WEDDING PROCESSION:

The Celebrant moves to the front and calls all the assembled people together so as to be ready to welcome the bride who is escorted by her father.

The wedding march music is played during the procession.

WELCOME:

Celebrant:

Good afternoon everyone, my name is Jeff Oates and I am duly authorised by Australian law to solemnize marriages according to that law and so I am pleased to officiate at this very joyous occasion this afternoon.

On behalf of __________ and __________ I would like to welcome you all here today and ask that you join with us in the spirit of love and joy as __________ and __________ are united in marriage.

ADDRESS:

Celebrant:

We, who are gathered here today, are privileged to witness and to participate in a ceremony celebrating the public acknowledgement of a love which __________ and __________ have for each other.

__________ and __________, before you are joined in marriage, in my presence and in the presence of your family and friends, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to Australian law, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.

And so, we are gathered here today to witness the coming together of two special people, __________ and __________, whose hearts and spirits are entwined as one. They now desire to profess to the world and in front of you all today, their intention to walk the road of life together.

THE ASKING:

Celebrant:

__________ and __________, have you come here in the company of your family and friends to affirm your commitment to each other?

Bride and Groom:

We have.

Celebrant:

I now ask that __________ and __________’s parents to please stand.

Celebrant to Groom’s Parents:

_______________ do you give your blessing to the marriage of __________ and __________ here today, will you receive __________ as a daughter and at all times give her your love, support and understanding?

Groom’s Parents Response:

We will

Celebrant to Bride’s Parents:

_______________ do you give your blessing to the marriage of __________ and __________ here today, will you receive __________ as a son and at all times give him your love, support and understanding.

Bride’s Parents Response:

We will

Celebrant to Groom:

_________________, will you receive _________________ as your wife? Will you pledge to her your love, faith and friendship, cherishing her with a husband’s loyalty and devotion?

Groom Response:

I will.

Celebrant to Bride:

_________________, will you receive _________________ as your husband? Will you pledge to him your love, faith and friendship, cherishing him with a wife’s loyalty and devotion?

Bride Response:

I will.

VOWS:

Celebrant:

The next part of the services is where __________ and __________ declare their love and commitment to one another.

The groom and bride face each other and join hands

The groom repeats after the celebrant:

I call upon everyone here today
to witness that I ____________________,
take you, ____________________
to be my lawful wedded wife.
I promise to love and cherish you,
to stand beside you as we
share all of life’s experiences together.
I promise to respect you for who you are
and to be a faithful and caring husband.
I look forward to our life together
and pledge to you
my unquestionable love and loyalty
as we grow together.

The bride repeats after the celebrant:

I call upon everyone here today
to witness that I ____________________,
take you, ____________________
to be my lawful wedded husband.
I promise to love and cherish you,
to stand beside you as we
share all of life’s experiences together.
I promise to respect you for who you are
and to be a faithful and caring wife.
I look forward to our life together
and pledge to you
my unquestionable love and loyalty
as we grow together.

THE RING CEREMONY:

Celebrant:

__________ and __________ have decided that they wish to exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment to each other.

The celebrant collects the rings from the best man

Celebrant to the groom

____________ place the ring on ____________’s finger and repeat after me:

_________, with this ring I thee wed.
Take it and wear it as a sign of my love
and as a symbol of all we share.

Celebrant to the bride:

____________ place the ring on ____________’s finger and repeat after me:

____________, with this ring I thee wed.

Take it and wear it as a sign of my love

and as a symbol of all we share.

Celebrant:

Let these rings serve as locks – not binding you together – but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.

DECLARATION:

Celebrant:

May these two find happiness in their matrimony
May the years be rich in the joys of life,
And may their days be long upon the earth.

__________ and __________ having thus pledged yourselves each to the other, I do now by virtue of the authority vested in me by Australian law, pronounce you husband and wife.

You may now celebrate your marriage with a kiss!

SIGNING OF REGISTER:

I now invite the __________ and __________ along with ______________________ to sign the register and certificates.

PRESENTATION OF THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE:

Celebrant:

Ladies and gentlemen please welcome for the first time as husband and wife, Mr and Mrs __________ and __________.

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