plan a christian wedding
It's interesting:"For those of you who are attending their first Jewish wedding, there may be some customs you're unfamiliar with. Like when Paul stepped on the glass at the end ..."
Christian beliefs emphasize that marriage is a union of three rather than two. God plays an equal role in the bond along with the husband and wife. When planning a Christian wedding, it is important to take time to examine the religious aspects of the event.
Instructions
1
Choose your officiate. If you attend church regularly, you may want to use the pastor or minister (depending on your denomination) from your home church. If you have a specific location in mind, you may want to consider using someone who is well practiced in performing weddings at that location. The most important factor is that you are comfortable with your officiate, as this is the person you can turn to with any thoughts or concerns about your impending marriage.
2
Go over the wedding requirements with your officiate. Many Christian churches require that the couple go through a brief period of premarital counseling before the wedding. This may seem intimidating, but it is an excellent time to talk about the sanctity of marriage and God's role in your union. Your officiate will also get to know you better throughout this process and may be able to offer you ceremony options and Bible verses that are uniquely suited to your personalities.
3
Select a Bible verse. The officiate will traditionally include one Bible verse of the couple's choosing in the ceremony. Some popular suggestions are I Corinthians 13, Ephesians 5:21-33, Colossians 3:12-17 and Genesis 2:24. Your officiate should be able to help you locate other verses that may speak to you strongly as well.
4
Review what the officiate will say. A Christian wedding ceremony will usually begin with a call to worship followed by an opening prayer. After the bride is given away there will be a prayer or hymn. The officiate will then give the charge to the bride and groom, followed by the pledge and the vows. The ceremony will end with the exchange of rings, lighting of a unity candle and the pronouncement. These elements can be worded in a variety of ways. Your officiate will probably have several options already prepared and should be willing to work with you to come up with the phrasing that you feel most comfortable with.
5
Select a worship hymn or solo. This usually takes place after the bride is given away. One idea is to ask a musically talented friend or family member to perform a solo. In lieu of a performer, the couple may also choose to have the guests take part in singing a hymn with them. Some couples will have a friend or family member stand and read a special Bible verse instead of or after this part of the ceremony.
6
Choose or write your vows. The purpose of the bride and groom's vows is for the couple to publicly vow before God and their witnesses to love, honor and cherish one another. Traditional wedding vows are often spoken by the officiate and repeated in turn by the bride and groom. However, many couples now prefer to write their own vows. These can be incorporated with permission from the officiate.
7
Arrange for a prayer at the reception. If you would like your officiate to say a special prayer at your reception before the meal is served, make sure to let him know ahead of time. This responsibility could also fall to the father of the bride or groom or another important family member. Be sure to give this individual plenty of time to prepare what they would like to say.
Tips &- Warnings
Take time for reflection and prayer in the weeks and months leading up to the wedding. Search your Bible for meaningful passages you may want to use in your ceremony or vows.
Tags: officiate will, bride groom, Bible verse, family member, bride given, bride given away, ceremony willSource: www.ehow.com
