Wedding Officiant Jacksonville FL is a local wedding officiant service in Jacksonville, FL. Take a peek at my wedding ceremony format and sample vows to help you shape the ceremony. This basic blocking and tackling will give you an outline to work from. It’s your day and we’re going to do it your way, anything and everything can be modified.
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Wedding Ceremony Format
Download this ceremony to your computer: Standard Wedding Ceremony
Section 1: Opening Statement
Officiant: “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of witnesses to share with (Groom’s name) and (Bride’s name) a most important moment in their lives. In presenting yourselves here today to be joined in marriage, you perform an act of faith. This faith can grow and develop and last, but only if you both decide to make it so. You are about to make promises to each other. These vows are beautiful words representing even more beautiful intentions. You will find that as you live these vows over the years, investing your time, love and commitment that your reward will be twice as joyous for having shared it with another. No other human ties are more tender. No other vows more important than those you are about to pledge. The miracle lies in the path you have chosen and the true magic of love is not to avoid the path but to navigate it together successfully.”
Section 2: (Optional) Giving the Bride Away
Officiant: “Who brings this woman to join in this union?”
Bride’s Escort Response: (You choose/create this response appropriate to your needs.)
- “I do”
- “We do”
- “Her mother and I do”
- “Her father and I do”
- “I/We do, on behalf of her/our parents.”
Section 3: (Optional) Guest Readings or Other Special Words/Remarks
You may want to have a guest speak perhaps to read a poem or insert a religious passage or something else unique to you. One very popular insertion which is usually spoken by me (but you can choose anyone to speak) is a quote from the Bible which despite its origins is not religious in tone. It is as follows:
Corinthians 13:4
“Love is patient, love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, it is not proud. It is not rude nor selfish nor easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love is not happy in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. Love never fails.”
If you are having a guest speaker in this section, that person would simply come to the dais, stand on their mark, deliver the reading then return to their appointed location.
Section 4: Exchanging Vows
Officiant: “Now it’s time to exchange your vows. The exchanging of these vows is a commitment to making a life together and to sharing the uncertainties of the future, knowing that your love for one another remains constant through it all. Today’s bond of marriage is the first step toward your life together as husband and wife. Please face each other and join hands.”
“(Groom’s name) do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in matrimony, to love, honor, comfort her and keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
Groom: “I do.”
Officiant: (To the Groom) “Please repeat after me. I, (Groom’s Name), take you (Bride’s Name), to be my wife, 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 till death do us part.”
Officiant: “(Bride’s name), do you take you this man to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to love, honor, comfort him and keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
Bride: “I do”
Officiant: (To the Bride) “Repeat after me. I, (Bride’s Name), take you (Groom’s Name), to be my husband , to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
Section 5: (Optional) Sand Pouring Ceremony
(This is a ceremony where participants (usually the Bride and Groom only but sometimes including children or other members of blended families) will each be handed a vase of either colored sand (for layering) or sand saved from locations unique to the couple which each person pours one at a time into a keepsake vase to create a remarkable one-of-a-kind memento of your special day.)
Officiant: “The bride and groom have chosen to perform a symbolic ceremony through the pouring of sand to mark this occasion.”
“Today your union is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand into one.”
“The first vase representing you, (Groom’s name) and all that you were, all that you are and all that you will become; and the other representing you, (Bride’s name), and all that you were, all that you are and all that you will become.”
“As these two vases of sand are poured together, the individual containers no longer exist but are joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated so shall your union be.”
Section 6: (Optional) Handwritten Vows by the Bride and Groom
If the Bride and Groom have written their own vows, the Groom state his vows first followed by the Bride. Although not required, the State of Florida handbook recommends each person ending their vows with… “with these words I thee wed.”
Section 6: Exchanging of Rings
Officiant: “You have chosen to exchange rings as a sign of the promises you are making today. The giving and receiving of rings symbolizes your love for one another, which like the circle, knows no end.”
Officiant: “(Groom’s name,) do you have the ring?” (Usually the groom turns to take the ring from the best man but he can also keep it in a pocket.)
Officiant: “(Groom’s name) place the ring on (Bride’s name), finger and repeat after me.”
Officiant & Groom: “(Bride’s name), I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. I will be faithful and honest with you. I will respect, love and care for you. I will share my life with you.”
Officiant: “(Bride’s name,) do you have the ring?” (Usually the bride turns to take the ring from one of the bridesmaids.)
Officiant: “(Bride’s name),place the ring on (Groom’s name) finger and repeat after me.”
Officiant & Bride: “(Groom’s name), I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. I will be faithful and honest with you. I will respect, love and care for you. I will share my life with you.”
Section 7: Pronouncement and Introduction
Officiant: “May this day shine eternally in your lives. May you care for each other in all sadness. May you give cheer to each other. May you give strength to each other in all undertakings. May your life together be a source of inspiration to yourselves, your families, your friends, and to all whose lives you touch.”
Officiant: “You have expressed your love and commitment through the vows you have taken today and with the exchanging of rings. By the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. (To Groom) You may now kiss the bride.”
Bride and Groom turn to face the audience.
Officiant: “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. (Last Name).”