WEDDING CEREMONY SCRIPTS
You may use these scripts as they are, edit them to meet your requirements, or use them as a starting place for writing your own wedding ceremony.
CHRISTIAN CEREMONY SCRIPT
This ceremony is a good fit for Christian couples that want to honor their faith with traditional vows and readings.
INVOCATION
We are gathered here today in the sight of God, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments. We are here to give recognition to the beauty of love that is shared between __________ and __________ as they complete their family in holy matrimony.
Marriage is a contract not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously and with a deep realization of the obligations and responsibilities. Marriage is the moment where your hearts and souls are joined together for eternity.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we humbly bow before you today praising You, Lord, and Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we ask for your blessings upon __________ and __________, as we celebrate this momentous occasion in their lives. Grant them happiness and contentment, as their two lives become one, as they create a new family and explore the depths of their love for one another. Bless their families and friends and the relationships, which have supported, strengthened, and sustained them throughout their lives. Bless their home as a place of love and of peace.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen. The joining of two hearts as husband and wife is a commitment like no other. It offers opportunities for sharing and for personal growth that no other human relationship can equal. A husband and wife are each other’s best friends, confidants, lovers, teachers, listeners, and critics. The bond between a husband and wife deepens and enriches every fact of life. Happiness is fuller, and commitments are stronger. Marriage also encourages new life and new experiences and finds new ways of expressing love through the ups and downs of life. __________ and __________ as your journey begin as husband and wife, I would ask you both remember to always treat each other with respect, and remind yourself often of what brought you here today.
SERMON
As it says in Ephesians 5:22-33 NKJV
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
Please face one another and hold hands.
__________, do you take __________ to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?
( I do )
__________, do you take __________ to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?
( I do )
RING EXCHANGE
May we now have the rings?
The ring, an unbroken circle, represents unending love. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you be reminded of this moment and the love you have promised to one another.
__________, please place this ring on __________’s finger and repeat after me.
__________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and that I’m choosing to share my life’s journey with you I give you this ring with the pledge to love you today, tomorrow, and always.
__________, please place this ring on __________’s finger and repeat after me.
__________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and that I’m choosing to share my life’s journey with you I give you this ring with the pledge to love you today, tomorrow, and always.
__________ and __________, I want to wish you both much love and happiness as you begin your new journey.
Remember to keep lots of laughter in your life and love will never be far behind.
PRONOUNCEMENT
__________ and __________, you have pledged your faith to each other in the company of your family and friends. By the power vested in me by the State of __________, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
__________ you may now kiss your beautiful bride.
Family and friends, I am proud to present for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs.
__________.
RECESSIONAL
FAMILY ORIENTED CEREMONY SCRIPT
*This ceremony script works well for couples that have parents they want to honor and include, or for couples that have children that they want to recognize. *
INVOCATION
We are gathered here today to celebrate with __________ and __________ as they proclaim their love and commitment to the world. We are gathered to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
__________ and __________, the relationship you enter into today must be grounded in the strength of your love and the power of your faith in each other. To make your relationship succeed it will take unending love. It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you truly want what is best for one another and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds. If you both come freely and understand the responsibility and work involved to make your relationship thrive, and are committed to not only each other but your family, please take each other by the hands and reply “we do.”
VOWS EXCHANGE
__________, repeat after me:
__________, you are my best friend and everlasting companion. You have brought me the truest happiness I have ever known. I take joy today in committing my life to yours.
Now place the ring on her hand and repeat after me… with this ring, I promise to stand with you as we share this life and cherish the memories we make together.
__________, repeat after me:
__________, you are my best friend and everlasting companion. You have brought me the truest happiness I have ever known. I take joy today in committing my life to yours.
Now place the ring on his hand and repeat after me…. with this ring, I promise to stand with you as we share this life and cherish the memories we make together.
