Ceremony & traditions3 min read
Wedding ceremony order and processional, explained
The order of service, who walks down the aisle and when, the recessional, and variations for Jewish ceremonies, divorced parents and blended families.
Free tool · Ceremony & traditions: Ceremony script builder
A complete, editable ceremony outline for your officiant — welcome, your story, reading, declaration, vows, rings, a unity ritual and the pronouncement.
Shape the ceremony
CEREMONY SCRIPT — [Partner A] & [Partner B] PROCESSIONAL Music plays as the wedding party and the couple enter. WELCOME Welcome, everyone! Thank you for being here. [Partner A] and [Partner B] asked you here because you are the people who have shaped their lives and their love — and today, you get to witness the start of their marriage. THEIR STORY [A few words about how [Partner A] and [Partner B] met, what they love about each other, and what marriage means to them. Two or three minutes.] READING [Reader’s name] will now share a reading. [Title and author.] DECLARATION OF INTENT [Partner A], do you choose [Partner B] to be your partner in marriage? (“I do.”) [Partner B], do you choose [Partner A] to be your partner in marriage? (“I do.”) VOWS [Partner A] and [Partner B] have written their own vows. [Partner A]: [vows] [Partner B]: [vows] RING EXCHANGE [Partner A], as you place this ring on [Partner B]’s finger, please repeat: “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and my promise.” ([Partner B] repeats for [Partner A].) PRONOUNCEMENT By the power vested in me, it is my joy to pronounce you married! You may kiss! RECESSIONAL Family and friends, it’s my honor to present, for the first time as a married couple, [Partner A] and [Partner B]!
A non-religious outline to adapt with your officiant. Legal requirements — the declaration, witnesses and the officiant’s authority — vary by state and country; confirm the exact wording you need locally.
Saved automatically in this browser — nothing is sent to us.
Want it on paper or in a spreadsheet? Your wedding day, hour by hour is a free fillable pdf you can keep.
Get it free See all fiveHow to use it
- 01Add your names and choose the tone.
- 02Choose vows, a reading and any unity ritual.
- 03Copy the script, adapt it with your officiant and confirm any legal wording.
Good to know
How long is a wedding ceremony script?
Many non-religious ceremonies run 20–30 minutes from processional to recessional.
Does a friend officiating need special wording?
Rules differ by state and country. Your officiant should confirm the legally required declaration and their authority to marry you.
Read with this tool
The thinking behind the numbers.
Ceremony & traditions3 min read
How to write wedding vows that sound like you
A simple structure, prompts to get started, length, examples of promises and tips for reading them aloud without crying (too much).
Ceremony & traditions3 min read
Wedding readings: religious, literary and non-traditional ideas
Where to find readings, how many to include, who should read them, and a list of well-loved choices.
More free tools