Want to create a ceremony that reflects both who you are as individuals and as a couple? Creating a personalized ceremony can be a piece of cake. Just follow this outline:
Processional
The traditional way is for the bride to enter with her father. However, the bride can walk in with whomever she wishes to honor and the groom can do the same. Or, the couple can walk in together.
The Service
Welcome: Officiant welcomes guests and thanks them for coming. Perhaps acknowledges those who could not attend. Statement of intention: "We are here to day to witness and celebrate…"
Introduction: This can include an invocation and or general words about marriage and commitment. Some couples like to add a bit about what special meaning the location may have.
Body: Here is a good place to relate the story of your meeting and why you chose to marry. You can talk about what marriage means to the two of you. You can include small rituals that can be used to give thanks or receive blessings, also readings, performances, or inserts from meaningful traditions.
Vows: Exchange of vows, and typically a ring exchange.
Blessing
Kiss
Some Couples like to have the officiant introduce them in their new identity as wife and husband (or wife and wife, husband and husband).
Recessional
Pretty straightforward, but you can decide exactly how you would like your wedding party to exit. Single file? In Pairs?
To help you with planning your ceremony, here’s an example of a welcome, statement of intention, and introduction:
"Welcome everyone and thank you for being with us here this afternoon. We appreciate that you have come from near and far to join us in this joyful ceremony. Today we gather to celebrate Alex and Celene's decision to share each other’s lives. We are here to witness and acknowledge this special passage in their relationship. Their love and commitment have brought them to this moment and we rejoice with them in the creation of their marriage.
Alex and Celene would like to thank everyone for being here. You have all touched their lives and it is for this reason that you you’ve been invited to participate in this important life transition. They would like to give special thanks to those of you who have traveled to be here. And would particularly like to acknowledge those people who were unable to attend, whose physical presence is missed but who we feel are with us in spirit. We especially miss Alex's father, Isiah and Celene's grandparent's in France."
Hope this helps spark ideas for your own personalized wedding ceremony!
I Do adapts traditions and creates new options to help couples personalize their wedding ceremonies. by Sydney Barbara Metrick Buy The Book www.ChickenSoupCounseling.com
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