Traditional ceremony

Celebrant:

We are gathered here today in the face of this company, to join together (Groom's Name) and (Bride's Name) in matrimony; which is an honourable and solemn estate and therefore is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly. Into this estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any one can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Parent(s):

I do.

Then the bride is given away.

Celebrant to Groom:

(Groom's Name), do you take (Bride's Name) for your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?

Groom:

I do.

Celebrant to Bride:

(Bride's Name), do you take (Groom's Name) for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?

Bride:

I do.

At this point the couple may improvise by playing a favorite song and/or reading.

Celebrant: addressing the groom who repeats the marriage vows:

I (Groom's Name) take thee (Bride's Name) to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and cherish, 'til death do us part, and thereto I plight thee my troth.

Celebrant: then to the bride who repeats the marriage vows:

I (Bride's Name) take thee (Groom's Name) to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and cherish, 'til death do us part, and thereto I plight thee my troth.

The Celebrant then asks for the brides ring from the best man.

Celebrant: (about brides ring):

May this ring be blessed so he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end.

Groom: placing ring on bride's finger:

With this ring I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.

Celebrant: (about groom's ring):

May this ring be blessed so that she who gives it and he who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end.

Bride: placing ring on groom's finger:

With this ring I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.

You may want to play a song or some music here.

Celebrant:

May this couple be prepared to continue to give, be able to forgive and experience more and more joy with each passing day, with each passing year. (Groom's Name) and (Bride's Name), are now beginning their married life together, we hope that they may have loving assistance from their family, the constant support of friends, and a long life with good health and everlasting love. In so much as (Groom's Name) and (Bride's Name) have consented to live forever together in wedlock, and have witnessed the same before this company, having given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife.

Celebrant: (to the couple):

You may now seal the promises you have made with each other with a kiss.

Celebrant:

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the loving couple

Mr. and Mrs.????

Music and Signing of the Register.



Religious/Christian ceremony

Worship music playing in background as people enter

Bride, Groom and attendants enter

Friend sings solo for entry music

[Best man] and [Bridesmaid] light candles

Welcome

On behalf of [Groom] and [Bride] I would like to welcome everyone here, family and friends to the special occasion of their marriage.  You may have noticed [Best man] and [Bridesmaid] lighting the candles ? this is in recognition of [Groom] and [Brides] families represented here today. 

Worship

We want to at the very beginning acknowledge the most important guest here today - God.  We are going to do this through now singing some songs of worship.

Message

Vows   

We come now to the time of the exchanging of the vows.  The Groom and Bride have written their own vows to each other and I am going to firstly ask the [Groom] to give his vows to the [Bride].  Soraya to Steve.

I now need to ask you:

"do you, [Groom] take [Bride] to be your lawfully wedded wife"?

"do you, [Bride] take [Groom] to be your lawfully wedded husband"?

Rings   

I will now ask for the rings.  [Groom], please take [Brides] ring and place it on her finger, repeating after me:

Repeat "I place this ring, upon your finger, as a continual sign, of the promises, I have made this day"

[Bride], I will now ask you to take [Grooms] ring, place it on his finger and repeat after me:

Repeat "I place this ring, upon your finger, as a continual sign, of the promises, I have made this day"

"I now pronounce you to be husband and wife"

"You may kiss the bride"

Jewish marriage blessing

Song:  [soloist ? Friend]

Signing of the register       

Bridal party moves to the signing table.

Soloist sings during the signing

Lighting of the candles

[Groom] and [Bride] will now take a candle each and from the two candles, signifying the two families represented, they will together light the middle candle as a symbol of their union today.

Final instructions

We will shortly come to the end of the ceremony.  At the conclusion you will be able to greet the newly married couple by the entrance.  They want to take a group photo and would ask that we move quickly then onto the grass area below the steps.  This will be followed by afternoon tea and the cutting of the cake here, which you are all invited to. 

Presentation and exit       

But to finish I would now like to present to you and I ask you to welcome ? MR and MRS [Grooms surname]!



Non-religious ceremony

Introduction

Celebrant:

Family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of [Groom and Bride].  To share in their happiness and celebrate their decision to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

It means so much to have the family and friends they care most about in the world witness and celebrate with them on their special day.  [Groom and Bride] love their families and appreciate many of the values they have learnt from their own up bringing.

Something about the location and why this is special to them.

Reading -

Letters

Celebrant:

Our sole-mate is the one who makes life, come to life.

[Groom and Bride] have written each other a letter to express how they feel about each other and their reasons for their commitment today.

Reading of letters

Vows:

Celebrant:

Marriage is not merely making your life with someone, marriage means a man and a woman living faithfully and loving one another.  Marriage mean each partner may help and support each other, it means the sharing together of joys as well as sorrows.

[Groom], do you take [Bride] to be your wife?

Groom:

I do

"Today I marry my best friend, my lover and my future.  You are the person I want to wake up to every day for the rest of my life.  You are my sole-mate.  I am honoured to become your husband."

I [Groom] take you [Bride] to be my lawfully wedded wife.

Celebrant:

[Bride], do you take [Groom] to be your husband?

Bride:

I do

"Today I marry my best friend, my lover and my future.  You are the person I want to wake up to every day for the rest of my life.  You are my sole-mate.  I am honoured to become your wife."

I [Bride] take you [Groom] to be my lawfully wedded husband.

Rings:

Celebrant:

As rings are without edge or seam, having no beginning and no end so they symbolise a love that has no end.

Groom:

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.  Wear it as a reminder that I love you, every single day of my life."  Put ring on Brides finger.

Bride:

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.  Wear it as a reminder that I love you, every single day of my life."  Put ring on Grooms finger.

Celebrant:

[Groom] and [Bride] you have made promises to each other and have exchanged rings as a symbol of your love.  On behalf of all of us here I extend to you our blessings, our good wishes, our friendship and our love. 

By the powers vested in me as a marriage celebrant I now pronounce you husband and wife.  [Groom] you may kiss the bride!

Sign marriage licence -         (champagne passed around)

Celebrant:

May you grow stronger together, support each other, trust each other, honour and respect each other.  May you hug through the smiles as well as the tears, may you work hard together to make your relationship strong.  May you always treasure your family and friends.

Now and forever, may your lives be filled with joy and happiness.

Please raise your glass and join me in congratulating our bride and groom, [Groom and Bride], husband and wife!