A Guide for Planning and Understanding your Christian Wedding Ceremony

This outline covers each of the typical elements of a Christian wedding ceremony. It is designed as a guide for planning and understanding each element of your Christian wedding. I've tried to include every possible element in a Christian ceremony, however, not all of these must be incorporated into your service, nor do they have to occur in this order. You may choose to add your own personal touches that give special meaning to your commitment as a couple.
Your Christian wedding ceremony can be personally designed, but it should also be an expression of worship, reflecting joy, celebration, community, respect, dignity and love. The Bible gives no specific pattern or order of service to define exactly what should be included, so there is room for your creativity.

A primary goal should be to give each guest a clear impression that you, as a couple, have made a solemn, eternal covenant with each other before God. Your Christian wedding ceremony should be a testimony of your lives before God, demonstrating your Christian witness.

• Pre-Wedding Ceremony Events
  Wedding Party Pictures
  This should begin at least 90 minutes prior to the start of the wedding and be finished at least 45 minutes before the ceremony.
• Wedding Party Dressed and Ready
  The wedding party should be dressed, ready and waiting in the appropriate locations at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
  Prelude
  Any musical preludes or solos should take place at least 5 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
  Lighting of the Candles
  Sometimes the candles or candelabras are lit before the guests arrive. Other times the ushers light them as part of the prelude, or as part of the wedding ceremony.
• The Wedding Ceremony
  Processional
• Seating of the Parents
  Having the support and involvement of parents and grandparents in the ceremony brings a special blessing to the couple and also expresses honor to the previous generations of marriage unions.
  The processional music begins with the seating of the honored guests:
  Seating of the Groom's grandmother
  Seating of the Bride's grandmother
  Seating of the Groom's parents
  Seating of the Bride's mother
  Bridal Processional Begins
  Minister and Groom enter usually from stage right. If the Groomsmen are not escorting the Bridesmaids down the aisle to the altar, they also enter together with the Minister and Groom.
  Bridesmaids enter, usually down the center aisle, one at a time. If the Groomsmen are escorting the Bridesmaids, they enter together.
  Maid or Matron of Honor enters. If she is being escorted by the Best Man, they enter together.
  Flower Girl and Ring Bearer enter.
  Wedding March Begins
  The Bride and her father enter. Typically the Bride's mother will stand as a signal for all of the guests to stand. Sometimes the Minister will announce, "All rise for the Bride."
  Opening Remarks - "The Call to Worship"
  The Opening Prayer
  Congregation is Seated
  At this time the congregation is typically asked to be seated.
  Giving Away of the Bride
  Worship Song, Hymn or Solo
  At this time the wedding party typically moves to the stage or platform and the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer are seated with their parents.
  The Charge to Bride and Groom
  The Pledge
  Wedding Vows
  At this moment in the wedding ceremony the Bride and Groom face one another.
  Exchanging of the Rings
  Lighting of the Unity Candle
  The Pronouncement
  Communion
  Many times couples will incorporate Communion into the wedding ceremony, making Communion their very first act as a married couple.
  The Closing Prayer
  The Kiss
  Minister: ____, you may now kiss your Bride.
  Presentation of the Couple
  Minister: It is now my privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. ____.
  Recessional
  The wedding party exits the platform, typically in the following order:
  Bride and Groom
  Maid or Matron of Honor and Best Man
  Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
  Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
  The Ushers return for the honored guests who are escorted out in reverse order of their entrance.
  Ushers may then dismiss the remaining guests, either all at once, or one row at a time.