Wedding Script Sample
Following are samples of the various ceremony components to help couples construct a wedding script
The following are just examples, and couples should not feel limited by what they see here.
*
Your Day, Your Way
Moments and Milestones
Processional – traditional:
The officiant, groom, and best man enter through a side door and wait at the altar. The groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with the two who will stand farthest from the bride and groom, and ending with the maid of honor. Then the ring bearer and/or flower girl, and finally the bride and her father (or other close family member). The bride walks on the left side. If the bride's escort is her father, he leads her to the front of the aisle, then takes his seat next to the bride's mother. A popular option is to have the bride’s escort stand for a moment as the officiant asks "Who gives this woman in marriage?" to which he responds "I do," or "Her mother and I do.". One variation of the ceremony has the officiant and groom enter from the side (or even down the aisle), and the best man escort the maid of honor down the aisle. Another variation has the officiant enter from the side and the Groom walk down the aisle first in the procession. A less common variation uses two aisles, with bridesmaids entering from the left and groomsmen from the right.
While the pattern of traditional processionals is somewhat culturally standard, the bride and groom can alter sequence and/or design of the processional to fit their preferences.
*
Opening:
Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of ________________ and _____________________ in marriage. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the joining of ____________________________ and _______________________________ in marriage. With love and commitment, they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
*
Reading:
A reading usually highlights the importance of marriage. The reading can include a definitional statement, quotes from literature, poetry, or something personal from the couple being married. Below are some of the more popular readings used:
“Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of social benefits, as well as obligations, a "social institution of the highest importance."
“Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a vision of the beloved in your heart and a song of love on your lips. “
”Ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take…It is indeed a fearful gamble…Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become a new creature. “
“When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity; when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity - in freedom, in the sense that the dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern. “
”The only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even. Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now. Relationships must be like islands, one must accept them for what they are here and now, within their limits - islands, surrounded and interrupted by the sea, and continually visited and abandoned by the tides.”
“________ and ________, today you choose each other before your family and friends, to begin your life together. For all the tomorrows that follow, you will choose each other over and again, in the privacy of your hearts. Let your love and friendship guide you, as you learn and grow together. Experience the wonders of the world, even as patience and wisdom calm the restless nature. Through your partnership, triumph over the challenges in your path. Through the comfort of loving arms, may you always find a safe place to call home.”
*
Vows:
Vows may run from traditional to customized. Below are examples of some common vows. Feel free to add your own embellishments, loving words, funny promises (I promise to take the trash out!) and inside jokes.
There are 3 formats or "styles" for vows (and also ring exchanges):
1. Echo - Officiant says "Please repeat after me", then reads the vow one line at a time, with participant repeating each line, one line at a time, until the vow is complete.
2. I Do - Officiant begins with "Do you", then reads the entire vow, followed by the participant's response of "I do"
3. Recital - a more personal vow, spoken from memory while looking directly into the partner's eyes, and without prompt by officiant. This format can be tricky, especially if the vows are long and complex. A written text (cheat sheet) tucked in a sleeve for backup is a good idea for this option.
“I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. “
“I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward.”
“In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”
“I (name), take you (name) to be my (husband/wife), my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.”
“I, [name], choose you [name] to be my [husband/wife], to respect you in your successes and in your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to nurture you, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.”
“I, (name), take you, (name), to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the (man/woman) you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.”
*
Exchange of rings:
How many rings? In a one ring ceremony, the groom speaks the line while placing the ring on the bride's finger. In the two ring ceremony, this is followed by the bride speaking the line while placing the ring on the groom's finger. Some couples like to give a response to receiving the ring, so examples of those are also provided.
"I (name) give you (name) this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you."
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
“With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, heart, and hands."
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day.”
“This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring, with all that I have and all that I am”
“I give you this ring as a visible and constant symbol of my promise to be with you as long as I live.”
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you. Let it be a reminder that I am always by your side and that I will always be a faithful partner to you.”
“I have for you a golden ring. The most precious metal symbolizes that your love is the most precious element in my life. The ring has no beginning and no ending, which symbolizes that the love between us will never cease. I place it on your finger as a visible sign of the vows which have made us husband and wife.”
“(Name), I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. As it encircles your finger, may it remind you always that you are surrounded by my enduring love. “
Response (optional):
”I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart”
“I will wear it gladly. Whenever I look at it, I will remember this joyous day and the vows and commitments that we have made. “
*
Declaration of Marriage:
The officiant will say something like “"By the power vested in me by the State of _______, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss” Traditional: “ You may kiss the bride.” Then the first kiss and introduction of the newly joined couple to the attendees: “I present to you (Mr and Mrs optional)______________ and _____________ _________________
*
Other Options
Unity Traditions:
There are a variety of Unity traditions that may be included in a ceremony. Some are old and some are recent, but unity traditions are growing in popularity. Below are some examples:
Unity Candles: The bride and groom each take a lit candle and simultaneously light a third larger "unity candle." They may blow out their individual lights, or leave them lit, symbolizing that they have not lost their individuality in their unity.
Variations: All guests are given a candle, and the first guest's is lit. Guests pass the flame until all are lit, and then the bride and groom together light their unity candle. This variation typically includes a proclamation that this ceremony represents the unity of friends and family supporting the couple in their marriage.
Rose Ceremony: A simple unity ceremony where the bride and groom exchange roses. Other variations: the families exchange roses, the bride and groom exchange roses with their families, the bride and groom exchange roses, then present their mothers with the roses.
Wine Ceremony: The bride and groom each take a carafe of wine and pour it into a single glass, which they both drink from.
Water Ceremony: The couple each pour a different colored water into a single glass, creating a third color.
Sand Ceremony: similar to the water ceremony, the bride and groom both pour different colored sand into a glass.
Salt Ceremony: Indian weddings often include a salt ceremony, where the bride passes a handful of salt to her groom without spilling any. He then passes it back to her and the exchange is repeated three times. She then performs the salt exchange with all the members of the groom's family, symbolizing her blending in with her new family.
Breaking Bread Ceremony: The bride and groom tear off pieces of bread, and then each eat a piece. Sometimes the bread is also shared with family and friends. It symbolizes their future as a family together.
Garland Ceremony or Lei Ceremony: The bride and groom exchange garlands of flowers. This is a common part of Indian weddings, where the ceremony is called varmala or jaimala, and represents a proposal by the bride and acceptance by the groom. It also represents their new unity, blessed by nature. In Hawaiian weddings, the bride and groom typically exchange leis. The families may also exchange leis with the couple. Leis represent the love and respect you have for the person you are giving it to, and the unity of the new family.
Circling: In Eastern European ceremonies, the bride and groom circle the altar three times, which are their first steps together as husband and wife. In Hindu ceremonies, couples circle the fire seven times, sealing their bond. The unbroken circle represents the unbroken commitment to each other.
Poetry, special music, photos, videos, audience participation rites, etc., can also be tastefully added to a ceremony for that personal touch.
Back to the Moments & Milestones
