Get inspired to plan your perfect ceremony with Young Hip & Married’s collection of wedding resources, lists and inspiration!
You’re getting married, congratulations! But who is going to marry you?
Turns out, you have a few options. There are a number of different types of wedding officiants, commissioners, religious and civil officers, and licensed people who can legally marry you during your wedding ceremony.
Keep in mind that some of these positions overlap – a professional wedding officiant could also be a non-denominational officiant or a ship captain (more on that later!).
You also want to keep the location of your ceremony in mind. Not all of these positions have the power to marry you everywhere. What’s available in one jurisdiction may not be available in another. For example, if you’re looking at who can perform a marriage in BC, you’ll find that judges and friends who get ordained online are not an option.
Bottom line: You want to find the right officiant for you – someone who can legally marry you in your area and honour your wishes. This person should be able to create your dream ceremony whether that’s a quick signing ceremony, religious or spiritual ceremony, intimate elopement or full-on custom ceremony written just for you two!
Let’s get to know the 11 different types of wedding officiants and other people who can marry you:
Hello, you’ve found us! All of the officiants at Young Hip & Married are professional wedding officiants. A professional wedding officiant is someone who is licensed to legally marry you and who has undergone specific training to become an officiant. Officiating is often their full-time job or a significant part-time job.
While all wedding officiants are different, at Young Hip & Married, we pride ourselves on creating ceremonies that cater to our couples wants and needs. There’s nothing cookie cutter here!
If you want to elope on top of a mountain after an epic helicopter ride, check out our Adventure Elopements. If you want to gather in your local park or favourite beach with a few friends and have the photos to remember it all, check out our Intimate Elopement + Photography package.
And, of course, if you want a personal ceremony that has been custom written for you to tell your love story, you’ll want to check out our Custom & Creative Ceremony!
2. Marriage commissioner
A marriage commissioner is a government official who is licensed to legally marry couples. Because they are government employees, they don’t have as much freedom as wedding officiants.
Commissioners are only able to marry people in specific geographic locations. They must be retired or semi-retired and they charge a flat rate set by the government. Many commissioners do not offer the option to customize your ceremony script or include any creative additions.
While commissioners are generally more affordable than officiants, they typically do not offer as many options to personalize your ceremony. Check out more differences between marriage commissioners and wedding officiants to find out which one is right for you.
A marriage celebrant is actually another term for a wedding officiant. The word “celebrant” is more popular in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom while “officiant” is more popular in the US and Canada. But generally speaking, “celebrant” and “officiant” are interchangeable.
However, you do want to double check that your marriage celebrant is a licensed officiant if you’re looking to be legally married. While professional officiants are almost always licensed, not all celebrants are. Some celebrants offer their services in strictly a ceremonial capacity but don’t have the legal authority to marry you.
4. Religious minister
A religious minister or ordained minister is someone who is licensed through their religious body to marry couples. Many priests, rabbis, pastors, imams and other religious leaders offer this service to members of their church/mosque/synagogue/etc.
Because this person is a religious leader and licensed through their religious body, they almost always perform religious ceremonies. You may need to be a member of their specific institution or practice the same faith in order to have them officiate your ceremony.
Obviously choosing a religious minister for your wedding is best for couples who are a part of that same religion. If you’re not religious or come from two different religions, you may prefer to work with a professional officiant who can incorporate as much or as little religion into your ceremony as you’d like. More on that in the next category!
5. Non-denominational officiant
A non-denominational wedding officiant is an officiant who performs ceremonies that don’t align with any specific religious denomination. This could either mean a generally religious ceremony but without a specific denomination (e.g. a Christian ceremony but not specifically Catholic) or a completely non-religious/secular ceremony.
At Young Hip & Married, all of our officiants offer non-denominational and non-religious ceremonies. Regardless of their personal faith, they’d be happy to incorporate as little or as much of your chosen religious or spiritual practices as you’d like. Our default is to not include religion in a ceremony unless requested to do so.
This is a great option for non-religious couples, religious/spiritual couples who aren’t connected to a specific denomination, or couples who come from two different religions. Our officiants have experience blending religions, cultures and traditions to create a ceremony that is inclusive of both of you and your families.
A justice of the peace is a judicial officer and the public’s first point of contact with the legal system. As well as scheduling trial dates and handling minor traffic infractions, a justice of the peace may be able to legally marry you.
Keep in mind that justices of the peace are not able to marry couples in all jurisdictions. For example, this is not an option in British Columbia. Check that this is an option in your ceremony location before moving forward.
7. Court clerk
A court clerk provides administrative support to all levels of the court. They maintain files, collect fees and, in some jurisdictions, are able to legally officiate weddings.
Like with a justice of the peace, this option is not available in all areas. Check with your local court before you make any plans.
Most ceremonies officiated by civil officers, such as court clerks and justices of the peace, are non-religious. They focus on the legally binding aspects of marriage and often don’t have room for personalization with readings, unity ceremonies, etc.
8. Judge
A judge, as you probably know, conducts trials. In some areas, they are also able to perform legal wedding ceremonies. This is most often seen in courthouse or city hall weddings.
Once again, you’ll need to check the rules for your specific jurisdiction. While we’ve all seen courthouse weddings on TV or in the movies, they aren’t always an option in real life. You can’t always run down to city hall and elope.
Similar to other civic ceremonies, a ceremony officiated by a judge will likely be short and not have options for personalization. This is ideal for a couple looking for an affordable and legal way to tie the knot and who don’t want to customize their ceremony script.
9. Notary public
A notary public is a public legal officer who handles non-contested legal services such as preparing wills and the paperwork for real estate transactions. In some jurisdictions, a notary public can also marry you by legally signing your marriage licence.
As we’ve mentioned, this is not possible in all jurisdictions. Notaries public are not able to legally conduct wedding ceremonies in all areas.
Couples who want to get married with as little fanfare as possible – who simply want to sign some paperwork in an office – may choose to be married by a notary public. This is definitely one of the most discrete ways to tie the knot!
One of the most talked about ceremony options is to have a friend or family member go online, get licensed and be legally able to marry you. But hold on! It might not be that easy and it might not be the best idea.
For starters, not all jurisdictions allow ordinary civilians to go online and get ordained or licensed to marry couples. In most of Canada, this is not an option.
Secondly, even if this is an option in your area, it might not be the right call. While your friends and family members know you, they don’t know weddings. They may miss important parts of the ceremony, forget to cue the DJ, turn your love story into a comedy roast, get nervous and speak too fast, or make it all about them.
A lot can go wrong when you choose a friendor (friend + vendor) for your wedding instead of a professional. They don’t have the experience and it can be awkward to give them feedback. Do you really want to risk one of the most important parts of your special day?
Plus, if you go with a professional wedding officiant, your friends and family members can still be involved in your ceremony. You can ask loved ones to come up and deliver a reading, say a wedding prayer, help you light your unity candle or even give a ceremony toast.
PS: Still want to have a friend marry you? At least get them some professional help! Check out our Custom Script package where our officiants will write your script and your friend can deliver it.
11. Bonus: What about a ship captain?
Remember when Jim and Pam from The Office got married on a boat in Niagara Falls because everyone knows ship captains have the power to marry people? Yeah, turns out that might not be true…
Despite being a popular TV/movie trope, ship captains in most areas of the world cannot marry couples strictly based on their job or maritime licence. So looks like Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner weren’t legally married in Pirates of the Caribbean 3!
However, because this is such a popular myth and because so many couples do want to get married at sea, some ship captains get licensed and are able to legally marry couples. They may have become licensed through their religious body, local government or online like an ordinary civilian.
Once again, we’ll remind you to double check that this is a legal option for you before you set sail. Ask whether the captain is licensed and where your marriage would be legally registered.
As wedding officiants since 2010, we’ve officiated thousands of weddings. And at every single one of those ceremonies, we’ve stood at the front and held something in our hands.
What exactly is that thing? What is it used for and how do you decide what to hold? Let’s dive into wedding officiant binders, folders, tablets and more!
What are wedding officiant binders and folders?
Wedding officiant binders and folders are the book-like items that officiants hold during the ceremony. They contain the ceremony script, as well as other important pieces for the ceremony.
Throughout your wedding ceremony, your officiant will reference and read from the papers or notes in their binder. They will likely have this book open the entire time so they can keep your ceremony running smoothly.
While traditionally officiants may have held Bibles or other religious texts, modern day officiants often hold slim notebooks or tablets.
Different types of officiant binders, folders & portfolios
While we generally refer to them as wedding officiant binders, these “binders” don’t actually have to be binders at all. They come in all shapes, sizes and forms!
You may see an officiant carrying a:
Binder with pages that they’ll flip through
Folder with pockets to store other ceremony pieces
Clipboard with notes attached
Notebook with the script written or printed inside
Stack of papers that they lay out on a stand or altar
Tablet, such as an iPad
Any of the above options can work for a wedding ceremony as they all can hold a ceremony script. Later in this post we’ll explain how officiants can choose what type of “binder” to carry and if you, the couple getting married, can make any special requests.
However, if you see either of the following options being used, you might consider it a red flag:
A phone. While phones are amazing and you can definitely hold ceremony scripts, vows and speeches on them, we still think they look a little tacky in wedding photos.
If your officiant wants to utilize tech, they should opt for a tablet instead. It just photographs better!
Nothing. Unless you’re getting married in a very short elopement ceremony with a very experienced officiant, you don’t want them to show up empty-handed. Even if they swear they have your entire ceremony memorized, you don’t want to worry about them forgetting something.
It’s like when a server at a restaurant takes your entire table’s orders without writing them down. Sure, they may have a great memory, but it’s just stressful for you! Will they remember you said no cilantro or not?
The most important item in an officiant’s binder is the ceremony script. Check out our post on ceremony script outlines to understand exactly what should go into yours.
Your ceremony script details the words to be spoken and actions to be taken during your ceremony. In addition to the actual ceremony, your officiant should also have the following information in their script or in their binder:
Timeline of the ceremony, include processional and recessional
If the ceremony props are too big to fit into a folder – for example if a couple is planning a handfasting ceremony with a large piece of rope – your officiant can work with your planner and venue to find another place for these items.
They can store things at the front of the ceremony space, on a table or altar. They can leave things, such as the marriage registry, in their bag until after the ceremony. Or they can have things set up on your signing table.
