By Robyn O'Brien
So you have no idea how a wedding ceremony goes? A ceremony can be as individual as you like. You may include other people, pets, rituals and traditions. Your celebrant will work with you to create the perfect unique ceremony for you.
If you’ve chosen a personalised ceremony here’s a general guide, which can be changed completely if you have different ideas about what you’d like included.
There’s one thing to remember, though - the legal vows. These must be included and you also need two witnesses, who agree you should be married, to sign the paperwork.
A General Guide:
Entrance - On your wedding day, at the venue, the guests are usually seated and the groom and his attendants are standing at the front before the bride arrives.
Your celebrant will greet the bride on her arrival and make sure she is ready to start. With music playing, the bridesmaids usually walk in one by one then the bride is escorted in by a family member or friend. Sometimes the groom, along with his attendants, make their own dramatic entrance before the bridesmaids and bride!
Opening - The ceremony starts with a warm welcome to guests followed by the reason why they are all gathered and an explanation about what marriage means.
Couples Story - The celebrant will then share your ‘love story’ with the guests. How you met, the things you love doing together, what your future holds etc. It may contain some funny stories and highlights of your relationship.
Reading/Ritual - At this point you may want to include a friend or family member to read a poem, sing a song or perform a ritual.
Vows - If you’ve decided to include your own personal vows to each other, you would then read these.
Legal Vows - This is where the legal vows take place and this is the only ‘legal’ part of the ceremony which must be included. Eash partner must say “I (full name) take you (full name) to be my legal wife/husband”, or words very similar.
Exchange of Rings - The exchanging of rings symbolises your commitment to each other.
Declaration & Kiss - Your celebrant will declare you married and you share your first ‘married couple’ kiss!
Signing the Particulars of Marriage - Your celebrant will have the paperwork ready for you and your witnesses to sign. There are two identical copies, one of which you keep and the other, your celebrant sends back to the Department of Internal Affairs. While signing the paperwork it’s a nice idea to have some music playing.
Introduction back to Family & Friends - Your celebrant then introduces you back to the guests as ‘the newly married’ couple. Followed by the procession of the wedding party back up the aisle (usually with lots of clapping, yahooing and lots of celebrating ahead)!
As mentioned previously – this is a guide only and you may include or exclude anything else you wish.
