Marriage and Civil Partnerships wedding ceremony process ______________________________________________________________ The text below is an example of how the ceremony

y will flow. This is not the full script - just the essential words required and indications where a reading can be added if desired. ______________________________________________________________ Introduction Following a welcoming introduction, which will include your full names, the Superintendent Registrar will inform all present that the place where they are met has been duly sanctioned according to law for the celebration of marriages. The Superintendent Registrar will then say: 'If any person present knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage they should declare it now'. The Superintendent Registrar is also required to say: 'Before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows of marriage. Marriage, according to the law of this country, is the union of one man with one woman, voluntarily entered into for life to the exclusion of all others' - this being the legal definition of marriage. A READING CAN BE INSERTED AT THIS STAGE IF DESIRED Bride and Grooms words You will then be asked in turn - groom first - to repeat, after the Superintendent Registrar, the legal declaratory words, choosing one of the following options: "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I groom/bride may not be joined in matrimony to bride/groom" or "I declare that I know of no legal reason why I groom/bride may not be joined in marriage to bride/groom" or by replying "I am" to the following question: "Are you groom/bride free lawfully to marry bride/groom You will then be asked in turn - groom first - to repeat, after the Superintendent Registrar, the legal contracting words, once again choosing one of the following options: "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I groom/bride do take thee bride/groom to be my lawful wedded wife/husband" or "I groom/wife take you bride/groom to be my wedded wife/husband"

or "I groom/wife take thee bride/groom to be my wedded wife/husband Personal additional wording can be added after the legal contracting words, suggestions as follows: "I promise to care for you, to remain true to you, and above all, to love and respect you always" or "and I promise to care for you, and to love and respect you always" or "and I promise to love you, cherish and encourage you, be open and honest with you, as long as we both shall live" or as from this day, I promise to support you with love and friendship, throughout our marriage" or "I groom/bride have chosen you to spend my life with. I promise to be loyal, loving and true to you for the rest of our lives" These additional words can either be repeated after the Superintendent Registrar or you can read them out separately. A READING CAN BE INSERTED AT THIS STAGE IF DESIRED Exchange of rings Rings may be exchanged at this point. As this is not a legal part of the ceremony, this can be done with your own personal words. Some suggestions as follows: "I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage" or "I give you this ring as a token of my love and a symbol of our future together" or "Accept this ring as a lasting symbol of my promise to love, respect and trust you. Your dreams shall be my dreams, your joy my joy. When you need me I will support you. When we are apart I will be with you" or "Accept this ring, a circle with no end; a symbol of my everlasting love" or

"This ring is an outward symbol that I have chosen you as my wife/husband, my companion, my confidante and my friend for now and for the rest of our lives" A READING CAN BE INSERTED AT THIS STAGE IF DESIRED Pronounced Husband and Wife This follows with the summing up. You will then be pronounced husband and wife. Applause from your guests is encouraged. A FINAL READING CAN BE INSERTED HERE IF DESIRED Signing of the register The register is then signed by the groom, the bride and the witnesses and finally by the Superintendent Registrar and the Registrar. After all the ceremony photography has taken place, the Marriage Certificate will then be presented to the bride. The couple are then presented to their guests, the exit music - if any - is played, allowing the bride and groom to lead the way out of the wedding room to normally well earned refreshment. ______________________________________________________________ Any personal wording will need to exclude any religious content and anything other than the above suggested wording will need to be approved by us at least 14 days before the day of the ceremony. ______________________________________________________________ Music can be played at the following times: Whilst the guests are arriving Brides entrance Whilst the register is being signed Bride and Grooms exit

The music can be pre-recorded on a CD. Please liaise with the venue. We would advise that any personal CDs are pre-checked on the equipment that will be used on the day. It is important that all music excludes any religious content and requires our approval beforehand by completing the relevant part of the green form.