How to decide on the perfect binder or folder for your wedding ceremony
For couples:
As the couple getting married, know that it is your officiant’s job to come prepared with their own binder. This isn’t something you have to provide.
Your experienced and professional wedding officiant should already have a binder/folder that works for them. (Looking for an officiant you can trust? Meet our team!)
However, if you have any special requests, you can definitely let your officiant know. For example, if you’re having a Halloween wedding, you can ask your officiant if they have a binder that might suit that theme. Or purchase a ghoulish iPad cover that they can use for the ceremony.
You may also need to let your officiant know about any venue information that may affect their binder/folder. For example, your officiant may ask about wifi or the availability of a table.
For wedding officiants:
As a wedding officiant trying to decide what to carry during the ceremony, choose something that you’re comfortable with. If you’ve never used a tablet before, don’t show up at a wedding with a brand new iPad!
Like with wedding officiant outfits, you want to choose a binder/folder that is professional and discrete. Even if you’re the most fun officiant ever, you don’t want something like your iPad cover to steal attention away from the newlyweds.
Whether you choose a book, a binder or an iPad, take the time to practice. You’ll likely be practicing the ceremony anyway, so make sure to do so with your actual binder/folder. That way you can work out any kinks, such as pages that get stuck together or a short battery life on your tablet.
Speaking of tablets: If you decide to go the technology route, make sure everything is fully charged. You may even want to bring a portable charger or charging cable with you. If you need wifi, ensure it works at the venue. Or better yet, download everything you need ahead of time so you can do your ceremony offline.
Regardless of your chosen format, we strongly encourage you to have a back up. This could be a physical copy that you print out and keep in your bag or an emailed copy that you can pull up if need be.
Welcome to your ultimate wedding words glossary full of every word you need to know to plan and have the most amazing wedding ceremony!
As wedding officiants since 2010, we’ve helped thousands of couples put together their ceremonies. Many couples are doing this for the first time and understandably don’t know all the things there is to know about ceremonies. That’s where we come in!
Below we’re sharing 60 wedding words that might be relevant to your ceremony, plus quick definitions and full blog posts with more information. All of the wedding words below are in alphabetical order.
Happy ceremony planning!
1. Adventure Elopement Ceremony
Up first is one of our very own wedding words, Young Hip & Married’s Adventure Elopement Ceremony. This is one of our signature ceremony packages, perfect for couples who want to tie the knot in a unique and adventurous way.
Whether that’s in front of a waterfall, soaring above the clouds in a helicopter, or cruising around the coast in a floatplane, we can’t wait to help you plan the most memorable ceremony yet! All of our Adventure Elopements include your officiant and photographer, with videography as an optional add-on.
2. Announcement of the couple
One of the last things to happen at a wedding ceremony is the announcement of the couple. After the vows and rings are exchanged, and the first kiss has happened, your wedding officiant will announce you to your guests for the first time as a married couple. Everyone will cheer as you make your way back up the aisle.
If you’ll be using a new last name in your marriage, this announcement is usually the first time that name is said. Your officiant may say, “Let’s hear it for the newlyweds, Ms & Mx New Last Name!”
3. Backyard wedding
A backyard wedding is – pretty obviously – a wedding ceremony that takes place in your backyard. This is a great option for couples who want a more low-key and informal event with a smaller guest list. Bonus points if you (or one of your loved ones) has a beautiful backyard where you can host it.
You can choose to have your entire wedding in your backyard, or just the ceremony or reception.
4. Celebrant
A celebrant is the person who marries you during your wedding ceremony. This is usually another name for wedding officiant, and heard more often in the UK and Australia.
If you’re planning a legal wedding, make sure that your celebrant is a licensed officiant. Some celebrants do not have the power to conduct legal ceremonies and instead function in more of an MC or host role.
5. Ceremony music
It’s not just your reception and first dance that needs music, your ceremony may need some music too. You can choose songs for your entrance, ceremony exit songs and songs for all the important moments in between, such as when you’re signing your marriage licence.
Your ceremony script is the written version of your ceremony. It includes everything that will be said and done, acting like the blueprint for you, your officiant and your wedding planner.
There are lots of wedding signs you can include at your ceremony based on what your guests need to know and how much you love a sign. For example, many couples like to have a welcome sign so guests know they’re in the right place when they arrive.
You may also want a sign letting your guests know your wedding is unplugged or encouraging them to grab a drink before the ceremony starts. Other popular signs include directional signage (where’s the bathroom?), decorative signs (such as a neon sign with your new married names), and remembrance signs (to honour past loved ones).
8. Ceremony toast
Who says toasts have to be saved for your reception? We say go ahead and raise your glass at your ceremony with a ceremony toast!
While less traditional, it can be fun to ask your guests to share in a toast and celebrate with you earlier in the wedding day. This is a fun way to make guests feel included and start your wedding on a celebratory note.
9. City hall wedding
City hall weddings are very popular, thanks to movies and TV shows, where running off to get married at City Hall seems romantic, whimsical and easy. But be warned that a city hall wedding isn’t always as easy as it seems. Many cities have special rules and may require you to book in advance or bring in your own officiant.
A commitment ceremony is a ceremony where the couple makes a commitment to one another but without legally getting married. This ceremony can still include vows, rings and guests, but won’t include signing an official marriage licence.
Some couples will choose to have a commitment ceremony if they’re not able to get legally married, if they’re already legally married but want to celebrate their commitment, or if they’d simply prefer to make a non-legal commitment to one another.
Community vows are vows spoken by your guests as they pledge their support for you and your marriage. These vows are usually led by your officiant who will read the vow out loud and ask your guests to all say “We do!” afterwards to show their commitment.
Having a community vow is a lovely way to involve your guests in your ceremony and your marriage. It’s also a nice way to really feel the love from your guests!
12. Custom & Creative Ceremony
The Custom & Creative Ceremony is Young Hip & Married’s most popular ceremony option. With this ceremony, you’ll get a completely unique and personal ceremony that’s 100% custom to you.
Your officiant will work with you to write and craft the ceremony of your dreams. They’ll interview your friends and family, help you write your vows, walk you through the different ceremony options and even lead your rehearsal.
13. Declaration of intent
The declaration of intent (or statement of intent) is the part of your ceremony where you declare your intent to marry your partner. Often this looks like your officiant asking, “Do you, YOUR NAME, take PARTNER’S NAME to be your spouse?” To which you will answer, “I do!”
Many people confuse wedding vows with the declaration of intent, but they’re actually two different things. We’ll get to vows later in this wedding words glossary!
14. Elopement
Elopements are some of our favourite kinds of ceremonies! An elopement is an intimate wedding, usually with no more than 20 guests, where the focus is solely on the couple. There’s no pomp and circumstance – picture a few of your loved ones standing around you in a beautiful setting as you say your vows.
Elopements, while more casual and shorter than full-scale wedding ceremonies, are often some of the most emotional ceremonies we get to be a part of.
The kiss usually comes towards the end of your ceremony, after your vows and rings have been exchanged. Your officiant will pronounce you married and invite you to seal the deal with a kiss.
First of all, these roles are optional. If you don’t have any close kids in your life, you can skip the hassle of asking your second cousin’s twins to try and walk down the aisle without crying.
Second, you can ask adults to fulfil the roles instead. Who doesn’t love a Flower Granny? Or third, you can rename the roles to make them more inclusive for people of all ages and genders!
Working with a friend may mean you get a discount, but it doesn’t mean you’re working with a professional. You may be uncomfortable giving them feedback or, worse, asking for a refund if they don’t deliver. Plus, if your friends are busy working, they don’t get to enjoy your wedding.
18. Giving away the bride
Traditionally, a bride was given away by her father to her waiting groom. This signified the transfer of a woman from her father’s property to her husband’s property. If that makes you gag, you’ll be happy to know there are lots of alternatives to giving away the bride!
We encourage you to change up this tradition in a way that works best for you and respects what you value. Plus, with some weddings not having brides or fathers involved, it’s time we leave this outdated tradition behind anyway.
19. Guest list
Your guest list is the list of people you will be inviting to attend your wedding. Putting together your ceremony guest list can be quite stressful as you’ll need to see how many people fit into your venue, decide if plus ones or children are invited, check how far your wedding budget will stretch, and maybe put together a B list for people who may not get invited.
Handfasting is an old Celtic tradition where ropes are tied around a couple’s joined hands to symbolize their commitment. It’s where we got the term “tying the knot” from.
These days, many couples like to include handfasting in their ceremony. You can personalize your handfasting ritual by using special ropes or cords, such as ones in your wedding colours, or by saying special vows as you complete the ritual.
A part of our Adventure Elopement package, Young Hip & Married is thrilled to offer helicopter elopements to couples getting married with us in Vancouver and Whistler. Get ready to take your love to new heights – literally!
Your helicopter elopement package includes the helicopter flight, your officiant and photographer, and optional add-ons like guests and videography. Check out our Adventure Elopement page to learn more!
22. Home wedding
A home wedding is, quite simply, a wedding you host in your own home. This could be a backyard wedding or it could be saying your vows in your living room with a few loved ones watching from the couch.
At-home weddings are usually more casual but extremely special celebrations. It can be very meaningful for couples to solidify their commitment to one another in their own home. Plus, they’re budget-friendly too!
23. House announcements
House announcements are a type of wedding ceremony announcement that your officiant will make at the top of the ceremony. Before the processional, your officiant will get all of your guests’ attention and share a few housekeeping notes.
These announcements usually include things such as instructions for where your guests should go after the ceremony, any safety or venue-specific information, and a reminder of your photo and phone policy.
24. Intimate Elopement Ceremony
Young Hip & Married’s Intimate Elopement Ceremony is perfect for couples who want a no frills way to get married. You don’t need an aisle walk or fancy decor – just the two of you and maybe a few guests for a “gather and wed” style ceremony.
We’ve been lucky enough to marry eloping couples in some of the most beautiful places. Check out some of our favourite elopement locations in Vancouver, on Vancouver Island and in Calgary.
25. Intimate Elopement + Photography Ceremony
Just like our Intimate Elopement Ceremony, but this time we’re throwing in the photographer. With our Intimate Elopement + Photography Ceremony, you’ll have everything you need for the perfect small-scale celebration, plus the photos to remember it forever.
