Traditional Wedding Ceremony Script with Rings Exchange

PROCESSIONAL

Formal processionals are integral to traditional marriage ceremonies. This iconic part of the ceremony is characterized by the song "Here Comes the Bride" accompanied by the bride and wedding party walking up the aisle.

This traditional processional observes the rite of the "Giving of the Bride", where the bride is accompanied by her father as she walks down the aisle.

The steps below block out each action during this traditional procession:

1. Before the guests enter, the officiant and groom(PARTNER A) IS ALREADY STANDING ON THE WEDDING STAGE. PLAYING SOME LIGHT MUSIC IS A GREAT WAY TO SIGNAL TO PEOPLE  THAT THE CEREMONY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
2. THE GUESTS BEGIN TO ENTER. THE ELDERS ARE SEATED FIRST, ASSISTED BY OTHER GUESTS. AS THE OFFICIANT, YOU CAN HELP DIRECT PEOPLE TO THEIR SEATS WITH EYE CONTACT AND, NODDING AND POINTING.
3. ONCE ALL THE GUESTS ARE SEATED the dj or  sound person stops the music to que people into stillness.
4. Once everyone is silent, the "Procession song" is played. Traditionally this is "Here comes the bride" but it can be any song of the couple's choosing.
5. The Wedding party enters. The choreography will be blocked out beforehand. The order below follows a traditional processional order.

TRADITIONAL PROCESSIONAL ENTRANCE

1. The brides maids and grooms men enter, parntered up, hand in hand.
2. They walk onto the wedding stage and go to their pre-assigned places behind the officiant. All the bridesmaids on one side and the grooms men on the other.
3. The BRide enters, accompanied by her father (or other significant guardian).
4. The bride walks onto the stage to face the groom. her father takes his seat in the front row.
5. The music stops and the officiant waits a beat for everyone to sit in stillness.

INVOCATION

officiant to the reception

"Dearly beloved and honored guests,

We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the joining of [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] in the sacred institution of marriage.

[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] have are standing here before you today because they have decided to entwine their lives together. After today [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] will not just be a couple, they will be a family, a single entity held together by love and devotion.

And we are all here to bear witness to the creation of this new family, through the union of [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B].

Today, they will affirm this bond to each other and in front of all of you. This affirmation means so much more because they are able to share it with all of you who are here today - their most beloved friends and family.officiant to the Couple

[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] today you are not only promising yourselves to each other, you are also committing to being strong for each other, to support and protect each other through all of the challenges you will face in this world.

Today is the day you will begin this new chapter in your lives. And so without further ado, let us begin your declaration of intent to marry, to join as one ship sailing through the sea of life."

DECLARATION OF INTENT

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A

"Do you [PARTNER A] take [PARTNER B] to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"

• PARTNER A RESPONDS WITH 'I DO'.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B"Do you [PARTNER A] take [PARTNER B] to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"

• PARTNER B RESPONDS WITH 'I DO'.

RING EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"A ring has no beginning or end. Its path is endless and a symbol of your endless love and respect for each other.
By placing these rings on each other's fingers, you are promising to not just to love each other, but to honor each other, to be compassionate, patient, and understanding as you build your future together. You can both feel the love in this room. These rings represent this love. Not just your love for each other, but from everyone here today. Let these rings be a reminder of that love, what you are feeling today."

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A
"[PARTNER A] place the ring [PARTNER B] 's finger and repeat after me:

[PARTNER B], I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge to love and support you today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

• PARTNER A REPEATS THE PHRASE AS THEY PLACE THE RING ON PARTNER B'S FINGER.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B
"And now, [PARTNER B] place the ring on [PARTNER A]'s finger and repeat after me:

[PARTNER A], I give you this ring as a symbol of my love with the pledge to love and support you today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

• PARTNER B REPEATS THE PHRASE AS THEY PLACE THE RING ON PARTNER A'S FINGER.

PRONOUNCEMENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"Sustaining a healthy marriage takes love. It takes trust. It takes honesty. It takes patience. It takes teamwork, and compromise, and understanding.

You will need to have faith in each other, to go forward together, into an unpredictable future. It will take dedication, to stay open to one another - and to learn and grow together.

You both have declared your intent your intent to marry, you have promised to be commitmed to one another, and have exchanged rings. There is now only one thing left to do..."

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION
"By the power vested in me by the State of [WEDDING STATE] and the American Marriage Ministries, I now pronounce you officially married.OFFICIANT TO THE couple

[PARTNER A], you may now kiss [PARTNER B].OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTIONFriends, family, it is my honor and privilege to introduce to you for the first time, [COUPLE'S MARRIED NAME]!"

RECESSIONAL

End of the Wedding Ceremony.