked with you, tell him that he has done so with a quiet and a gentle spirit.

To respect him, live with a responsive heart.

This does not mean to be his slave, for God’s Word doesn’t command any bride to be a slave to their husbands.

What is means is that you treat him as though he, other than the Lord Himself, is the most important thing in this world to you, as he should be.

Ultimately, this means to serve him as you would serve the Lord Jesus.

By these words, God charges you both.

That you, Jeremiah, would love Ashylnn uncoditionally.

That you, Ashylnn, would always respect the position of your husband

III. Declaration of Intent

In just a moment, when you both say, “I do,” what you are saying to each other is this: “I accept that you take priority over everyone and everything, except for the Lord Jesus Himself.”

There is no relationship more important than the relationship between husband and wife.

Not children, not work, nothing. From here on out, it is you two and the Lord, completely at one.

Jeremiah, are you ready?

1. The Groom’s Declaration of Intent

Jeremiah Bursch, do you take Ashylnn Potter to be your wife? Do you pledge, before God and family, to love her unconditionally as your wife?

Do you commit to making her priority above every one and every thing, besides the Lord Himself?

Will you honor her, remain faithful to her, both in good times and in difficult times, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as you both shall live?

Please say: “I do.”

Ashylnn, are you ready?

2. The Bride’s Declaration of Intent

Ashlynn Potter, do you take Jeremiah Bursch to be your husband? Do you pledge, before God and family, to respect him as your husband?

Do you commit to making him the priority above every one and every thing, besides the Lord Himself?

Will you honor him, remain faithful to him, both in good times and in difficult times, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as you both shall live?

Please say: “I do.”

IV. Ring Ceremony

Jeremiah and Ashylnn, since you have committed to one another, you will now exchange rings as a symbol of the marriage covenant that you are making today.

“At this time, may I have the rings as bride and groom prepare to exchange them?”

1. Exchange the Rings

Jeremiah, please take the ring that you have recieved,place in on your bride’s finger, and leave your hand there as you repeat after me.

a. Please Repeat After Me - Groom

“Ashylnn Potter,

I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment. I commit to loving you, to honoring you, and to remaining faithful to you for as long as we both shall live.

In the presence of God, I take you to be my wife.”

Ashlynn, please take the ring that you have recieved, place in on your groom’s finger, and leave your hand there as you repeat after me.

b. Please Repeat After Me - Bride

“Jeremiah Bursch,

I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment. I commit to loving you, to honoring you, and to remaining faithful to you for as long as we both shall live.

In the presence of God, I take you to be my husband.”

V. Ending Prayer

Please, bow with me in prayer:

Father,

Thank You for Jeremiah and Ashlynn.

Bless their marriage, guide their steps, and help them to love one another faithfully all the days of their lives.

May their home honor You, and may their marriage be a testimony of Your grace and faithfulness.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

VI. Seal it with a Kiss!

Remember to move!

Now that you have committed to one another, and this marriage has been blessed by God:

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Jeremiah, You may kiss your bride!

VII. Presentation and Ending Processional

“I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Bursch!”

Dismiss bride and groom

Dismiss wedding party

Dismiss family

Dismiss attendees and tell them to bring their chairs!