Seattle Wedding Officiant Michael Cassarino from A Perfect Little Wedding and Seattle Wedding DJ Dubre Hayes aka DJ DUBREEZY work together on two Northwest wedding ceremonies recently with a perfect wedding ceremony outline.
This wedding ceremony outline can be used with all parts mentioned or just the ones that you want and is for a traditional american wedding ceremony.
The Wedding Ceremony Outline
PRELUDE
The prelude is before the actual ceremony when all the guests are arriving and the DJ is playing background music. The background music can be discussed with your DJ. Sometimes the lighting of candles is towards the ending of the prelude.
PROCESSIONAL
The processional can be broken into three parts:
- Family Processional – This would be for the seating of the parents, grandparents and other honored guests you would like seated during this processional.
- Wedding Party Processional – After the officiant and groom has taken their places, this is when the bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring bearers, flower girls, etc. walk down the aisle and get into their respective places.
- Bride Processional – This is when the bride who is usually escorted by her father walks down the aisle.
Great songs to walk down the aisle to.
OPENING REMARKS/PRAYER
This is the part where the officiant welcomes the guests and says a prayer to bless the ceremony which is about to begin.
GIVING AWAY OF THE BRIDE
This is when the officiant asks who is giving away the bride.
THE CHARGE TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM
This is the time when the officiant explains to the bride and groom their responsibilities and individual roles during the marriage.
CUSTOM MOMENT #1 (OPTIONAL)
This could be if you are going to have someone give a speech, scripture reading or sing a song.
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Some people choose to write their own vows or go with the standard vows which are the promises made to each other.
RING EXCHANGE
This is when the rings are exchanged to represent the faithfulness couple’s to each other.
CUSTOM MOMENT #2 (OPTIONAL)
This would be the time if there was going to be sand ceremony or unity candle ceremony to represent the coming of one.
THE PRONOUNCEMENT
This is when the officiant makes it official that the bride and groom are now husband and wife.
CLOSING PRAYER
The officiant will say another prayer to bless the marriage.
THE KISS
The moment everyone has been waiting for as if it’s the main event. “_______, you may kiss the bride” is the part of the wedding ceremony outline that everyone cheers for and the officiant says those exact words.
PRESENTATION OF THE NEW COUPLE
This is when the officiant presents the couple for the first time as husband and wife.
RECESSIONAL
This is when the bride, groom and the rest of the wedding party exit down the aisle usually to a fun song.
Wedding Ceremony Outline Conclusion
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the officiant will usually make an announcement the instructs guests on what to do next whether it’s head to a certain area for cocktails or head to a different location for the reception. You can go over that with you officiant.
To create a wedding ceremony outline that works for you, contact Michael Cassarino with A Perfect Little Wedding for your next wedding ceremony.
