Christian Wedding Ceremony

Prelude:

The prelude for the Christian Ceremony consists of songs being played for the guests to listen to as they arrive and await the beginning of the ceremony.

If applicable, it is at this time the candles, later used by the bride and groom for their Unity Candle are lit (usually by close family members, one for the bride’s and one for the groom’s candle, of the couple’s choosing).

Processional:

When the processional music begins, the ceremony has begun and the procession is in the following order (traditionally):

1. The grandparents of the groom (first paternal and then maternal) (if desired)
2. The grandparents of the bride (first paternal and then maternal) (if desired)
3. The mother and father of the groom
4. The mother of the bride, with appointed escort (usually a close relative of the bride if possible)
5. The bridesmaids (one at a time in a regular interval)
6. The junior bridesmaids (if applicable)
7. The flower girl(s) (if applicable)
8. The maid/matron of honor
9. The bride and her father

*When the bride and her father reach the altar the father of the bride “gives” his daughter to the groom (if the bride has a veil over her face, her father brings it to the back of her head now, revealing her face) and takes his seat next to the mother of the bride.

Ceremony:

1. The officiant will welcome everyone to the marriage ceremony
2. If the ceremony is a full mass as well:
1. Two readings will be spoken by people chosen by the couple (typically one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament) (the readings will have been chosen by the couple for the day)
2. The gospel will be read by the officiant (again, the passage has been chosen by the couple) and he will then give his homily (speech) in celebration of the couple and the rite of marriage
3. The Rite of Marriage now begins:
1. The couple will exchange wedding vows (ex. “I____ take you_____ to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, all the days of my life.”)
2. The officant will bless the wedding bands and the couple will give them to each other as their signs of love and faithfulness to each other and their promise to God.
1. *At this point the officiant my pronounce the couple husband and wife and allow them to kiss, however many officiants wait until the very end of the ceremony for this.
4. The Unity Candle is now lit by the couple (if applicable)
5. Those whom the couple has chosen will now read the Prayer of the Faithful (if applicable)
6. The Liturgy of the Eucharist, Presentation of the Gifts, and Communion now occurs.
7. If the couple so chooses they may at this point present flowers to the Virgin Mary and/or the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom (typically the groom presents to the bride’s mother and grandmothers and the bride presents to the groom’s mother and grandmothers).
8. The Concluding Rite and Prayer are now said and the couple are pronounced as husband and wife.

Recessional:

1. The bride and groom
2. The maid/matron of honor with the best man
3. The flower girl(s) with the ring bearer(s)
4. The junior bridesmaids with the junior groomsmen
5. The bridesmaids with the groomsmen
6. The mother and father of the bride
7. The mother and father of the groom
8. The grandparents of the bride (maternal and then paternal)
9. The grandparents of the groom (maternal and then paternal)

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