ORDER OF CEREMONY

The steps involved in the ceremony.

Below is the order of steps which take place in the wedding ceremony. You can access our PDF Document ceremony choices document (866 KB) for printing or you can select any of the steps below for further information:

Entrance

You can choose to enter together or separately, and if you have chosen your own music, this is where your entrance track is played.

Welcome and introduction

The registrar/celebrant will welcome the couple and their guests with a short introduction.

Giving away*

If you have chosen to be given away, the registrar will ask “Who gives this person's hand in marriage?” here.

Declaratory vows

There are two parts of the ceremony that require specific words to be said in a prescribed way, the Declaratory Words (These are the words that state you are free lawfully to marry one another) and the Contracting Vows (These words form the legal contract of marriage).

The Declaratory Words can be said in one of three ways:

  1. “I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, ____ may not be joined in matrimony to ______”
  2. “I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, _______ may not be joined in marriage to ________”
  3. By replying “I am” to the question, “Are you _____ free lawfully to marry _______?”
Reading

You may wish to include readings in your ceremony. A reading can be done by a guest or family member, or the celebrant would be more than happy to read it for you if you wish.

We have the following suggestions for readings, but you can also provide your own if you wish:

Contracting vows

There are two parts of the ceremony that require specific words to be said in a prescribed way, the Declaratory Words (These are the words that state you are free lawfully to marry one another) and the Contracting Vows (These words form the legal contract of marriage).

The Contracting Vows can be said in one of three ways:

  1. “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, ______ take thee _______ to be my lawful wedded husband.”
  2. “I _______ do take thee _______ to be my wedded husband”.
  3. “I _______ take you _______ to be my wedded husband”.
Promises*

As part of your Contacting Vows to each other, you can also choose to make extra promises to each other.  We have a number of promises you may wish to choose from, but you can provide your own if you wish.

Reading*

You may wish to include readings in your ceremony. A reading can be done by a guest or family member, or the celebrant would be more than happy to read it for you if you wish.

We have the following suggestions for readings, but you can also provide your own if you wish:

Exchanging of rings*

You may wish to exchange rings as part of the ceremony.  You can choose to include someone as ring bearer if you would like.

Closing remarks

After all of the formalities and any chosen additions of the service have finished, the registrar/celebrant will pronounce the couple legally married.

Signing of register

You will now sign the Marriage Register along with your chosen witnesses.

Please note

Only a civil non-religious ceremony can be conducted by a celebrant.
All music, readings and words which form part of the ceremony must be approved prior to the ceremony.

* These are options that you may wish to include in your ceremony.