A Christ-Centered Wedding: Making Your Special Day Sacred

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but if you're looking to make your special day Christ-centred, there are many ways to do so. From the ceremony to the reception, you can incorporate your faith and keep Christ at the heart of your wedding. Here are some ideas to get you started:

- Include Bible passages and a short sermon in your ceremony.

- Use Christian music and hymns.

- Incorporate faith-based statement pieces, such as a cross as a centerpiece.

- Utilize Bible verses on wedding invites, decor, and other special moments.

- Pray together before the ceremony.

- Seek Christ-centred pre-marital counselling.

- Make the gospel proclamation a goal.

- Have a wedding of worship, with congregational songs, Scripture readings, and prayers.

- Treat others with the love and mercy of Christ, including your vendors and bridal party.

- Continue to nurture your relationship with your future spouse, even while planning the wedding.

- Prepare for a Christ-centred marriage through prayer and studying the life of Jesus.

- Focus on the essentials and keep Christ and the gospel at the centre.

- Invite God into the planning process and listen to His voice.

- Seek wisdom and mentoring from older couples or your pastor.

- Serve your guests and those involved in your day.

- Choose a special Bible verse as a theme for your wedding and marriage.

Prayer and positioning your heart

Take time to learn about God's design for marriage and pray that your marriage will keep God at the centre, where you will experience the freedom that comes from God's love and forgiveness. Invite God into the planning and preparation. Take time to be still and listen to His voice. Share the Gospel, and talk about Him, His faithfulness, and His character. Pray that God will draw you and others closer to Himself during your wedding planning and on your wedding day.

Pray that you will reflect God's grace and love to others. Ask God to help you understand your identity in Christ better. Your marriage should begin at the foot of the cross, where you experience the freedom that comes from Christ's sacrificial love.

Your wedding ceremony is a sacred ceremony between you, your future spouse, and God. It is also a worship service to the one who created life, love, and marriage. Prayer is a vital part of a Christian wedding ceremony. There are many ways to include prayer in your wedding. For example, you could have a congregational blessing prayer, where the wedding guests stand and either hold hands or extend their hands to you and your future spouse as a blessing is prayed. You could also write a prayer for each other and then read it during the ceremony.

Pre-marital counselling

There are also many books available that can guide couples through pre-marital counselling with a Christ-centred focus. Here are some recommendations:

• 'Tying the Knot: A Premarital Guide to a Strong and Lasting Marriage' by Rob Green. This book offers a practical vision of a Christ-centred marriage, covering topics such as conflict, expectations, communication, finances, and intimacy.
• 'Preparing for Marriage God's Way: A Step-by-Step Guide for Marriage Success Before and After the Wedding' by Wayne Mack. This book uses self-examination and Bible study to help couples understand God's expectations for marriage and provide solutions for dealing with conflicts.
• 'Catching Foxes: A Gospel-Guided Journey to Marriage' by John Henderson. This book is written in a semi-interactive workbook format, guiding couples towards a Christ-centred paradigm for marriage and helping them understand God's desires for their relationship.
• 'The Meaning of Marriage' by Tim Keller.
• 'The Exemplary Husband' by Stuart Scott.
• 'The Excellent Wife' by Martha Peace.
• 'Strengthening Your Marriage' by Wayne Mack.
• 'The Sacred Search: What If It’s Not about Who You Marry, But Why?' by Gary Thomas. This book encourages readers to view dating and marriage as opportunities to serve a higher purpose and make it more about "why" you marry rather than "who".

Gospel proclamation as the goal

The wedding ceremony is a sacred act of worship, and a time to reflect on the relationship between Christ and the Church. With this in mind, there are many ways to make the Gospel proclamation a central part of your wedding day.

Firstly, consider the benefits of having your local pastor perform the ceremony. You can trust that they will share the Gospel during the proceedings. If you are having someone else officiate, you can ask them to bring the focus back to the Gospel. This is not just for the benefit of unsaved family members and friends in the audience, but for the couple too.

There are many other ways to proclaim Christ to your witnesses. You can include Bible passages and a short sermon in your ceremony, as well as faith-based statement pieces, such as a cross, and Bible verses on your wedding invites and decor.

Music is another way to proclaim the Gospel. You can include Christian music and hymns in your ceremony, with congregational worship, and music chosen specifically to draw focus to Christ.

The act of communion is a sacred tradition in the Christian faith and can be shared between just the bride and groom, or with all the wedding guests.

Worship through song and music

Music is an integral part of a wedding ceremony. It can be used to glorify God and direct attention to Christ. Here are some ways to incorporate worship through song and music into your wedding:

Congregational Worship

Encourage everyone to join in and worship the Lord in praise and thanksgiving. This can be a powerful way to unite the bridal party and witnesses with the guests in a shared act of worship.

Music Selection

Choose music for the ceremony that draws attention to Christ. Opt for faith-filled songs and Christian hymns that glorify God and reflect the sacredness of marriage. You can also include your favourite Christian worship songs or hymns that have been significant in your spiritual journey as a couple.

Congregational Singing

Involve your guests in worship by encouraging them to sing along. You can provide song sheets or have the lyrics displayed on a screen. This way, everyone can join in and express their love for God and celebrate with you through song.

Special Performances

Invite friends or family members who are musicians or singers to perform during special moments of the ceremony. For example, they could sing a faith-filled song during the lighting of the unity candle or the taking of communion. This not only adds a personal touch to the ceremony but also involves your loved ones in the worship aspect of your wedding.

Communion

The sacred act of communion is a core tradition in the Christian faith. During the wedding ceremony, you can choose to share communion just between the bride and groom or extend it to all the wedding guests. This can be a meaningful way to remember Christ's sacrifice and incorporate worship into your wedding.

Music and Lyrics as Decor

Choose a favourite hymn or worship song as the wedding "theme song". You can incorporate the lyrics into your ceremony and decor. For example, frame the sheet music and use it as a guest book, or display the lyrics on signs around the ceremony and reception venues. This not only adds a personal touch but also keeps the focus on Christ.

Remember to ensure that you and your musicians have the proper permissions and licenses to use the music you select. By incorporating worship through song and music into your wedding, you can create a Christ-centred atmosphere and involve your guests in glorifying God.

Bible verses and faith-based statement pieces

The wedding ceremony is a sacred ceremony between a man, a woman, and God. It is a worship service to the one who created life, love, and marriage. Here are some ideas for Bible verses and faith-based statement pieces to include in your wedding ceremony:

Bible Verses

• Choose a special Bible verse to be the "theme" verse for the wedding and marriage. This verse can be used during the sermon/message portion of the wedding, printed on the ceremony program and even on thank-you cards, or used in place of a guest book for guests to sign as they arrive.
• Include Bible passages and/or a short sermon in your ceremony.
• Include faith-based statement pieces such as a stunning cross as the centerpiece of your outdoor ceremony.
• Utilize Bible verses on wedding invites, decor, etc.
• Include Bible verses in your vows.

Faith-Based Statement Pieces

• A cross as the centerpiece of the ceremony, symbolizing Christ uniting the couple.
• A framed copy of the sheet music of a favourite hymn or worship song, which can become the guest book for guests to sign.
• A sign with a special Bible verse on it for guests to sign instead of a traditional guest book.
• Christian music and hymns during the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions