The Book of Common Prayer,
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Concerning the Service

Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a
woman in the presence of God.  In the Episcopal Church it is required that 
one, at least, of the parties must be a baptized Christian; that the 
ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage 
conform to the laws of the State and the canons of this Church.
 
A priest or a bishop normally presides at the Celebration and Blessing
of a Marriage, because such ministers alone have the function of 
pronouncing the nuptial blessing, and of celebrating the Holy Eucharist.

When both a bishop and a priest are present and officiating, the bishop
should pronounce the blessing and preside at the Eucharist.

A deacon, or an assisting priest, may deliver the charge, ask for the
Declaration of Consent, read the Gospel, and perform other assisting 
functions at the Eucharist.

Where it is permitted by civil law that deacons may perform marriages,
and no priest or bishop is available, a deacon may use the service which
follows, omitting the nuptial blessing which follows The Prayers.
 
It is desirable that the Lessons from the Old Testament and the Epistles be 
read by lay persons.
 
In the opening exhortation (at the symbol of N.N.), the full names of the 
persons to be married are declared.  Subsequently, only their Christian 
names are used.
 
Additional Directions are on page 437.

The Celebration and

Blessing of a Marriage

At the time appointed, the persons to be married, with their witnesses,
assemble in the church or some other appropriate place.
 
During their entrance, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung, or
instrumental music may be played.
 
Then the Celebrant, facing the people and the persons to be married,
with the woman to the right and the man to the left, addresses the
congregation and says
 
Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of
God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and
this woman in Holy Matrimony.  The bond and covenant of
marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord
Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and
first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  It signifies to us
the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and
Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people.
 
The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is
intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort
given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is
God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture
in the knowledge and love of the Lord.  Therefore marriage is
not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently,
deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it
was instituted by God. 

Into this holy union N.N. and N.N. now come to be joined.  
If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be
married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace.
 
Then the Celebrant says to the persons to be married
 
I require and charge you both, here in the presence of God,
that if either of you know any reason why you may not be
united in marriage lawfully, and in accordance with God’s
Word, you do now confess it.

The Declaration of Consent
 
The Celebrant says to the woman
 
N., will you have this man to be your husband; to live
together in the covenant of marriage?  Will you love him,
comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health;
and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you
both shall live?
 
The Woman answers
 
I will.
 
The Celebrant says to the man
 
N., will you have this woman to be your wife; to live
together in the covenant of marriage?  Will you love her,
comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health;
and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you
both shall live?
 
The Man answers
 
I will.

The Celebrant then addresses the congregation, saying
 
Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your
power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?
 
People	We will.
  
If there is to be a presentation or a giving in marriage,
it takes place at this time. See page 437.
 
A hymn, psalm, or anthem may follow.

The Ministry of the Word
 
The Celebrant then says to the people
 
	The Lord be with you.
People 	And also with you.
 
Let us pray.
 
O gracious and everliving God, you have created us male and
female in your image: Look mercifully upon this man and this
woman who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist
them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love
they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make;
through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with
you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Then one or more of the following passages from Holy Scripture is read.
If there is to be a Communion, a passage from the Gospel always
concludes the Readings.
 
Genesis 1:26-28 (Male and female he created them)
Genesis 2:4-9, 15-24 (A man cleaves to his wife and they become one flesh)
Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7 (Many waters cannot quench love)
Tobit 8:5b-8 (New English Bible) (That she and I may grow old together)
 
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Love is patient and kind)
Ephesians 3:14-19 (The Father from whom ever family is named)
Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33 (Walk in love, as Christ loved us)
Colossians 3:12-17 (Love which binds everything together in harmony)
1 John 4:7-16 (Let us love one another for love is of God)
 
Between the Readings, a Psalm, hymn, or anthem may be sing or said.
Appropriate Psalms are 67, 127, and 128.
 
When a passage from the Gospel is to be read, all stand, and the Deacon
or Minister appointed says
 
	The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 
	according to ___________.
People	Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Matthew 5:1-10 (The Beatitudes)
Matthew 5:13-16 (You are the light...Let your light so shine)
Matthew 7:21,24-29 (Like a wise man who built his house upon the rock)
Mark 10:6-9,13-16 (They are no longer two but one)
John 15:9-12 (Love one another as I have loved you)
 
After the Gospel, the Reader says
 
	The Gospel of the Lord.
People	Praise to you, Lord Christ.
 
A homily or other response to the Readings may follow.

