Sample Ceremony

• Traditional American Ceremony
• Catholic Wedding Ceremony
(short)
• Catholic (short Wedding Ceremony (Filipino version)
• Contemporary Christian Ceremony
• Non-Religion Specific Ceremony,  Revised 6/2009
• Hand Fasting Ceremony, Revised 12/2008
• Short Marriage Ceremony
• Medieval Wedding Ceremony

• Including Children
• The sharing of a cup of wine
• Bride & Groom First Communion/Eucharist
• Jumping the Broom
• Breaking the Glass

• Processional
  This how you get the minister, wedding party and parents to the front. My preferred style is for the minister to come in first followed by those groomsmen not escorting, then groomsmen that have someone to escort like parents or grandparents who are seated during procession, then groom with his parent(s), then ring bearer, bride's maid individually, flower girl, bell ringer, then bride.
   
• Introduction
   
• Giving of the Bride
   
• Moment of Remembrance for those deceased or not able to attend.
   
• Pledge of Support by parents
   
• Parent(s)/Sponsors Involvement
  This may be accomplished with the mothers lighting unity candle tapers, receiving flowers from the bride and groom during a mini-parent greeting, or sand preparation for a sand ceremony. This is when the minister talks about the important of parents getting us to this day.
   
• Cording & Veil
  This is a Pacific rim and South American tradition where the sponsors, Godparents, or mothers pin a veil to the couple then place a cord over their heads. A Blessing is invoked then the cord and veil are removed in opposite order.
   
• Reading #1
   
• Recognition of Parents
  Before we go on to say more about love, it is important to recognize from where love comes in our lives. Of course, someone first loved Laura and Lantz. Someone cared for them as children, showed them what love, compassion, kindness, and care is. Of course we are speaking of the parents. The work of our parents is critical in preparing us to be the loving adults we are, so today, Laura and Lantz want to make special recognition of their parents today, for making today possible. I speak for everyone here when we say “Thank You mom’s and dad’s for beginning in Lantz and Laura something so special. (Now Bride and Groom present flowers to their parents)
   
• Words on Love or Marriage
   
• Blessing of Rings
   
• Exchange of Rings & Vows
   
• Reading #2
   
• Charge to the Couple/Affirmation of Love
   
• Prayer
  A prayer can be done religiously or a spoken blessing from a guest, parent, or sponsor.
   
• Couple Unity Activity
  The couple can light a unity candle, complete the sand ceremony, or drink from a chalice. The drinking of wine or pseudo-wine can be done in a religious, spiritual, or earthy way. No matter what activity is used, its the couples first formal act as husband and wife.
   
• Joining of the Children
  This is where brides and grooms have an opportunity to include their children in the ceremony. This may include a blessing, exchange of vows of commitment of care, and exchange of gifts, medallions, or rings.
   
• Sharing of Cup of Wine
  Bridal-couple-only Communion/Eucharist (see above)
   
• Nuptial Blessing
   
• Pronouncement of Marriage
  Formal legal declaration of unity.
   
• Announcement of Marriage
   
• Benediction/Conclusion
   
• Breaking of the glass (combined Christian/Jewish)
   
• Jumping the Broom
   
• Recessional
  May be a straight forward exiting of the bride, groom, and wedding party or it can include the groom picking up the bride and carrying her away before the wedding party recesses.
   
• Receiving Line