Wedding Ceremony - Outline
There are many versions of a wedding ceremony. You should have it as long or short, funny or serious, traditional or contemporary as you like. As you can see from the list below most parts are not essential. Only the monitum and the mandatory vows are necessary for the wedding to be legal. So be creative and make this mean something to you.
The ceremony could include:*
Introduction (Optional)
A welcome, followed by the principles of belief surrounding marriage.
Could include housekeeping such as unplugging.
Wedding Procession
A Reading (Optional)
Your choice of verse or prose.
Personalised Section (Optional)
Information about the relationship. It can be light and breezy, humourous, romantic or serious - your choice.
Giving Away (Optional)
Traditionally the father 'gives the bride away'. This can be structured to be more about family support for both the Bride and Groom.
The Monitum (Essential)**
A legal statement required to be made according to the Marriage Act.
The Asking (Optional)
A formal question in relation to your intentions.
Vows (Essential)*
Your promises. Acknowledgement of your life-long commitment but can also choose to say anything that you wish to promise to each other.
Exchange of Rings or ritual (Optional)
Usually followed by a statement to 'seal' the exchange of rings.
A Reading (Optional)
Your choice of verse or prose.
Followed by …
• Declaration (and embrace)
• Signing of Register & Certificate (requires two adult witnesses)
• Introduction of the Married Couple
• Congratulations from guests
Non-negotiable
Monitum
I am legally registered to solemnise marriages according to the 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 formalising.
Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
Mandatory Vows
I ask everyone here to witness that I ____________________, take you _______________________to be my wedded wife/husband/partner in marriage/spouse