This is the perfect package for couples who want to keep things simple, but beautiful. It’s also a great option for couples who plan destination weddings in our locations, as you only need to book one vendor (us!) and we’ll have everything you need to tie the knot.
A Justice of the Peace is a judicial officer who serves as the public’s first point of contact with the legal system. They’re responsible for things like setting bail terms and court dates and in some jurisdictions, they can perform legal weddings.
Note that JPs cannot perform weddings in all provinces/states. So be sure to check in with the rules in your specific area before making any plans to have a Justice of the Peace officiate for you.
27. Legal wedding
A legal wedding is a wedding ceremony that results in a couple becoming legally married. This requires them to complete any mandatory actions, such as consenting to marriage in front of two witnesses, and signing the official paperwork.
A legal wedding ceremony must be presided over by someone who is licensed and legally able to marry couples and file their paperwork.
28. Marriage certificate
A marriage certificate is the piece of paper you get after your wedding that certifies that you are married. Once your licence has been filed and registered, you will receive or can apply for your marriage certificate.
Note that some jurisdictions will automatically send you your marriage certificate while others require you to apply for it and pay a fee.
Most notably, commissioners must be semi-retired and can only marry couples within their limited geographic area. They charge a set fee and are usually more limited in the types of ceremonies they can write and perform.
30. Marriage licence
Your marriage licence is the piece of paper you will sign at your ceremony to become legally wed. You’ll apply for your licence in the weeks or months leading up to your wedding, sign it on the big day, and then your officiant will file it with the appropriate body so your marriage is legally recognized.
A micro wedding – which became very popular during the pandemic – is in between a full-sized wedding and an elopement. Micro weddings usually have no more than 50 guests but still include many of the elements you’d expect to see in a full-sized wedding.
While most common during the pandemic when larger celebrations weren’t possible, micro weddings are still going strong today. Many couples like the idea of celebrating with a smaller group (and saving a bit of money!).
32. Non-denominational ceremony
A non-denominational ceremony is ideal for couples who want a meaningful moment without being tied to any religious institution. Depending on your preferences, this ceremony can still be religious or spiritual, but doesn’t need to align with any specific denomination.
All of our wedding officiants at Young Hip & Married are happy to offer non-denominational or non-religious ceremonies. If you do want to involve your religious, spiritual, cultural or traditional practices, our officiants can also work with you to help incorporate those things into your ceremony.
33. Officiant
Welcome, you’ve found us! A wedding officiant is the person who leads your ceremony and is legally able to marry you. Wedding officiants are not government officials, and therefore have more freedom around the types of ceremonies they can perform. However, they are still licensed and can legally marry couples.
The processional, or aisle walk, is how the couple and (optionally) their wedding party enter the ceremony. This is usually set to music and marks the official start of the ceremony.
A wedding program is a pamphlet that is given out to guests as they enter the ceremony. It usually lists members of the wedding party, shares the outline of the ceremony, and includes any special things guests need to know, like the lyrics to a song they have to sing or translation to a part of the ceremony that won’t be in their native language.
The pronouncement is the part of the ceremony when your officiant announces you as a married couple. This is usually followed by an invitation to share your first kiss and deafening applause by your guests!
The traditional pronouncement (“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”) doesn’t work for all couples or resonate with their beliefs. Instead, check out some pronouncements alternatives to make this moment your own.
37. Rain plan
If you’re planning on an outdoor wedding ceremony, you’re going to want to have a rain plan. A rain plan is just what it sounds like – a plan in case it rains (or snows, sleets, hails, turns into a hurricane, etc.). Cross your fingers for sun but chat with your wedding planner and/or venue coordinator about what you’ll do if the weather isn’t cooperating.
An optional element you can add to your wedding ceremony is a reading. This is when you ask an honoured guest to come to the front and read a pre-selected text to your guests. This can be a great way to involve a loved one in your ceremony and share some special words that mean a lot to you two.
The recessional is the opposite of the processional; this is when you two and your wedding party walk back up the aisle and exit your ceremony after it’s over.
The recessional is usually a lot less formal than the processional and is often accompanied by a fun exit song.
40. Rehearsal
Contrary to popular belief, your wedding rehearsal isn’t all about the rehearsal dinner. The actual rehearsal is important too! This is when you two, your wedding party and a few vendors (usually your officiant and planner) walk through your ceremony. Everyone learns where to go, what to do and what to expect for the big day.
The ring exchange is the part of the ceremony when you two – you guessed it – exchange rings! This is usually done after your vows to solidify the promises you just made to one another.
A ring statement is the words you say during your ring exchange. This usually looks like holding your partner’s hand and repeating words after your officiant while you place the ring on their finger.
One of our newest ceremony packages is the Runway Elopement Ceremony. This incredible package includes a beautiful hotel suite at Fairmont Vancouver Airport, parking, your officiant, your photographer, a luxurious dinner for two and breakfast the next morning.
A sand ceremony is a type of unity ceremony that some couples like to add to their wedding day. In this ceremony, each member of the couple will pour different coloured sand into a container. The two colours will mix, symbolizing two people coming together as one.
Not only is a sand ceremony a fun addition to your ceremony, but it can also make a nice keepsake. You can display the sand in a vase or even have it turned into glass!
45. Signing ceremony
A signing ceremony is a type of wedding ceremony where the main focus is signing the marriage licence to legalize the wedding. Any legal requirements to be married, such as verbally consenting to enter into marriage with one another, would also need to be completed in front of a licensed officiant and two witnesses.
This type of ceremony is often done if a couple is planning a larger non-legal ceremony (i.e. commitment ceremony) for a later date but wants to get the legal ceremony (i.e. signing ceremony) completed ahead of time.
For example, if a couple is planning a destination wedding in Aruba, they may choose to sign their paperwork at home before they go.
A signing table is the table where you go to sign your marriage licence either during or right after your ceremony. Your licence will be signed by you two, your officiant and your two witnesses.
These tables can be personalized and decorated with flowers and candles, they can be unique – such as using an antique desk instead of a table, or they can even be informal, such as signing your licence on top of the bar!
47. Sweet & Simple Ceremony
Young Hip & Married’s Sweet and Simple Ceremony is perfect for couples who are having a full-length wedding but who don’t want as many custom elements. You have more than 20 guests, but you’re okay to skip out on a little personalization.
The Sweet & Simple does not include a personalized ceremony script nor does it include a rehearsal. (If you want those things, check out our Custom & Creative Ceremony instead!)
48. Timeline
A ceremony timeline can actually refer to two things – 1) the timeline for planning out your ceremony, from the moment you get engaged until you walk down the aisle, or 2) the timeline for your ceremony, as in the order of events. Both timelines are important!
Once you’ve got your ceremony planning timeline in order, you can move on to putting together your ceremony outline and ceremony script. Don’t forget to utilize your officiant as your ceremony expert!
49. Unity candle
A unity candle is a type of unity ceremony that couples can choose to add to their wedding. In this tradition, both members of the couple will hold individual candles which they will then use to light one larger candle together.
You can also include loved ones in the tradition, such as asking honoured guests to bring up the individual candles to you before you light the unity candle.
50. Unity ceremony
We’ve already talked about unity candles and sand ceremonies as two popular types of unity traditions. But did you know there are lots of other unity ceremonies you can choose from? From beer blending to tree planting, there’s something for every type of couple!
Unity ceremonies are not mandatory, but they can be a nice addition to your wedding ceremony and a good way to symbolize your commitment. Many ceremonies also leave you with a keepsake that you can take home after the ceremony.
Virtual ceremonies – where some or all guests join the ceremony by live stream instead of in-person – can help couples save money and can help guests attend weddings they otherwise may not have been able to attend.
53. Vows
Weddings vows are the promises you make to your partner for the marriage you want to have together. These are the heartbeat of your wedding ceremony and words we hope you look back on over the long years of your marriage.
Vow books are small booklets where you write or print your vows to read from during your ceremony. While you can simply write your vows or print them out on a piece of paper, many couples prefer vow books.
Not only do these look great in photos, but they also make lovely keepsakes for after the wedding. You can even get your vow books personalized with your names, wedding date and favourite colours.
55. Vow renewal
A vow renewal is a ceremony for a couple who is already married but wants to recommit to one another. This is not a legal ceremony, since the couple is already legally married, but rather a symbolic commitment ceremony.
We love the idea of having a vow renewal to mark a big occasion (such as a milestone anniversary), life change, reconciliation or simply because you still love each other and want the world to know. Check out some great vow renewal examples here.
Your wedding party – also commonly called a bridal party – is the group of people who join you on your special day. During the ceremony, your wedding party often walks down the aisle with you and stands next to you at the front.
However, these things are optional! You can have a wedding party (or skip the wedding party altogether) who still hang out with you, get ready with you and take photos with you, but they don’t have to do an aisle walk or stand at the front of your ceremony.
57. Wedding prayer
For religious couples, adding wedding prayers or blessings into their ceremony can be very important. These prayers can represent any religion (or culture or tradition) and can be recited by you two, all of your guests, your officiant or an honoured speaker.
Your wedding website is where guests will learn all about your wedding, see beautiful photos of you and maybe even RSVP. It also has some essential details for your ceremony, such as the ceremony date, time and location.
Your Our Story section on your wedding website can also be a big help for your ceremony. It can inspire your ceremony script and allow your guests to feel more connected to you two before you share your vows.
59. Witness
In order to have a legal wedding ceremony in many jurisdictions, that ceremony must be observed by two witnesses. Those same two witnesses must sign and date your marriage licence. Choosing someone to be your witness and sign your licence can be a great way to honour a loved one.
PS: Planning on an elopement or destination wedding without any guests? Reach out and we’ll help you find witnesses to make your marriage legal!
60. Words of welcome
The words of welcome are spoken by your officiant after your processional and once all of your guests are seated. During this part of your ceremony, your officiant will welcome you and your guests, optionally share a land acknowledgement, and set the tone for the rest of your ceremony.
Wrapping up your wedding words
Whew, you’ve made it through all 60 wedding words for your ceremony! Now that you have the vocabulary to feel a lot more confident planning your ceremony, we hope you’re inspired and empowered to craft the ceremony of your dreams.