POETRY READING AND RECOGNITION OF THE BRIDE’S FATHER
__________ shared with me how much their family means to her and __________. The bond between a child and her father is lifelong and special. In recognition of that, I’d like to share a poem with you called, “I am Yours to Keep” by Mike Quinn:
You are my princess in my heart, and I care for you so much. I love the fondness in your eyes and your tender little touch. I looked at you when you were born, And knew straight away, That I would be forever here to watch you grow and play. You bring to me a heart of joy, And memories so great, And a powerful sense of fatherhood that no one can debate. I watch you sleep and dream of things that I can only wonder. That innocent look upon your face Just makes my heart grow fonder. I see you run and jump and shout and calling out my name. No love that I have ever known could ever feel the same. No suffering or tragedy Nor deeply seated pain could ever overshadow the bond that we retain. And so my little princess before you go to sleep, remember I am your daddy and I am yours to keep.
__________, you can place the necklace you have brought to share with your daughter around her neck.
PRONOUNCEMENT
__________ and __________, prior to this moment you each walked a separate path. Now, you embark together on a shared path. Yet the journey is not yours alone, for you have already been blessed with beautiful children. It is the strength of your love that shall nourish you all together as a family.
__________ and __________, today you have stood before these witnesses and declared your intent to commit your lives to each other in marriage. You have made promises to each other and your family. Your road to this moment has not always been smooth, but you continued to fight for one another. I hope you will never forget the fight and perseverance it has taken to get to this moment. And I hope you will never forget the love and joy you feel today because these are the values that will keep your marriage, family, and bond to one another strong.
And so, by the power vested in me by the State of __________, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
__________, you may kiss your bride.
RECESSIONAL
CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY CEREMONY SCRIPT
INVOCATION
Ladies and Gentlemen, Family and Friends: Welcome!
There is a reason as to why all of you have been invited to witness this sacred union between __________, and __________ today. Does anyone know why? It is because today marks the day that __________ and __________ finally make their union official. Each and every one of you have been a special part of their lives, and the couple wants their friends and family to bear witness to their union, and that you take your beautiful memories of this day home with you. We are gathered here in celebration now to create the good times and memories that will be cherished by __________ and __________ and all of us here for years to come.
For both of you, you have had the chance to experience your lives together. With bumps along the way, you have learned what it means to love one another. Through good times and bad times, I have had the honor and privilege to witness how both of you have learned how to coexist as a couple. Getting married today is only one small quick step towards the meaning of true marriage.
Marriage is not just putting on a beautiful dress or a nice suit. It isn’t about having a big party, celebrating with friends and family, or partying to the late hours of the night – although we definitely are going to do just that! All those things are what a wedding is about, but marriage… marriage is about the continued learning of not just living together as a couple of two separate lives, but living your lives as one complete life. It means continually moving forward as a couple, and working towards the success of your family. Let nothing stand in the way of your marriage. The success of the longevity of your marriage rests upon you. To honor your spouse, to be a loving and supporting parent, to support your better half in their ambitions, and to be a nurturing, loving pillar of your family.
So __________ and __________ …are you ready to do this?!
Friends and Family, are you all ready to witness this?!
LET’S DO THIS!
DECLARATION OF INTENT
__________:
Do you take __________ to be your lawfully wedded wife (partner, spouse or other designation)? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding onto her in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer for as long as you both shall live?
__________:
Do you take __________ to be your lawfully wedded husband (partner, spouse or other designation)? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer for as long as you both shall live?
SAND CEREMONY
__________ and __________ are now going to partake in a Sand Ceremony. In this ceremony both __________ and __________ will each take their different colored sand, and pour them into this single glass. This keepsake will be kept with them so that every day that they look upon this glass, they will be reminded of the union and promise that they make to each other today to live their lives together as one.
(During this time, Minister guides bride and groom to the table that holds three glasses. Ambient music is played until they have finished pouring the sand.)
RING EXCHANGE
Rings are made of precious metal, but that same metal is also made precious by wearing them. Your wedding rings are special because they enhance who you are. They mark the beginning of your long journey together. Your wedding ring is a circle, a symbol of love never ending. It is the seal of the vows you have just taken to love each other without end.
__________, please place the ring on __________’s left hand.
By placing this ring on his/her finger, you do this as a sign of your love that you have chosen her above all else.
