Wedding
What follow are a set of sample ceremonies. You will notice that each contains some common wording – legally required by law. When I first meet with a couple and work through the procedural aspects of their ceremony (such as date/time/location, and style of ceremony – formal/semi-formal/casual), we run through a range of ceremony-styles and they take away copies of sample ceremonies.
Ownership of your own ceremony is very important, and I encourage – and work with couples – to design a ceremony which will reflect them both as individuals, and as a couple. Sometimes this is quite straightforward especially if a couple want a simple, low-key ceremony. In other cases, it may take the couple some time to come up with wording with which they feel both comfortable and that best reflects them, and the expectations about their relationship.
It is not always to easy to share your feelings and hopes out loud, in front of friends and family, especially on a day as important as your wedding-day!
And it is part of MY role – to help you cope with this challenge, and to make you feel at ease!
Music and poetry, too, can play an important part in setting the tone and style of your ceremony and are great ways of including family-members and friends in your ceremony.
Example ceremonies
Version 1
We are here today, to witness the marriage of John and Susan and to wish them every happiness in their life together.
My name is Belinda Kendall-White, and as a civil marriage celebrant, I am legally registered to solemnise marriages according to the law.
John Patrick Smith, Susan Meryl Jones:
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 voluntary union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, entered into for life.
John and Susan also believe that marriage is the open declaration of the commitment of two people, each to the other. The primary attraction between them, and the primary basis on which their relationship is founded, is centred on communication and openness: a willingness, even an eagerness, to share oneself with the other person, to declare oneself and one’s needs and concerns, and to accept the other self, and its needs and concerns. To love, is above all, to act for the sake of the other, to act for the good of the one to be loved.
John: I call on our friends and family here present to witness that I take you, Susan, to be my wife.
Susan: I call on our friends and family here present to witness that I take you, John, to be my husband.
John and Susan: Take and wear this ring as a pledge of my love, and as a symbol of all we share.
As John and Susan have thus pledged themselves to each other before us today, I pronounce them to be henceforward husband and wife.
Version 2
John and Susan have invited us here today, to share in their wedding.
My name is Belinda Kendall-White, and as a civil marriage celebrant, I am legally registered to solemnise marriages according to the law.
John Patrick Smith, Susan Meryl Jones: 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 voluntary union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, entered into for life.
John and susan have found in each other, all of the definitive qualities of marriage:
- love for and of each other
- the peace which each feels with the other
- the trust that each has of the other
- the respect that each for the other
- the joys that they share
- the burdens that each takes from the other, and
- their mutual delight.
These qualities, and more, have they found together, so much so, that they desire to make an open declaration of their private vows, and they wish you, their friends and family, to witness that declaration.
Susan, will you make your declaration?
Susan: I promise to always show you understanding and love.
I will be honest with you, and will strive always to place the achievement of your and our mutual happiness above selfish desires.
I call on everyone here present to witness that I take you, John, to be my husband.
John: I promise to always show you love, understanding and faith.
I will always be honest with you, and kind to you. I will try to satisfy your needs, as much as it is within my power to do so.
I call on everyone here present to witness that i take you, Susan, to be my wife.
John and Susan: take and wear this ring, as a pledge of my love, and as a symbol of all we share.
As John and Susan have thus pledged themselves to each other before us today, I pronounce them to be henceforward husband and wife.
Version 3
We are here today to witness the marriage of John and Susan.
My name is Belinda Kendall-White, and as a civil marriage celebrant, I am legally registered to solemnise marriages according to the law.
John Patrick Smith, Susan Meryl Jones: 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 voluntary union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, entered into for life.
John and Susan believe that love is the most precious thing that we can experience, and it is in this love, that their two souls are joined in marriage: to be able to share oneself with the other person; to expose oneself and one’s needs and concerns, and to accept the other self, and its needs and concerns. Love, being the thread that binds the two hearts together, is kind and patient. Love is not envious, works not evil, knows not pride, imagines no mischief, rejoices not in injustice, but delights in justice. Love defends all, love believes all, loves hopes all, love bears all, and never exhausts itself. To love, is, above all, to act for the sake of the other, to act for the good of the one to be loved.
John and Susan: I call on our friends here present to witness that I take you to be my wife/husband: for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, from this day forward. I promise to love and honour you, protect you in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, and be true always to you.
John and Susan: take and wear this ring, as a pledge of my love, and as a symbol of all we share
As John and Susan have thus pledged themselves to each other before us here today, I pronounce them to be henceforward husband and wife.
Version 4
Susan and John come together today to make a declaration of their love. Their love grew out of a friendship, which began as a simple desire to be together.
My name is Belinda Kendall-White, and as a civil marriage celebrant, I am legally registered to solemnise marriages according to the law.
John Patrick smith, Susan Meryl Jones: 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 voluntary union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, entered into for life.
Susan and John believe that the better they come to know one another, the more they are aware that they have a special feeling for each other which they want to protect and nurture. They find fulfilment in sharing their dreams and disappointments. They discover more about themselves through each other. They feel a special comfort in each other’s strength and understand that, in adversity, they can rely on one another for support. They are learning the meaning of true friendship and realise that love is the ultimate friendship. They believe that their vision for the future requires a bond of faith and trust and have chosen to bind their relationship in marriage.
John and Susan now call on you, their family and friends, to celebrate the fulfilment of their dreams: to love and be loved, to give and receive a deep respect, and to live as part of another person. They call on you to witness their commitment to each other: to be open and honest; to be patient and supportive, and to share the burdens of adversity as well as the joy and peace of a harmonious relationship.
John and Susan: I undertake to love and respect you, and offer you understanding and honesty to the best of my ability at all times. I call on our family and friends here present to witness that I take you, Susan/John to be my wife/husband.
John and Susan: John/Susan: take and wear this ring, as a pledge of my love, and as a symbol of all we share.
As John and Susan have thus pledged themselves to each other before us here today, I pronounce them to be henceforward husband and wife.