Hello all!
So I'm getting married on 10/10 in less than 2 weeks! And I've been working on writing my ceremony script. Our Officiant is my FH's grandfather (not biological, but raised him since birth). And he's only officiated one other wedding.
I pieced things together from multiple examples I found online, so please let me know if it flows well. Any edits I need to make? Are The Vows part too long? Suggestions, advice? Thanks everyone!
PRELUDE
Music plays as Guests enter and are seated
PROCESSIONAL
Processional Song Starts: Parents are Seated
Jeramy’s Parents enter: Carla (grandmother) & Jolynda (mother). They sit in the front row on Groom’s side.
Marissa’s Parents enter: Dina (mother) & Brian (step-father), Tara (step-mother). They sit in the front row on Bride’s side.
Jim (Officiant) and Jeramy enter, stand at the front
Wedding Party Enters: 2 Groomsmen, 4 Bridesmaids
Bridal Song begins, audience stands, Marissa escorted by Chris (father).
Jeramy takes Marissa’s hand from Chris.
Maid of Honor takes Marissa’s bouquet.
Jeramy and Marissa move in front of Jim, holding hands.
OFFICIANT: Please be seated.
WELCOME
Welcome, family, and friends. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Jeramy and Marissa. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Jeramy and Marissa to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them. This is not the beginning of a new relationship but an acknowledgement of the next chapter in their lives together.
I think I’ve met most of you here today at some point or another, but for those of you whom I haven’t met, my name is Jim Atkinson; and my wife Carla and I raised Jeramy since he was a baby.
CHARGE TO THE COUPLE
Jeramy and Marissa, for the past several years, you have built a strong foundation for your relationship based on honesty and respect. You have found joy in one another’s company, and you have become better, more fulfilled people because of your connection. You have been able to stay together through the varied challenges of high school, college, and multiple jobs, because of your shared values, humor, history, and unconditional love for one another. As long as you maintain these qualities, you will have a long and successful marriage.
A brief moment in time and the stroke of a pen are all that is required to create the legal bond of marriage, but it takes a lifetime of love, commitment, and laughter to make a marriage durable and eternal. The process of marriage does not begin or end today; it is a lifelong pursuit. Your relationship already has all of the necessary components for success, but you must maintain that from here forward by remembering what is important in your relationship and why you are making this commitment to one another today.
Jeramy and Marissa, as long as you are both respectful of each other, you will make it through the numerous changes and chapters that your lives will take. As long as you honor the promises that you will make to each other, you will create a life of love and happiness.
[PAUSE]
What I wish for them on their wedding day is that their lifetime together as a team is one of complete contentment; full of those moments that they wish would never end, and that they continue to make one another smile and laugh as they make each of us do.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
OFFICIANT: Please face each other and hold hands.
OFFICIANT: Do you Jeramy, take Marissa, to be your lawful wedded wife? From this day forward, to have and to hold, forsaking all others, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish for so long as you both shall live?
Jeramy: I do.
OFFICIANT: Do you Marissa, take Jeramy, to be your lawful wedded husband? From this day forward, to have and to hold, forsaking all others, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish for so long as you both shall live?
Marissa: I do.
Jeramy and Marissa, your love is something that you both cherish, so much so that it’s moved you to join in the union of marriage and create a home together.
Today, in the presence of your families and friends, you pronounce your love for each other and make a commitment that will define the next phase of your journey. We celebrate it with you, and wish you well.
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
(Both continue to face each other and hold hands)
OFFICIANT: Jeramy, repeat after me.
I, Jeramy, take you, Marissa,
As my best friend, my one true love.
I promise to cherish you always,
To encourage and inspire you.
To laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow.
I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities,
To lend you strength and support for all of your hopes and dreams.
As I give you my hand, my heart, and my love,
I am yours for the rest of our lives.
OFFICIANT: Marissa, please repeat after me.
I, Marissa, take you, Jeramy,
As my best friend, my one true love.
I promise to cherish you always,
To encourage and inspire you.
To laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow.
I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities,
To lend you strength and support for all of your hopes and dreams.
As I give you my hand, my heart, and my love,
I am yours for the rest of our lives.
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
OFFICIANT: May we have the rings?
(Rings handed to Marissa and Jeramy by the Best Man)
These rings are symbols of eternity and the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end. Today you have chosen to exchange rings, as a sign of your love for each other, and as a seal of the promises you make this day.
OFFICIANT: Jeramy, please place the ring on Marissa’s finger and repeat after me:
I, Jeramy give to you this ring,
As a symbol of my commitment,
To love, honor and cherish you.
OFFICIANT: Marissa, please place the ring on Jeramy’s finger and repeat after me:
I, Marissa give to you this ring
As a symbol of my commitment,
To love, honor and cherish you.
MARRIAGE PRONOUNCEMENT
By virtue of the authority vested in me as Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jeramy you may kiss your bride.
Jeramy kisses Marissa. Officiant moves out of the way during the kiss for photos.
Marissa takes the bouquet back in her hands.
Then Jeramy and Marissa turn to face the audience.
OFFICIANT: Family and friends, I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Collier!
RECESSIONAL
Music begins.
Jeramy and Marissa leave down the aisle
Wedding party leaves
ANNOUNCEMENT
OFFICIANT: Guests may join the social hour at this time while pictures are being taken.
Parents leave, Jim escorts Carla out