__________, please place the ring on __________’s left hand.
By placing this ring on his/her finger, you do this as a sign of your love that you have chosen him above all else.
PRONOUNCEMENT
To make your relationship work will take love.
It will take trust, to know, that in your hearts, you truly want what is best for each other.
It will take dedication, to stay open to one another – and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together, without knowing what the future holds.
And it will take commitment, to remain true to the journey you both have pledged to begin today.
You both have stated your intent, you have declared commitment to one another, you performed the Unity Sand Ceremony, and have exchanged rings. There is now only one thing left to do…
By the power vested in me by the State of __________, I now pronounce you officially husband and wife.
__________, you may now kiss your bride.
Ladies and Gentlemen. It is my honor and privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. __________!
RECESSIONAL
INVOCATION
Welcome, loved ones. We are gathered here today to join _______ and _______ in holy matrimony.
VOWS EXCHANGE
_______, I promise to cherish you always, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us.
_______, I promise to cherish you always, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us.
RING EXCHANGE AND DECLARATION OF INTENT
May I please have the rings?
With this ring I, _______, take you, _______, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us.
With this ring I, _______, take you, _______, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us.
PRONOUNCEMENT
By the power vested in me by the state of _______, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife!
RECESSIONAL
INVOCATION
Welcome everyone, and thank you for being here to celebrate __________ and __________’s love!
PRAYER
Now, let us Pray
Heavenly Father we are here on this day to give thanks for the love you have shared with these two individuals. We ask that you help __________ and __________ to always remember when they first met and to remember the strong love that grew between them. To work that love into practical things so that nothing divides them. Please help them find words both kind and loving and hearts, always ready to ask for forgiveness as well as able to forgive. Father, we put this marriage in your hands. Amen.
SAND CEREMONY
__________ and __________, today you join your separate lives to make one. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families, and separate sets of friends: they represent all that you are and all that you will ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are emptied, the individual containers of sand no longer exist but will be joined together as one. And just as these grains of sand can never be separated neither will your love.
VOWS EXCHANGE
Do you __________ take __________ to be your husband and other half, to take care of him and cherish your relationship? To love him today, tomorrow, and forever? To always be open, honest, and faithful to him. Do you take him to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?
Do you __________ take __________ to be your wife and better half, to take care of her and cherish your relationship? To love her today, tomorrow, and forever? To always be open, honest, and faithful to her. Do you take her to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?
PRONOUNCEMENT
By the power vested in me by the state of __________, I pronounce you Husband and Wife!
__________, you may now kiss your bride.
RECESSIONAL
GENDER NEUTRAL CEREMONY SCRIPT
INVOCATION
Welcome family and friends. We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of __________ and __________. This is not the beginning of a new relationship but an acknowledgment of the next chapter in of their lives together. __________ and __________ have spent the few years getting to know each other, and we now join them to bear witness to what their relationship has become. Today, they will affirm this bond formally and publicly. This affirmation means more because it is shared with their most beloved friends and family members. As Proust said, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” __________ and __________ will mark their transition as a couple not only by celebrating the love between themselves, but by also celebrating the love between all of us – including the love of their parents, siblings, extended family, and best friends. Without that love, today would be far less joyous. Thank you all for being here this afternoon.
__________ and __________ today you not only marry the right person, you also commit to being the right partner, the one with whom the other can stand and face the world. It’s finally time to seal this chapter with questions that will lead us into the next chapter.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
Do you __________ take __________ to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?
Do you __________ take __________ to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?
RING EXCHANGE
A ring is an unbroken circle, with ends that have been joined together, and it represents your union. It is also a symbol of completeness, just as you two complete each other. It is a symbol of infinity, and of your infinite love. It encircles an opening, which is the door to your future. When you look at these rings on your hands, be reminded of this moment, your commitment, and the love you now feel for each other.
__________ place the ring on __________’s finger and repeat after me:
__________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever.
And now, __________ place the ring on __________’s finger and repeat after me:
__________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever.
PRONOUNCEMENT
__________ and __________, before these witnesses you have pledged to be joined in marriage. You have now sealed this pledge with your wedding rings. You may now seal this ceremony with a kiss.
