Standard Order of the Ceremony

  • Celebrant’s General Welcome & Intro: This is the housekeeping section

  • Bride & Groom wish not to have any photos taken during the ceremony

  • Bride & Groom wish that no photos be shared on social media until themselves can do so

  • Asking guests to consider the movements of the Photographer, no obstruction etc. so as all the special moments of the Ceremony can be captured

  • Ask the guests to all rise from their seats in honour of the arrival of the Bridesmaids & Bride

Processional

  • Music is required for the processional of Bridesmaids & Bride, something special to the couple – romantic

Formal Welcome & Monitum

  • Celebrant formally welcomes the Bride & Groom, & introduces herself

  • Legal Monitum by Celebrant: I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.

  • Requests all guests to be seated

  • Giving away of Bride (optional)

Reading/Poem (Optional)

  • Invite relative/friend or Bridal Party Member to recite

Storytime

  • Celebrant expresses a history of the couple, stating their hopes & dreams & what they appreciate about each other

Asking & Ring Exchange

  • Celebrant asks Bride & Groom eg: Do you ‘Groom’ take thee ‘Bride’ ……etc

  • Bride & Groom individually answer into hand held cordless microphone (held by Celebrant) whilst offering each other the wedding bands

Vows

  • Vows can be personally written & if need be the help of some examples from the Celebrant

  • Legal wording must precede the Vows eg: I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, ‘Groom’ take thee ‘Bride’ to be my lawful wedded wife (or spouse)

  • Bride & Groom each read their Vows to each other into hand held cordless microphone (held by Celebrant or by the individual)

  • Vows will be printed on parchment paper for each to read (printed & supplied by Celebrant)

Reading/Poem (Optional)

  • Invite relative/friend or Bridal Party Member to recite

Declaration

  • Celebrant declares eg: Therefore… by the power invested in me by the law of Australia….It gives me the greatest pleasure to declare that ‘Groom’ & ‘Bride’ are now husband & wife (or partners forever etc.)

    Please join me in congratulating this happily wedded couple …….

    Mr & Mrs ……….

    ‘Groom ….you may now kiss your beautiful ’Bride’!!!

Signing of Legal Paperwork

  • Music is required for the duration of the signing of documents

  • Celebrant invites the Witnesses (part of the Bridal Party or anyone of the Guests – must be over 18 years)

Final Declaration

  • Bridal Party resume positions

  • Celebrant requests that guests be upstanding

  • Celebrant concludes with the ceremony & then again invites the guests to join in congratulating the couple, couple kiss

  • Last piece of music Celebratory themed!

Exit

  • With music playing the Happy Couple exit down the aisle followed by the Bridal Party

Loneen McLeodGuide, Template, CeremonyComment