When planning our wedding ceremony, I thought it was interesting (and a little annoying) that there were hardly any road-maps of people’s actual wedding ceremonies on the internet. I’m always quite curious to see how people craft their wedding ceremony, noting the readings they choose to use, the vows they opt to exchange, etc. With that said, I decided to post our actual wedding ceremony script, omitting the remarks made by the Judge who married us (as that wasn’t provided to us in writing beforehand). If you’re planning your own wedding, I hope that this might be at least a little helpful!
A quick overview of our actual wedding ceremony. Notes and thoughts to come tomorrow:
THE MARRIAGE CELEBRATION OF CHELSEA AND K.C.
Processional:
played on the piano
“The Holly and the Ivy” by George Winston
Junior Bridesmaids enter and set up altar
Groom Enters
Seating of Parents
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie (original)
Bridesmaid/Groomsmen Processional
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol (original)
Bride & Father enter
Intro by Judge
Quote and Readings
“To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you’re wrong, admit it; Whenever you’re right, shut up.” — Ogden Nash
I Like You by Mr. Rogers
It’s you I like, It’s not the things you wear. It’s not the way you do your hair, But it’s you I like. The way you are right now. The way down deep inside you. Not the things that hide you. Not your diplomas… They’re just beside you. But it’s you I like, Every part of you: your skin, your eyes, your feelings, whether old or new. I hope that you’ll remember even when you’re feeling blue, that it’s you I like, it’s you yourself, it’s you. It’s you I like!
LOVE by Roy Croft
I love you,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.
I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.
I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Wine Box Ceremony:
Judge introduces the concept of the wine box ceremony. Chelsea and KC place their letters in the box, followed by their mothers, who place their letters in the box and then seal it shut.
Intro to vows
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment.
At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way.
All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks – all those sentences that began with ”When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will” – those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.
All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover and even teacher. For you have learned much from one another in these last few years.
Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my husband, this is my wife.
Vows
KC, do you take Chelsea to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
I do.
Chelsea do you take KC to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
I do.
Rings:
KC:
Chelsea, I give you this ring as a token of my love and faithfulness. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your husband. With this ring, I marry you and join my life to yours.
Chelsea:
KC, I give you this ring as a token of my love and faithfulness. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your wife. With this ring, I marry you and join my life to yours.
Announcement of Husband and Wife & The Kiss
“You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall and Oates
played by the DJ
Recessional