The Wedding Processional
12:30 The wedding party arrives 30 minutes prior to the time of the ceremony.
12:50 The pianist begins playing
1:00 a. The two mothers walk down the aisle side by side each with a lighted candle.
b. Mrs. Yan lights the candles on the left side and takes her seat in the first pew at the left
c. At the same time, Mrs. Kim lights the candles on the right side and takes her seat in the first pew at the right
d. Pastor Foreman enters from right, followed by Phriam and Best Man
e. The Bridesmaid and Groomsman walk down center aisle. The bridesmaid stands to the left and the groomsman to the right.
f. The Maid of Honor enters followed by the flower girl and ring bearer. The flower girl stands near the Maid of Honor. The ring bearer stands near the Best Man.
g. Diana and her father enter, he walking to the left. When they approach the altar, she releases her father’s arm. Phriam takes Diana’s right hand and draws it through his left arm. (They are arm and arm facing the audience)
h. Pastor Foreman asks, “Who gives the bride to be married?”. Diana’s father answers, “Her mother and I do”. The father then sits next to the mother.
i. The entire wedding party now turns and faces the minister. (When bride and groom turn, the bride is still on his left.)
|
Elements of the Ceremony
The purpose of the gathering
Dear friends, we are assembled here in the presence of God to unite Phriam Kim and Diana Yan in marriage.
The Bible teaches that marriage is an honorable institution and a permanent relationship between one man and one woman freely and totally committed to each other as companions for life. Our Lord declared that a man shall leave his father and mother and unite with his wife in the building of a home, and the two shall become one flesh.
Celebrating this Wedding Day
We are here to celebrate the beginning of a marriage. But what does the word “marriage” mean? This question has been much in the news lately. What does “marriage” mean to this bride and this groom? When I first began to talk wedding plans to Phriam and Diana, they both expressed an interest in having a very traditional wedding. And that is what you will see here today: a traditional wedding that with God’s help will lead to a long and godly marriage built upon mutual love and commitment.
Phriam Kim, the groom, was born in 1969 in San Francisco. He is the younger of two sons. His mother and older brother are here with him for this special day. Phriam’s mother is a founder of Korean First Baptist Church of San Francisco. When Phriam was four his father passed away. Phiam grew up in this city and attended this church throughout his life. Phriam is now working as manager of FirstStep in Colma.
Diana Yan, the bride, was born in 1980 in San Francisco. She is oldest of three children. Her mother and father are with us today along with her younger sister and brother. Diane grew up in the city and went to schools here. For three years she has worked as a clerk at a local law firm. Just this past week, Diana came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. As well as being a new bride, Diana is also a new Christian.
Phriam and Diana first met in April, 2001. After a month or so, the two of them decided to date each other exclusively. Around Christmas 2002, they became engaged. The story goes that Phriam put a surprise engagement ring in a piece of bread and that Diana chomped down upon the ring. And today we celebrate their wedding. This couple plans to live with Phriam’s widowed mother for a while. Both Phriam and Diana are hard working people and have decided to put off their honeymoon until the Springtime.
I have had the pleasure of counseling Diana and Phriam for the past few months. I have no doubt about their love, commitment, and honorable intentions toward one another.
To celebrate this important day in the life of Phriam and Diana, I am reading the 13 verses of First Corinthians 13. This the Love chapter in the Bible. One verse from the chapter is printed on the front of your bulletin. Phriam and Diana, this reading is instructive for both of you. Please take it to heart. I will also read a love poem from a Korean tradition. This is for Diana from Phriam and captures one dimension of love. Finally, I will look at one word in Chinese. This word is to Phriam from Diana, and illustrates the happy and peaceful home.
First, a reading from God’s word, First Corinthians, chapter 13:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Amen
Phriam and Diana, as your hearts grow closer to God, may they grow closer to one another.
Let me now read a short Korean poem that captures one dimension of love. This poem is on the back of your bulletin and I think that it exemplifies what Phriam feels toward Diana on this day:
What is love like?
Is it round or is it square?
Long or short? Is there more
To measure than what I’m stepping on?
You may not think it lasts long,
But I can’t see where it ends.
Phriam, my wish for you is that your love for Diana will grow beyond measure and that you will never see where it ends
And Diana, I am giving to you one Chinese word. To be honest, this is the only Chinese word that I have in my vocabulary. While I was speaking with Phriam over the past few weeks he was always referring to the priority of a happy home. There is a Chinese character on the back of your bulletin. This character is a poem in one word. The word translates into English as peace or tranquility or safety. The picture of Phriam’s happy home is the word “ahn”. It is a representation of a woman covered by a man’s roof. I see this woman as you Diana with Phriam as your umbrella, protecting your from outside elements. Diana, my wish for you is that you give respect to Phriam and allow him to be a godly covering over your head.
