As I shared here, we're having a wedding soon (week and a half). This will be the first wedding I've performed. I'm getting a lot of it down, but would appreciate advice and ideas that could be offered.

Thanks
Joe

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For the Glory of our King,
Joe Johnson
Slave of Christ, husband, father, Preacherboy at Cornerstone Community Church, Escanaba, MI. and TMS graduate. Personal website - SoundLife.org

I do not know, and I do not say, that a person cannot believe in Revelation and in evolution, too, for a man may believe that which is infinitely wise and also that which is only asinine. ~ CHS

Questions?

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We shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God's grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Lawrence Underwood, Jr.
Pastor - Providence Family Fellowship / Mobile, Alabama
1644/46 LBC
My Blog - Imprimis

Don't forget the name of the bride or groom. That makes things awkward.

Seriously though, present the gospel. I hate it when I go to a wedding between believers (I'll assume this wedding is for believers) and the gospel is not clearly communicated. It's sad that people often say to couples, "This day is about you!" No day is ever about us. Every day is about God and his glory regardless of how we acknowledge. People should know that the marriage is about God's glory - not happiness, companionship, or even love.

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Joshua F
Layman
Mountain View Community Church (Missionary Church Denomination)
Johnstown, CO

Just some thoughts:

Yes, remember their names. Even in you know them well, and you do, make a little note with their names on it. I'm glad that I've always done that.

Focus on the gospel.

Keep it short. Long wedding sermons are lost on those up front, and those in the pews. It is not a time to display extensive homoletical prowess.

Get with them and sort out the order of the ceremony and make a cheat sheet outline that can fit in your bible. It will help keep you on track.

Remember, every wedding doesn't go as planned in some way. Sometimes it is a big 'mistake' at other times it is small. Either way the wedding 'works'. Don't get too wrapped up in making it perfect.

Find out if they are using one or two rings. Put that in your outline!

Get with the best man and maid / matron of honour (if two ring) and make sure they know where the rings are immediately prior to the service. Don't assume they know.

If they want a traditional wedding don't be afraid to refer to the BCP. It is a great resource.

Things not to do:

Don't let the best man put the bride's ring on his pinkie for safe-keeping. The body swells when a person gets nervous ... we almost never got that ring off his finger!

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Lance G. Marshall
Pastor
Georgetown, Indiana

...and if they drop the rings dont start running down the aisle, trying to catch it.
Heard it done, and knowone could remember anything from the service, exept a priest in a black gown chasing a small golden ring down through the church

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Line - Lutheran
Wife to Martin, the love of my life
Mother to Josva, the most wonderfull baby in the world
Member of the Danish Evangelical-Lutheran Church

Also, that finger swelling thing happens to the bride and groom. If the rings don't fit remind them in rehearsal not to try and make it fit. There was this groom that almost dislocated his very soon to be wife's ring finger. . .

Well, I'm not a priest and I won't be wearing a black gown. I'll attempt to restrain myself if someone drops a ring anyway though.

-----Added 6/16/2009 at 03:40:49 EST-----

I have a pretty workable outline, I think. What's a BCP? I'm drawing a blank. The message will be pretty simple, focusing on God's ordination of marriage, the blessing of marriage, the purpose of marriage and the symbol of marriage (Christ and the church). None of it will be lengthy, though I do hope to be clear. I told them I was going to sing... hehe, the looks on their faces was priceless.

Sorry about that. BCP - The Book of Common Prayer.

And don't forget to announce the bride and groom as Mr. & Mrs. .... to the congregation at the end. It was forgotten at my wedding, and I've seen it forgotten many times.

The suggestions of writing these things down on a little piece of paper would be helpful. I've seen lots of pastors do this at weddings, and no one is offended if he checks his notes.

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J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

Since it's my son, I should be able to keep the last name forefront.
Don't worry. I know me, and me needs notes. I'll probably have much of it written out. Who knows, I might be more nervous than they are.

Please remember this in prayer. Tomorrow's the day!

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Donald Jacobs
Roanoke VA.
Covenant Reformed Episcopal Church.

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

"You may now kiss the bride" is a very important part of it all. The minister that married us forgot it before we were pronounced man and wife, so I kissed my wife through the veil instead, and we took off laughing down the aisle.

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Kevin, husband of a truly angelic woman, and father to ten.
Zion United Reformed Church of Sheffield
Ontario, Canada

A ministerial friend was telling me that after one wedding he looked at the couple and quietly said "You may kiss." So she kissed the minister!

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Stuart
Elder, Lambeg Baptist, Northern Ireland, UK

In Him the fulness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form and in Him you are complete (Col 2.9-10)

The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God. (RM M'Cheyne)

Unless he was her father, that's rather disturbing.


And I'll be praying for the wedding, Pastor Joe.

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Andrew Thornquist My Photo Album
Calvinistic Baptist
Ukiah, California
To follow Christ was the best decision God made for me!

Praying, Joe

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Norm
IA PCA

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5

Thank you all for your input and prayers. If the comments I received are any indication the ceremony went well. I was told that the Gospel was clear and the lady that filmed it said it was the most wonderful marriage she had filmed. I don't know how many she's done. And I've only been to a few weddings myself. So, I'm not sure what to make of all that. But I am confident that Christ was honored and I made it clear throughout that the whole service was a worship service and that Christ was central to all we were doing.
May their marriage exalt Christ for all their years on earth.

I'm glad that all went well, Joe. Praise God!

I am glad all went well and if Christ was honoured then things could not have gone better. I trust the Lord will richly bless this couple and their marriage would be long, happy, loving, frutiful and fulfilling. May it indeed be a marriage that is an apt illustration of Christ and the church.