Wedding Ceremony Structure

 

Marriage by an Authorised Celebrant has only three required components:

 

1. The ‘Monitum’ (Section 46 (1) of the Marriage Act 1961 which the celebrant must say.)

2. One specific sentence in each of the Vows

3. Signing the marriage certificates

 

Everything else is YOUR choice. 

Do not allow anyone persuade you to the contrary, or restrict your options.

 

A ceremony can be less than five minutes, if that is what you want. Most couples however prefer more than the minimum ceremony, at around 20-25 minutes. There is NO “right” or “wrong” way for your ceremony. Under law a ceremony is to be  structured how you want it. 

 

For guidance, the structure for a standard wedding might be something like this: 

 

· Introduction

· Reading / Poem

· Section 46 (1) of the Marriage Act or ‘Monitum’

· Presentation of the bride or Giving Away

· The Asking / Affirmation of Intent

· Reading / Poem

· Vows

· Ring Ceremony

· Reading / Poem

· Declaration of Marriage

· Signing the Certificates

· Presentation of the Couple

 

A ceremony can be traditional, contemporary, religious or whatever else that you, the couple, decide. It is your choice alone as to the structure of your ceremony. (Please note that I do not choose perform all styles ceremonies.)

 

A word of caution though – today’s “really cool” might leave you cringing in a few years time, and hiding all the wedding photos! “Way out” is not necessarily the best way! Changing fashions and hair styles are usually enough for most of us to cope with, without going to extremes. :-)

To contact me:

 

 

 

 

Phone:  03 9772 2326

Mob.:   0419 315 933

Email:  peterh@affordablecelebrant.com.au