Short Ceremony with Legal Requirement in Bold

Welcome. My name is Lee-ann Barwick and I am duly authorized by law to solemnize marriages according to law.

Today marks a new beginning for Party 1 (name ……….) and Party 2 (name………..) We are here today to celebrate their marriage, the day that they commit to each other that they wish to spend the rest of their lives together.

Our poem choice read by celebrant

( Yes [ ] No [ ])  Which one? 1. [ ] 2. [ ] 3. [ ] 4. [ ] 5. [ ]

Or your own poem ( Yes[ ])

Title of poem (____________________________)

Read by yourselves or your witnesses.

I would now like to read a poem called:

1. True Love by Helen Steiner Rice

True love is a sacred flame
That burns eternally,
And none can dim its special glow
Or change its destiny.
True love speaks in tender tones
And hears with gentle ear,
True love gives with open heart
And true love conquers fear.
True love makes no harsh demands
It neither rules nor binds,
And true love holds with gentle hands
The hearts that it entwines.

2. Today I marry my best friend

Today I marry my best friend
The one I have laughed and cried with,
The one I have learned from and shared with,
The one I have chosen to support, encourage and give myself to,
Through all the days given to us to share,
Today I marry the one I love.

3. Our love is meant to be

Love has led us here today along the path that was simply meant to be…
What started as a friendship that grew to love for you and me.
We bring together different worlds where all around us can see…
That we are one upon this earth and our love was meant to be.
So on this day as we say our vows, committing to each other…
You are my friend… my love… our love was surely meant to be.

4. You Came, Too – Nikki Giovanni

I came to the crowd seeking friends
I came to the crowd seeking love
I came to the crowd for understanding
I found you
I came to the crowd to weep
I came to the crowd to laugh
You dried my tears
You shared my happiness
I went from the crowd seeking you
I went from the crowd seeking me
I went from the crowd forever
You came, too

5. To Love is Not to Possess by James Kavanaugh (excerpt)
To love is not to possess,
To own or imprison,
Nor to lose one’s self in another.
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able
To be who we really are,
It is to be perfectly one’s self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another–and to one’s inner self.

Party 1 (name ……….) and Party 2 (name ……….) Before you are joined in marriage, in my presence, and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.

Marriage according to law in Australia is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.

THE ASKING (not compulsory – Yes [ ] No [ ])

Do you ………. take ………. to be your husband/wife/partner.

To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. Do you promise to love and to cherish him/her as long as you both shall live. I Do.

Do you ………. take ………. to be your wife/husband/partner.

To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. Do you promise to love and to cherish her/him as long as you both shall live. I Do.

LEGAL VOWS must be said by the couple and can be read from a card or repeated after me.

Party 1 (name ……….) Can you repeat after me please. I ask everyone here to witness that I (full name) take you (full name) to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/partner.

Party 2 (name ……….) Can you repeat after me please. I ask everyone here to witness that I (full name) take you (full name) to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/partner.

PERSONAL VOWS (not compulsory – Yes [ ] No [ ])

Insert your own vows to each other here, must be emailed before hand so they can be included in your ceremony. Personal vows can be read from a card you have prepared, repeated after me or spoken from the heart.

RING VOWS

Choose one of these each.

Party 1 (name ……….) says ………. (which vows) to Party 2 (……….).

Party 2 (name ……….) says ………. (which vows) to Party 1 (……….).

1. With this ring I thee wed…wear it as a reminder that I love you every single day of your life.
2. I give you this ring as a sign of my promise and a token of my love.
3. I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honour you.
4. Wear this ring as a reminder that I love you every single day of your life.
5. I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you to be my beloved, and that I offer myself as your husband/wife/partner today, tomorrow, and always.
6. With this ring, I thee wed. take it and wear it as a symbol of my unending love for you.
7. With all that I am and all that I have, I give you this ring as a symbol of my everlasting love for you.
8. Choose your own words.

For their marriage, we wish them many long years of joy and happiness. May they live in harmony, peace and unity for the rest of their lives.

You may like another reading in here, read by yourselves or your witnesses? Reading to be provided on the day. (Yes [ ] No [ ])

Party 1 (name ……….) and Party 2 (name ……….) You have declared before us that you will live together in marriage. You have made special promises to each other, which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, taking of vows and the giving and receiving of rings.

PRONOUNCEMENT

By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you to be (husband and wife) or (partners in life) or (married partners for life). Or how would you like to be pronounced? ………
You may now kiss. (Not compulsory. Yes [ ] No [ ])
Or what words would you like to say?

Signing of documents.

Introduction (not compulsory)

How would you like to be introduced?

And now there is really only one thing left to do and that is to introduce …..

I would like to introduce to you for the first time as husband and wife… Mr & Mrs ….. 

I would now like to welcome our newest married couple…

Or your words…

(Require two witnesses over 18 years of age.)

Full names: ………… …………

Or Simple Marriage Ceremonies Tasmania to provide (Yes [ ] No [ ] couples usually bring them a bottle of Tasmanian wine each for their time.)