Wedding Ceremony Ideas

Sometimes couples want to acknowledge their parent's roles in their lives, both in the past and in the future. You could write your own thoughts or use something like this:

The officiant says, "'Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit.' With that thought in mind, we turn for a moment to the parents who have given so much to these two through the years. (Groom's parents) and (Bride's parents), you have great joy in your hearts today. You've watched your children grow up, so fast it seems. You've watched them mature and develop in spirit, in emotions, in knowledge and in wisdom. You've watched as they have entered into this relationship with each other and seen their love grow. You've cried, laughed & realized many of your dreams come true for your children. You've prayed and provided guidance to help them become the people they are today. You've expressed your love for them in countless ways over the years, and now today do so again by pledging your continued love and support. If you indeed commit yourself to loving & supporting (groom and bride) in their life together as husband and wife, will you now acknowledge so by saying "we will?"

There are several ways to include your children in your wedding to make them feel a part. Here are a few ideas:

1. Children can be in the wedding party: younger children as flower girls and ring bearers; older
children as attendants, or even walking with mom down the isle.

2. Younger children may be presented a gift as part of the ceremony. Necklaces or "Family
Medallions" are common.

3. The officiant may make comments at the end of the ceremony acknowledging that this is not
just the the union of a man and woman into a new relationship but the creation of new family.

4. Some fathers and mothers write and state vows to their children as part of the ceremony.
Here's a couple of examples:

Timothy, I promise to be a patient, loving father to you. I promise to care and provide for you as my own son. I promise to be your strength and emotional support and to love you with all my heart from this day forward.

Amanda and Loren, I promise to care and provide for you as my own daughter and son. I promise to be your strength and emotional support and to love you with all my heart from this day forward."

Groom and Bride's marriage is the union of two Christians, who individually have committed their lives to the service of Christ and the glory of God. They've both come from homes that love God and seek to live for Him. Now that Groom and Bride are husband and wife, they wish to publicly declare their intent to establish a home that always seeks God's will and strives to honor Christ. This is the declaration they will make this day, before you and before the God they serve. Groom and bride, will you depend on God for strength and wisdom, and pledge yourselves to the establishment of a Christian home. Together will you constantly seek God's will and honor Christ in your marriage?"

Both answer, "We will."