Don’t forget, your wedding officiant is your ceremony expert. They can lead you through every element of your ceremony and help you make choices that personalize the experience for you two.
Riana has been working with Young Hip & Married since 2017. She is a professional content writer with experience in travel, lifestyle and weddings. Riana not only writes Young Hip & Married blog posts but is also involved with the company's internal communications, social media, copywriting and more. She knows YHM, and the wedding world, inside and out!
We’ve all seen a wedding ceremony that starts with the traditional line, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” We’ve seen it in movies, TV shows and probably most of the ceremonies we attended growing up.
But is that the only way to start a ceremony? Heck no! “We are gathered here today” is a classic, but it’s not the only opening line in your wedding officiant’s arsenal.
If you’re looking for a modern, unique or non-traditional way to start your wedding ceremony, keep reading for 10 alternatives to “we are gathered here today” – including some favourite openers from our officiant team.
Or, if you like how “we are gathered here today” sounds, go ahead and use it! You can even put a little spin on it with some of our suggestions below.
Let’s plan your wedding ceremony’s opening line!
The traditional way to start a wedding ceremony: “We are gathered here today…”
The traditional opening line of a wedding ceremony is, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.” But if you don’t like how that sounds, don’t identify with those gendered words, or don’t like the references to religion, you can absolutely change it!
Your ceremony is meant to be a reflection of you. The words spoken should ring true to you and represent who you are. If your eyes simply glaze over hearing the traditional opening line we’ve all heard dozens of times, you can bet those words will put your guests to sleep too.
Putting a spin on “we are gathered here today”
You can still use “we are gathered here today” to open your wedding ceremony if you want, but with a twist. Change the ending so it’s a little more modern and true to your relationship.
For example:
We are gathered here today to witness the union of Name1 and Name 2.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the love between these two amazing humans.
We are gathered here today to cheer our butts off for these lovebirds!
Or try out a brand new wedding ceremony opening line, such as the 10 we’ve collected blow.
If “we are gathered here today” isn’t how you want to start your wedding ceremony, check out these 10 other options. These are opening lines that your wedding officiant will say at the beginning of your ceremony, after your processional, when you and your partner are standing hand in hand.
1. Words of welcome
“Welcome friends, family and loved ones…”
Welcoming your guests is a beautiful way to start your wedding ceremony. It sets the tone that your wedding day is about more than just you two – it’s about the community around you.
2. Thank you
“On behalf of Name1 and Name2, I want to thank you all for being here…”
Starting your wedding ceremony with gratitude is another great way to begin. This immediately acknowledges the importance of all of your loved ones being present on your special day. This is especially powerful if many of your guests had to travel a long way or take off work to join you.
3. Today is…
“Today is a day to celebrate…”
We love this wedding ceremony opening line because it reinforces what your wedding day is all about. Feel free to change out the ending or have your officiant repeat a few “today is” lines such as, “Today is a day to celebrate. Today is a day of joy. Today is a day of promise.”
4. Beautiful day
“On this beautiful day, Name1 and Name2 have brought us all together to celebrate love…”
Want a beautiful opening to your wedding day? Then start it off with the word “beautiful!” Of course, this one works best if it’s not pouring rain or hailing down on your wedding day…
5. Start the ceremony with a joke
“Well, it sure took them long enough, didn’t it?”
If you’re looking to start your ceremony off with a laugh, why not ask your wedding officiant to make a little joke? A professional officiant will know how to insert a bit of humour into your ceremony without going too far.
“Congratulations, Name1 and Name2. You’ve made it. After all these years, you two are finally standing here…”
Instead of having your wedding officiant address your guests first, have them address you at the start of your ceremony. After all, you’re the stars of the show! Our officiants love to take a moment to speak directly to the couple, inviting them to centre themselves and really feel the gravity of the moment.
7. Love
“Love has brought Name1 and Name2 together…”
It all comes back to love! That’s why we love the idea of literally starting your wedding day with the most important word out there.
8. Cheering!
“Let’s show Name1 and Name2 how excited we are for their wedding. On the count of three, everyone let out a big cheer…”
Officiant Shawn says this is one of his favourite ways to start a wedding ceremony. Not only is it the perfect way to celebrate, but it immediately lets your guests know that they are in for a good time, not another boring ceremony!
9. Cultural welcome to open your ceremony
If your culture, religion or family has a practice they usually do to open ceremonies or important occasions, it can be really meaningful to incorporate that into your wedding day. It’s a wonderful way to pay respect to your personal beliefs and traditions, and truly put a unique stamp on your day.
If you and your partner come from different backgrounds, talk to your wedding officiant about how to best combine your favourite practices and rituals. Our officiants have lots of experience leading multi-cultural and multi-faith weddings, and would love to help you find the best solution for your day.
10. Song, prayer or reading
Another great option is to open your ceremony with a song, prayer or reading. These elements are often incorporated in the middle or end of ceremonies, but we love the idea of starting your wedding with these important words. It can really set the tone for your day and allow you to give an important role to a guest of honour.
Bonus: Wedding announcements at the start of the ceremony
While you may have chosen the opening line of your ceremony, that’s not actually the first thing your guests are going to hear. Before your officiant’s speech officially begins, you’ll likely have some other things happen, such as housekeeping announcements.
This is when your officiant reminds your guests about important things, such as the fact that you’re having an unplugged ceremony or where to meet you for photos afterwards. Once those announcements are made, the music starts and your processional begins.
Another announcement you might hear at the beginning of a ceremony is a land acknowledgment. This can be a very meaningful way to ground your ceremony and pay respect to the people and land you’re getting married on.
Happy Anniversary! If you’re struggling to think of what anniversary gifts to give your spouse this year, we’ve got you covered.
The most important aspect of an anniversary gift is that it’s specific to the person you’re giving it to. Not everyone wants a fancy souffle dish or monogrammed matching sweater. Your gift should show that you know your spouse well and you’re giving from the heart.
Your wedding anniversary is an occasion where you get to celebrate your love – so let’s prioritize that! Your gift should be full of love, thoughtful and speak to your relationship. We encourage you to think outside the box and celebrate your anniversary in a meaningful way, not with another scarf or box of chocolates.
Below we’re sharing 13 heartfelt anniversary gifts we know your spouse will love, plus six gifts you definitely want to stay away from!
A beautiful and budget-friendly anniversary gift you can give your spouse is the gift of wedding vows, both old and new. Since the whole point of this anniversary is to celebrate your marriage, why not go back to the promises you started this marriage with?
Look back at the vows your exchanged on your wedding day. You can rewatch your wedding video or read from your wedding vow books. You may even want to get your vows framed as part of your anniversary present to each other.
You can also exchange new vows! We love the idea of building on the promises you originally made to your partner each year and renewing your vows to one another.
Check out Officiant Shawn below sharing all about anniversary vows – and the ones he made to his wife after 19 years of marriage!
2) Put a spin on traditional wedding anniversary gifts
You may know that traditional anniversary gifts have a theme: year one is paper, year two is cotton, and so on. We say, throw out the old traditions and put a new spin on anniversary gifts!
Instead of giving your spouse a piece of cotton, splurge on fancy cotton bed sheets. For leather in year three, consider a leather watch strap and having the watch engraved with your wedding date. Or plan a trip to the leather tanneries of Morocco!
3) Recapture your love with an anniversary photo shoot
We love the idea of doing an annual photo shoot with your partner on your wedding anniversary. What a beautiful way to spend time together, capture your growing love and always have portraits of the two of you to look back on.
So many couples only take professional photos together on their wedding day and never again – or only to celebrate their kids’ milestones. But why not celebrate your own?
Check out how fun an anniversary photo shoot can be below with Erica Miller, Young Hip & Married co-founder and lead elopement photographer.
4) Share an experience together
Even if you love stuff, we can all admit that an experience is better than another thing you have to find a place for in your house. Experiences not only bring more joy than physical stuff, but they also allow you and your partner to make new memories together.
So instead of flowers and bath robes, gift each other something you can go out and do. You could take a cooking class, enjoy a spa day, take a trip to a nearby town or anything else you have on your bucket list.
5) Invest in your relationship
Your wedding anniversary is all about celebrating your relationship and your commitment to one another. What better way to do that than to invest in making your relationship a great one that lasts a lifetime?
One of our favourite ways to invest in a relationship is through couple’s coaching, which is great for nearly and newly married couples who want to build a strong foundation. You could also work with a couple’s counsellor, take classes or read books to improve your relationship skills, or fill out a couple’s journal together.
It might not sound as sexy as a diamond necklace or new cologne, but investing in your relationship is the best way to ensure you have as many future anniversaries to celebrate as possible.
While your wedding anniversary is a celebration of another year of marriage, it’s also a celebration of your years ahead. It’s a great time to look forward and start planning for that big, beautiful future you want.
If you’re travellers, flip through the pages of a Lonely Planet and plan out your dream trip while eating take-out from your favourite country. If you can’t wait to move into your dream home, spend time looking at listings, designing your perfect kitchen or taking a walk through a showroom together.
The best part about planning for your future is there are no limits! Dreaming together brings you closer together and makes your ideal future that much more possible. Plus, it’s a great budget gift option since planning doesn’t have to cost a lot.
7) Take a walk down relationship memory lane
We looked at the future, so now it’s time to look back at the past. This anniversary gift idea can get pretty sentimental, so pack the tissues!
Take a walk down memory lane by reliving the highlights of your relationship. Go for coffee at the cafe where you first met. Plan a picnic at the beach where you got engaged. Pop the cork on the wine bottle you’ve been saving since your wedding day and slow dance to your first dance song.
You could also look back on your favourite memories by scrolling through old photos or rereading past love letters. Many couples like to watch their wedding video or look through their wedding album on their anniversary.
8) Surprise your partner
A great way to renew the spark in your relationship is by planning a surprise for your partner on your anniversary. Show them that you’re still spontaneous and can sweep them off their feet! This is especially impactful if you’re not usually the planner in your relationship.
Surprises don’t have to be expensive or grand if that’s not in your budget. Think surprise scavenger hunt around the house rather than first class tickets to Paris. As long as you put in some effort and plan something specifically for your partner, they will appreciate it.
9) Involve your friends and family
For so many couples, their community is a big part of who they are and how they nurture their relationship. If you couldn’t imagine life without your loved ones, why not invite them to celebrate your anniversary with you?
