Wedding Service - Nitty Gritty

It took a long time to get to this point, but when we finally wrote up a detailed order of service for our wedding it made such a difference. Perhaps something in our model would be of use to someone else. At any rate, for posterity - if posterity is watching - here's what we chose to do.

Wedding Service for Chris & Marti’s wedding, 5-26-12 

9:00 Make sure setup tasks are underway or ready to begin
9:30 Start on hair and makeup
10:30 Start on pictures
11:00 Food prep begins; cake arrives
12:30 Prelude music begins
1:00 Wedding
1:30 Reception
3:30 Wrapping up

1. PRELUDE: Play 30-40-minute mix of fun/romantic music from Chris's iPad (Ryan).

2. PARENTS: Begin processional music (Christopher Parkening guitar versions of Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, length 3:17, and God Alone Should Have My Heart, length: 3:18. Can be faded out when ready.)

- Marti’s step-grandparents enter escorted by Bobby.
- Marti’s stepmother enters escorted in by Bobby.
- Chris’s mother enters escorted in by Chris.
- Marti’s mother enters escorted in by Chris S.
- Chris's mother stands when Marti's mother arrives; they go forward to light candles.

3. WEDDING PARTY: Guitar music continues until bride is about to enter.

- Men enter, all together, from side (Chris G., Chris, Darren, Daniel)
- Bridesmaids enter down aisle (first Haley, then Sarah)
- Bride enters with her father. Music change: Trumpet Voluntary (length: 2:12). All stand.
- Dean hands Marti to Chris. Marti hands her bouquet to Sarah.

4. WELCOME: Chris G. welcomes guests, opens service in prayer, and asks guests to be seated.

5. PROMISES: Chris G: Chris, before we get into this, was there something you wanted to give your chief? (Chris hands Randy his fire pager.) Chris G: That’s his pager. Won’t need it on his honeymoon :-)

- Chris, are you ready to solemnly pledge before God and these witnesses that you desire to take Marti as your wife and that you will be faithful to her for the rest of your life?
- Chris responds: I am.
- Chris G: Marti, are you ready to solemnly pledge before God and these witnesses that you desire to take Chris as your husband and that you will be faithful to him for the rest of your life?
- Marti responds: I am.

6. READINGS: Chris G. invites readers to come forward: Gretchen and Greg

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV) - Gretchen
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

1 Peter 4:8-11 (NIV) - Greg
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality, to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

7. SERMON

8. VOWS (Chris G. reads them line by line, we repeat.)

a. I, Chris, take you, Marti,
to be my wedded wife,
to have and to hold, from this day forward,
for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,
till we part by death.
According to God’s plan and with eyes wide open,
I pledge myself and my love to you.

b. I, Marti, take you, Chris,
to be my wedded husband,
to have and to hold,
from this day forward,
for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,
till we part by death.
According to God’s plan and with eyes wide open,
I pledge myself and my love to you.

9. RINGS: 
Chris G. asks for rings and has Chris put Marti’s rings on her finger and repeat: I give you this ring, as a seal of my commitment, as a symbol of my love, and as a reminder of this day.
Chris G. asks for groom’s ring and has Marti put it on Chris’s finger and repeat: I give you this ring, as a seal of my commitment, as a symbol of my love, and as a reminder of this day.

10. CANDLES AND COMMUNION:
Chris G.: Marti and Chris would like to begin their marriage by lighting a candle together and a symbol of unity and taking communion (explain significance of each?)
Cue music: Darlene Zschech, Let The Peace of God (Length: 5:13)
Chris and Marti pick up side candles and light unity candle, blowing out side candles, then move to side and take communion, can pray together until song is finished.

11. PRONOUNCEMENT:
Chris G. says something like “Since you have consented together with these promises and vows and have symbolized this by giving and receiving of these rings, I now pronounce you to be husband and wife. In the name of the father, and the son and of the Holy Spirit.”

12. KISS

13. RECESSIONAL: (Music: Perry Como It’s A Good Day, length: 1:42)
Chris and Marti exit, followed by Darin and Sarah, Daniel and Haley.

14. DISMISSAL: Chris G. tells everyone recession will be inside the Parish Hall around the corner. We’ll need to move the chairs in. Coffee, punch and refreshments will be served first, then a little later we’ll have a toast and cut the cake. (Ryan and ushers break down sound system and move it inside.) But first, before we lose anyone, we'd like to take a group picture, so please follow the wedding party out into the park to the play structure behind the swings.