CelebrateLife!

Wedding - The Marriage Ceremony

 

framework for a marriage ceremony

The Welcome

Celebrant welcomes guests on your behalf or you may like to formally welcome your family and friends yourselves. You could include here any remembrances of friends or family members not present and make any special remarks about those who have been especially supportive or who have travelled a significant distance to attend. It is important in the welcome, for your guests to understand that this is a marriage ceremony in which you freely commit yourselves to each other as husband and wife.

The Address

Here you share with your guests your views about what marriage means to you - your values, ideals and hopes for your relationship. If this is difficult for you to put into words, I have many examples which express love and joy and the anticipation of life together as a married couple. These can be adapted to reflect your special relationship and ideas. You may also wish to share a short history of your life together, and those attributes you most admire about your partner.

The Monitum - Section 46 of the Marriage Act

This is a mandatory legal statement stating the Law of Marriage in Australia

The Marriage Question

This is THE question-

Do you James, take Belinda to be your wife?

James responds: I do

Do you Belinda, take James to be you husband?

Belinda responds: I do

You might also ask your parents for their blessings on your union, and if you wish, the guests to affirm their support. This makes your family and guests participants as they acknowledge their love and support for you as you make your commitment in marriage.

The Marriage Vows

To make your vows truly personal, and straight from your heart, you may like to each write your own, keeping the words as a surprise for each other and sharing them only with the celebrant until this point in the ceremony ... a very powerful and wonderfully moving moment for you both! Or you might choose to create your vows together. I have many examples to share with you for inspiration!

What you are saying in your vows on your wedding day is that you give yourselves freely to one another as partners in marriage. It is also an opportunity to publicly declare your love and your intention to be there for one another through all the varying experiences of your shared lives. When writing your own vows - make sure they are really YOU and reflect the promises you can make and keep.

The Exchange of Rings

The Declaration and the Kiss

The Signing of the Marriage Documents

... by you both, two witnesses and the Celebrant.

The Announcements

The Closing Blessing

The Presentation

... to your guests as a married couple.

Additional Ceremonies for Inclusion

There are many other ceremonies which you can explore for inclusion in your unique ceremony.

Handcleansing Ceremony : Warming the Rings : Candle Lighting Ceremony : The Lovers' Knot : Various Wine Ceremonies: Various Rose Ceremonies : Family Blending : The Sand / Soil Ceremony : The Toast.

I'd be pleased to explain the symbolism of these ceremonies and to discuss with you any special requests such as incorporating traditions from other cultures.

I've conducted a wide variety of ceremonies which have included traditions from Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Pagan, Celtic and Christian belief systems, and from Russian, Egyptian, Persian, German, Malaysian and Chinese cultures. In a number of ceremonies, the spiritual beliefs of the American-Indian and Australian Aboriginal cultures have been honoured. Other ceremonies I conduct reflect humanist values.

Music: this may be recorded or you may ask musicians - group or solo - to play beautiful music for your ceremony.

Readings: you may have already thought about asking friends or family members to read a verse to highlight your love for one another. You may even consider reading your personal favourite to each other. I have many examples of poetry and prose which you are welcome to explore.

I will work closely with you to ensure that it truly reflects your personal, spiritual and cultural beliefs. Within two to three weeks of confirming your booking, I will send you a first draft of your marriage ceremony created from our discussions in the first (free) consultation. This gives you the opportunity to make any changes to make it absolutely right for you. It is not final until you are happy with it.

If you contact me directly I would be pleased to talk with you about the legal requirements of marriage in Australia, or you may wish to access the Marriage Celebrants website at:

www.ag.gov.au/celebrants