Marriage ceremony
Dave and I have been working on the form we would like our marriage ceremony to take. We have decided to use most of this Christian Reformed Church marriage ceremony with additions from the Presbyterian service. We really like the prayer at the end, and have added to it a bit. We also like the description of the purposes of marriage and roles within it. I really like the role differences in the vows, as I am uncomfortable with identical vows like those in the sample Presbyterian service we were given. We have also added to the vows. We want the traditional "for richer, for poorer" etc. included, and we also want to promise to raise any children God gives us to love and serve our Saviour. We will probably make more additions and deletions in the three weeks before our wedding day.
We chose our hymns about two months ago. We are planning to have "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Amazing Grace", "Oh Perfect Love" and another title I can't quite remember right now - something like "Happy the Home". I think we need to practise all these before hand so we can sing with great enthusiasm :).
Would that be O happy home, where thou art loved the dearest?
Yes, the Presbyterian worship book lists two services for marriage, both of which have identical vows for husband and wife. Very disappointing, IMHO, but they're merely guides.
Hi John, hymn expert :). I know the one you mean, Jono and Ev had it at their wedding I think. The one we are having is different. It is called "Happy the Home" and it begins "Happy the home, where love fills every breast". I shall have to post it sometime.
It is a shame that the Presbyterian church does not also provide differing vows for husband and wife, but I am grateful that the Reformed church has provided some :). They are hard to think up without any samples.
You two should just join the PCA (America, not Australia, that is). Both of the Book of Church Order marriage services are non-reciprocal with the vows. Of course, nowadays, most couple write their own, but Adrian and I are using the straight BCO vows with all their political incorrectness.
I love your choice of hymns, Sherrin!
Hi Susan, that is great that the PCA has non-reciprocal vows. It makes your life easier :).
I am glad you like our hymns!