Slightly Religious Wedding Ceremony Outline & Template

PROCESSIONAL

Most Christian wedding ceremonies invoke the practice of the "Giving of the Bride", where the bride is accompanied by her father as she walks down the aisle to the wedding stage. 

CEREMONY SEATING PREP

1. BEfore the ceremony, confirm that the seating arrangements are all in order.
2. The front row should be reserved for vips - parents and grandparents of the couple.
3. Make sure that the bride's father's seat is clearly marked and reserved. This will be important after the bride's father walks her up the aisle.
4. PRIOR TO OPENING UP THE CEREMONY SPACE, THE OFFICIANT AND GROOM should be at their places, ALREADY STANDING ON THE WEDDING STAGE.

SEATING THE GUESTS

1. The guests are cued by an announcement, light, music, or any combination that the ceremony is about to begin and that they should find their seats.
2. THE GUESTS BEGIN TO ENTER. The officiant can help facilitate by smiling, making eye contact, and gesturing towards the appropriate seats to the entering guests.
3. ONCE ALL THE GUESTS ARE SEATED THE SOUND PERSON stops the music to cue the guests into settling down and ending any conversations.
4. after the room is quiet for a few seconds, the sound person cues the Procession song. THIS IS ussually "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.

PROCESSION ENTRANCE WITH GIVING OF THE BRIDE

1. THE BRIDES MAIDS AND GROOMS MEN ENTER, PARNTERED UP, ARM IN ARM, ALL IN A ROW.
2. THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE WEDDING STAGE AND GO TO THEIR PRE-ASSIGNED PLACES BEHIND THE OFFICIANT.
3. THE BRIDE ENTERS arm in arm with HER FATHER (OR OTHER SIGNIFICANT GUARDIAN). They gracefully walk their way up the aisle.
4. As the bride and her father get near the stage, the bride makes it onto the stage while HER FATHER sits in the chair reserved for him.
5. Once the bride is on stage facing the groom, THE MUSIC slowly fades out.
6. THE OFFICIANT WAITS A BEAT FOR EVERYONE TO SIT IN STILLNESS before beginning the invocation.

INVOCATION

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"Dearly beloved and honored guests,

We are here today because of the two people standing before you, [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B]. This is a very important moment in their lives and they wanted you all here to witness and celebrate this sacred event.

[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] are here to invoke a universal and eternal tradition. The tradition of marriage. Two take to souls and create one union that is more than the sum of its parts.

And today is when we witness the genesis of this marriage."

READING FROM CORINTHIANS

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] have asked me to read a passage from a book that is important to both of them, and which many of you know well.

Corinthians 1.13:

Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's faults, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope. It is always ready to endure whatever comes. True love does not come to an end."

DECLARATION OF INTENT

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A

"[PARTNER A], do you take [PARTNER B] for your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

• PARTNER A RESPONDS WITH 'I DO'.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B
"[PARTNER B], do you take [PARTNER A] for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?"

• PARTNER B RESPONDS WITH 'I DO'.

VOWS EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"Please face each other."

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A
"Please repeat after me:

I [PARTNER A] take [PARTNER B] to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and cherish, 'til death do us part."

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B

"Please repeat after me:

I [PARTNER B] take [PARTNER A] to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and cherish, 'til death do us part."

RINGS EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul."

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A
"Please present [PARTNER B]'s ring."

• PARTNER A PRESENTS THE RING.

"May this ring be blessed so he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end."

• PARTNER A PLACES THE RING ON PARTNER B'S FINGER.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B
"Please present [PARTNER A]'s ring."

• PARTNER B PRESENTS THE RING.

"May this ring be blessed so she who gives it and he who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end."

• PARTNER B PLACES THE RING ON PARTNER A'S FINGER.

PRONOUNCEMENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"The true art of married life is in this inner spiritual journey. It is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two endowments which diminishes neither, but enhances both.

Inasmuch as you, [PARTNER A], and you [PARTNER B], have consented together in the union of matrimony and you have pledged your faith each to the other in the presence of God, your family, and friends."

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION
"By the authority vested in me by the State of [WEDDING STATE] I now pronounce you both husband and wife. You may kiss your Bride!"

RECESSIONAL

End of the Wedding Ceremony.