Traditional Wedding Vows Sample

As your wedding officiant, we will work with you one on one to custom tailor a script to suit your particular needs. You are a unique couple, and there’s no reason that your vows should not be unique and fitted to your personalities as well! We’d love to work with you, and deliver a satisfying experience instead of a one-size-fits-all plain-vanilla experience. The more information we have about you, the better we can deliver a personalized message of love and commitment. Your love is to be cherished and celebrated, and presented to the world!

Summary of the Traditional Ceremony

The traditional ceremony typically consists of:

  • The Preliminary Introduction: The officiant welcomes the guests, introduces themselves to the guests, and makes any introductory announcements, such as any important information,  requesting guests turn off their cell phones, and then indicates that the wedding shall ceremony should commence.
  • The Processional: The typical “here comes the bride” music, as the wedding party proceeds stately and slowly down the aisle, to take their places at the altar.
  • The Presentation of the Bride by her father or someone special: “Who gives this woman…”
  • The Introduction: Presentation of the couple to the guests
  • The Family Rituals: Flower Presentations, Ring Warmings, Wishing Stones, etc.
  • Thanking of Family, Guests.
  • Remembrances
  • Marriage Narrative: The Personal Story about the Couple
  • Readings: Relevant Scripture, Poems, or Readings on Marriage
  • The Unity Rituals: Candle Lighting, Wine Rituals, Sand Rituals
  • The Exchange of Rings
  • The Declaration of Intent: The “I Do” Part- the vows.
  • “Kiss the Bride”, and Present the couple!
  • Recessional

As you can see, within the traditional ceremony there are numerous choices to be made. What rituals are to be performed, what readings would be relevant to the couple, and the marriage narrative, or the “Story of Us” would need to be told. There’s quite a bit of information to be filled in, choices to be made, and planning to be done, even with a traditional wedding processional. A rehearsal is advised, in order to ensure everyone understands the timing and order of what is to occur when. Pro DJ’s wants to ensure that your Wedding Ceremony occurs without flaw. In addition, your ceremony will most likely also require sound production and other setup arrangements as well–but don’t worry, we’ll handle all the minute details. That’s what we’re here for! Let us help you realize your vision of the Perfect Wedding!

 

Sample Script

However, we promised you sample a sample wedding script, and all we’ve given you is a summary. So, here goes:

Me: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. If I could get your attention for just a moment. My name is Derek, and I’m a minister in the Universal Life Church, and I will be officiating today’s ceremony between Mr. Groom and Ms. Bride. If you could all kindly set your phones to silent or off, we will get started. Thanks!

<cues music!> <processional!>

<Bride walked down aisle by father, everyone takes photos!>

Me: Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Bride’s Father: I do.

Me <leading groom to bride>: Ladies and Gentleman, Today, Mr. John T. Groom and Ms. Blushing B. Bride have chosen to declare their love for one another and stand before you today, before men and god, and intend to be bound in holy matrimony. If any person knows any reason that they should not do so, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace. <pause>

Me: Friends and Family, we’d like to thank you for coming today, to witness the joining of John T. Groom and Blushing B. Bride in holy matrimony. The bond of love is sacred, and the support of friends and family is crucial to the sanctity and success of marriage. It is your love and support of these two here that has made their love possible, and will continue to do so. We cannot thank you enough.

At the same time, the family would also like to pause and take a moment of silence in remembrance of those who could not join us today. Let us bow our heads for a moment of silent reflection and prayer. <a minute’s pause>.

Me: Amen.

<crowd murmurs “Amen”>

Me: Today’s story is a story of love, and every love story has a beginning. For every married couple, there is a “Once upon a time”, a magical moment that kicked off the romance that led to this moment, and for John T. Groom and Blushing B. Bride, that moment is here, but for them, this moment started a little over two years ago, and little did they know it would lead to this, yet here they are. As many of you already know, John T. Groom had almost made it to the altar once before, but it fell apart just months prior to the wedding. He was devastated, and rightly so. He swore he would never let that happen again–yet here he is. Little did he know, eight months later, he would be standing on Boyne Mountain, a pair of Skis strapped onto his size 11 feet, when guess who would come sliding down the slope on her back at what had to have been thirty miles per hour and bowl him over? She apologized profusely, and offered to buy him a cup of coffee down at the lodge to make up for it, but he politely declined. Apparently she didn’t know how to take “No” for an answer, though, because not ten minutes later, here she comes down the slope again. On her back. At about twenty miles an hour. Where she knocks him completely out of his skis and into a snow drift. Luckily for her, he was so frozen this time, he didn’t turn down her offer for a cup of coffee back at the ski lodge. They soon became inseparable, and now here they are, before you, and they truly are ready to become one.

And now, the Bride’s sister will read “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe.

Bride’s Sister:

Come live with me, and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills and fields,
Woods, or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks
By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses,
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle,
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle.

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull,
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold.

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs,
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

The shepherds’ swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning;
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me, and be my love.

Me <leading the couple towards the unity candle>:Now, the two of you are coming together as one. Within both of you burns a flame of individuality and commitment, yet coming together as one. The two of you working together shall keep this new candle aflame in unity. May this new flame of unity burn hot and bright, lighting the way forward for you both through the darkness, bringing you peace and comfort, warmth and strength in the days ahead.

<Leads the couple back to the altar> May we have the rings?

Me:  Do you, John T. Groom, Take Blushing B. Bride, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?

Groom: I do.

Me <hands him the ring, whispers>: Place the ring on her finger.

Me: Do You, Blushing B. Bride, Take John T. Groom, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, till  death do you part?

Bride: I do.

Me: <hands her ring>. You may kiss the bride!

<Cheers from Crowd!>

Me: Ladies and gentleman, I present you Mr. and Mrs. John T. Groom!

<Recessional>

 

At this point; I hope it’s evident that this is completely fluid and flexible. We will write the script however you want: if you want vows and an exchange of rings separately, that’s not a problem! Just discuss your needs with your representative today to get things rolling!