|
Example of a wedding ceremony outline by Martin Ugander Authorized wedding officiant in Washington, DC, USA www.ugander.com/martin October 11, 2010 Wedding Ceremony Outline Please rise. [Bride enters] Greeting Please be seated. Dear guests, On behalf of [Bride], [Groom], and their families, I thank you for coming today, and I extend to you a warm welcome to witness and celebrate the marriage of [Bride] and [Groom] on this beautiful and very special day. My name is [Officiant], and [Bride] and [Groom] have asked me to function as officiant for this wedding ceremony, and to start off by sharing with you the serendipitous story of how [Bride] and [Groom] met. [Story telling] Readings One or more readings by friend or relative of the Bride or Groom. For example: The Art of Marriage Sand Ceremony [Bride] and [Groom], today you join your separate lives together. These two separate colors of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent each of you as a whole and your individuality. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are mixed together now, the previously different colors of sand will be joined together to form a new and original mix of sand, colored by the unique grains of sand which both of you contribute. [Mixing] Just as these grains of sand are joined in the new mix of sand, so will your lives now be joined in marriage. Let this new sand serve as a symbol for your new life together. Vows [Bride] and [Groom] will now exchange wedding vows. Rings You have chosen to seal you vows by the giving and receiving of rings. The ring forms a perfect circle, without a beginning or an end, and is thereby a symbol of eternity and signifies the duration of the commitment you are making. The gold of which the rings are made signifies the purity and value of the relationship into which you enter. You will now exchange these rings. [Bride], You have the privilege of placing this ring on [Groom]’s finger in virtue of the exclusive relationship into which you now enter. Repeat after me: I give you this ring, as a symbol of my vows, and with all that I am, and with all that I have, I will honor and love you. [Groom], You have the privilege of placing this ring on [Bride]’s finger in virtue of the exclusive relationship into which you now enter. Repeat after me: I give you this ring, as a symbol of my vows, and with all that I am, and with all that I have, I will honor and love you. Blessing [Bride]’s friend The I Do’s Please join hands. [Groom], do you intend to take this woman, whose hand you hold to be your lawful wedded wife; and do you pledge before your friends and family assembled here today to love and honor her through good times and bad; keeping yourself unto her alone until death do you part? If so, answer “I Do”? [Bride], Do you intend to take this man, whose hand you hold, to be your lawful wedded husband; and do you pledge before your friends and family assembled here today to love and honor him through good times and bad; keeping yourself unto him alone until death do you part? If so, answer “I Do”? Pronouncement And now, by the authorization entrusted in me by the District of Columbia, and in witness of all of us assembled here today, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss. References This document has been inspired in part by the Basic Wedding Ceremony Outline by Rick Langer. www.ugander.com/martin October 11, 2010 |