Your wedding ceremony – some ways to make it reflect you as a couple

Your wedding ceremony – some ways to make it reflect you as a couple

Sometimes there are special words that mean a lot to you….

Like some words from a favourite song?   These are from a song by the Rolling Stones, for example….

If I was the sun way up there
I’d go with my love everywhere
I’ll be the moon when the sun go down
To let you know I’m still around
That’s how strong my love is, baby
That’s how strong my love is

Rolling Stones – That’s how strong my love is

Or it could be that you have always loved Shakespeare’s sonnets?

Or even certain prayers, or readings from the Bible.  Perhaps that classic piece from Corinthians?  You know the one?  “Love is patient.  Love is kind.  It does not envy….”

Your wedding is a great opportunity to incorporate and weave some of these favourite words into your story – reflecting your personality and your feelings about this wonderful occasion.

Of course, you might like to keep everything simple and stay with a traditional and standard script?  But for those of you who really want to take advantage of Australia’s wonderful Civil Marriage laws (we have the best in the world), there are several opportunities for this creativity during your marriage ceremony, such as:

  1. Entrance music for the bride (or for the couple if walking in together).
  2. Readings, prayers or poems at any point during the ceremony.  A poem can be read for the couple, by the celebrant or by a family member or friend?  A particularly moving song might be played or sung during the ceremony?  The Bride and Groom might like to read a poem to their guests, perhaps!  All things are possible.
  3. The ring exchange can be a great opportunity to add your personality and feelings into the script in a low key way.  For example:
    1. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today.
    2. I give this ring in remembrance of this moment.  It is a symbol of our love: one that is complete, beautiful and endless.
  4. Vows.  This can be the most moving part of the whole ceremony, particularly if the bride and groom choose to personalise these promises.   Legally, there are a few words that need to be said, but after that you can add as few or as many words as you wish, making the vows your very own.  There are some traditional words to be found on several websites – or you can be a ‘free spirit’ and write something completely from scratch.

Usually these will be printed and read to each other during the ceremony, but some couples actually like to learn them off by heart! Mostly it’s a good idea to keep the vows reasonably short, but a letter form can also work well.  During one wedding I was nervous about how the guests might react to the couple reading two A4 pages each!  They made promises to each other, to their children and to their families and friends.  I needn’t have worried….  This was an absolutely beautiful moment – and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house  (including those of the Celebrant!).

Please feel free to ask me if there is anything more I can help with, regarding the crafting of an individual and personalised ceremony for this most joyous event in your lives – the day that you declare to the world that you have chosen the person with whom you wish to spend the rest of your life!

Your wedding. Your way.

Wedding Ceremony - Reflect you as a couple