Ceremony Scripts
Planning out the ceremony portion of the wedding is very important, in fact its the reason for the celebration so whether you are planning on having a 10 minute or 30 minute ceremony here are some helpful tips for deciding on a ceremony script for your wedding day.
Here is the order of a wedding ceremony:
Processional
Welcome
Readings
Declaration of Intent/Vow Exchange
Ring Exchange
Pronouncement of Couple
Kiss
Recessional
Announcements by Officiant:
Cell Phones, Guests Please Rise (for Brides Entrance), Guests Seated (After Brides Entrance), Cocktail Hour and Post Ceremony Pictures (After Recessional)
Example Non denominational ceremony script:
Here is the order of a wedding ceremony:
Processional
Welcome
Readings
Declaration of Intent/Vow Exchange
Ring Exchange
Pronouncement of Couple
Kiss
Recessional
Announcements by Officiant:
Cell Phones, Guests Please Rise (for Brides Entrance), Guests Seated (After Brides Entrance), Cocktail Hour and Post Ceremony Pictures (After Recessional)
Example Non denominational ceremony script:
Cell Phone Announcement:
Welcome. At the request of the couple, I invite you all to turn off your cellphones and put down your cameras during the ceremony. The talented photographers with us today will capture and share these moments – we encourage you to enjoy the celebrations, without the distraction of technology.
Please stand for the bride
Welcome. Please be seated.
{Names}, today we are gathered here to celebrate the love you have discovered in each other and support the commitment you are about to make. Marriage is more than two people standing here and repeating vows. There is an entire lifetime ahead of you and there are skills to be learned and practiced daily. Part of marriage is finding happiness. Continue to search for the good, the fun, and the beautiful in this life to share with each other. Part of marriage is being flexible. So, within your marriage cultivate flexibility, patience, and understanding, all while maintaining a sense of humor and joy.
Part of marriage is companionship. Strive to comfort one another and develop the capacity to forgive and heal your differences day by day. Remember that your love can always prevail in times of turmoil. It will drive you to not only learn and to grow as individuals, but become stronger partners together. Today, as you join yourselves in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. Today you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife; your lives blending together and expanding the ties of your family and best friends. You are embarking upon a great adventure, through which all of us here know you will prevail. [to guests]
{Names} present themselves to be married today, cheerfully surrounded by the people they love the most. They, and I, want to thank you for your presence here today. They ask for your encouragement and lifelong support in their decision to be married. The bride and groom would like also to give a special thank you to their families who have loved and supported them every step of the way.“
{Groom}, do you take {Bride Full Name} to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
Groom: I do.
[Bride puts ring on Groom as exchange of wedding bands]
[Groom takes Bride’s hand]
{Bride}, do you take {Groom’s Full Name} the fifth to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
Bride: I do.
[Groom puts ring on Bride]
{Names}, you have come here today of your own free will and, in the presence of your family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other. By the power vested in me by the internet and the State of [your state], I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!
Couple kisses then exits.
Welcome. At the request of the couple, I invite you all to turn off your cellphones and put down your cameras during the ceremony. The talented photographers with us today will capture and share these moments – we encourage you to enjoy the celebrations, without the distraction of technology.
Please stand for the bride
Welcome. Please be seated.
{Names}, today we are gathered here to celebrate the love you have discovered in each other and support the commitment you are about to make. Marriage is more than two people standing here and repeating vows. There is an entire lifetime ahead of you and there are skills to be learned and practiced daily. Part of marriage is finding happiness. Continue to search for the good, the fun, and the beautiful in this life to share with each other. Part of marriage is being flexible. So, within your marriage cultivate flexibility, patience, and understanding, all while maintaining a sense of humor and joy.
Part of marriage is companionship. Strive to comfort one another and develop the capacity to forgive and heal your differences day by day. Remember that your love can always prevail in times of turmoil. It will drive you to not only learn and to grow as individuals, but become stronger partners together. Today, as you join yourselves in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. Today you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife; your lives blending together and expanding the ties of your family and best friends. You are embarking upon a great adventure, through which all of us here know you will prevail. [to guests]
{Names} present themselves to be married today, cheerfully surrounded by the people they love the most. They, and I, want to thank you for your presence here today. They ask for your encouragement and lifelong support in their decision to be married. The bride and groom would like also to give a special thank you to their families who have loved and supported them every step of the way.“
{Groom}, do you take {Bride Full Name} to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
Groom: I do.
[Bride puts ring on Groom as exchange of wedding bands]
[Groom takes Bride’s hand]
{Bride}, do you take {Groom’s Full Name} the fifth to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
Bride: I do.
[Groom puts ring on Bride]
{Names}, you have come here today of your own free will and, in the presence of your family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other. By the power vested in me by the internet and the State of [your state], I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!
Couple kisses then exits.