RECESSIONAL
INVOCATION
We are gathered here on this beautiful day to witness the union of _______ and _______ in holy matrimony. This is a day of great celebration, for a married life – a shared life – is a great blessing. As _______ and _______ embark on this journey together they will be able to nurture a love that makes them better versions of themselves. Marriage is a garden we sow with love and harvest in personal growth.
_______ and _______, on your journey together, keep your spouse in the space of highest priority in your heart. The love that you share must be guarded and cherished forever, for it is your most valuable treasure. Always remember these words; Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wrong. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
You have chosen to write your vows, and it is with these words you express your binding promises to love, honor, and cherish one another. If you are ready to make these promises to each other I invite you now to face each other and declare your intentions.
_______ when you’re ready you may begin.
_______ when you’re ready you may begin.
VOWS EXCHANGE
(couple read the vows they have written)
RING EXCHANGE
Thank you for sharing your vows with all of us. The rings you are about to place on each other’s fingers are symbols of the love you expressed. They will remind you of the vows you have just spoken, and of the eternal love that you have for one another.
_______, place the ring on _______’s finger and repeat after me. As this ring encircles your finger… From this moment forward… So will my love forever encircle you… You will never walk alone… My heart will be your shelter… My arms will be your home… We will walk thru life as partners & best friends… I promise to do my best to love, cherish and accept you… Just the way you are… I give you my heart until the end of time… I have no greater gift to give.
Now, _______, place the ring on _______’s finger and repeat after me. As this ring encircles your finger… from this moment forward… so will my love forever encircle you… You will never walk alone… My heart will be your shelter… My arms will be your home… We will walk thru life as partners & best friends… I promise to do my best to love, cherish and accept you… just the way you are… I give you my heart until the end of time… I have no greater gift to give.
PRONOUNCEMENT
By the power given to me by the by the State of _______, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife (or legally married partners). You may kiss each other. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present for the first time, _______!
RECESSIONAL
READING AND UNITY CANDLE CEREMONY SCRIPT
INVOCATION
Welcome everyone to the wedding ceremony of _______ and _______. We gather here today to celebrate the most intimate of bonds between two people, marriage. You all have been invited here not just as guests to a wedding, but as close and important witnesses of the love that _______ and _______ share.
READING
When reflecting on the meaning of marriage, I came across an excerpt by Daphne Rose Kingma that I’d like to share with you.
“In marriage, we say not only I love you today, but also I promise to love you tomorrow, the next day and always. In promising always, we promise each other time. We promise to exercise our love, to stretch it large enough to embrace the unforeseen realities of our future. We promise to learn to love beyond the level of our instincts and inclinations, to love in foul weather as well as good, to love in hard times as well as when we are exhilarated by the pleasures of romance. We change because of these promises, We shape ourselves according to them; we live in their midst and live differently because of them. We feel protected because of them. Our souls are protected; our hearts have come home.”
VOWS EXCHANGE
_______ and _______, you have chosen to write your vows, and it is with these words you express your binding promises to love, honor, and cherish one another. If you are ready to make these promises to each other I invite you now to face each other and declare your intentions.
(couple read vows they have written)
RING EXCHANGE
I would like to say a prayer at this time. Let us pray.
Bless, o Lord, these rings that they who five it and they who receive it may abide in thy peace and continue in thy favor until their lives end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
As a visual representation of these promises, _______ and _______ will now exchange rings, a symbol of their love and their commitment to each other.
_______, please place the ring on _______’s left hand and repeat after me: With this ring, I join my life to yours.
_______, please place the ring on _______’s left hand and repeat after me: With this ring, I join my life to yours.
UNITY CANDLE
At this time we will light the Unity Candle. _______ and _______, please take one of the smaller candles. Each of the candles represents you as individuals. After lighting your candles.
_______ and _______ please take your candles and light the center candle together. The center candle represents the joining of two individuals into one married couple. Each year on your anniversary you will relight your candles and relive your vows.
PRONOUNCEMENT
Now that _______ and _______ have exchanged their vows and rings in our presence _______ and _______ have in fact pronounced themselves husband and wife.
