Personal Ceremonies

Dr. White has spent years of study and caring practice in order to help you personalize your wedding celebration. While there are very common building blocks, the most frequent starting point continues to be one of the following:

Catholic Wedding

Ave Maria

Processional

Mothers presented

1. The Welcome:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to join together Bride and Groom in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, institute of God, signifying unto us the mystical union which exist between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence in Cana of Galilee. It is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God.

Who gives this Woman to be married to this Man?

Will you, all of you, do everything in your power to guide, nourish, encourage, support and sustain this marriage? If you will please respond, "We Will!"

Be seated

Opening Prayer:

In the Name of the Father Son, and Holy Ghost.

Almighty God, hear our prayers for Bride and Groom who have come here today to be united in the sacrament of marriage. Increase their faith in each other and through them bless your world, the Church, and all Creation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

1st reading By XXX

2nd reading By XXX

Homily: Reverend Dr. Bert White

2. Declaration of Intentions

I require and charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God before whom the secrets of all hearts are disclosed, that having duly considered the holy covenant you are about to make, you do now declare before this company your pledge of faith, each to the other. Be well assured that if these solemn vows are kept inviolate, as God's Word demands, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father,
God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it, and will establish your home in peace.

Groom, wilt thou have Bride to be thy wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others. Keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?

I will.

Bride, wilt thou have Groom to be thy wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other keep thee only
unto him so long as ye both shall live?

I will.

3. Exchange of Vows

I, Groom, take you Bride have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until deaths parts us. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I, Bride, take you Groom have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until deaths parts us. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

4. Blessing of the Rings:

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all, the uniting of this man and this woman in holy matrimony, through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let us pray.

Bless, O lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide in thy peace, and continue in thy favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Groom: In token and pledge of our loyalty, friendship and love, with this ring I thee wed, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Bride: In token and pledge of our loyalty, friendship and love, with this ring I thee wed, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen

Intercessory Prayers

Now that we have experienced this sacrament, in the words of Scripture and the exchange of vows, let us present these prayerful petitions to Almighty God.

THE RESPONSE IS " Lord hear our Prayer".

For all world leaders that they may be effective in achieving peace and justice,

let us pray to the Lord.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For married persons that they may continue to give, be able to forgive, and find happiness deepen with the passing of each day,

let us pray to the Lord

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For Bride and Groom, now beginning their life together, that they may have divine assistance at every moment, the constant support of friends, the rich blessing of children, a warm love reaching out to others, and good health until a ripe old age,

let us pray to the Lord.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For those sick, especially

XXX
XXX
XXX

For the lonely, discouraged, or oppressed that they may be strengthened by God's help and aided by us,

let us pray to the Lord.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For those who have died, especially

XXX
XXX
XXX

the loved ones of all present at this wedding, that they may enjoy perfect happiness and total fulfillment in Eternal life,

let us pray to the Lord.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For these personal needs that we mention now in silence...

let us pray to the Lord.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

My dear friends, let us turn to the Lord and pray that the Lord will bless with Eternal Grace this woman Bride now married in Christ to this man Groom
and that the Lord will unit in love the couple he has joined in this holy bond.

SILENCE

Lord, grant that as they begin to live this sacrament they may share with each other the gifts of your love and become one in heart and mind as witness to your presence in their marriage. Help them create a home together.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

5. Benedictions

For as much as Bride and Groom have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and there to have pledged their faith each to the other, and have declared the same by the joining of hands and by giving and receiving rings: I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God hath joined together let no one put asunder.

Let us pray as Jesus has taught us to pray.

The Our Father….

For thine is the glory, and the power forever. Amen

Will you seal your vows with a kiss?

It is my great honor to introduce to you this day, their first day, Groom and Bride as husband and wife!

Processional