SAMPLE WEDDING CEREMONY FORMAT: (The following ceremony is a very basic example of the structure and text of the wedding ceremony for James Smith and Julie Price. The end result is to have the most beautiful and meaningful ceremony of your choice. My folder: Wedding Ceremonies, Readings and Poems will be an excellent guide to making your very own ceremony a memorable one.)

The structure of the ceremony is as follows:

Introduction and Welcome by Marriage Celebrant:
Jeroo Mody
Good afternoon family and friends, my name is Jeroo Mody, I am a Civil Celebrant and Justice of the Peace, duly authorised by law to solemnise marriage according to the laws of Australia. On behalf of James and Julie, it is with great pleasure I welcome you all to the beautiful Hanging Gardens. They are pleased that you are able to be here to share this very special moment in their lives today.

James and Julie, marriage is founded upon sincerity and understanding, which leads to tolerance, confidence and trust. It involves respect for each other's feelings, weaknesses and faults. You believe that those qualities, which have attracted you both to each other, can be best developed during a life spent together.

A happy marriage will enable you to establish a home, with love and stability, where your family and friends will always be welcome.

(You may add more material to this paragraph according to your own views on marriage and how you met leading up to your decision to marry).

Monitum from the Australian Marriage Act :
Required by law is a Statement from the Marriage Celebrant explaining the binding nature of a marriage.

Reading or Poem: Read by the Celebrant or a member of the family or a friend.

(My folder: Wedding Ceremonies, Readings and Poems will be able to guide you to choose the reading or poem)

Giving Away: Where the Bride decides to have someone giving her away (Optional) .

The Asking   - where the bride and groom are asked by the Celebrant if they take each other as husband and wife.

Vows: - a legally binding statement is required: eg Groom/Bride repeats the following phrase:

"I James take you Julie to be my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, while we both shall live".

"I Julie take you James to be my lawful husband .... (as above)........."

(Please note: these are the traditional vows. You may write your very own personal vows which your family and friends will be privileged to be sharing with you. My folder will give you ideas on writing your own personal vows.)

Ring Ceremony - exchange or giving of rings.

(2nd Reading chosen by the couple to be read by a member of the family, a friend or celebrant.)

Required by law a Declaration of Marriage where the Celebrant declares the couple to be Husband and Wife.

Signing of Documents:
Signing of the Marriage Certificates by the Bridal Couple and two legal Witnesses to the marriage

(one Witness for the Bride and the other for the Groom).

Presenting the Marriage Certificate:
Family and friends it gives me great pleasure in presenting the Marriage Certificate to James and Julie, Mr and Mrs Smith. Please congratulate the happy couple.