Wedding services are separately scheduled word services incorporating an act of blessing, namely the dispensation of a wedding blessing. They are conducted by the Apostle or a priestly minister, and should take place in a church or other dignified place. The wedding service should not last longer than 45 minutes.

The entrance of the wedding couple can occur at the beginning of the wedding service. This can be accompanied by music, for which the congregation rises. Thereafter, the wedding service is celebrated in the following manner:

• opening hymn
• Trinitarian formula
• opening prayer
• reading of the Bible text
• musical contribution
• sermon
• musical contribution (optional)
• address to the bridal couple
• civil marriage, if applicable
• officiant’s question to the bridal couple, or individual vows of the bridal couple
• exchange of rings (optional)
• dispensation of the wedding blessing
• conveyance of greeting or best wishes or a prayer by a minister from a different Christian denomination (optional) ^[39]
• musical contribution
• Lord’s Prayer (optional)
• closing prayer
• benediction
• threefold “Amen”

The congregation rises and remains standing for the prayers, the officiant’s question, the vows of the bridal couple, the exchange of rings, and the wedding blessing.

Officiant’s question in the case of a civil marriage conducted by the Church

If the civil marriage or traditional marriage is also performed by the Church, this takes place after the address of the officiant and before the wedding blessing. The couple give their marriage vows. The questions addressed to the bridal couple depend on the respective legal requirements. After the vows or the agreement of the bridal couple, the officiant declares them a lawfully married couple by virtue of his or her civil authority.

In terms of liturgy, the question to the bridal couple or the couple’s exchange of vows is followed by the wedding blessing.

Questions addressed to the bridal couple prior to the wedding blessing

Prior to the dispensation of the blessing, the officiant asks the bridal couple for their yes. The couple can be asked these questions individually or jointly, depending on regional custom. The questions asked of the bride and groom should have the following content.

Is the bridegroom and is the bride willing to

• recognise the man at her side or the woman at his side as a gift of God,
• stand together in all circumstances and remain faithful to each other as long as they live,
• treat each other with love and esteem, and lead their lives together in accordance with the commandments of God?

Following their yes, the officiant dispenses the wedding blessing.

Individual vows of the bridal couple prior to the wedding blessing

As an alternative to being asked for their yes by the officiant, the bridal couple may exchange vows prior to the blessing by repeating a text read to them by the officiant or by themselves. In so doing, the bridal couple face one another.

First, the bridegroom makes his vow as follows:

“I, (name of the groom), recognise you, (name of the bride), as a gift from God and vow, before God and this congregation to love and remain faithful to you, for better or for worse. In our marriage, I will lead my life according to the commandments of God, look up to you with esteem, and support you as long as I shall live. So help me God! Amen.”

This is followed by the corresponding vow by the bride:

“I, (name of the bride), recognise you, (name of the groom), as a gift from God and vow, before God and this congregation to love and remain faithful to you, for better or for worse.
In our marriage, I will lead my life according to the commandments of God, look up to you with esteem, and support you as long as I shall live. So help me God! Amen.”

This is followed by the wedding blessing.

Exchange of rings by the bridal couple

The bridal couple may wish to exchange rings in the wedding service. If the bridal couple so desires, the officiant asks them to exchange rings following their yes or their vows and before dispensing the wedding blessing. No words accompany the exchange of rings.

Depending on local tradition, the exchange of rings can also occur prior to the vows or the civil marriage.

Short prayer (optional)

The wedding blessing

The officiant dispenses the wedding blessing by placing his or her hand on the extended right hands of the bridal couple and speaking words to the following effect:

“Receive the divine blessing for your matrimony in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

The wedding blessing can also contain further wishes using the following approximate wording:

• May God, your Father and Creator, accompany you through life and grant you protection, sustenance, and assistance.
• May God the Son, who is your Redeemer, lead you to eternal life.
• May God the Holy Spirit guide you and grant you wisdom.
• May the triune God strengthen you in your love and loyalty to each other.
• The peace of the Risen One be with you!

The wedding blessing is concluded with “Amen”. The officiant then congratulates the couple.

At the request of couples belonging to different denominations, a member of the clergy of the denomination of the non-New Apostolic partner can speak some words of greeting, express his or her best wishes or say a prayer, and congratulate the couple. However, there is neither a collective dispensation of blessing nor an additional blessing. The address of the visiting clergy member takes place in front of the altar.^[40]

The wedding service is concluded with a closing prayer, the benediction, and the threefold “Amen”.

A wider scope of music is possible for weddings. All musical contributions must, however, meet the criteria of a divine service event.