Example Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony will take place at the Joondalup Resort, outside, on the Lakeview Terraced Paved area. The bride’s entrance is from a door at the back of the area. She walks forward for a few steps and then turns left and with a few more steps is at the top of the red carpet. Before the Bride’s entrance her Bridesmaid walks down the aisle and the Best Man greets her at the bottom of the four steps. He gives her his hand and they walk up the stairs and into their places at the top of the stairs.

The Entrance of the Bride

Celebrant: Please stand to greet the Bride.

Music Selection/Brides Entrance: The Nearness of You – Nora Jones

Celebrant: Helga and Fred have chosen to meet each other half way along the red carpet as a symbol of the equality that they experience in their relationship.

Celebrant: Please be seated

Family and friends, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this very special occasion. My name is Kathryn Sturrock and I am duly authorised by law to solemnise this marriage according to law.

I call upon everyone here present to be a fellow witness with me, in this marriage we are about to celebrate between Helga and Fred. We are here not only to witness their commitment to each other, but our presence here means that we wish them well.

Helga first met Fred when she applied for a job as a yoga instructor at the gym that Fred manages. Helga had two young children to raise and she needed to work but at the same time she wanted to be with her children as much as possible especially if they were sick and needed her.  Fred’s understanding of Helga’s need to be with her children and his kindness and flexibility with her work hours were some of the reasons that she found her feelings for Fred starting to change. Helga said that “she enjoyed being in Fred’s company”. She started to look forward to the time she spent with Fred and the fun and laughter that he bought into her life

Fred on the other hand was attracted to Helga’s gentleness and      concern for her children. When they started seeing each other outside of work, Fred said, “It all just felt natural as if we had been together for years rather than just knowing each other a short-time”. He knew he wanted to be with Helga forever long before they decided that Fred would move in with Helga and her two children. Fred told me “That he and Helga compliment each other and keep a harmonious balance in their relationship”.

The relationship Helga and Fred have with Helga’s children is

especially important to them both.  Today we witness the joining

not only of husband and wife but also the joining of a family. Fred loves

that Helga is a good loving mother. Helga knows that Fred really likes

her children and enjoys their company. He encourages Megan and Charlie

to be the best that they can be.

In return, Megan and Charlie have welcomed Fred. Helga notes that

when Fred works late, they ask for him. Together, Helga, Fred, Megan

and Charlie look forward to having a united, healthy and happy family.

First Reading

Celebrant: Fred and Helga also include both of their parents in their family and to be the representative of their wider family they have asked Helga’s mother Mrs Margarit Norstrum to come up and read a poem, Love, by Rod McKuen.

Tina would you now come up to the microphone.

Love,

Puts the music in laughter,

the beauty in song,

the warmth in a shoulder,

the gentle in strong.

Love,

puts the magic in memories,

the sunshine in skies,

the gladness in giving,

the starlight in eyes.

Love,

puts the fun in together,

the sad in apart

the hope in tomorrow,

the joy in the heart.

Rod McKuen

Thank you Mrs Norstrum for the very good reading of the poem

Celebrant to Helga:

Helga Norstrum,

Will you take Fredrick Jones Hansen to be your lawful wedded husband?

Will you love, honour and respect him, be honest with him

and stand by him through whatever may come, so you can

genuinely share your life together?

Helga:

I do

Celebrant to Fred:

Frederick Jones Hansen,

Will you take Helga Norstrum to be your lawful wedded wife?

Will you love, honour and respect her, be honest with her

and stand by her through whatever may come, so you can

genuinely share your life together?

Fred:

I do.

MONITUM

“I am duly authorised by law to solemnize marriages according to law.

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.

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”.

The Vows.

I call upon the persons here present to witness that I   Full Name take you or thee  Full Name to be my lawfully wedded husband or wife.

You can add your own vows here.

I call upon the persons here present to witness that I  Full Name take you Full Name to be my lawfully wedded husband or wife.

and here . You can say the same words as each other, or have different words.

Exchange of Rings

Celebrant: The weddings rings are a symbol of longevity and the circle of the rings represents a never-ending circle of love and commitment, which you are both making here today. Tom will you please bring the rings.  Many thanks.

Helga and Fred will you place the ring over the tip of each other’s left ring finger while you say these Vows.

Fred would you repeat after me, Helga, this wedding band has no    beginning and no end. It symbolizes my love for you.

Helga would you repeat after me, Fred this wedding band has no beginning and no end. It symbolizes my love for you.

Candle Ritual

This wedding ceremony represents more than just the joining of a couple we are also witnessing the creation of a new family. I invite Helga and Fred’s children to join their parents at the table here in the center. Helga, Fred, Megan and Charlie to symbolize your unity as a family, you will now join in lighting Unity Candle. Penny could you come forward and light the candles of Charlie, Megan, Fred and Helga?  Thank you

As the flames of your candles join the flame flares higher than before. The united flame is a strong symbol, it symbolizes the unity of family, and how all of your lives will be richer because of your common bond of love.

Second Reading

Helga and Fred have asked Fred’s father Mr George Hansen to read the second poem that they have chosen.  George could you please come up to the microphone.

Kahlil Gibran, in his book “The Prophet”, reflects on marriage. He says:

Love one another but make not a bond of love;

let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous,

But let each one of you be alone.

Even as the strings of the lute are alone, though they quiver with

the same music.

When two people marry, they bring with them all the experiences

of their pasts.

Each has strengths and knowledge to share with the other.

Each is unique and thus their particular marriage will be unique.

Each partner must respect the other’s individualism.

More than likely, this individualism is what attracted each to other.

Celebrant: Thank you Mr Hansen for that fine reading of the

poem by Kahlil Gibran.

Declaration and Kiss

Celebrant:  Fred and Helga you have made your vows of marriage before your family and friends here today, we acknowledge and support you in your love and commitment to each other and on behalf of all those here today, it is my honour to declare you Husband and Wife, Fred you may kiss your bride.

Celebrant: It is now time to sign the Marriage Papers, Fred and Helga have selected a beautiful song for you to listen to while you have a chat with each other during this part of the ceremony.

Music:   At Last by Dianne Reeves & Lou Rowls

Signing of the Marriage Register and Certificates

Music:  East of the Sun (West of the Moon)

by Diana Krall

Presentation of Newlyweds

Ladies and Gentlemen

Fred and Helga have declared before all of us that they will live

together in marriage. They have made special promises to each

other and to Megan and Charlie. They have symbolised their

union by joining hands, taking vows, and exchanging rings.      Therefore, on your behalf and on behalf of the community, I

now declare Fred and Helga to be husband and wife. I am

honoured to introduce you to Mr and Mrs Hansen