The Pledge, also called the Betrothal or the Declaration of Intent, is a declaration of free will and intent.

This is the part of the ceremony where the bride and groom say “I do” or “I will”.

The Pledge is when the couple will make declarations of their intentions to the gathering or witnesses. This is different than the vows, in which the bride and groom make promises to each other.

At this point in the ceremony the bride and groom face one another and join hands. The officiant will usually preface the betrothal with an instruction to the couple, advising them to turn to each other and hold hands.

Here is a list of the Pledge options currently offered on the free Build A Wedding Ceremony automated tool for putting together your ceremony.

The Pledge or Betrothal / Declaration Of Intent In A Wedding Ceremony:

1.
Officiant:

Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to face each other and join hands.

Officiant: To Groom:

________, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

The Rings part of a wedding ceremony usually begins with the officiant making the familiar request; “may we now have the rings”. This request is usually directed towards the Best Man or Ringbearer.

If it is a smaller/simpler ceremony without a designated person to hand over the rings, the Officiant will already have the rings and the “may we now have the rings” request is omitted.

The officiant holds up the rings and prays a blessing over the rings and/or speaks about the symbolism of the rings. Then the bride and groom exchange rings and give pledges of faithfulness to one another.

The Charge to the Bride and Groom is the time in a wedding ceremony when the officiant reminds the couple that although this is a time for celebration it is also important to recognize that it is a time of great seriousness as well.

The couple is advised of the responsibilities associated with the vows and pledges they will be making to one another.

The happiness and joyfulness of the wedding ceremony should be balanced with proper reverence and respect.

Below is a list for the Charge To The Bride And Groom options currently offered with the free  Build A Wedding Ceremony form automated tool.

Charge To The Bride And Groom:

An option for a Greeting Element that references the Wedding At Cana has recently been added to the Build A Wedding Ceremony form.

I also added an Invocation option that includes a prayer in which the Wedding At Cana is referred to.

The Wedding at Cana is the bible story in which we learn of  Jesus' first miracle; turning water into wine.

The Greeting option that I added is from the Solemnization Of Matrimony, found in the 1892 version of the Book Of Common Prayer.

The Greeting element from the Book of Common Prayer is rather lengthy and I have posted it below. This Greeting option is commonly used in traditional religious wedding ceremonies.

Greeting from the Solemnization Of Matrimony in The Book Of Common Prayer:

Officiant: Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.

I have also added an Invocation option to the Build A Ceremony form that includes a reference to the Wedding At Cana. See it posted below...

This Invocation Prayer is from the Lutheran tradition:

Officiant: Let us pray, Eternal God, our creator and redeemer, as you gladdened the wedding at Cana in Galilee by the presence of your Son, so by His presence now bring your joy to this wedding. Look in favor upon __________ and __________ and grant that they, rejoicing in all your gifts, may at length celebrate with Christ the marriage feast which has no end. Amen

Article by Michelle Avary