6 Sample Wedding Ceremony Scripts And Writing Tips For All Types Of Weddings

Though weddings are accompanied by a deluge of events, the most important event is the wedding ceremony – the grand finale of a days-long celebration, the pinnacle of happiness and excitement, the final summit of what has been a unique and unforgettable journey for the couple and their respective families. As happy and meaningful as the occasion is, some people need to rely on wedding ceremony scripts to ensure that the officiant does not mess with the tone you are trying to set for your big day. It is as important or maybe even more important than the wedding decor or the wedding attire about which most people fuss.

No matter whether it’s a religious ceremony or a secular/non-religious one, a wedding script is a must. It is a blueprint of the wedding that defines the structure of the ceremony and determines what will be said and by who during the ceremony and in which order. To help you out with this big task, we have listed a few tips you can follow to write your wedding, along with some samples for all types of weddings. Check them out below!

How Do You Write A Wedding Script? (Useful Tips)

Writing a wedding script that perfectly caters to the hopes and expectations of the partners and highlights their collective preferences is a mammoth task. A basic wedding ceremony script has two mandatory steps – declaration of intent (the couple repeats “I do”) and the pronouncement (the officiant confirms that the couple is now officially married). Everything else can be modified.

Did You Know?

The wedding ceremony’s order starts with the party’s procession, followed by welcoming everyone, addressing the couple, any readings, exchanging vows and rings, the first kiss, and the closing ceremony.

1. Brainstorm: Brainstorm with your officiant before starting to work on the script. The officiant is an integral part of the wedding ceremony who presides over the whole event and holds the power to marry the couple. They can either be a religious leader with experience as an officiant or just a friend who has stepped in as officiant only for this special occasion.
2. Prepare Early: Depending on how you use it, time can be your best friend or your worst enemy. The key is to begin early as far as conceptualizing the wedding script is concerned. Do some research to create a ceremony that resonates with your and your partner’s beliefs and principles.
3. Keep It Short, Sweet, And Simple: A typical wedding ceremony is wrapped up within 30 minutes unless a religious service is planned. For the event to retain its freshness, it is important to infuse humor into the otherwise serious state of affairs. The best wedding officiant script ensures a little laughter throughout the ceremony, which helps ease the nerves of the soon-to-be wedded couple.
4. Printed Program For The Guests: In this age of customization, weddings too are getting customized to suit the personalities and preferences of the bride and groom. However, the greater the deviation from a traditional ceremony, the higher is the chance of your guests becoming clueless about what’s coming next. To avoid confusion, it is advisable to hand them a printed format of the sequence of programs at the wedding ceremony. This will ensure the guests feel more involved and are in sync with what is happening at the ceremony. Alternatively, you may also create a no-code app that your guests can have on their phones to follow the ceremony.

Quick Tip

Printed programs for the guests play a crucial role in the wedding ceremony. They include some wedding readings, a list of programs, and wedding rituals at the ceremony.

6 Sample Wedding Ceremony Scripts

1. Traditional Wedding Ceremony Script

Procession: The wedding ceremony begins. Guests take their seats as the parents, the wedding officiant, the wedding party, and the couple makes a grand entry, usually accompanied by music played on an organ or a piano.

Invocation: The officiant welcomes the guests saying something like, “Welcome the family, friends, and well-wishers of the lovely couple. We are gathered here to witness the union of two soulmates [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name] and to help them join in the holy vows of matrimony.”

Introduction: Here, the officiant can chip in a few lines sharing his pearls of wisdom on marriage and a healthy, lasting companionship. “Before proceeding further, let’s bow our heads and seek God’s blessing for [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name]. As you embark on the journey of eternal love and commitment, remember that marriage is all about acceptance, understanding, and forgiveness. There will be both tough days and joyous days in equal measure. Hold each other’s hands as you ride in the waves of family life. Today is the end when it all begins.”

Readings: A piece of poetry or a portion of the Bible can be read out by either the officiant or a family member.

Declaration Of Intent: “[Bride’s/Groom’s name], do you take [Bride’s/Groom’s name] as your lawfully wedded husband/wife from this day forward, to love him/her and protect him/her, comfort him/her and cherish him/her, trust him/her and him/honor her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, in life’s good times and bad times for as long as you both shall live?”

