Diana and FatherThe giving away of the bride is a traditional part of the ceremony that allows the parents of the Bride and the Groom to be part of the wedding ceremony.

Giving Away the Bride 1

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Giving Away the Bride 2

Who gives this man and woman to be married to each other?

Giving Away the Bride 3

I’ve never met a father who was willing to give up his daughter, so instead I ask, do I have your blessing for this marriage?

Giving Away the Bride 4

Who presents this woman to be married to this man?

Giving Away the Bride 5

Who presents this woman and this man to be married to each other?
All parents say, “We do.”

Giving Away the Bride 6

Being assured that your love and your choice of each other as lifelong companions is in God’s will and that you have your families’ blessings, I now ask: Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Giving Away the Bride 7

May I ask that the parents of BRIDE and GROOM please rise.

This wedding is also a celebration of family.

It is the blending of two families that have been separate up to this moment, but united from this day forward – blending their different traditions, strengthening the family tree.

To honor this uniting of the families, Bride and Groom wish to ask their parent’s blessing.

(To Bride’s Mom and Dad)
_______ and ______ do you offer this couple your goodwill?

Do you welcome Groom as a member of your family and give him your love and affection?
PARENTS SAY: We do.

(To Groom’s Mom and Dad)
______ and ______, do you offer this couple your goodwill? Do you welcome Bride as a member of your family and give her your love and affection?

PARENTS SAY: We do.

Parent kindly be seated.

Giving Away the Bride 8

Our Lord Jesus Christ instructed us about marriage when he said in the Book of Mark, Chapter 10, “For from the very first He made man and woman to be joined together permanently in marriage; therefore a man is to leave his father and mother, and he and his wife are united so that they are no longer two, but one.”

Within the spirit of this scripture, Bride and Groom would like to receive the blessing of their parents on this holy union.

Parents please rise.

Do you give your blessing to this man and woman to be married to each other?
Parents say, “We do.”

Giving Away the Bride 9

I kindly ask the parents of BRIDE and GROOM please rise.
The relationship between children and their parents is one that’s often understated, yet very deep.

And one of the rare occasions when it can be publicly acknowledged is at a wedding ceremony.

On this occasion, BRIDE’s parents proudly stand here beside their daughter representing her family.

And GROOM’s parents proudly stands beside their son representing his family.

They are displaying, for all of us to see, their individual and combined love for BRIDE and GROOM.

Who brings this man and woman to be married to each other?

“We do.”

And are you all willing to sustain and strengthen this marriage by giving BRIDE and GROOM the public commitment of your love and support through all the ups and downs ahead of them?

“We are.”

Parents, please kindly be seated. Thank you.

Giving Away the Bride 10

I kindly ask the parents of BRIDE and GROOM please rise.

The marriage of BRIDE and GROOM brings together two different families; two unique story lines, so a new chapter in their lives can begin to unfold.

Though this relationship was formed out of the love these two have found in each other, their marriage will ultimately be blessed by the support of their families.

Who stands with this woman to symbolize her family’s support of this union?

PARENTS SAY: We do.

Who stands with this man to symbolize his family’s support of this union?

PARENTS SAY: We do.

Parents, please kindly be seated. Thank you.

Giving Away the Bride 11

I kindly ask the parents of BRIDE and GROOM please rise.

The marriage of BRIDE and GROOM is more than just the union of two people in love.

It’s also the joining of two families, of two sets of friends and of two patterns of life.

Who stands with this woman in support and blessing of this marriage?

PARENTS SAY: We do.

Who stands with this man in support and blessing of this marriage?

PARENTS SAY: We do.

As these two people join together in marriage, they ask for the support and love of not only their families, but of their friends as well.

On this day, they ask that you be more than only friends of BRIDE or only friends of GROOM.

They ask that you recognize their special union and welcome them both as your friends in your lives.

Parents, please kindly be seated. Thank you.

Giving Away the Bride 12

A successful marriage is made up of two people, each putting the other before themselves and giving to that person 100% first, last, and always.

However, as BRIDE and GROOM’s journey unfolds there will be opportunities and challenges that will strain, and perhaps even weaken, them.

They may move back and forth between the seasons of their love, sometimes strong as the autumn harvest time, and sometimes tender, tentative, and fragile as the springtime shoots that brave the frost.

In those times they will need the support and caring of all of you who have come to celebrate this joyous union.

So in the joining of these two families, I ask all of you to take a vow in their presence and in the presence of each other.

Do you pledge to honor and support their marriage? Do you pledge to be neutral and support them equally?

And will you always be there for them and embrace them with the love of family and the joy of sharing your lives with them?

“We will.”