The Service of Matrimony

Officiate: We are gathered here today as we celebrate the coming together in love of this woman and this man. We remember that marriage is a time when a growing love is made public, when two people share mutual promises (before God). We join in support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.

Words to the Bride and Groom

Officiate: Marriage enables us to handle the difficulties of life as well as to be a source of companionship and joy. May this be true for you as you purpose in your hearts to exercise patience and sacrifice for the good of one another.

Declaration of Intent

To Groom: ______, do you take ______ to be your wedded wife; to live with her, respect her and love her (as God intends) with the promise of tenderness, and helpfulness, as long as you both shall live?

Groom Responds: I will

And do you promise that from this day forward you will be her faithful husband, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, til death do you part?

Groom Responds: I will

To Bride: ______, do you take ______ to be your wedded husband; to live with him, respect him and love him (as God intends) with the promise of tenderness, and helpfulness, as long as you both shall live?

Bride Responds: I will

And do you promise that from this day forward you will be his faithful wife, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, til death do you part?

Bride Responds: I will

The Vows

Officiate: says to the bride repeat after me

I, ______, take you, ______, to be my husband, to live with you and to love you, from this time forward until death separates us. I promise to be understanding, forgiving, and seeking of your happiness as we grow together (in God’s grace). And I will be your loving & faithful wife; in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.

Officiate: says to the groom repeat after me

I, ______, take you, ______, to be my wife, to live with you and to love you from this time forward until death separates us. I promise to be understanding, forgiving, and seeking of your happiness as we grow together (in God’s grace). And I will be your loving & faithful husband; in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.

Presentation of the Rings

Officiate: This (these) ring (s) is (are) a circle, a symbol of the never ending love that you have promised to each other.

Take it, place it on her (his) finger and repeat after me.

“I give you this ring to wear as a sign of my promise to love and grow with you.”

Pronouncement

You have exchanged promises of mutual love and have professed before those of us gathered here that you will live, love and grow together (in God’s sight); therefore, by the power vested into me by the state of South Carolina I now declare that you are husband and wife.
______ you may kiss the bride!

It is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. & Mrs. ______________.

*The standard vow selection options are spiritual or civil.

The difference between the two is that spiritual will reference (God) and civil will exclude (God).