Exchange Of Vows: Both parties can utter the same vows in succession, or they can choose to come up with different vows. Usually, it would be something like, “I promise my love for you will keep growing with each passing day, and it will survive all the hardships of life. I promise to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, until death alone shall part us.”

Exchange Of Rings: Now’s the time to seal your vows by exchanging rings. Here the officiant says, “May the rings continue to remind you of what you promised today and help strengthen your relationship and guard your journey from this day onward.”

Pronouncement: It’s time for the officiant to do the honors. “Now that you’ve proclaimed your undying love and commitment towards each other in the presence of your loved ones and the Almighty, by the power vested in me by the state of _______, it gives me immense pleasure to pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

Recession: The officiant concludes: “Thank you so much for bestowing the newlyweds with your priceless blessings. God bless you all. ”

Erin Willet, a blogger, recalls her personal experience of cherishing her wedding moments with a heartfelt ceremony script. She shares the entire script with welcoming remarks, prayer, parents’ recognition, vows, ring exchange, and more in deeper detail. She rejoices at the perfection of the script that was devoid of any fluff and full of love and blessings. In her opinion, she adds, “I can honestly say, it’s more than sufficient in preserving the sanctity of the wedding ceremony. It’s short; it’s sweet; it’s the perfect length…(i).”

2. Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony Script

Sometimes, people opt for secular, non-religious ceremonies so that people from diverse faiths can participate without feeling overwhelmed by religious undercurrents.

Introduction: After the procession, the officiant starts their introductory wedding speech: “Thank you for being here today as we celebrate the holy union of [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name]. Bless the couple as their individual paths converge into one.”

Reading (Officiant): “As George Elliott once said, ‘What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting.’”

Declaration Of Intent: “Do you [Bride’s/Groom’s name], take [Bride’s/Groom’s name] to be your husband/wife/partner from this day onward? Do you promise to treat your partner with dignity and respect, to fulfill your commitment through patience, love, and laughter?

Vows And Rings Exchange: The couple declare their vows in the presence of the guests. This is then followed by the ring exchange that reflects the strength of the relationship and the love they share.

Pronouncement: The officiant pronounces the couple as lawfully and spiritually united to be husband and wife. The officiant may also ask the groom to kiss his bride.

3. Simple Wedding Ceremony Script

A simple wedding script may skip those parts that the couple deems to be unnecessary. If the couple wants something straightforward, short, and precise, a short and sweet wedding ceremony script would be quite apt.

Procession: This is the same as that in other wedding ceremonies. It ushers in the ceremony as the wedding party walks in, with soothing wedding music playing in the background.

Invocation: The officiant delivers a short welcoming speech for the attendees. “Welcome, friends, family, and loved ones. We are gathered here to extend our support and shower our blessings on [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name] as they come together to unite in the eternal bond of love and companionship.”

Declaration Of Intent: The exchange of rings and declaration of intent can be merged together. Before exchanging rings, the officiant presides over the declaration for both the bride and the groom in succession.

“Do you, [Bride’s/Groom’s name], take [Bride’s/Groom’s name] to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife from this day forward? To have and to hold, to love and cherish him/her, to accept his/her vices and celebrate his/her virtues, to be there for each other in sickness and in health, in darkness and in light, for richer and for poorer till death do you apart?”

After both the bride and groom have said “I do,” it is time to exchange rings as the officiant says “Please put the ring on each other’s fingers and repeat as I say: This ring is a symbol of our eternal bond. It will remind me to hold you in the highest esteem and live up to the promise of everlasting love and commitment that I’ve made to you today. Please accept it, my love.”

Pronouncement: “By authority of the power vested in me by the state of _______, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!”

4. Funny Wedding Ceremony Script

A wedding ceremony script need not be all serious. It can be laced with subtle humor and witty one-liners that make the guests smile and give them an opportunity to laugh their hearts out.

Procession: Besides the wedding party, the parents, and the officiant, the couple may choose to include their beloved cats and dogs in the procession. After all, they are very much part of the family! Decked in a cute bow-tie, the four-legged darlings can warm the hearts of every attendee with their gracious walks down the aisle to lead the procession.

