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How the ceremony “usually” runs. It’s your day, you are the stars, not me so we can discuss
all of the below.

Welcome to the guests

Celebrant introduction – legal requirement

Introduction bridal party - optional

Reading/poem/ritual – roses, sand, wine etc. - optional

Couples love story - optional

2nd reading/poem/sub rituals - optional

Monitum from the marriage act 1961 – legal requirement

Asking – will you take or do you take etc.

Vows – legal requirement

Rings

Declaration

The kiss

Signing

Presentation of marriage certificate

Farewell

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Introductory questions to discuss with one another – prompts to assist you with what you
want reflected on your day.

Please take your time and write as much as you like, as I will edit to suit the day.

How long have you known each other?

How and where did you meet?

Any unusual/funny circumstances at that meeting?

First impression of Him/Her?

First big romantic night out?

How did he/she propose and where?

Highlights in your life together?

What qualities do you love and admire about him/her?

Hobbies/Common interests, what do you like doing together?

Hopes and Dreams for the future?

What are some of more quirky things about him/her?

If you could have one character trait of your partner’s which would it be and why?

What is one of the sweetest/most romantic things your partner has done for you?

Any secret/hidden talents?

When were you most proud of your partner?

How do you cheer each other up?

What does your partner do that always make you laugh?

What’s your favourite physical feature of your partner’s and why?

What are your pet names for one another?

Also, one or two sentences about the people in the wedding party, Bridesmaids etc.

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Askings – will you take, do you take

XXXX, will you take XXXX to be your lawful* wife

Will you love her, comfort her,
Honour and keep her, in sickness and in health,
And, forsaking all others, keep only unto her,
So long as you both shall live?

XXXX, will you take XXXX to be your wife,

Will you love and cherish her,
Stand by her whatever may come,
Will you give your relationship all it requires and deserves,
So that you can live the rest of your lives together in love and happiness?

XXXX, will you take XXXX to be your wife,

Will you love & respect her,
Be honest with her, and stand by her through whatever may come,
So you can genuinely share your life together?

Will you XXXX take XXXX to be your lifelong partner?

Will you make the daily effort to relate to her and listen to her
Will you be gracious and generous in your giving of yourself
Will you work for what is best for her for the rest of your life?

Will you XXXX promise to be a fabulous husband/wife?

Will you XXXX take XXXX to be your lawful wedded wife

Will you care for her, support her, listen to her
Stand by her in good times and bad
And be her best friend forever

Vows

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I ask everybody here present to witness that I, name take you, name to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband. I promise to treat you with respect, honesty, love and loyalty, to support you
in times of trouble and times of happiness. I declare my love for you and will honour this
promise as long as we both shall live.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband. Name, I want to be with you always just as you are. I choose you above all
others, to share my life with me in marriage. I love you for yourself, and I want you to
become all that you can be. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I shall live.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, as my lawful wedded wife/husband.
I pledge to share my life openly with you, to speak the truth to you in love. I promise to
honour and tenderly care for you, to cherish and encourage your own fulfilment as an
individual for the rest of my life.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, as my lawful wedded wife/husband.
On this special day, I give you in the presence of all gathered here my promise to stay by
your side as your wife/husband in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through the
good times and the bad. I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of
distress, encourage you to achieve your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with
you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as
we both shall live.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, be my lawful wedded wife/husband,
secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and
my one true love.

Before our friends and those so special to us here as our witness, on this wonderful day of
gladness and good fortune, I take you as my lawful wedded wife/husband, in friendship and
in love, in strength and weakness, to share the good times and misfortune, in achievement and
failure, to celebrate life with you.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband. It is with much love, and great happiness, that I stand with you today to be
married. In doing so, I join my life with yours, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all
hardships and triumphs.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband for the rest of my life. As I stand by you today it is with the knowledge that
our lives together will realise the promises that were made today, and it is to this future that I
humbly submit.

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I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, to be my friend, my lover and my
lawful wedded wife/husband. I choose you above all others to share my life with me in
marriage. I love you for yourself, and I want you to become all that you can be. I will love
and respect you all the days of my life. I make this pledge today in the presence of my family
and friends.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, as my lawful wedded wife/husband.
I love you and want you to share my life with me in marriage. I promise to always be there
for you and to accept you as you are. I shall honour this pledge as long as I live.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband. In doing so, I affirm my love for you, as I invite you to share my life. I
promise always to speak the truth to you; love you and care for you. This is my commitment
to you, made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope and eternally made new.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband. Name, I promise to always respect your needs and to try to understand your
feelings. I will be unselfish and trusting and will strive for a happy life together.

In the presence of God and everybody here present I, take you, to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is
my solemn vow.