I now have the honor to introduce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. _______ _______ – you may now kiss your bride!
RECESSIONAL
INVOCATION
Welcome, family and loved ones. We are gathered here today, surrounded by the beauty of creation and nurtured by the sights and sounds of nature to celebrate the joining of _______ and _______ in marriage.
Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever.
You don’t have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You’re standing in front of everyone, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by so many of those who you hold near and dear. So why do we do it? The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others. Why this moment?
Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It’s the great unifier – our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we’ve come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we’re doing right. That’s why you both are standing here.
That’s why you all are here to watch them stand up here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and at this moment, we’re reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity.
All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing – and others that are exciting and full of adventure.
And that brings them here. A time to pause, look back and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.
I’m here – we’re all here – because we want those moments for you. We’re here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn’t happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It’s not one moment – not even this moment. It’s every moment. Big ones like saying “I love you,” moving in together, getting engaged – but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, binge-watching Netflix shows, getting a big hug when you get home from work… These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience.
And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That’s just the way it is with love – it’s meant to be felt, not described.
But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways – and even though love can look different from one person to the next – we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.
You fell in love by chance, but you’re here today because you’re making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You’ve chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter. You’re about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You’re going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There’s a simple premise to each of these promises: you’re vowing to be there. You’re teaming up and saying to the other, “Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of.”
DECLARATION OF INTENT
_______ and _______, please join hands, look at one another now and remember this moment in time.
Will you, _______, keep _______ as your favorite person – to laugh with him/her, go on adventures with him/her, support him/her through life’s tough moments, be proud of him/her, grow old with him/her, and find new reasons to love her every day?
_______: I do/will
Will you, _______, keep _______ as your favorite person – to laugh with him/her, go on adventures with him/her, support him/her through life’s tough moments, be proud of him/her, grow old with him/her, and find new reasons to love her every day?
_______: I do/will
Will you, _______ and _______, be each other’s partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely – for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?
Couple together: We will.
RING EXCHANGE
You’ve both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But these rings did have a beginning. The stones were formed a long time ago deep within the earth.
Eventually, a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface, where someone dug them up. Metal was then liquefied in a furnace – molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful was made from raw elements.
Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shape it into something extraordinary. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You’ve created something invaluable, and just as I know you’ll protect these rings, I’m confident you’ll protect the commitments you’ve made to one another today.
_______, as you place this ring on _______’s finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.
_______, as you place this ring on _______’s finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.
PRONOUNCEMENT
_______ and _______, you have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of family and loved ones, have declared your love and commitment to each other. You have given and received rings as a symbol of your promises. By the power of your love and commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me by the State of ______ _, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now seal your vows with a kiss.
Congratulations. Family and loved ones, I now present to you the newly married couple _______ and _______. Let’s hear it for ’em!
RECESSIONAL
SHORT CHRISTIAN CEREMONY SCRIPT
This is a short and sweet wedding ceremony script that references God as a witness to the union of the bride and groom.
PROCESSIONAL
Beginning of the Wedding Ceremony. Guests are seated followed by the entrance of the Bridal Party.
INVOCATION
We are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to unite and in the bonds of holy matrimony. If anyone can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. ________ & ________, if it is your desire to take the vows which will legally unite you at this time, please respond, ‘It is.’
Couple: ‘It is.’
DECLARATION OF INTENT
Do you, ________, take ________ to be your lawfully wedded wife? From this day forward, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?
________: ‘I do.’
Do you,________, take ________ to be your lawfully wedded husband? From this day forward, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?
________: ‘I do.’
RINGS EXCHANGE
________, please take the ring you have selected for ________. As you place it on her finger, repeat after me: ‘With this ring, I thee wed.’
________, please take the ring you have selected for ________. As you place it on his finger, repeat after me: ‘With this ring, I thee wed.’
PRONOUNCEMENT
In so much as the two of you have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, by the authority vested in me by the State of _______, I now pronounce you husband and wife. ________ you may kiss your bride!’
RECESSIONAL