You could plan a huge party for a vow renewal, go out to dinner with your closest people, or host a casual BBQ – whatever works best for you, your group and your budget. Make the event even more meaningful by asking your loved ones to write you words of encouragement for your marriage.
While we all have different love languages, we encourage you to lean into the love language of quality time on your wedding anniversary. Your anniversary is a special time to connect as a couple, recommit to one another and celebrate another year of marriage. Because this day is so much about you two and your love, it only makes sense that you spend it together.
Carve out time to be with each other on your anniversary and be very intentional about that time. That means phones away! Enjoy a few uninterrupted hours with your partner and remember what made you fall for them in the first place.
11) Give sentimental anniversary gifts that pull at the heartstrings
If you want to follow up that quality time with a physical gift, we suggest something sentimental that only you could create and that your partner will love. While there are lots of anniversary gift options on Etsy, the best anniversary gifts come from the heart.
Put together a photo album of all of your best memories from the last year. Your partner will love that you took the time to remember those moments and that you designed the book yourself.
If you’re crafty or handy, consider building your partner something. It doesn’t have to be perfect, as long as you put time into it and had your partner in mind while creating it.
You could also gift your partner with a gratitude journal that you spent the whole year creating (start now for next year!). Every day, write one thing you love about your partner or one thing you’re grateful to them for. At the end of the year, wrap it up and watch your partner’s heart melt.
12) Make your anniversary last longer than just one day
While it’s all good to have a romantic anniversary where you talk about your relationship and spend time together, it doesn’t mean much if that only happens once a year. So instead, keep your anniversary celebrations going!
You could do this by planning a series of date nights. Rather than just saying, “Yeah, let’s do a weekly date night,” actually make it happen. Plan out where you’ll go and what you’ll do, make reservations or even purchase gift cards so you commit to going.
Another idea is to sign up for a subscription box with an activity or item you’d both enjoy. For example, a box that delivers new coffee every month could be a fun gift for coffee lovers. You can rank the coffees you receive and spend time catching up over a fresh brew.
You could also sign up for classes to pursue a new or favourite hobby together. This is a great way to make memories together and get out of a rut if you find yourselves spending too many nights watching TV with takeout.
13) Start your own anniversary traditions
We love the idea of starting your own wedding anniversary traditions that you can look forward to every year. Something special just for you two!
This could be as simple as exchanging handwritten cards or eating breakfast in bed. You could go to the same fancy restaurant every year, treat yourselves to a night at the theatre or buy a brand new board game. Whatever the tradition, it should be something meaningful to you two.
by Erica Miller Photography
Bonus: 6 anniversary gifts NOT to give
Now that we’ve shared 13 anniversary gift ideas that your partner will love, we have to warn you against six anniversary gifts they definitely don’t want to receive!
1) Gifts that are more for you than for them
You know what’s not a good gift? A fancy grilling set for your BBQ if you’re the grill master of the house. Sure, your spouse might enjoy eating the food you make, but we all know this gift is more for you than for them.
2) Practical items you’re passing off as a gift
You may need new toothpaste or winter tires, but a 3-pack of Colgate and a gift card to Jiffy Lube do not an anniversary gift make. Don’t try to pass off practical items for your household as a gift. Even if your spouse is practical, everyone appreciates a bit of romance.
3) Gifts without a card
As wedding officiants, you know we love words. We firmly believe every gift – and certainly every anniversary gift – should be accompanied by a heartfelt card with a handwritten sentiment. Even if you’re not a great writer, your spouse will appreciate you writing a sentence or two about how you feel.
4) Gifts you’re buying because you think you’re supposed to
If you’re only buying a night sky print because every website has one on their list of top anniversary gifts, we encourage you to click “remove from cart” and back away from your device.
Just because something is supposed to be a great anniversary present doesn’t mean it will be for your spouse. Do they even care about astronomy? Do they want another piece of wall art? Really ask yourself if this gift is right for your partner, and not just a generic anniversary gift for someone.
5) Gifts you can’t afford
It’s one thing to be generous and surprise your partner with something luxurious. It’s another thing to go so over budget on your anniversary gift that you can’t afford groceries. Be realistic about what you can afford to spend and talk it over with your partner so everyone’s expectations are managed.
Now that you’re married, it’s important that you make financial decisions together that support your future. Even if you have separate bank accounts, you still have shared goals and a household you both contribute to, so one partner’s financial decisions affects the other.
6) Late gifts
We hope this goes without saying but: Don’t forget your anniversary! No matter how nice your gift is, it won’t mean as much if you give it three days late. All of our anniversary gifts above have one thing in common – they are all thoughtful gifts that prioritize your spouse and your relationship. The easiest way to show someone they’re not a priority is to forget about something important to them.
Write it down on a piece of paper, put it in your calendar and set a reminder so you don’t forget your anniversary! We suggest getting to work on your gift ideas a few weeks in advance so you’re not scrambling to write your card the morning of.
What will you be gifting your spouse with for your next anniversary? Or what was the best anniversary gift you’ve ever received?
Looking for love poems for your wedding? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Whether you’re hoping to add a love poem to your ceremony, incorporate one into your reception speech or add a little wedding poetry to your wedding website, you’ll find lots of poems for your wedding needs below. We’re sharing 39 of our favourite love poems with something for everyone – short poems, religious poems, modern poems, traditional poems, funny poems and more!
Ready? Let’s get poetical!
Do you need poems for your wedding?
No, poems for your wedding are not mandatory. If you’re not into poetry or would prefer to add a reading or quote to your wedding day instead, you don’t have to choose a poem.
But keep in mind, you don’t have to be a poetry expert or poet yourself in order to incorporate a poem into your wedding day. If you find a poem that resonates with you or a good place to add a poem, go for it!
Even if you don’t recite a poem during your wedding, you may still want to add a wedding poem to your program, website, signage, etc. You could even let a love poem inspire your vows!
How do you choose the best wedding poem?
If you’re familiar with poetry and have a favourite poet or poetry style, head there first. Read through some of your favourite poems and see if any would work well for your wedding day.
If you don’t have a favourite poet or book of poetry, don’t worry! You can still choose a great poem for your wedding day. Start by reading through our list of wedding poems below. See if any stand out to you or inspire you to find similar poetry.
Once you have a wedding poem in mind, take some time to test it out. Practice saying it out loud or asking your wedding reader to recite it. Of course, you’ll also want to make sure your partner is into the poem, if you’re not picking out a poem together.
Where do use poems during a wedding?
You can incorporate poems into so many different parts of your wedding! Below are a few ideas to get you started:
Ask your officiant to recite a poem during your ceremony script
The Wedding Poem: I Carry Your Heart With Me – E.E. Cummings
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)
Short Wedding Poem: This Day I Married My Best Friend – Unknown
This day I married my best friend
the one I laugh with as we share life’s wonderous zest,
as we find new enjoyments and experience all that’s best.
the one I live for because the world seems brighter
as our happy times are better and our burdens feel much lighter.
the one I love with every fiber of my soul.
We used to feel vaguely incomplete, now together we are whole.
A Wedding Prayer – Robert Louis Stevenson
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow,
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Best Love Poem for Traditional Couples: These I Can Promise – Mark Twain
I cannot promise you a life of sunshine;
I cannot promise riches, wealth, or gold;
I cannot promise you an easy pathway
That leads away from change or growing old.
But I can promise all my heart’s devotion;
A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow;
A love that’s ever true and ever growing;
A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow.
Wedding Poetry for Readers: Love’s Philosophy – Emily Bronte
Love is like the wild rose-briar
Friendship like the holly tree
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck with thee the holly’s sheen,
Then when December blights thy brow
He still may leave thy garland green.
A Wedding Poem for Book Lovers: Hope Is The Thing With Feathers – Emily Dickinson
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chilliest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity
It asked a crumb of me.
A Wedding Toast – James Bertolino
May your love be firm,
And may your dream of a life together
be a river between two shores
by day bathed in sunlight, and by night
illuminated from within. May the heron
carry news of you to the heavens, and the salmon bring
the sea’s blue grace. May your twin thoughts spiral upward
like leafy vines, like fiddle strings in the wind,
and be as noble as the Douglas fir.
May you never find yourselves back to back
without love pulling you around
into each other’s arms.
Classic Marriage Poem: How Do I Love Thee? – Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being an Ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old grief’s, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!– and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Traditional Marriage Poetry: Sonnet 116 – William Shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.
Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds,
or bends with the remover to remove:
Oh, no! It is an ever-fixed mark.
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
it is the star to every wandering bark,
whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool,
though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle’s compass come;
love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
but bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
11. Love (III) – George Herbert
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack
Form my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d any thing.
A guest, I answer’d, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.
Short Love Poem: The Minute I Heard My First Love Story – Rumi
The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you,
Not knowing how blind that was.
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.
They’re in each other all along.
A Poem About Marriage and Love: The Prophet – Kahlil Gibran
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise on your lips.
Poem of Marriage: I Belong In Your Arms – Deborah Bridea
I belong in your arms
Finally, I have found a place
Into which I fit Perfectly, Safely
And securely with no doubts,
No fears, No sadness, No tears.
This place is filled with happiness and laughter
Yet it is spacious enough, to allow me
The freedom to move around,
To live my life and be myself.
This wonderful place, which I never believed really existed,
I have found Finally
Inside your arms, Inside your heart, inside your love.
Poem About Marriage & Falling in Love: Falling Stars – Rainer Maria Rilke
Do you remember still the falling stars
that like swift horses through the heavens raced
and suddenly leaped across the hurdles
of our wishes–do you recall? And we
did make so many! For there were countless numbers
of stars: each time we looked above we were
astounded by the swiftness of their daring play,
while in our hearts we felt safe and secure
watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate,
knowing somehow we had survived their fall.
Scottish Wedding Poem: O My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose – Robert Burns
O my Luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June:
O my Luve’s like the melodie,
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ ’twere ten thousand mile!
Wedding Poem of Love: Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms – Thomas Moore
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly to-day,
Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms,
Live fairy-gifts fading away,
Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art,
Let thy loveliness fade as it will,
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still.
It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,
That the fervor and faith of a soul may be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear!
