What Customs Are Allowed
There are many different customs that could require the bride and groom to greet their guests in the church before the ceremony begins, or to have both or either of them enter the church after all of their guests have been seated.
You will need to speak with your priest about which process you wish to use for the arrival of your guests, the wedding party , the groom and the bride. You should also enquire about which cultural or social customs can be included in the ceremony.
Sometimes there are customs that can not be included in the ceremony itself. But there can be allowances made for these customs to be taken place immediately prior to the ceremony, or as the new husband and wife make their way out of the church.
These customs could include, the playing of bagpipes, giving of gifts and trinkets, or dancing and music. For example, there may be an Asian good luck tradition or Irish dance that you want to include to honor your heritage or pay your respects to your elders.
Then thereâs the lighting of a unity candle, pouring of sand into a vase, the use of improvised vows, or the giving of wedding coins, and placing flowers before the image of the Virgin Mary.
All of these customs will need to be run by your priest first. They may allow for some things to be done, or they may feel that other things could be inappropriate to be done inside of the church. Respect their decision and reserve these customs for the wedding reception, or perform them outside of the church itself.
Guests May Take Photos
In our planning session with our couple, we will have asked them if guests are allowed to take pictures. This is where I tell guests either:
- The couple have said we are permitted to discreetly take photos, but please, lets not get in the way of the professionals, OR
- The couple have asked that we not take any photos, so please put all your cameras and phones away.
How To Incorporate A Theme Into A Weddingceremony
It is true thatthemed weddings add uniqueness and excitement to your big day, but some themesarent acceptable for certain types of ceremonies.
Religiousceremonies held at a place of worship might hinder you from customizing thevenue especially if it is too whimsical or unconventional. In this case, itsbest to have the ceremony in your traditional style first, before plunging intothe theme at the reception.
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Jai Mala Garland Exchange
“The bride and groom perform a garland exchange under a mandap or a beautifully decorated, raised canopy-like platform,” says Miller. It symbolizes welcoming each other into their families. The bride’s parents will join the couple’s hands, as a symbol of giving their daughter away. The ceremony begins, the couple is joined by their parents under the mandap, and the priest begins prayers in Sanskrit.
Types Of Wedding Ceremonies A Guide
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Contents
While most peoplethink about the wedding reception, the wedding ceremony is what makes the unionof two people symbolical and meaningful.
Most weddingceremonies are rooted in tradition, with associated rituals to celebrate loveand lifetime partnership. Since there are many ways to say I do,how do know what type of wedding ceremony will work best for you?
Lets take a lookat the types of wedding ceremonies.
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Opening Words And Introduction 36
BRIDE and GROOM, the relationship that you have nourished together stands for love that will blossom and grow with each passing day.
Before you knew love, you were friends, and it was from this seed of friendship that is now your destiny.
It is not total absorption into each other. It is looking outward in the same direction together.
It makes joys more intense because you share them.
It makes you stronger, so that you can be involved with life in ways you dare not risk alone.
To make your relationship work will take love.
This is the core of your marriage and why you are here today.
It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you truly want the best for each other.
It will take dedication, to stay open and honest with one another and to learn and grow together.
It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings.
And it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey you both promised today to share together.
An intimate and secure relationship is not based on promises, but rather on trust, respect, faithfulness and the ability to forgive.
A lasting marriage is based on all of these, bound together by love.
Please Turn Your Phones On Silent Mode
Regardless of whether or not guests are permitted to take photos with their phones, as officiants, we need to remind everyone to turn their phones off or to silent mode.
Pro-tip: this is a good time to make a joke like, Especially the groom. And groomsmen. Cmon guys, is everything off?
With those things out of the way, I then say the magic words that are the real cue to get the processional started: With that, lets begin. The music starts, and here we go.
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What Is A Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony isthe meat and potatoes of a wedding, so to speak. Its where the marriage vows,exchanging of wedding rings, pronouncement of marriage, and other rituals takeplace. A wedding ceremony isnt just a formality, it makes your big day morememorable and meaningful.
Depending on thecouples preferences, a wedding ceremony may have religious or legal significance,or it can simply be a symbolic union.
In the past,wedding ceremonies were typically structured and formal affairs. Today, theyare still so but there are more ways to personalize the ceremony and make themmore relaxed events.
Renewal Of Vows Opening Words And Introduction 42
Hello and welcome.
As these two people have come together before, pledging everlasting love, so we are gathered together today to once again join this woman and this man in holy matrimony.
But now they wish to extend that joy in a new affirmation, based not upon what they hope the future years will bring, but on what the past has already brought them and what they know of their future together.
Additionally, as they honor one another in memory of the years already shared, the family now grown, and the joys and hardships together endured, they wish to pledge their love anew.
This pledge represents not only what will be, but also honors what has already been.
When a couple first decides to marry, it is an act of faith faith that the new spouse will be as wonderful as his or her behavior has led each of them to believe.
But we all know that sometimes married life can reveal hidden aspects to your spouses personality.
It then becomes a test of love and endurance to maintain a marriage.
BRIDE and GROOM have come through their challenge wiser, more mature and with their love intact.
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Wedding Ceremony Scripts For Officiants
Most officiants like to use an outline to help them organize the ceremony and the script. It is important to consider what the couple being married wants for their wedding day. Take the time to talk to the couple so that your words reflect what they believe about marriage and their relationship.
- Closing
An example from after the declaration:
And as we all are here. I urge you to stand as witnesses as I, take as my wife/husband/partner. I promise to love you and uphold our love. To fight for us in the face of the storm, to be your joy and to dry your tears. To cherish you with every fiber of my being. I promise to stand with you and hold your hands, even when we are old and grey. This is my vow.
