Don R Whitaker

Prelude

- Music as guests arrive and find their seats for the ceremony.

Processional

- Order: officiant, grandparents, parents, groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids, and bride.

- Officiant: “please stand” as the bride begins her procession.

- At some point, we might have you ask people to refrain from taking pictures with their phones, but we haven’t decided where to put that yet.

Welcome (officiant)

- Officiant: “please be seated” to begin the welcome.

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

We are gathered together here to join Carter Donnelan Keating and Katie Hickman in the spiritual union of marriage.

This contract is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

READINGS - 2 of those

Carter Donnelan Keating and Katie Hickman will now share their vows.

*(Vows)*

Exchange of Vows and Rings

- “Repeat after me” vows:

- I, Carter, take you, Katie, 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 and to cherish,

- Till death do us part.

- Round 2:

- I, Katie, take you, Carter, to be my wedded husband.

- To have and to hold from this day forward,

- For better, for worse,

- For richer, for poorer,

- In sickness and in health,

- To love and to cherish,

- Till death do us part.

*(Rings)

- Officiant: “May I have the rings?”

- A sentence or two about the exchange of rings and what they symbolize. “Carter and Katie will now exchange rings…”

- “Repeat after me:”

- Carter: “With this ring, I thee wed, and promise to love you forever.”

- Katie: “With this ring, I thee wed, and promise to love you forever.”

Declaration of Marriage

- Carter, do you take Katie to be your lawfully wedded wife for as long as you both shall live?

- I do.

- Katie, do you take Carter to be your lawfully wedded husband for as long as you both shall live?

- I do.

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Texas I now pronounce you husband and husband!

- It is now my great joy and honor to pronounce you husband and wife.

- You may kiss the bride.

Recessional

- “Ladies and gentlemen, the Keatings!”

- Order: Katie and I, groomsmen and bridesmaids, parents, grandparents, officiant.

- We might have you stay up front until everyone has recessed out to then direct people towards the cocktail hour.