No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets
The same look which she turned when he rose!
Classic Love Poem for Wedding: Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare
Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs;
Being purg’d, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;
Being vex’d, a sea norish’d with lovers’ tears;
What is it else? A madness most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.
Traditional Love Poetry: She Walks in Beauty – Lord Byron
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
Short Wedding Love Poem: Love Is A Place – E.E. Cummings
love is a place
& through this place of
love move
(with brightness of peace)
all places
yes is a world
& in this world of
yes live
(skillfully curled)
all worlds
Poem About Love and Marriage: The Gift – Pam Brown
In you are flowers and firelight,
stars and songbirds,
the scent of summer,
the stillness just before dawn.
I love you today,
dressed in glory.
I will love you always-
dancing, singing, reading, making, planning, arguing.
I will love you cantankerous, and tired,
courageous and in terror,
joyful, fearful and triumphant.
I will love you through all weathers and all change.
For all you are is precious to me.
And every day I live with you
and share your love
is a gift to me.
Romantic Wedding Poem: 20 Sonnet XVII – Pablo Neruda
I don’t love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as certain dark things are loved,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom and carries
hidden within itself the light of those flowers,
and thanks to your love, darkly in my body
lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because I don’t know any other way of loving
but this, in which there is no I or you,
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.
I promise to love
and will gladly honour you
but obey? no way!
Short Wedding Poem: In Your Light I Learn How to Love – Rumi
In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest, where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.
A Native American Wedding Ceremony Poem
May the sun bring you new happiness by day;
May the moon softly restore you by night;
May the rain wash away your worries
And the breeze blow new strength into your being,
And all the days of your life
May you walk gently through the world
and know its beauty.
Modern Wedding Poem: Be My Homer – CJ Munn
Be my Homer
I wanna be your Marge.
If I’m your Norfolk Broads
Will you be my barge?
Let’s please be Tom and Barbara,
I will show you The Good Life.
Even though we’re not yet married
I would love to be your wife.
Like Mr and Mrs Huxtable,
We’d smooch even when we’re wrinkly.
I’ll even consider ironing your shirts,
But I hope you like them crinkly.
Like Mr and Mrs Incredible
I’m flexible and you’re tough.
But if you promise to be my true love
That will always be enough.
Like Bonny and that Clyde guy
without all the dying.
Like Gwyneth and that Coldplay man
without all the crying.
My partner in crime, the love of my life,
My muse, my joy, my fun.
Please be my one and only,
Cos you’ve always been ‘The One’.
Love and Marriage Poem: Devoted – Lori Eberhai
My heart can be your home,
my soul can be your refuge.
You can turn to me when you are weak,
you can call to me when the way is not clear.
I will be your promise and your prayer,
I will always be there,
Constant and complete.
Run to me,
reach out for me,
and I will love you in a unique and tender way.
Bring your love to me,
share your love with me,
sing your love to me,
and I will offer you peace, ease and comfort.
Poem for a Couple: Again and Again, However We Know The Landscape of Love – Rainer Maria Rilke
Again and again, however we know the landscape of love
and the little churchyard there, with its sorrowing names,
and the frighteningly silent abyss into which the others
fall: again and again the two of us walk out together
under the ancient trees, lie down again and again
among the flowers, face to face with the sky.
Wedding Love Poem: I Saw Two Clouds at Morning – John G. C. Brainard
I saw two clouds at morning,
tinged by the rising sun,
and in the dawn they floated on,
and mingled into one;
I thought that morning cloud was blest,
it moved so sweetly to the west.
I saw two summer currents
flow smoothly to their meeting,
and join their course, with silent force,
in peace each other greeting;
calm was their course through banks of green,
while dimpling eddies played between.
Such be your gentle motion,
‘till life’s last pulse shall beat;
like summer’s beam and summer’s stream,
float on in joy, to meet
a calmer sea, where storms shall cease,
a purer sky, where all is peace.
Short Marriage Poem from Aristotle
Every heart sings a song, incomplete,
until another heart whispers back.
Those who wish to sing always find a song.
At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.
Meaningful Wedding Poem: The One – Unknown
When the one whose hand you’re holding
Is the one one who holds your heart
When the one whose eyes you gaze into
Gives your hopes and dreams their start,
When the one you think of first and last
Is the one who holds you tight,
And the things you plan together
Make the whole world seem just right,
When the one whom you believe in
puts their faith and trust in you,
You’ve found the one and only love
You’ll share your whole life through.
Short Poem About Marriage: When Two People Are At One – I Ching
When two people are at one in their inmost hearts,
they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze.
And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts,
their words are sweet and strong,
like the fragrance of orchids.
Classic Wedding Poem: To Love Is Not to Posses – James Kavanaugh
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
No longer clinging in childish dependency
Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,
It is to be perfectly one’s self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another—and to one’s inner self.
Love only endures when it moves like waves,
Receding and returning gently or passionately,
Or moving lovingly like the tide
In the moon’s own predictable harmony,
Because finally, despite a child’s scars
Or an adult’s deepest wounds,
They are openly free to be
Who they really are—and always secretly were,
In the very core of their being
Where true and lasting love can alone abide.
Short Poem on Marriage: The Day Sky – Hafiz
Let us be like
two falling stars in the day sky.
Let no one know of our sublime beauty
as we hold hands with God
and burn
Into a sacred existence that defies
that surpasses
Every description of ecstasy
and love.
Fun Wedding Poem: Roll on the Wedding! – Catherine Smith
The band has been booked, the cake has been made,
the photographer’s chosen, all bills have been paid.
The guests are decided, the menu too;
Something borrowed? Check! Ditto old and blue.
The stationery’s been ordered, along with the flowers,
favours are done after fiddling for hours.
The stag do’s a blur, same goes for the Hen –
won’t be drinking that much in one sitting again!
The dress has been picked, accessories bought;
there’s nothing to schedule, no more to sort.
After endless to-do lists for over a year,
it’s time to relax; the big day is here!
Sitting here with my girls as our hair gets done,
I can’t help feeling lucky to have found ‘the One’ –
Just think, by lunchtime I’ll be his new wife!
Roll on the wedding, and our new married life!
Funny Love Poem: Becalmed Bedazzled Bewitched Besotted – Nick Williams
Across the road,
I watched as you window shopped, bag in hand
And as people and cars rushed past, I stood motionless
as a boat
becalmed…
And at that party,
there was a strange aura that hovered around you,
but maybe it was just you, the cheap wine, and me
feeling
bedazzled…
And for weeks after that,
my every waking thought (when my mind was clear enough to think)
has been of you, leaving me
spellbound,
bewitched…
And now here we are,
nervous, on show and in clothes we’ll never wear again,
and I’m still staring at you,
totally
besotted.
Love Poetry for Weddings: Touched by an Angel – Maya Angelou
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
Wedding Love Poem: The Lark in the Clear Air – Unknown
Dear thoughts are in my mind and my soul it soars enchanted
As I hear the sweet lark sing in the clear air of the day
For a tender beaming smile to my hope has been granted
And tomorrow he shall hear all my fond heart longs to say
I will tell him all my love, all my soul’s pure adoration
And I know he will hear my voice and he will not answer me nay
It is this that gives my soul all it’s joyous elation
As I hear the sweet lark sing in the clear air of the day.
Religious Wedding Poem: Slow Me Down, Lord! – Wilferd A. Peterson
Let me look upward
into the branches of the towering oak
and know that it is great and strong
because it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord,
and inspire me to send my roots deep
into the soil of nature’s enduring values
that I may grow towards the stars
of my greater destiny.
Spiritual Wedding Poem: Stardust – Lang Leav
If you came to me with a face I have not seen, with a name I have never heard, I would still know you. Even if centuries separated us, I would still feel you. Somewhere between the sand and the stardust, through every collapse and creation, there is a pulse that echoes of you and I.
When we leave this world, we give up all our possessions and our memories. Love is the only thing we take with us. It is all we carry from one life to the next.
One of the Best Poems for Your Wedding: My Love – Jane Graham
You say you love me
I know it’s true
Without your love
What would I do?
My heart will sing
‘you kiss my soul’
This is the thing
That makes us whole
Together we will face our life
You as my husband
Me your wife
Sharing, caring, journeying on
With only love notes
For our song.
Not sure about poems for your wedding? Try these!
If you’re not sure a poem is for you or if you’re looking for more beautiful words to add to your wedding day, then check out our list of wedding readings, quotes, scripture, sayings, jokes, wedding prayers, blessings and more!
Whether you’re a Swiftie, a metalhead or a fan of the classics, choosing songs for your processional is no easy feat. That’s why we’re sharing some of the best songs to walk down the aisle to so you can choose the perfect music for your ceremony.
Ready? Let’s build your processional playlist!
What are processional songs?
Processional songs, also known as songs to walk down the aisle to or processional music for a wedding, are the songs that play while the wedding party and couple come down the aisle (aka process down the aisle) at the beginning of the ceremony. This is how the wedding party and couple enter the ceremony and is the official start of the celebration.
Do you need a special bride walking down the aisle song?
In traditional hetero weddings, the processional order has the bride entering at the end of the procession and often with a special song played just for her entrance. But a special bride walking down the aisle song isn’t mandatory – and also isn’t applicable to all weddings as there isn’t always a bride.
However, if either partner wants a special entrance song, we think you should go for it! Why not create a moment for each member of the couple to make a grand entrance?
Some popular songs for the bride walking down the aisle include Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley, All of Me by John Legend, A Thousand Years by Christina Perri and At Last by Etta James.
How to choose what songs to walk down the aisle to
It can be tough to decide what songs to walk down the aisle to. How do you summarize your entire relationship in just one or two songs? How do you choose something meaningful but also emotional, that conveys the right tone and is both unique yet recognizable? Should you go for lyrics or instrumental? Upbeat or slow?
There are millions of songs to choose from and it can be overwhelming to pick just one or two. Start with songs that already mean something to you two, perhaps a song you sing in the car or play at home. Go through your playlists and see if anything stands out.
Don’t have a song in mind? Check out our suggestions below!
Once you have a few songs shortlisted, listen to them all the way through to make sure you like the lyrics and all of the verses. You may even want to stand up and practice walking down the aisle so you can really envision what the song will sound like on the day.
What about wedding recessional songs?