Invocation: To ensure the ambiance is fun and lighthearted, a close friend of the couple may be asked to take over the role of the officiant. They may begin the ceremony with these words: “Welcome you all, including our gorgeous four-legged friends. We’re here to celebrate the union of two people who are madly in love with each other. Since they can’t wait to be married, let us not keep them waiting anymore and dive straight into the ceremony.”

Readings: You can use a short quote to sum up the beauty of love within a few lines.

“To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.” –  Orden Nash

Pledge: Now, it is time for the couple to affirm their intentions of being united till “death do us apart.” The friendly officiant can lead the couple through a series of playful yet profound questions which are answered with “I do.”

“Do you [Bride’s/Groom’s name] take [Bride’s/Groom’s name] to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife from this day and time onward? To love and annoy him/her and put up with his/her incorrigible ways through all walks of life, to care for him/her and value his/her presence even when their body is too frail and he/she is forgetting all detail, when the pace is slow and the mind would stop to grow? To remain ever loving and loyal to him/her till death do you apart?”

Slide Of Memories: Arrangements can be made to play an audio-visual recording of the people who have witnessed the journey of these two people as they transformed from friendship to full-bloom love. Make sure the testimonies are peppered with humorous anecdotes so that they add to the overall fun ambiance.

Exchange Of Vows And Rings: Here, the officiant asks the couple to first exchange the eternal vows of marriage and then exchange wedding rings to seal their promises of unconditional friendship, love, and support.

Pronouncement And Kiss: The officiant will draw curtains on the wedding ceremony with his closing remark: “The couple has now sealed their priceless vows of love with the pricey wedding rings. And by virtue of the power vested in me by the state of ________, I would like to pronounce my two crazy friends to be husband and wife. Let the adventure begin! And [Groom’s name], you may now kiss the bride.”

5. Modern Wedding Ceremony Script

A modern wedding ceremony can be hosted at a beautiful church, hotel, opera house, or a place that has an emotional connection for the couple.

Procession: The wedding party can choose to walk down the aisle in pairs or in a single file, depending on whether there are any couples within the wedding party. The procession can be led by the bride’s parents too. A flower with a card mentioning the list of wedding programs can be placed on the chair of every guest.

Invocation: The officiant begins: “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here as [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name] pledge to create their own fairytale and spend the rest of their lives together.”

Pledge: “Do you [Bride’s/Groom’s name] take [Bride’s/Groom’s name] to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife and your partner for life? From here on, your destinies are intricately involved. And now every decision that you make impacts two lives instead of one. Do you pledge to prioritize his/her well-being before thinking of yours, to care for him/her even when you struggle to understand him/her, to remain true and loyal till the last day of your life?” This will be followed by “I do.”

Reading: A wedding poem or a famous couplet would suffice here. “Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar. But never doubt I love.” – William Shakespeare

Exchanging Vows And Rings (Officiant): “Vows are a reminder of the promises you’ve made to each other and urges you to sustain those promises in the long run. I request [Bride’s/Groom’s name] to read out your vow and place the ring on your beloved’s finger.”

Benediction: “In the presence of the Almighty and your loved ones, by the power invested in me by the state of ________, I proclaim you to be husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. ”

6. Religious Wedding Ceremony Script

A Christian wedding ceremony script may include some religious themes, Biblical references, and prayers for the pious occasion.

Invocation: “We are gathered here before friends, family, and the Almighty to witness the holy union of [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name]. Love and marriage are one of God’s greatest blessings, and we consider ourselves lucky to be here and celebrate one of life’s biggest miracles called love.”

Prayers And Readings: The officiant will read out select passages from the Holy Bible that offer some beautiful verses on love.

Declaration Of Intent: “Do you [Bride’s/Groom’s name] promise to love, honor, cherish, trust and respect [Bride’s/Groom’s name] every day of your life from this day onward to the very last day on Earth?” This is followed by “I do.”

Rings And Vows: “The ring manifests the love that God has for both of you and you have for each other. Along with the ring, you’re exchanging mutual love, sacrifice, compassion, and understanding –  all good qualities that the Almighty has blessed you with. Now place your ring on your partner’s finger and utter your vows to each other.”

Pronouncement: “It’s an honor to share this moment with you, and I thank God for making me the chosen one to preside over the ceremony. By the power vested in me by the state of ________, you both are pronounced to be married. You may now kiss.”

