Wedding Ceremony Format

The basic elements of a wedding ceremony:

  1. Welcome – to those attending and acknowledging why we are all here.
  2. Introduction – Explaining how the couple view marriage, and touching on their history, love story, their hopes for the relationship.
  3. Reading/Poem (optional)
  4. Celebrant Monitum*
  5. Presentation of the Bride or Traditional Giving Away of the Bride
  6. The Asking – “Will you…”
  7. The Vows* – This is the heart of the ceremony.  The vows are sincere and binding promises that you make to each other.
  8. Ring Ceremony
  9. Reading/Poem
  10. Declaration of Marriage
  11. “The Kiss”
  12. Signing of the Register*
  13. Presentation of the Bride and Groom

Only the points marked above with an asterisk (*) are legal requirements of a marriage ceremony.  The rest is entirely up to YOU.

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