Recessional songs – the music that plays during the recessional when the couple and wedding party head back up the aisle at the end of the ceremony – are usually more upbeat and fun than processional songs, which tend to be more emotional and slow. You want a song that will encourage everyone to celebrate with the you, the brand new newlyweds!
Check out our post, 45 Ceremony Exit Songs, to find the best recessional song for your wedding!
16 emotional walking down the aisle songs that will make you cry
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Come Away with Me – Norah Jones
All of Me – John Legend
Make You Feel My Love – Adele
Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
All This Time – One Republic
Better Together – Us The Duo
Flightless Bird, American Mouth – Iron & Wine
The Book of Love – Peter Gabriel
Hallelujah – Pentatonix
Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler
Invisible String – Taylor Swift
Blessed – Thomas Rhett
All My Days – Alexi Murdoch
The Only Exception – Paramore
Only You – Joshua Radin
Now that you’ve picked the perfect songs to walk down the aisle to, it’s time to plan the rest of your ceremony! Check out our ceremony packages or grab our free vow writing guide to get started!
Looking to add a dose of romantic inspiration to your wedding day? Check out 43 marriage quotes that could work perfectly for your celebration! Whether you’re after a poem, some marriage advice or words on love from your favourite movie, you’ll find a quote that fits below.
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” —Maya Angelou
“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness–and call it love–true love.”
– Robert Fulghum
Funny marriage quotes
“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” —Rita Rudner
“I married for love but the obvious side benefit of having someone around to find my glasses cannot be ignored.” — Cameron Esposito
“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow internet to see who they really are.” — Will Ferrell
“You know you are in love when the two of you can go grocery shopping together.” — Woody Harrelson
“Love is a two-way street constantly under construction.” — Carroll Bryant
Short quotes about love and marriage
“A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short.” —André Maurois
“When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.” – Arrigo Boito
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.” – Henry David Thoreau
Love and marriage quotes
“To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow—this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” —Elizabeth Gilbert
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
Love quote from the movie, “Shall We Dance?”
“We need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet… I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you’re promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things… all of it, all of the time, every day. You’re saying, ‘Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness.'” – Shall We Dance?
“The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly who you are: good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with.” — Juno
“Look, you want to know what marriage is really like? Fine. You wake up, she’s there. You come back from work, she’s there. You fall asleep, she’s there. You eat dinner, she’s there. You know? I mean, I know that sounds like a bad thing, but it’s not.” —Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond
Famous movie quote on love
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” —Meg Ryan, When Harry Met Sally
Television and movie quotes about love
“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” – Arwen, The Fellowship of the Ring
“But the thing is this, after a while, you just want to be with the one that makes you laugh.” — Sex and the City
“I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” – Notting Hill
“Our love is like the wind, I can’t see it, but I can feel it.” — Landon, A Walk To Remember
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.” – William Shakespeare
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” – Emily Brontë
“Come, let’s be a comfortable couple and take care of each other! How glad we shall be, that we have somebody we are fond of always, to talk to and sit with.” – Charles Dickens
“You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known and even that is an understatement.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Marriage quotes with advice for the newlyweds
“This is what marriage really means: helping one another to reach the full status of being persons, responsible beings who do not run away from life.” —Paul Tournier
“The greatest marriages are built on teamwork. A mutual respect, a healthy dose of admiration, and a never-ending portion of love and grace.” —Fawn Weaver
“Marriage is not a noun; it’s a verb. It isn’t something you get. It’s something you do. It’s the way you love your partner every day.” —Barbara De Angelis
Happy and fun relationship quote
“There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.” – Martin Luther
“When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.” – John Lennon
“But still I can’t help from hoping to find someone to talk to who likes the way I am. Someone who when he sees me, wants to again.” — Waitress
“Love is a friendship set to music.” – Joseph Campbell
Marriage is hard quotes
“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.” —Dave Meurer
“There are a hundred paths through the world that are easier than loving. But who wants easier?” —Marry Oliver
Marriage quotes about life
“When you end up happily married, even the failed relationships have worked beautifully to get you there.” —Julia Roberts
“Love at first sight is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.” —Sam Levenson
“The secret is that you just take care of each other and admire each other and support each other and you get that back … If Jeffrey and I disagree on something, he always agrees with me!” —Ina Garten
“The secret to a good marriage is to be a little deaf.” —Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Marriage quotes from poetry
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you directly without problems or pride: I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love, except in this form in which I am not nor are you, so close that your hand upon my chest is mine, so close that your eyes close with my dreams.” —Pablo Neruda
“If I had a flower for every time thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever.” —Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“We loved with a love that was more than love.” – Edgar Allan Poe
True love marriage quotes
“Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
“Love doesn’t make the world go round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Elizabeth Browning
“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” – Robert Heinlein
So your son has asked you to speak at his wedding…but you don’t know where to start! No worries, below we’re sharing four mother of the groom wedding speech samples, from the short and sweet to the hilarious or religious, so you can find the perfect words for your own speech. Plus, we’re sharing the six-part structure to the perfect parent speech and seven tips to ensure you nail it on reception night!
Ready? Let’s write that mother of the groom speech!
Heads up: While this post is directed at mothers of grooms, our advice, tips and examples below will apply to all parents of the couple getting married. Since not all weddings have grooms – and not all grooms have mothers – these speech skills are for everyone.
Here is the basic structure for any good parent speech at their child’s wedding:
Part 1: Introduction
Introduce yourself! Tell the crowd your name and your relationship to the couple. If it’s a fairly small wedding you can include a caveat like “As most of you know, I’m Oliver’s mom,” since most people will know who you are. You may also want to welcome everyone to the wedding, but this is often only appropriate if you’re hosting the wedding (aka paying for it).
Part 2: Words about your child
Next, share some words about your son. This section should be a few sentences about how happy you are for your son, how proud you are of him, and maybe a short story that highlights your special mother-son relationship.
Part 3: Words about your child’s partner
Remember, this speech isn’t all about your son! You also want to spend some time talking about your son’s new spouse. Welcome them to the family, talk about how you knew they were the one, and mention what traits you love most about them.
Part 4: Story about the couple
While it can be tempting in a mother of the groom speech to just tell stories about your son growing up, save those stories and focus instead on the newlyweds as a couple. Do you have a favourite memory with both of them? Was there a particular moment when you knew they were meant to be? Maybe a sweet story about their first date or engagement?
Ideally, you want to choose a story that is short and sweet, that reflects who the couple is, and is told from your point of view. It would be odd for you to tell their engagement story if it didn’t involve you, just like it would be cringe-worthy to tell a story that embarrasses your son or his new spouse. Don’t overthink this. Any sweet memory you’ve shared with the couple will do!
Part 5: Marriage advice and well wishes
As you’re starting to wrap up your speech, you may want to share some words of wisdom for the newlyweds’ future together. This can be based on your own marriage or marriage advice you’ve heard. Again, don’t overthink this! If you don’t have any sage wisdom to share, you can simply say a sentence or two wishing your son and his new spouse all the best.
Part 6: End with a toast
The best way to end any wedding speech is with a toast. This is where you will ask all of the guests to join you in raising a glass to the happy newlyweds!
When does the mother of the groom wedding speech happen?
Parent speeches usually happen during the reception as part of the speech line-up. Depending on what your son is planning, he may ask you to open the speeches or speak somewhere in the middle. You may even close the speeches, but often the newlywed couple makes the last speech so they can thank everyone else for speaking.
Make sure you check in with the couple about exactly when you’re speaking so you’re prepared. Find out what time your speech is scheduled for and who you’re speaking after, just in case the schedule is delayed. That way, you can make sure your drink is topped up and you’re not in the bathroom when it’s time to give your speech!
Does a mother of the newlyweds have to speak at the wedding?
No, wedding speeches are not mandatory. Not all couples have speeches at their reception and not all couples want their parents to take part in those speeches. And even if your child does ask you to speak, you can always say no. (However, we hope you don’t!)
Traditionally, only men spoke at weddings. It was the father of the bride, the groom and the best man who gave speeches. These days, speeches are opening up to folks from both families and of all genders, but it’s still mostly men we hear from. With the father of the bride traditionally getting the spotlight role of walking the bride down the aisle, we love the idea of letting moms speak at the reception. More women’s voices in weddings please!
If you’re nervous about speaking at the wedding, check out some of our tips below. Remember that this is just a short speech delivered in front of people who love you and your child. If you think you’ll need some support at the mic, consider asking another family member to give the speech with you. Try not to let your nerves stand in the way of this special moment!
Heartfelt mother of the groom wedding speech sample
Family and friends, I stand before you today with a heart full of joy and gratitude as the mother of the groom. This is a momentous occasion, and I couldn’t be happier to celebrate the love that has brought us all together.
I have watched my son grow into the incredible man he is today. From a young age, he has always been compassionate, caring, and thoughtful. He has a heart of gold, and I am so proud of the person he has become.
And then, along came [Partner’s Name]. It was clear from the very beginning that they were the missing piece to our family puzzle. Their warmth, kindness, and unwavering support have brought so much happiness into our lives, and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect partner for my son.
I remember the day my son introduced us to [Partner’s Name]. The way their eyes lit up when they spoke about their shared dreams and aspirations was truly magical. From that moment, it was evident that they were destined to be together. Through thick and thin, they have shown us the strength of their love, always finding laughter and joy in each other’s company.
As my son embarks on this incredible journey called marriage, I want to offer a piece of advice that has guided my own marriage: Always communicate openly and honestly with each other. Listen with your hearts, be patient, and never forget to cherish the little moments.
If you will all join me in raising a glass to [Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name], two remarkable individuals who have found their forever love in each other. May your journey together be filled with laughter, adventure, and an abundance of love. Cheers!
Short & sweet mother of the groom wedding speech sample
Good evening, everyone. My name is [Name] and I am the happy mother of the groom. I am so excited to celebrate this day with you all.
My son, [Groom’s Name], has always been a source of pride and inspiration in our family. His dedication, his sense of humour, and his unwavering kindness have touched the hearts of everyone he meets. When [Partner’s Name] entered our lives, it was like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day. They have brought immense joy and warmth into our family, and we are so grateful to have them in our lives.
