• Pronouncement

  • This is the all-too-familiar “I now pronounce you man and wife.” It is the minister’s pronouncement that the two of you, in accordance with the laws of the Church and the laws of the State, have been joined together in the contract of marriage. The minister often states the authority under which he can make the pronouncement (“By the powers vested in me by God and the State of Wisconsin…”). The final part of the pronouncement is the reminder to the guests that they must respect the bond created by the bride and groom; that nobody should ever try to come between the bride and groom.

    Pronouncement #1:
    Because ____ and ____ have desired each other in marriage, and have witnessed this before God and our gathering, affirming their acceptance of the responsibilities of such a union, and have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealing their vows in the giving and receiving of rings, I do proclaim that they are husband and wife in the sight of God and man. Let all people here and everywhere recognize and respect this holy union, now and forever. You may now kiss your bride.

    Pronouncement #2:
    Now that ____ and ____ have given themselves to each other by the promises they have exchanged, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You may now kiss your bride.

    Pronouncement #3:
    For as much as ____ and ____ have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and these witnesses, and thereto have pledged their faithfulness each to the other, and have pledged the same by the giving and receiving each of a ring, by the authority invested in me as a minister of the gospel according to the laws of the State of ____, I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those that God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may now kiss your bride.

    Pronouncement #4:
    [BRIDE] and [GROOM], you have chosen to enter into the promise of marriage with each other by pledging your love and devotion with your vows and sealing those vows with the exchange of the rings. Therefore, with the power vested in me by the State of Wisconsin, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may now kiss your bride.