1-A  Introduction

What Takes Place:   Just before the  *Bride‘s  entry, the translator will announce the following:

    1 - Procession / Entrance to  Wedding  Site

What Takes Place:   Once the bride is standing at the alter, the guests are invited to sit down, the bride's escort (if she has one)  is acknowledged.   The minister  signals the translator to read section   #2-A below)

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   1a - Acknowledging the Escort 

What Takes Place:   The escort places the bride and groom's hands together, and then either sits in a front row seat or takes his place as part of the wedding party.    The bride and groom stand facing each other, in profile to their guest, and in profile to the officiant.   The minister  signals the translator to read section   #2-b below)

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   2a - Greeting  the  Couple ---Introduction

What Takes Place:   The couple is then welcomed to their wedding ceremony, and the purpose for their being there is briefly stated.   Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 3-A  below.

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   3a - Greeting  the  Guests

What Takes Place:   At this point, the greeting is expanded and the guests are invited to participate in the ceremony by contributing their support and best wishes.   They are told that they are here to witness the marriage and to celebrate with the bride and groom as they become husband and wife in their presence.  

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 3-b  below.

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  3b    Thanks to Guests, Family and Friends  

What Takes Place:  The minister is sometimes asked to acknowledge and say thank you to someone special, such as parents, the host, or the person who introduced them to each other.   Occasionally, the minister is asked to share with the guests some personal information about the bride and groom.   

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 4  below.

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   4a - Introduction  to the Ceremony

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   4b - Invocation  --- Gathering of Energy  (With Prayers)

What Takes Place:  This is the first of three places in the ceremony where the spiritual content is brought in.   Like all other aspects of the ceremony, brides and grooms choose the spiritual content of their ceremony.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 5  below.

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   5a,b, & c - Asking   of   Intention

What Takes Place:  The first of the two aspects required by state for a legal marriage.   Traditionally, the groom is asked to answer first.   

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 5d  below.

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   5d - Step into the New

Commonly the Bride and Groom are asked to take a step toward the minister.   

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 6  below.

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  6 - Reading -- Sharing -- Words of  Love

What Takes Place:  This is an optional area   It's an excellent place to add a song, a poem, or words meaningful to the bride and groom.   Usually the words are  read by a friend or family member.   The officiant may be asked to do the reading.   This is also an excellent place to add a song, either recorded or performed live.   Occasionally,  the bride & groom may choose to speak words of love to each other.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 7  below.

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   7 - Minister’s Words on Marriage

What Takes Place:  This is a brief statement about love, nurturing, and sharing;  focused on the bride and groom and designed to lead into the vows which are the high point in the wedding ceremony.   Occasionally this portion of the ceremony may include special words or special themes, depending upon what the bride and groom desire.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 8  below.

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   8 - Marriage  Vows

Bride and Groom Exchange wedding vows.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 9a  below.

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   9a - Introduction to the exchange of rings

What Takes Place:  Wedding rings are held by the bride an groom while the officiant briefly speaks about the meaning and symbology of exchanging rings.  

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 9b  below.

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   9b - Blessing Rings  

What Takes Place:  Officiant the briefly holds rings, bride and groom place their hands over the rings, and the rings are blessed.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 9c  below.

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   9c - Exchanging  Rings

What Takes Place:  The couple exchange rings.  

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 10  below.

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   10 - Symbolic  Acts

Whatever symbolic acts the  bride and groom have chosen, if any, are usually added here.

What Takes Place:  This is another optional portion of the ceremony.   About fifty percent  of brides and grooms choose to add something here.   It may be any of dozens of symbolic acts such as lighting a unity candle, sharing wine or fruit juice, etc. 

This place in the ceremony is also commonly used to add another reading or song; similar to what is done in step six, above.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 11  below.

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   11 - Blessing

What Takes Place:  This is the third of the  three places in the ceremony where the spiritual content is brought in.   It follows the style, format, and spiritual content of the initial blessing done if step four above.   It is often spoken as a prayer of gratitude for the blessings bestowed.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 12  below.

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   12 - Pronouncement

This is the second of the two things required by the state for a legal marriage.   The officiant acknowledges that the bride and groom are indeed married.

Officiant / minister  signals the translator to read item 13  below.

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   13 - The  Kiss

What Takes Place:  The kiss

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   14 - Introduction

During the ceremony, the couple have been focusing their attention on each other and listening to the officiant.   They are now asked to turn and face their guests.   They are then introduced for the first time officially as husband and wife.

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   15 - Recession / Exit

What Takes Place:  The bride and groom exit the ceremony site followed by the remainder of the wedding party.    The order in which people leave the wedding site is covered on the page titled:   Wedding Rehearsals.

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