Hymn of Joy and Praise
At this point, I would like everyone inside this church to stand up and participate in this wedding service. Show your congratulations to Phriam and Diana by singing a hymn in their honor. The words to this hymn are written on the inside of your bulletin. Please join us in singing? HYMN.
|
The charge to the couple
Please be seated.
Phriam and Diana, we are gathered together in the sight of God and in the company of many witnesses. We are among your family and your friends. Do you both understand the seriousness and permanence of the vows you are about to take. Do you take on these vows freely and without any mental reservation?
Phriam and Diana in unison to Pastor Chris: We do.
Pastor Chris to Phriam and Diana: Would you please face each other, join right hands, and take the following vows. (the two sides also face each other)
Questions to the bride and groom
Pastor Chris to Phriam: “Phriam, do you take Diana to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you commit yourself to her happiness and her usefulness to God’s kingdom? Do you forsake all others in favor of Diana. Do you promise to love her, honor her, trust her, and serve her in sickness and in health, in adversity and in prosperity, as long as you both shall live?
Phriam to Pastor Chris: “I do”
Pastor Chris to Phriam: “Phriam, will you love Diana as Christ loved His Church and gave Himself completely to her in sacrificial love?
Phriam to Pastor Chris: “I will”
Pastor Chris to Diana: “Diana, do you take Phriam to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you commit yourself to his happiness and his usefulness to God’s kingdom? Do you forsake all others in favor of Phriam. Do you promise to love him, honor him, trust him, and serve him in sickness and in health, in adversity and in prosperity, as long as you both shall live?
Diana to Pastor Chris: “I do”
Pastor Chris to Diana: “Diana, will you give respect to Phriam as unto the Lord? Will you honor Phriam as head of your home, in the same manner as Christ is head of His church.
Diana to Pastor Chris: “I will”
|
Exchanging of Rings
The Best Man takes the two rings from the Ring Bearer and gives them to the minister. The Rings please
Pastor Chris: These wedding rings are a symbol of marriage in at least two ways: the purity of gold symbolizes the purity of your love for each other, and the unending circle symbolizes the unending vows which you are taking, which may be broken honorably in the sight of God only by death. As a token of your vows, you will now give and receive the rings.
Pastor Chris to Phriam: Phriam, give this ring to Diana and repeat after me: “Diana, with this ring I pledge my life and love to you”.
Phriam repeats these words to Diana and places the ring on her finger.
Pastor Chris to Diana: Diana, give this ring to Phriam and repeat after me: “Phriam, with this ring I pledge my life and love to you”.
Diana repeats these words to Phriam and places the ring on his finger.
Pastor Chris: “Let us pray. Father God, I ask a special blessing upon this couple, upon your children Phriam and Diana. May each of them always remember this day and the vows they made before You, before their family, and before their friends. Bind them together with a love that finds it source in you. As they unite the flames of two candles into one, burn into their hearts what this action symbolizes: that they are no longer two persons, but that they are now united into one, just as these two flames are about to join together and become one flame. Our God, have mercy on this couple, keep them healthy, keep them safe, keep them in the hollow of your hand every day of their lives together. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen”.
After prayer Diana and Phriam take a candle from their sides and together light the center candle. They return to their places in front.
Soloist Sings.
|
The pronouncement of the marriage
When song is complete
Pastor Chris to Congregation: Since Phriam and Diana have made these commitments before God and this assembly, by the authority of God and the laws of the state of California, I declare that Phriam and Diana are husband and wife.
Pastor Chris to Couple: Phriam and Diana, you are no longer two independent persons but one. “What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder”.
Phriam, you may now kiss your bride. [Applause]
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Kim.
|
Closing
Announcements: Please give your attention to a few announcements. The Bride and the Groom and their families would like to thank you for coming to this wedding. Weddings are a community event and without you there would be no community. Thank you for joining in this celebration.
Let me remind you that there will be a reception immediately following this service in the building just to my left. You may exit through the double doors on my left or out the front door. You may greet the newly married couple there.
Marriage Benediction
Please stand for this final blessing and then remain standing until the wedding party leaves and the music is concluded. Let us pray.
“God, as we prepare to leave this place of worship, I pray for the welfare of every person in here. Be with them, Lord, who traveled from near and from far to join in this celebration of marriage. Grant them your peace. Draw them close to you. We ask that the marriage of Phriam and Diana Kim be every bit as successful as this wedding has been on this day.
Now, to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
|
Recessional
Immediately after the benediction, the bride receives her bouquet and the couple join arms. They leave in the following order:
a. Bride and Groom
b. Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
c. Best man and maid of honor together
d. Bridesmaid and groomsman together
e. Two mothers together (father follows)
f. The minister leaves the same way he entered which is a signal for congregation to leave
|