Weddings take many forms—religious, non-religious, and quirky-fun. It is not unusual for couples to choose to go the non-traditional route, whether that means having a non-religious ceremony or being married by a friend or family member. If you're doing the ceremony your way, take a look at these tips to help you create a memorable event.
There is no standard wedding ceremony order, but most generally include:
- Wedding processional or entrance of the groom, wedding party, and bride.
- Romantic ceremony music
- Attendants or witnesses to sign the wedding certificate, ketubah, or marriage license
- Wedding vows
- A blessing, benediction, community commitment to support the marriage and/or officiant's sanction of the marriage
- The first kiss as a married couple
- A recessional
You may choose to give an outline of your ceremony in your wedding program.
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Welcome and Introduction
Following the processional, opening words from the officiant start off the ceremony. These can include the 'giving away' of the bride or groom, an opening prayer or reading, and a description of the meaning of marriage.
Translate bahasa inggris bahasa indonesia. 'Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join (name) and (name) in matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.'
or
'Friends, we have been invited here today to share with (name) and (name) a very important moment in their lives. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband/wife and wife/husband.'
Another part to this, the 'giving away,' is considered optional. The traditional wording is 'Who gives this woman to be wedded to this man,' but in modern weddings, many couples opt for something a little less antiquated, such as 'Who supports this couple in their marriage?' or 'Who supports this woman in her marriage to this man?' There are other ways to give away the bride if you choose to include this in your ceremony.
An opening prayer or reading can be included. This will generally set the tone for your wedding. Wedding readings can be serious, humorous, sentimental, or elegant. Typically, the recitation says something about love, relationships, or marriage. There is usually another prayer, recitation, or song (ceremony music) after the exchange of the vows or the rings.
Before getting to the vows, usually, the officiant says some words about marriage in general. He or she will most likely talk about the seriousness of the solemn vow you are about to make and the new life together you are creating.
Wedding Exchanges
There are samples of wedding vow wording for all types of ceremonies from religious to secular. You can easily find the vows that fit your wedding style and vision.
In the exchange of wedding rings, the bride and groom say something like, 'I, [name], give you, [name] this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.'
Many couples choose to add a unity ceremony with the lighting of a unity candle. They may choose to do this in silence, with music playing, or they may recite vows about the joining of their families.
Closing Remarks, Pronouncement, and Kiss
The officiant delivers closing remarks. This could be a poem, a prayer, or a sanctioning of the marriage. It is generally the 'final thoughts' of the officiant.
Next, the big part, the officiant typically says something akin to, 'By the power vested in me by the state of _______, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
This is followed by the first kiss of the newly married couple. The officiant traditionally says, 'You may now kiss the bride,' but modern couples often find it strange for someone else to give permission to kiss a grown woman. Instead, the officiant can say, 'You may now kiss each other,' or the bride and groom can kiss immediately after the declaration of marriage.
Usually, the last thing the officiant says is, 'I present to you Mr./Mrs. and Mrs./Mr. (last name),' if one party is changing their name or, 'I present to you the newly married couple, (name) and (name),' if they are not. The guests stand and applaud as the couple then leads the recessional out.
If being chosen as a master of ceremonies is an honor, so is writing the speech--effectively doubling the pressure that accompanies the job. Like the master of ceremonies, or emcee, a good speechwriter must devise a succinct, punchy text that conveys the occasion, while entertaining the audience. A feel for words and language is equally critical to success at the job. However, if you have the verbal flair, writing a good emcee speech need not feel intimidating. With a little organization, and a good grasp of the basics, your speech will hold the audience on the edge of their seats.
Get The Basics Right
Consult the emcee beforehand, if possible, to learn whom they will be addressing, the type of occasion and the reason for their appearance. Even minimal knowledge of these factors beats having none at all, and greatly boosts your chances of writing a good memorable speech.
Set the tone for the emcee by writing a brief introduction. Include the emcee's name, as well as the title of their speech (if applicable) and the objectives, if they will appear at a seminar, corporate training session or other formal event. Keep your introduction at 30 to 60 seconds.This ensures a crisp, delivery that moves the speech along.
Follow a well-defined beginning, middle and end. Those points should be fully apparent to your audience and the emcee, particularly when the speaker pauses to deliver the next point. This is even more critical for seminars or training sessions, in which you will want the emcee to give a brief overview of the program.
Write in the active voice whenever possible, keeping subjects and verbs close together--saying 'I think' is more effective than its passive cousin, 'it is thought,' for example. Too many expressions in the passive voice--such as 'I have been,' 'this has,' or 'we were'--can bog down a speech in all the wrong places, and leave the audience shifting in its seats.
Sharpen The Fine Points
Vary the rhythms of your speech with a mixture of short and long phrases. Avoid overly technical terms or jargon, except in settings where everyone speaks it as a common language. Writing for the Association of Urban Planners calls for a different approach than a local politician speaking at a church banquet.
Do not be afraid to use cliches or repetitive phrases creatively to build a particular mood, or effect. This technique works especially well in political settings, in which the emcee might have to introduce several different people dedicating their energies to a single topic like health care reform, for example.
Always close your emcee's speech with a powerful example or anecdote that ties all the previous points together. This is important, since the audience wants to take one or two key moments home--and if they do, those impressions are better left near the end, where they matter most.
Run through the speech with your emcee before the big day, if possible, and tape it with a digital voice recorder, to hear how it flows overall. That will allow both of you to iron out any rough spots before the emcee hits the podium.
Tip
Avoid overly bombastic or combative language--even in political settings, a little humor goes a long way in getting the audience on the speaker's side.
Tailor your speech to the emcee's verbal patterns and speaking style. Even the best speaker will trip up if they are constantly confronting words they can barely pronounce, or expressions that sound visibly unfamiliar as the speech progresses.
Warning
Always write out difficult or unusual names and places phonetically on the emcee's note cards. This step will head off any embarrassing verbal slips or manglings of both items.
Above all, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. You should know weeks in advance about the venue, the order of events, the speech-makers. It is advisable to give them a few pointers on what to speak about.
Wedding Emcee Sample Script
Bear in mind, this sample emcee script template below is only a guide. I have followed the general wedding reception order of events with thanks and acknowledgments to the wedding party. It is neither mandatory, nor desirable for the Emcee to quote verbatim from the script (unless both the MC and the script are brilliant). Some things look good in a script but sound stiff and stilted when spoken. A guide is just there to ensure nothing is overlooked or left to chance.
It is recommended the reception program and script is prepared weeks in advance so the Emcee can familiarize himself with the flow of events. There are basic instructions to give a broader view on how to present each part.
Sample Emcee Script For Opening Ceremony For Intramurals
There! Now you have some of the basics. Before you can develop your emcee sample script, you will need your order of wedding reception timeline. This is the framework around which you will craft your master of ceremonies wedding reception script.
Opening Ceremony Mc Script
Here is a master ceremonies guide I’ve put together to help spur your imagination.