Wedding Sermon Ideas
 

In a few months an old friend of mine is getting married. He and his bride have asked me to officiate. I've conducted weddings before, but always for people I knew. In this case I only know the groom. I've never met the bride. We are meeting for dinner in a few days to discuss details and give me a chance to meet the bride to be. Does anyone have any tips on questions I should ask, and info I should gather that would help me make the wedding sermon more personal for both of them?

Also, if anyone wants to share past wedding notes, I'd love it. I'm always looking for new stuff to use. :)

Re: Wedding Sermon Ideas
 

I have always found that just being myself and getting to know the people has worked best. There are no particular questions to ask except what they would like. Years ago I picked up a marriage manual that gave a lot of advice for the minister in the areas you are asking.

I don't know if you can still find it but it is "The Pastor's Wedding Manual" by Jim Henry.

Re: Wedding Sermon Ideas
 

I would see if there is a favorite verse for the bride and groom, and what it means to them, of if they see in the Bible a verse or passage that they feel best describes a Godly marriage, and make that the main text.

Re: Wedding Sermon Ideas
 

You should go over a detailed list of all that the bride and groom should and should not do over the course of their marriage.

Then, make them solemnly affirm that they will NEVER do X, Y and Z-- FOREVER!

After all, you have an obligation to speak someone else's personal convictions into their lives! They asked for it when they asked for you!

Now is your chance to tell it like it is!

Now is NOT the time to COMPROMISE!

Have them sign the pledge in their own blood:

"I will never tell my wife I don't like what she cooked."
"I will never make my husband do the laundry."
"I will never beat my parent in-laws at any competitive game or conversation."

And any other non-scriptural prohibitions you can think of that might make their marriage a long-lasting marriage that lines up perfectly with other people's wisdom... :)

Re: Wedding Sermon Ideas
 

I second the "Get input from the couple" idea.

When my wife and I married, the pastor gave us several outlines to go over to see what was our preference.

Funny Story: My bride didn't like any of the ceremonies so picked a few of the ideas built on them and then wrote the ceremony herself. She is a great writer....

Anyhow years later we were at another wedding performed by the same minister. During the ceremony my wife looked at me and said at several different points in the service, "That was in our wedding." Then after a few songs and various wedding rituals we came to the vows. The minister started off talking about "Confluent streams that merge to become one..." and my wife looked at me with wide eyes and said, "I wrote that!".

Thankful to say that both couples are still happily married. :highfive