I ask everybody here present to witness that I, take you, to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband. I choose you above all others, to share my life with me in marriage. I will
stand by you as your husband/wife in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow. I promise
to be patient and understanding. I promise to listen to you and support you at all times. You
are my best friend and I will love you and honour you for as long as we both shall live.

Ring exchange.

This ring I give you

It represents our union today
A union that has no end,
Just as the ring, in its purest form, has no end.
Receive and wear it, as a seal of our love.

Shannon,
This ring I give you
It represents our union today
A union that has no end,
Just as the ring in its purest form has no end.
Receive and wear it as a seal of our love.

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Groom:
Jan,
This ring I give you,
accept and wear it as a symbol of the special union that we share today,
And as a seal of our everlasting love.

Bride:
John,
This ring I give you,
accept and wear it as a symbol of the special union that we share today,
and as a seal of our everlasting love.

Exchange of rings
Groom: Charlene may this ring be a symbol of my undying love for you, my promise of love
and trust, and joy that you are my wife.

Bride: Scott may this ring be a symbol of my undying love for you, my promise of love and
trust, and joy that you are my husband.

This ring is a symbol of our union,

A symbol of our mutual respect,
A symbol of our strong desire to care for and nurture each other,
And a seal of our love.

With this ring, I marry you.

It is a symbol of my endless love and commitment to you.
Wear it with pride
and know, that it is an everlasting symbol of my devotion to you and
my deep happiness that you are my wife.

I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I
commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we
have spoken today, our wedding day.

I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for
you. I choose you to be my (wife / husband) this day and forevermore.

This ring I give to you as a token of my love and devotion to you. I pledge to you all that I am
and all that I will ever be as your (husband/wife). With this ring, I gladly marry you and join
my life to yours.

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Sample wedding where the couple wanted no frills, short and sharp and legal.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and a warm welcome to the wedding ceremony of
Princess Leah and Chewbacca a ceremony that reflects their personalities and also their
individuality. They welcome you not only to witness their commitment to each other but also
to wish them well and happiness in their new life together.

My name is John Francis and I am a duly authorised celebrant able to solemnize marriages in
Australia. I am delighted that Princess Leah and Chewbacca have granted me the privilege of
performing their ceremony on this most wonderful day.

Monitum – legal requirement

Princess Leah and Chewbacca,, before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the
presence of these witnesses, your family and friends, I must remind you of the solemn and
binding nature of the relationship that you are about to enter. Marriage, according to law in
Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily
entered into for life.

Asking

Do you Chewbacca take Princess Leah to be your lawful wedded wife

Do you promise to care for her, support her, listen to her
Stand by her in good times and bad
And always be her best friend?

Do you Princess Leah take Chewbacca to be you lawful wedded husband

Do you promise to care for him, support him, listen to him
Stand by him in good times and bad
And always be his best friend

Vows – legal requirement

I ask everybody present to witness that I, Chewbacca, take you Princess Leah to be my
friend, my lover and my lawful wedded wife. I choose you above all others to share my life
and it is with much love, and great happiness, that I stand before you today to be married. I
will love and respect you always and I make this pledge today in the presence of my friends.

I ask everybody present to witness that I, Princess Leah, take you Chewbacca to be my
friend, my lover and my lawful wedded husband. I choose you above all others to share my
life and it is with much love, and great happiness, that I stand before you today to be married.
I will love and respect you always and I make this pledge today in the presence of my friends.

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Rings

This ring I give to you as my personal gift,

My promise of love, trust and honesty
A symbol that I will cherish you as my wife.

This ring I give to you as my personal gift.

My promise of love, trust and honesty
A symbol that I will cherish you as my husband

Declaration

Ladies and gentlemen, Princess Leah and Chewbacca have declared before me and before all
of you, their family and friends, that they will live together in marriage, they have symbolized
it by joining hands, taking vows and by exchanging rings. I therefore declare Princess Leah
and Chewbacca to be husband and wife.

Useful links for readings/poems/music

www.entertainmentnow.com.au/artCeremonyMusicSongs.php

www.weddingvendors.com/music/

www.greatweddingsongs.net/

www.ourweddingsongs.com/

www.weddings-celebrant.com/Marriage-Ceremony-Options-Hands

www.anitapoems.com

http://allpoetry.com/poem/3455756-VRod-dreams-by-greyghost

Or, let me be creative with your readings, think outside the square.
Who/what are you passionate about?

Original composers like Beatles, Dylan, Pink, Slim Dusty, Paul Kelly, Metallica, Nirvana.
JK Rowling, Tolkien, a sporting icon?
Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Disney
Butterflies, cats, dogs, philosophy, science, “out there”.

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So much is possible.

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