The Groom, his Friends (attendants), and the pastor all gather before the wedding. Family, especially the father of the Groom, may also be present.
SCRIPTURE
May be read by the pastor, the father of the Groom, or the Friends of the Groom.
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. [Isaiah 62:5]
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?’” [Matthew 9:15]
[John the Baptist says,] “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.” [John 3:29]
Again there shall be heard in this place… the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: “Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever.” [Jeremiah 33:10-11]
PROMISES
To the Groom:
Are these the men you have chosen to stand by your side at your wedding, to witness your vows and promises, to hold you to account, to help you in your vocation as husband, and to share with you in the joy of this day?
They are.
To the Friends of the Groom:
The Lord Jesus says of marriage, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Do you believe that in the solemnity of the marriage rite about to occur, and through the power of God’s Word, God Himself will join this man to his bride, and make the two into one?
I do believe it.
Are you ready to stand as a witness, to hear the vows and promises this man will make to his bride?
I am ready.
Will you hold this bridegroom to account through his entire life to the holy vows he will speak this day?
Will you encourage him to love his bride as Christ loved the church?
Will you help turn his heart and mind, his strength and joy always toward home, as long as he shall live?
I will, with the help of God.
Will you pray for this bride and groom, for their home and family, that our Heavenly Father would bless and keep them in the security and joy of holy matrimony?
I will, with the help of God.
The Bible knows no greater joy than the joy of a wedding feast.
Are you ready for the joy of this day,
the joy of God’s making two to be one,
the joy of feasting and dancing,
the joy of promises, of family, of hope,
the joy of the Garden of Eden,
the joy of the foretaste of the Marriage Feast of the Lamb?
I am ready. Lord, give me Your joy.
The pastor addresses the Friends of the Groom:
You are Friends of the Groom. God enable you both to will and to do this faithful and loving work and with His grace fulfill what we are unable to do.
Amen.
The Friends of the Groom speak this charge to the Groom:
Husband, love your wife,
as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.
Go forth to meet your Bride, in the name of the Lord!
PRAYERS
The pastor prays for the Friends of the Groom.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Friend of Sinners,
and the faithful Bridegroom who gave Yourself unto death for Your Bride, the Church.
We thank You for this day of wedding,
that You will give this man to his bride,
and her to him,
making them one flesh.
We thank You for these men called to witness this wedding,
the promises we will hear and the work that You will do.
Make them good men,
faithful witnesses,
courageous friends of the groom.
May they stand as faithful soldiers to guard and defend the family that You are establishing this day.
Grant to them Your Holy Spirit
to rejoice in what You have given,
to extoll what You have instituted,
to defend what You have established,
to be wise in these difficult days,
and to have a share in the wedding feast of the Lamb that is to come. Amen.
The Friends of the Groom pray for the Groom.
Heavenly Father,
bless this man and the vows and promises he will speak this day.
Give him humble joy in hearing and receiving the vows and promises
from the lips and heart of his bride.
Make him a good husband,
a wise man,
a courageous protector,
and a faithful priest in his home,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Groom prays for his Friends.
Heavenly Father,
I give you thanks for the joy of this day,
these Friends who will stand with me
as You give me to my Bride, and give my Bride to me.
Give us all the wisdom of faith,
that through Your grace we might all stand together before Your glory in eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Altogether pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The pastor blesses the Friends of the Groom.
Friends of the Groom, rejoice!
Today this man becomes a husband,
and you are witnesses of this great wonder!
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Amen. [1 Corinthians 15:18]