Then the officiant will say
Seeing that you said your vows to each other in the presence of witnesses. I , an authorized officiant under the law of , with the power vested in me by , pronounce you a couple. You can now kiss your bride.
After this, the couples receive good wishes from those present and they close.
Opening Words And Introduction 3
Today there will be no dearly beloved, no betrothed, and no ancient rhyme of the married.
Today there are no dead languages to solemnize vows that are very much alive and will remain so for a lifetime.
Today promises become permanent and friends become family.
However, this day is not about the words spoken or the rings exchanged, nor is it about grand pronouncements and recessional marches.
This day the day of BRIDE and GROOMs wedding is about love.
One of my favorite authors once wrote, If love is not all, then it is nothing: this principle, and its opposite, collide down all the years of my breathless tale.
BRIDE and GROOM, your breathless tale is about to begin.
If love is not all, then it is nothing.
Its opposite If love is all, then it is everything is going to be the basis for every aspect of your relationship.
All you have to do is simply love one another and that love shows through in everything you do for one another, how you treat each other, in good times and bad.
Love isnt just a word its an action.
Love isnt something you say, its something you do.
Love is genuine, honest, and open, compassionate and kind, passionate and blind, love doesnt know space or time, nor look through jealous eyes, and in the modified words of Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never dies.
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A Valuable Wedding Ceremony
A wedding ceremony’s prime function is to provide the bride and groom an opportunity to make promises to each other. Those promises form the basis of their marriage and give the officiating clergy the right to pronounce them man and wife. So care should be taken to be certain that the promises if kept, will make their marriage fulfilling and secure. And the entire ceremony should emphasize and clarify those promises to the friends and family that attend.
Traditional wedding promises go something like this:
Will you take this to be your , to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love , comfort , honour and keep in joy and in sorrow, in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others be faithful to so long as you both shall live.
These and similar vows emphasize three core elements of marriage that have proven to be very valuable over the centuries. First, a marriage is a permanent relationship . Second, it is sexually exclusive . And third, it is a relationship of extraordinary care .
I encourage a bride and groom to write these promises in their own words and expand upon them. Their marriage will be permanent they are in this relationship for life. They will guard their marriage from outside threats, making sure that they will never have a romantic relationship with anyone else. And they will care for each other far more than they will care for anyone else they will be first in each other’s lives.
So How Long Is A Wedding Ceremony
The actual wedding ceremony, where you exchange rings and vows, is probably one of the shortest parts of your wedding day. Experts say that a traditional wedding ceremony typically lasts between 20 30 minutes. This gives you time to cover the basics such as words of welcome, some readings, your vows, exchanging of the rings, the final pronouncement, and of coursethe kiss!
There can be differences in the length of the wedding ceremony based on your religion or if youre doing a secular ceremony. For example, most standard religious ceremonies last 30 minutes, but if youre Catholic and you want to include a full mass, you can expect it may last 45 90 minutes. Heres an idea of what you can expect for some of the different religions.
- Catholic Wedding 30 -90 minutes
- Christian Wedding 20 30 minutes
- Judaism Wedding 25 45 minutes
- Muslim Wedding approximately 20 minutes
- Hindu Wedding 1.5 2 hours
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Opening Words And Introduction 29
Dear family and friends we have gathered here today to joyfully acknowledge the wedding of BRIDE and GROOM.
They have requested your presence on this memorable occasion in order that you might share with them the pledging of their everlasting love on this day of commitment. Let us pray in silence as we wish them all the happiness in their new life together.
What Is A Civil Ceremony
A civil ceremony is basically a non-religious, legal marriage ceremony. Typically, a legal official presides over civil ceremonies. A civil ceremony is legally binding and does not require two ceremonies. A religious ceremony, on the other hand, is not legally binding, so the couple has to obtain their marriage license to make it legal. This can happen either before or after the ceremony. Exact requirements for officiating a civil ceremony can vary according to the location, but generally, a judge, justice of the peace, a magistrate, or a notary public. However, there can be occasions where religious denominations not recognizing a marriage performed by someone ordained outside the faith.
Couples may opt for civil ceremonies due to several reasons. Some couples may not be religious and feel uncomfortable with the concept of a religious ceremony. Sometimes, the two partners may be from two different religions and may want to avoid potential problems with interreligious ceremonies. Nowadays, couples also choose civil ceremonies because they feel it allows more creativity, freedom, and convenience. A civil ceremony can be held in any location on the beach, at home, etc.
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Modern Wedding Ceremony Rituals And Traditions
When you hear the phrase “Wedding Ceremony” certain images probably come to mind. You may picture a white wedding dress, wedding rings, tossing a bouquet of flowers, etc.Although these things feature prominently in modern western weddings, they are not definitive of a wedding ceremony in general. You can have a perfectly valid wedding without a white dress, or even diamond rings.That said, they are so common that many people assume these are essential parts of a wedding ceremony. They are not. Let’s unpack the components of a modern wedding ceremony, so that you can decide on your own what you want to include in your wedding.
White Wedding
The inclusion of white wedding dresses began with Queen Victoria around 1840. This tradition is one of the cultural hallmarks of the Victorian era. Since then, it has become so popular that the white wedding dress has become the iconic costume of the brides around the world, and ubiquitously associated with weddings.However, there is no cultural or legal requirement for the bride to wear a white dress. If the bride wants to dress like Lady Gaga in the Poker Face video, that is her prerogative. White is also associated with purity and virginity, and for some brides, projecting these cultural values may not be appropriate. Ultimately, white can symbolize anything the bride chooses.
Diamond Rings