The Marriage
 
The Man, facing the woman and taking her right hand in his, says
 
In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my wife, to
have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse,
for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.
 
Then they loose their hands, and the Woman, still facing the man, takes
his right hand in hers, and says
 
In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my husband,
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse,
for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.
 
They loose their hands.
 
The Priest may ask God’s blessing on a ring or rings as follows
 
Bless, O Lord, this ring to be a sign of the vows by which
this man and this woman have bound themselves to each
other; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
  
The giver places the ring on the ring-finger of the other’s hand and says
 
N., I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all
that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (or in the
Name of God).

 

Then the Celebrant joins the right hands of husband and wife and says
 
Now that N. and N. have given themselves to each other by
solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and
receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband
and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.
 
Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.
 
People	Amen.

The Prayers
 
All standing, the Celebrant says
 
Let us pray together in the words our Savior taught us.
 
People and Celebrant
 
Our Father, who art in heaven,		Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be thy Name,		  hallowed be your Name,
  thy kingdom come,			  your kingdom come,
  thy will be done,			  your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven. 	         on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.	Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,		Forgive us our sins
  as we forgive those			  as we forgive those
    who trespass against us. 		    who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,	Save us from the time of trial,
   but deliver us from evil. 		  and deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,		For the kingdom, the power,
  and the power, and the glory,	  	  and the glory are yours
  for ever and ever.  Amen.		  now and for ever.  Amen.
 
If Communion is to follow, the Lord’s Prayer may be omitted here.
 
The Deacon or other person appointed reads the following prayers, to
which the People respond, saying, Amen.

If there is not to be a Communion, one or more of the prayers may 
be omitted.

Let us pray.

Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of 
salvation, and giver of all grace: Look with favor upon the
world you have made, and for which your Son gave his life,
and especially upon this man and this woman whom you
make one flesh in Holy Matrimony. Amen.

Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their
common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.  Amen.
 
Grant that their wills may be so knit together in your will,
and their spirits in your Spirit, that they may grow in love
and peace with you and one another all the days of their life.
Amen.
 
Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and
acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness
and yours.  Amen.
 
Make their life together a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful
and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair.  Amen.
 
Bestow on them, if it is your will, the gift and heritage of
children, and the grace to bring them up to know you, to love you, and to serve you.  Amen.
 
Give them such fulfillment of their mutual affection that they
may reach out in love and concern for others.  Amen.

Grant that all married persons who have witnessed these vows
may find their lives strengthened and their loyalties
confirmed.  Amen.
 
Grant that the bonds of our common humanity, by which all
your children are united one to another, and the living to the
dead, may be so transformed by your grace, that your will may
be done on earth as it is in heaven; where, O Father, with your
Son, and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign in perfect unity,
now and for ever.  Amen.

 
The Blessing of the Marriage
 
The people remain standing. The husband and wife kneel, and the Priest
says one of the following prayers
 
Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love
in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a
human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the
way of life. We thank you, also, for consecrating the union of
man and woman in his Name. By the power of your Holy
Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this
man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead
them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal
upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a
crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in
their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in
their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death.
Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your
saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and
reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.
or this
 
O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of marriage
that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ
and his Church: Send therefore your blessing upon these your
servants, that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other
in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness,
that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.
 
The husband and wife still kneeling, the Priest adds this blessing
 
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless,
preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor
look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and
grace; that you may faithfully live together in this life, and
in the age to come have life everlasting.  Amen.

The Peace
 
The Celebrant may say to the people
 
	The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People 	And also with you.
 
The newly married couple then greet each other, after which greetings
may be exchanged throughout the congregation.
 
When Communion is not to follow, the wedding party leaves the church. A
hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung, or instrumental music may be
played.

 

At the Eucharist
 
The liturgy continues with the Offertory, at which the newly married 
couple may present the offerings of bread and wine.
 
Preface of Marriage
 
At the Communion, it is appropriate that the newly married couple
receive Communion first, after the ministers.
 
In place of the usual postcommunion prayer, the following is said
 
O God, the giver of all that is true and lovely and gracious:
We give you thanks for binding us together in these holy
mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Grant that by your Holy Spirit, N. and N., now joined in Holy
Matrimony, may become one in heart and soul, live in fidelity
and peace, and obtain those eternal joys prepared for all who
love you; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
As the wedding party leaves the church, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be
sung, or instrumental music may be played.