These sample scripts are sure to come in handy. But. is the script for the officiant the same? Read a sample general script for officiants for wedding ceremonies below.

Wedding Ceremony Scripts For Officiants

Crafting a concise yet meaningful wedding ceremony script for an officiant requires balancing solemnity and warmth:

“Welcome, cherished guests! We gather in the presence of love and grace to witness the union of [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name]. Marriage is a sacred bond, a union blessed by the divine, symbolizing the promise of lifelong companionship and unwavering support. Today, amidst family, friends, and the Almighty, we celebrate the commitment these two souls share. Let us honor their love and devotion as they exchange vows, promising to cherish, support, and uplift each other through life’s joys and challenges. May their union be adorned with the blessings of love, faith, and understanding while offering our blessings and support, rejoicing in the creation of a new family.”

Infographic: 4 Useful Tips To Write Wedding Scripts

Weddings are extremely special and personal for a couple. However, many of your relatives and friends will attend your wedding ceremony. To make sure that everything goes smoothly and just the way you want, proper wedding planning is necessary, which includes script writing.
Check out the infographic below for tips on how to write the perfect wedding script.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Life does not follow a script, but your wedding can. You are the storywriter here, and it is time for you to honor the dreams that you and your partner have dreamed together while imagining that perfect wedding ceremony. Whether you choose to go modern or adhere to sacrosanct religious customs, it is your big day and time for you to create unforgettable memories. So, pick the officiant script that resonates with you the most. If you don’t want to stick to a standard format consider personalizing your wedding ceremony script. For instance you can include how you two met, challenges you encountered together and overcame, or select a reading that holds meaning for you both. Remember, there are no rules when it comes to adding a personal touch to your wedding, just follow your heart!

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I want to include special cultural or family traditions in my ceremony?

The first and foremost important step is to talk to your partner about it and know how comfortable they are with the idea. You can also consider inculcating family traditions that resonate with both of you. If you get their approval, work with the officiant on the wedding script and give them an outline of the wedding ceremony procedure that you have envisioned in your mind.

What is the order of a wedding ceremony script?

It really depends on the bride and groom. Sometimes, if the bride and groom are from two different religions or cultures, they may want a blend of both customs and wedding traditions. Some brides and grooms may want to add a personal touch to their wedding ceremony.

How many words should be in a wedding ceremony?

You can have the wedding ceremony script be as long or short and personalized as you want. But, it is best to keep the wedding ceremony script short and sweet. Stick to keeping the titles of the main ceremony, like ‘enter groomsmen,’ ‘bridal walk,’ ‘registry signing,’ etc. Only add extra words if there are songs or sayings that the entire wedding party and guests need to repeat and say along. The wedding vows can be as long as the bride and groom want them to be, but most couples keep them within 100-300 words.

What are some tips for choosing the right officiant to deliver my wedding ceremony script?

Some things to keep in mind while choosing an officiant for your wedding:
• The kind of ceremony will decide the officiant, be it religious, secular, traditional, or personalized.
• Meet the officiant in person to know where you stand and whether you feel comfortable with them.
• Take into account their experience and flexibility.
• Keep your budget in mind while searching for an officiant.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing or delivering a wedding ceremony script?

It is best to check your ceremony script and avoid cliches and metaphors. Ensure that the script does not sound like a lecture and maintains a flow, and rehearse the script as much as possible before the ceremony.

Illustration: Sample Wedding Ceremony Scripts And Writing Tips For All Types Of Weddings

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn how to officiate a perfect wedding ceremony with the easy-to-follow script in this video. Become a pro and make this special day stress-free and memorable!

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Jeff LannoWedding Planner

   

Jeff Lanno is a wedding planner and a legally certified Canadian travel agent. He has worked in travel agencies for 15+ years, which has now evolved to managing groups and wedding groups. He aims to make the travel and destination wedding experience a beautiful and memorable one for his clients.

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Shivani ChandelBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Shivani Chandel is a postgraduate in English literature from Panjab University, Chandigarh and a certified relationship coach. She has four years of experience in copy editing and writing about entertainment, health, lifestyle, and beauty.

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Madhumati ChowdhuryAssociate Editor

Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through the various facets of content creation and refinement with ease.

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