Weddings in all religions and regions are interesting. After all, it is a ritual that marks the unity of two people into a special bond forever! We will tell you the order of events for a Christian wedding ceremony, which is quite simple yet beautiful.
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
― Mark 10:9
Weddings are once in a lifetime covenant of love and commitment. These are one of those special moments in our lives that we want to make memorable for ourselves and for those attending it. A wedding ceremony can be the way we plan or wish it to be.
Manifesting the affection and devotion towards each other, and taking a bigger step into the future, not alone, but with the companion we choose to live our whole life with, we change this relationship into that of marriage―a sacred bond of chastity.
The main event in a Christian wedding includes an officiant (priest or minister) who asks for God’s blessings on the couple and their marriage. There are various kinds of ceremonies, with slight changes in the events.
Let us first consider a sample order of service for a basic Christian wedding ceremony outline.
Basic Christian Wedding Ceremony
There may or may not be an officiant offering a prayer service. Generally, these few events remain the same for any kind of Christian wedding ceremony.
Processional
The bridal party―bride’s parents, bridesmaids, flower girls, and relatives―enter the aisle in a procession.
Bridal March
The bridal march is the entrance of the bride to the ceremony area.
Welcome/Introduction
The officiant welcomes or introduces the guests, bridal party, and the couple.
Exchange of Vows
These vows are the commitments of the couple to be together forever, in sickness and in health, in joys and in sorrows.
Exchange of Rings
After the vows, the tradition to exchange wedding rings is followed.
Pronouncement
The officiant declares the couple to be husband and wife.
Recessional
The couple and bridal party exits to their reception celebrations.
Religious Service Order
A proper Christian church wedding follows certain events that will be the same for all Christian religious services. The order of events would go something like this.
Prelude (Optional)
Known as the entrance hymn, this music is played before the service starts.
Processional
The bridal party enters the aisle of the church.
Bridal March
The bridal march music is played as the bride reaches her position in the front of the church.
Welcome/Introduction
The priest or the pastor introduces the couple to the entire audience in the church.
Prayer (Optional)
The priest starts the ceremony with a prayer.
Declaration of Intention by Couple (Optional)
The couple reads out a declaration of their faith and their intention of getting married.
Declaration of Support (Optional)
The parents and relatives support the couple on their declaration.
Musical Selection (Optional)
Hymns of love and blessings are sung and played.
Scripture Reading (Optional)
Readings from the Bible are read by the religious officiant or the priest.
Sermon/Address (Optional)
The priest gives a sermon on love, marriage, and faith.
Musical Selection (Optional)
Again, hymns are played and sung.
Exchange of Vows
These vows are the commitments of the couple to be together, forever, in sickness and in health, in joys and in sorrows.
Exchange of Rings
After the vows, the tradition to exchange wedding rings is followed.
Lighting of the Unity Candle (Optional)
The couple lights a candle to represent unity in their marriage.
Blessing (Optional)
The priest blesses the couple and those attending the wedding.
Pronouncement
The officiant declares the couple to be husband and wife.
Recessional
The couple and bridal party exits to their reception celebrations.
Marriages are made in heaven they say, but to do it on earth, we need a celebration, don’t we? It depends on the couple to choose the kind of events they wish to add to their ceremony―be it basic or religious―the couple is blessed to live a happy married life, till death do them apart.
