How To Create Your Wedding Ceremony Structure

Creating a ceremony is like putting lots of different pieces together to make the perfect puzzle. Below is a basic structure of a wedding ceremony for you to consider.

  1. Housekeeping with guests

  2. Processional (couple arrives with music)

  3. Optional: Giving away by parents

  4. Official Welcome

  5. Acknowledgement to Country

  6. Special Acknowledgement of parents/grandparents or people who can’t be with us on the day

  7. Optional: Fun introduction of bridal party

  8. Telling your love story

  9. Optional: Reading from a loved one

  10. Legal Monitum (compulsory legal passage said by celebrant - only 2-3 lines)

My name is [Celebrants FULL NAME] and we are gathered today to witness the marriage of A & B. ... Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.

11. The Asking

12. The Vows

13. Ring Exchange + Optional Ring Blessing

14. Official Declaration of Husband/Wife, Wife/Wife, Husband/Husband

15. The Kiss

16. Signing of certificates and register

17. Final send off and instructions for group shot/direction to reception etc

Claudia Neal-Shaw