 

The Blessing
of a Civil Marriage

The Rite begins as prescribed for celebrations of the Holy Eucharist,
using the Collect and Lessons appointed in the Marriage service.
 
After the Gospel (and homily), the husband and wife stand before the
Celebrant, who addresses them in these or similar words
 
N. and N., you have come here today to seek the blessing of
God and of his Church upon your marriage. I require,
therefore, that you promise, with the help of God, to fulfill
the obligations which Christian Marriage demands.
 
The Celebrant then addresses the husband, saying
 
N., you have taken N. to be your wife. Do you promise to
love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in
health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to her as long
as you both shall live?
 
The Husband answers    I do.
  
The Celebrant then addresses the wife, saying
 
N., you have taken N. to be your husband. Do you promise
to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness
and in health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to him
as long as you both shall live?
 
The Wife answers        I do.
 
The Celebrant then addresses the congregation, saying
 
Will you who have witnessed these promises do all in your
power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?
 
People	We will.
 
If a ring or rings are to be blessed, the wife extends her hand (and
the husband extends his hand) toward the Priest, who says
 
Bless, O Lord, this ring to be a sign of the vows by which
this man and this woman have bound themselves to each
other; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
  
The Celebrant joins the right hands of the husband and wife and says

Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.
 
The Congregation responds    Amen.
 
The service continues with The Prayers on page 428.

 

An Order for Marriage

If it is desired to celebrate a marriage otherwise than as provided on
page 423 of this Book, this Order is used.
 
Normally, the celebrant is a priest or bishop. Where permitted by civil law, and when no priest or bishop is available, a deacon may function as celebrant, but does not pronounce a nuptial blessing.
 
The laws of the State and the canons of this Church having been
complied with, the man and the woman, together with their witnesses,
families, and friends assemble in the church or in some other convenient
place.
 
1.  The teaching of the Church concerning Holy Matrimony, as it is
declared in the formularies and canons of this Church, is briefly
stated.
 
2.  The intention of the man and the woman to enter the state of
matrimony, and their free consent, is publicly ascertained.
 
3.  One or more Readings, one of which is always from Holy Scripture,
may precede the exchange of vows. If there is to be a Communion, a
Reading from the Gospel is always included.
 
4.  The vows of the man and woman are exchanged, using the following
form

 

In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my
(wife) (husband), to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in
health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.
 
or this
 
I, N., take thee, N., to my wedded (wife) (husband), to have
and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for
richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy
ordinance; and thereto I (plight) (give) thee my troth.
 
5.  The Celebrant declares the union of the man and woman as husband
and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
 
6.  Prayers are offered for the husband and wife, for their life together, for the Christian community, and for the world.
 
7.  A priest or bishop pronounces a solemn blessing upon the couple.
 
8.  If there is no Communion, the service concludes with the Peace, the husband and wife first greeting each other. The Peace may be exchanged throughout the assembly.
 
9.  If there is to be a Communion, the service continues with the Peace and the Offertory. The Holy Eucharist may be celebrated either according to Rite One or Rite Two in this Book, or according to the Order on page 401.

 

Additional Directions
 
If Banns are to be published, the following form is used
 
I publish the Banns of Marriage between N. N. of___________ and N. N. of____________. If any of you know just cause why
they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are bidden to declare it. This is the first (or second, or third) time of asking.
 
The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage may be used with any
authorized liturgy for the Holy Eucharist. This service then replaces
the Ministry of the Word, and the Eucharist begins with the Offertory.
 
After the Declaration of Consent, if there is to be a giving in marriage, or presentation, the Celebrant asks
 
Who gives (presents) this woman to be married to this man?
 
or the following
 
Who presents this woman and this man to be married to 
each other?
 
To either question, the appropriate answer is, "I do." If more than one 
person responds, they do so together.
 
For the Ministry of the Word it is fitting that the man and woman to be
married remain where they may conveniently hear the reading of
Scripture. They may approach the Altar, either for the exchange of vows, 
or for the Blessing of the Marriage.
 
It is appropriate that all remain standing until the conclusion of the
Collect.  Seating may be provided for the wedding party, so that all may
be seated for the Lessons and the homily.
 
The Apostles’ Creed may be recited after the Lessons, or after the homily, 
if there is one.
 
When desired, some other suitable symbol of the vows may be used in
place of the ring.

At the Offertory, it is desirable that the bread and wine be presented to 
the ministers by the newly married persons.  They may then remain before 
the Lord’s Table and receive Holy Communion before other members of 
the congregation.