Ceremonies

To see examples of ceremonies, please visit the individual ceremony pages:
Please note that all of my ceremonies can be tailored to reflect same-sex marriages and vow renewals. We can include your own religious traditions or customs. You may choose a ceremony just like it is or use my unique Build A Ceremony Menu to customize it to your wishes. Please read below for the flow of a traditional ceremony and explanation of each element.
Did you know that all the law requires is the pledge and pronouncement! Below are the classic elements of a ceremony, and their description. It gives you an idea of the flow of a ceremony. Of course it is perfectly acceptable to have more or less. Your ceremony, your way!
Ceremony Elements and their description:

  • Participation of parents (optional) Officiant may ask “Who has the honor of presenting this Bride?” or “Who gives this woman to be wedded to this man”? Or “Who supports this couple”? You may use any variation that is best for you or leave it out altogether.

  • Greeting: Welcoming and thank you to the guests -often an acknowledgment of loved ones who have passed but here in spirit will be included

  • Invocation: This is the beginning prayer to “invoke” or ask God to be present and bless this service that is about to begin. For non-religious ceremonies it is an opening blessing or a reading/poem about love and marriage

  • Charge to the Couple: This is addressed to the couple. It is a preparation for the vows they are about to take.

  • *Betrothal-Pledge: This is a declaration of intent. You declare in front of your loved ones/ witnesses, that your intent to marry is a matter of your own free will. In your wedding vows you make promises directly to each other.

  • Vows: This is the promise, the pledge that you make to each other, to give yourselves to each other as long as you both shall live.

  • Exchange of Rings: This starts with a blessing on the rings. The rings are a symbol to pledge faithfulness and fidelity. It is symbolized by the unending circle of a ring. The couple will pledge their faithfulness to each other while exchanging them

  • Prayer or Blessing: This prayer is to ask God to bless this new marriage, this special union of two people. For nonreligious this will be a poem of the blessing of love and marriage

  • *Pronouncement: This is when the Officiant pronounces the couple to be married or joined in a lifelong union. The union is sealed with a kiss.

  • Benediction or Closing Words: This brings the ceremony to an end. It is another blessing.

(* indicated the elements I must legally say)

If you would like to add additional elements, such as unity candle, wine, or sand ceremony, this element would go after the ring exchange.

Many couples like to include a thank you to the guests for joining them on this special day as well as an acknowledgement of loved ones who have passed.
 
You may also like to include a favorite poem or reading, read by a guest or myself .

All ceremony elements can be tailored to reflect religious, non-religious, same-sex, or a vow renewal. I am also happy to incorporate any religious customs or traditions you would like, such as breaking of the glass, jumping the broom, hand fasting, etc..

See my unique Build Your Ceremony menu, where you can choose from a large collection of ceremony elements that I have gathered and "build" your own ceremony.



Acknowledgments:
Some of the wording in these ceremonies come in part from:
The Bible
Common Book of Prayer
Bakers Wedding Manual
Unitarian rites of passage
The beautiful writings of Michelle Avary
Illuminata A Return to Prayer and A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson