Hi Geneve,
We are having an outdoor ceremony at Grouse
Mountain this summer. We have a family friend officiating and a marriage
commissioner lined up to witness it to make it legal as I understand that’s
what needs to happen in British Columbia. Our question is because we are not
following a church’s guidelines, and are recreating our own version of a
ceremony, we are a little lost as to the order of the ceremony and what should
be said. Can you share any sample vows and/or an outline of a typical
ceremony for us to work off of?
Many thanks!
Julie & Martin
Hello J&M!
Congratulations on your upcoming
wedding! I would love to offer some sight into a typical ceremony
outline. I have also listed some examples of ceremony vows at the
bottom.
Typical Church Ceremony Outline…
PRELUDE – guests arriving…
PROCESSIONAL – that’s when everyone walks
down the aisle
GREETING – officiant greets guests and thanks
them for their love and support
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE – what are we here for
today
PRAYER – if you choose to include this of
course
STATEMENT OF INTENT – the legal requirements
stating that you “know of no just reason why you cannot be married”
BLESSING BY PARENTS/FAMILY – may be omitted
SCRIPTURE READINGS – not common
for a non-church wedding unless you want to authentically recreate a religious
ceremony
PRAYER – again may be omitted in
a civil ceremony format
SHARING OF VOWS – see below for
samples and search online for more!
EXCHANGE OF RINGS – Awwww :O)
DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE – Tada!
BLESSING – may be omitted
UNITY CANDLE/SAND CEREMONY
SIGNING OF DOCUMENTS – aka
Registry signing
INTRODUCTION OF COUPLE –
Presenting Mr. & Mrs. Julie & Martin…
RECESSIONAL – wedding party and
parents walking out
POSTLUDE – guests leaving…
Ceremony Vows:
#1
From this day on I choose you.
I promise to love and respect you.
To be joy to your heart.
To struggle with you in the bad.
To share with you all my riches.
To be your constant friend
And faithful partner
I love you with all my heart
And will love you for the rest of my life.
#2
I promise to be true to you In
good times and in bad.
In sickness and in health for
richer and for poorer.
To speak and to listen.
To be honest with you.
To respect, trust, and care for
you.
I will love you and honor
you All the days of my life.
#3
I give you my heart as I have no
greater gift to give. I promise that from this day forward You shall not
walk alone. May my heart be your shelter And my arms be your home.
I feel so blessed to call you mine May we feel this joy forever.
Or for something a little cheeky and modern…
This day is all about your love and your commitment to one
another. Yet the commitment you are making here today is not actually a new
one, because the promises you will make here before all of us have already been
made in your hearts.
Officiant:
You have already shared so much
in the ____ years you’ve known each other. You’ve laughed together in moments
of joy, and comforted and supported each other through times of struggle and
sorrow. In a very real way, you’ve grown up together. In fact, you have already
been to one another everything you are committing to be here today: a friend
and beloved consoler and confidant, partner and co-conspirator.
Bride:
I promise to send you meeting invites for all of our important
commitments.
I promise to never check the mail.
I promise to fall asleep as soon as you start driving.
I vow to provide kisses on demand.
I vow to plan trips to interesting places.
I vow to make you laugh out loud.
I vow to be the best parts of me that fit perfectly with the best
parts of you.
Although I will be imperfect, I pledge to be sensitive and
respectful of your unique talents, abilities and quirks.
I pledge to lend you strength for all of your dreams.
Through our union we can accomplish more than I could alone.
I believe in you.
Groom:
I promise to never update my Google calendar.
I promise to go to bed at 9:00 every night.
I promise to occasionally trick you into skiing double blacks.
I vow to snuggle you as often as possible.
I vow to laugh at your jokes.
I vow to catch spiders and put them outside without hurting them.
I vow to be the best parts of me that fit perfectly with the best
parts of you.
Although I will be imperfect, I pledge to be sensitive and
respectful of your unique talents, abilities and quirks.
I pledge to lend you strength for all of your dreams.
Through our union we can accomplish more than I could alone.
I believe in you.
Have some fun with these and take parts of each to really
personalize vows that really speak from your heart.
Wedding
Planner signing off! Until next week… keep those questions coming
in! Submit your questions by emailing us at askaplanner@dreamgroup.ca
Cheerio,
Genève
Genève McNally, Principal Planner, DreamGroup Productions
Genève first
began her wedding career in 1999 as the Catering Manager for one of Vancouver’s
most sought after wedding venues, Brock House Restaurant. In 2004 Genève
and college friend Sarah Shore ambitiously started up what is now one of
Vancouver's longest running and most trusted wedding planning companies,
DreamGroup Productions Inc.
These days,
in addition to working with her clients in a full planning capacity, Genève
focuses her attention on the sales and marketing aspects of the company and is
most often the friendly voice you will chat with when first inquiring with
DreamGroup. Genève is known to inspire and excite both clients and
industry associates alike with her exuberant personality and joie de
vivre! Her ability to be refreshingly candid and her in depth knowledge
of the wedding industry have earned her the friendly moniker “Two-Cents
McNally”. Genève also teaches the Wedding Planning classes offered
through the dg Academy and is the chief correspondent behind DreamGroup's weekly
Blog feature Ask a Planner.
Genève McNally, Principal Planner, DreamGroup Productions
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