Officiant: Good afternoon. NAME, NAME and I would like to welcome everyone on this gorgeous day. It’s because of all of you—because of this strong community—[NAME] and [NAME]’s relationship has strengthened and grown and led them to this very moment. Thank you for being here, now let’s begin.
Table of Contents
How do you lead a wedding ceremony?
- Processional. Every ceremony kicks off with a processional.
- Opening remarks. Once everyone is in their rightful place, the officiant will begin the show.
- Charge to the couple.
- Exchanging of vows.
- Exchanging of rings.
- First kiss.
- The signing.
- Recessional.
How do you do a wedding sermon?

What is a wedding invocation?
In a Christian wedding ceremony, the opening prayer (also called the wedding invocation) typically includes giving thanks and a call that asks (or invokes) God to be present and bless the service that is about to begin and the participants in that service.
How do you introduce yourself as an officiant?
When it comes to an impactful officiant speech, start with the specific and transition to the broad. The audience will want to know who you are and why you’re up there. So, start by introducing yourself—briefly—and explain why you were chosen or how you know the couple.
How do I start an officiant speech?
Does the officiant introduce themselves? The wedding officiant does not necessarily have to introduce themselves as everyone would know who they are and why they are there. They could start with a few lines such as: ‘Welcome everyone and thank you for being here to witness the union of (bride) and (bride). ‘
Who walks in first at a wedding?
1. Officiant. Your officiant is generally the first person to walk toward the altar, signifying the ceremony is about to commence.
What to say at the beginning of a wedding?
Generic. Dear friends and family of the Bride and Groom, we welcome and thank you for being part of this important occasion. We are gathered together on this day to witness and celebrate the marriage of Name Of Bride and Name Of Groom. Every one of us has a deep desire to love and to be loved.
What are the 5 parts of the wedding ceremony in order?
- Processional. The processional begins with bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down the aisle, typically paired up.
- Readings. A few people may be invited up to share or exchange readings at this point in the ceremony.
- Exchange of Vows.
- Pronouncement of Marriage.
- Unity Ceremony.
How long should a wedding sermon last?
The ceremony length can vary quite a bit depending on what kind you have. A typical civil ceremony is usually about 20 – 30 minutes depending on how many readings you have and how long they are. A church / religious ceremony is usually longer – about 45 minutes.
How long should a wedding sermon be?
Wedding ceremonies usually last between 20 and 30 minutes, which is ample time to cover the basics (words of welcome, a few readings, your vows, the ring exchange, and the final pronouncement).
What does a pastor say in a wedding?
Statement on Marriage: Dearly beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God, to join this Man and this Woman in holy marriage; which is instituted of God, regulated by His commandments, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be held in honor among all men.
What is a good opening prayer for a wedding?
Gracious God, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this the wedding day of Bride/Groom and Groom. They come before you, pledging their lives and their hearts to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring heartbreak into their marriage.
What is a good wedding prayer?
Heavenly Father, we acknowledge Your blessing upon this marriage and we give thanks that Your spirit is with the Groom and Bride. Bless this beautiful couple in all their days to come with a joyous life, deep love, bless them with peace and wisdom that they will need to fulfill their promises made here today.
What does an ordained minister say at a non-religious wedding?
Officiant: Names, you have come here today of your own free will and, in the presence of your family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other. By the power vested in me by the internet and the State of [your state], I now pronounce you husband and wife!
What questions does an officiant ask?
- When, Where, and Who?
- What role do your families play in your lives?
- How do you want to remember your ceremony?
- What have you seen at other weddings that you liked or not liked?
- How did you meet?
- How did you get engaged?
Who walks mother of groom down aisle?
The most traditional choice is for a groomsman to walk the bride’s mother down the aisle. This can be an especially good choice if the two sides of the wedding party are uneven or if you’d like to give this gentleman some additional spotlight.
Who walks mother of bride down the aisle?
2. Mother of the bride. The mother of the bride is the last person seated before the officiant, groom and best man take their places at the altar. She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative.
Who seats the mother of the groom at a wedding?
5 minutes prior to ceremony: The groom’s mother is escorted to her seat by the head usher, a son, or the groom. The groom’s father follows and sits next to her.
Who puts ring on first in wedding?
In a traditional wedding ceremony order, the vows are followed by the ring exchange. The groom usually goes first, though we invite you to be progressive. He puts the wedding band on the bride’s finger while repeating a phrase like, “I give this ring as a sign of my love.” Then, it’s the bride’s turn.
What are the 7 vows of marriage?
Alternately, each partner can recite the traditional vows. “I, _____, take you, _____, to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish always.”
Who says vows first in a wedding?
Traditionally, the groom would say his vows first, followed by the bride, according to Nathan. However, there are no rules for that wedding tradition, and many couples now choose other ways to determine who goes first, particularly at LGBTQIA+ and nondenominational weddings.
What is the officiant speech called?
2 The Invocation The “invocation” is where the officiant first addresses the audience and “invokes” the start of the wedding ceremony. This is where the officiant says something like, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”.
Who does the groom walk down the aisle with?
The Groom: The groom proceeds to walk down the aisle accompanied by their parents, with his father on the left and his mother on the right. The Bridesmaids: The bridesmaids then proceed in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the bride. The Maid or Matron of Honor: The bride’s right-hand woman walks alone.
Who gives this bride script?
This part of the wedding vow is entirely optional. Traditionally, the father of the bride is the one who is charged with this task. If this part is included, he walks the bride down the aisle with her on his left arm, so that he is standing between the bride and the groom, as a metaphorical barrier.