Nina Terry Carter

Outside Ceremony

THE PROCESSION

(Guests are already seated)

At the third classical song, Air on the G string by Bach (Dan or one of the kids will cue Nina), Nina takes her place.

After Nina is in place, the kids and parents walk down the aisle and take their place on the front row.

Dan walks down the aisle with Charlie and they take their place at the altar.

At the song “Canon in D” by Pachebel Alessio walks Jessie down the aisle and to Dan, kisses Jessie on the cheek, shakes Dan’s hand and goes to the front row to sit.

Music stops.

THE INVOCATION

​Dearest friends and family, we’ve joined here to show Jessie and Dan our love and support today. To celebrate them as they join their lives together in marriage.

Jessie and Dan, today, you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure. The story of your life together is still yours to write.

All those present have come to witness and celebrate your love and commitment today, eager to be part of the story not yet told.

What a gift and joy it is to find someone to share our lives with! Committing to share our brightest days and weather our darkest nights with someone is no small thing and cannot be done lightly.

Commitment is about trust. It’s about patience, forgiveness, devotion, and hope. It’s what happens when a relationship becomes a home, a place of safety and love, to which each partner can return, again and again.

VOWS

Nina prompts couple to share their vows to each other.

Dan goes first, Jessie goes second.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

Nina to Dan

Do you, Dan, take Jessie to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward?

Dan responds with “I do.”

Nina to Jessie

Do you, Jessie, take Dan to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward?

Jessie responds with “I do.”

RING EXCHANGE

Either Dan will hold the rings or someone on the front row.

Nina: “And you know what they say, you have to have a ring to seal the deal!”

A little history: the earliest known exchange of wedding rings dates to the Roman Empire, appropriately given Jessie’s ancestry. Romans also first chose to wear their wedding ring on the ring finger of their left hand because that finger was thought to contain the Vena Amoris – or vein of love - which was thought to be directly connected to the heart.

In celebration of Dan’s Irish ancestry we are asking the family members here to participate in a traditional Irish ring warming ceremony by sharing warm thoughts while holding the rings that will shortly be exchanged.

Dan and Jessie, your wedding ring is a circle, a symbol of love never ending. It is the seal of the vows you have just taken to love each other without end.

Nina to Dan:

Dan, REPEAT AFTER ME

Jessie, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love.

Dan places the ring on Jessie’s finger and repeats “Jessie, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love.”

Nina to Jessie:

Jessie, REPEAT AFTER ME

Dan, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love.

Jessie places the ring on Dan’s finger, and repeats “Dan, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love.”

PRONOUNCEMENT

​By the authority vested in me by the State of Georgia I now pronounce you wife and husband. Dan, you may now kiss your bride.

Nina moves aside for the kiss (so photographers can take the picture).

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COUPLE

Nina asks the guests to stand.

It is my honor to present to you all for the first time Jessie and Dan as wife and husband.

RECESSION

Jessie and Dan walk down the aisle and then stop so that photographer can take picture of Dan and Jessie kissing with all family, guests and Nina are in the background.