Together, [Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name] have navigated life’s ups and downs, always supporting and uplifting one another. Their love has grown stronger with each passing day, and it’s an honour to witness their journey. My wish for you both as you start this new chapter is that you will embrace change together, and let your love grow stronger with each passing day.
So let’s all raise our glasses to [Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name]. May your love continue to shine brightly, blessing each other and everyone around you. Cheers!
by Beige Weddings
Funny mother of the groom wedding speech sample
My name is [Name] and I am absolutely thrilled to be here today as the mother of the groom. They say weddings are a time for love, laughter, and happiness, and I intend to deliver on at least two of those fronts tonight!
Now, let me say a few words about my son, [Groom’s Name]. From the moment he was born, I knew he was special. He has always had a unique way of making us laugh, whether it’s with his goofy jokes or his charming smile. He’s a true comedian at heart, and he’s been keeping our family in stitches for years.
And then, along came [Partner’s Name]. I must say, [Partner’s Name], you have the patience of a saint to put up with my son’s antics! But your grace, your kindness, and your ability to roll with the punches have won all of our hearts. You’re the peanut butter to his jelly, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome you into our family.
They say that opposites attract, and that couldn’t be more true in this case. [Groom’s Name] is notorious for his messy habits, while [Partner’s Name] is the definition of neat and organized. I remember the day they moved in together, and it was like watching a sitcom. But, against all odds, they’ve managed to find harmony in their differences and build a beautiful life together.
[Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name], as you begin this exciting journey of marriage I want to remind you to keep the laughter alive! Life can throw some curveballs, but if you can find humour in the little things, you’ll get through it. A couple that laughs together, stays together.
So please join me as we raise our glasses to [Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name]. May your days be filled with laughter, your love be as strong as your sense of humour, and your life together be one hilarious adventure. Cheers to the funniest couple in the room!
Religious mother of the groom wedding speech sample
We gather here today to celebrate not only the union of [Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name] but also to acknowledge the divine presence that blesses this sacred bond. As the mother of the groom, I am profoundly grateful to be a part of this beautiful celebration.
I want to take a moment to praise my son, [Groom’s Name]. He has always possessed a strong faith and unwavering devotion. His commitment to his values and his compassion for others are a testament to the goodness in his heart.
[Partner’s Name], from the moment you entered our lives, it was evident that your faith was equally strong. Your kindness, your humility, and your genuine love for [Groom’s Name] have been a blessing to our family. We are grateful for your presence and your shared commitment to faith.
The love story of [Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name] has been guided by their faith. They have prayed together, found solace in their shared beliefs, and sought spiritual guidance through life’s challenges. Their journey is a testament to the power of faith in nurturing a love that is unbreakable.
[Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name], as you embark on this sacred journey of marriage, I want to remind you to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Seek His guidance in times of joy and tribulation, and let your faith be the cornerstone of your love. Together, may you find strength and peace in His presence.
Together, let us raise our glasses and offer a prayer for [Groom’s Name] and [Partner’s Name], that their marriage may be blessed with divine love, unwavering faith, and the grace of God. May their union be a shining example of the power of faith in love. Cheers to a blessed and joyous marriage!
7 tips for an awesome mother of the groom wedding speech
1. Write your speech down on paper
Your wedding speech should be written down on paper. Don’t try to memorize it, don’t make it up on the spot and don’t read it off your phone. Take the time to write or type your speech out onto a piece of paper for you to read and reference. This is the best way to guarantee a smooth speech delivery and it looks best in photos.
2. Practice your wedding speech
Just because you’re not memorizing it doesn’t mean you don’t need to practice your wedding speech. Practice saying your speech out loud in front of a mirror so you’re comfortable with all of the words. This will give you added confidence on the big day!
3. Include your spouse (if appropriate)
If appropriate, include your spouse in your speech. You may want to give the speech together, each saying different parts, or just have them stand next to you while you speak. If your relationship isn’t one where you’d like to give a speech together, you can still reference your spouse or your family in your speech.
4. Keep it short
Your wedding speech should be 2-3 minutes long. That’s the sweet spot for wedding speeches – any longer and people get bored, any shorter and people might blink and miss it. Aim for 2-3 minutes while writing and time yourself when you practice so you know how long your speech is.
5. Skip the embarrassing stories
You may have joked with your son that you were going to share his naked baby photos at his wedding but when it comes to your speech, keep the embarrassing stuff out. A funny little story is okay but anything that is going to make your son or his new spouse uncomfortable should not be included.
6. Mention your son’s new spouse and their family
We included this in the structure of a speech above but it bears repeating: Don’t forget to mention your son’s new spouse! So many mother of the groom speeches only focus on the groom with no mention of the person he’s marrying. Remember, this isn’t all about your son; this is about his marriage. Take the time to highlight your new child-in-law, speak directly to them in your speech, and make them and their family feel welcome.
7. Prepare for emotions
Many parents say they don’t want to give a speech at their child’s wedding because they fear they’ll get too emotional. But rather than letting that stop you from speaking, take some time to prepare for it in advance. By practicing your speech at home, you’ll be more comfortable with your words and the emotions they bring up. You can also practice grounding exercises and bring tissues with you to the podium. Plus, who doesn’t love a photo of a tearful mother-son hug?
If you’ve ever seen a couple light a candle, pour some sand or braid a rope at their wedding ceremony and thought “that’s cool!” then a unity ceremony might be for you! But what is a unity ceremony and what unity ceremony ideas are there to choose from? We’ve got you covered!
From traditional customs to offbeat and fun ideas, unity ceremonies offer a chance to make your day even more personal. Check out these 18+ unity ceremony ideas that will add that extra magic to your “I do” moment!
What is a unity ceremony?
A unity ceremony is a special tradition, practice or moment that a couple engages in during their wedding to symbolize their commitment to one another and their new union. These ceremonies generally involve two things becoming one or the joining of both people to best symbolize the unity the couple has found.
Unity ceremony ideas can be derived from religious or cultural traditions, historic wedding practices or something fun and creative the couple wants to do. Some ceremonies also result in a physical object, such as a painting, that the couple can then display in their home.
Why do couples have unity ceremonies during their wedding? Do we have to have one?
Most couples choose to have unity ceremonies during their weddings to further personalize their day. They may want to add a unity practice that is really meaningful to them, something done by their family or religious group, or that they have a personal connection to. Unity ceremonies also give couples one more opportunity to focus on their connection and commitment to one another.
However, unity ceremonies are not mandatory. You can still have a personalized wedding day that focuses on your commitment without holding a special unity ceremony. If none of the wedding ceremony unity ideas sound good to you, don’t force it! You and your guests will enjoy your wedding a lot more if it feels authentic to you two, and not like you’re doing something just because you think you’re supposed to.
Lastly, we want to remind you to do your homework when it comes to unity ideas for your wedding. Especially if it’s not a unity practice you’re familiar with or not one from your own background, do some research to make sure you understand where the practice comes from and if it’s right for you. Appreciation can veer into appropriation when we start incorporating elements from other cultures, religions or backgrounds without any meaning behind them.
There are also some unity ceremonies that aren’t appropriate for everyone. For example, jumping the broom is a wedding tradition born out of a time when Black slaves were not allowed to legally marry, and so jumped over a broom to signify their union. Because of this history, you can see how it would be inappropriate for a non-Black couple to incorporate this unity ceremony into their wedding.
When does the unity ceremony happen?
Unity ceremonies usually happen during the wedding ceremony, typically after your vows and ring exchange but before your first kiss and pronouncement as a newlywed couple. Depending on what type of unity ceremony you have in mind, you can work with your wedding officiant and wedding planner to ensure you have it at the right time. You may also need to coordinate with them any supplies you’ll need for the ceremony.
18+ unity ceremony ideas for your wedding
From mixing sand and planting trees to tying knots and chopping wood, check out 18+ unity ideas for your wedding below!
Sand unity ceremony
One of the most popular ideas for a unity ceremony is a sand ceremony. In a sand unity ceremony, each member of the couple will have a vase filled with sand, usually of different colours. Together, they will both pour their small bottles of sand into a larger one, mixing the two types of sand together. A sand for unity ceremony is a simple way to symbolize two becoming one and makes a beautiful art piece. You can even have your unity ceremony sand transformed into even cooler art by a glassblower.
Beer, wine or cocktail blending
Why mix sand when you could mix drinks? A fun spin on the sand unity ceremony is to switch out sand for something much more delicious, like beer, wine or cocktail ingredients. For example, you can pour white wine while your partner pours red, creating your own rosé. Or you pour gin while your partner pours tonic water. Afterwards, take a sip of your new creation!
Prefer mocktails over cocktails? If you’re not alcohol drinkers, you can still do a beverage blending unity ceremony with juice, tea, coffee or your beverage of choice.
Handfasting ceremony
In Celtic wedding vow tradition, a handfasting ceremony is done so a couple can literally tie the knot. In this ceremony, the officiant will wrap rope around the couple’s hands, tying them together, while explaining the significance of the tradition with a handfasting script. The couple may also choose to exchange Celtic wedding vows to further deepen their connection to the ceremony.
One of the best ways to symbolize your growing love and commitment to care for it is with a tree planting ceremony. Assuming you don’t want to do a full landscaping job in your wedding clothes, it’s best to make this ceremony as simple as possible. You can shovel in some dirt that was already prepared or simply water a tree that has just been planted. You can also swap out the tree for a house plant or succulent if that makes more sense for your lives.
Unity candle ceremony
Another very popular unity ceremony is the unity candle ceremony. In this ceremony, both members of the couple will take a lit candle and light a third candle together at the same time. Sometimes couples will receive their individual candles from family or friends, symbolizing the love they are bringing to the marriage. This is another beautiful, simple and elegant unity ceremony idea.
Ring warming
Who says unity ceremonies only have to involve the couple? In this unity idea, you get to involve all of your loved ones. A ring warming is when a couple’s wedding rings are passed around so all of their guests can “warm” the rings with their love. That way, when the couple exchanges rings, they’re doing so with all the love and support of their guests. Worried about losing the rings or someone coughing on them? Instead of passing around each ring on its own, put them in a box!
Similar to handfasting, this unity idea involves braiding a cord but without wrapping the cord around your hands. This tradition comes from the Bible where Ecclesiastes 4:12 says that “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” The three strands traditionally symbolize the two partners and god but if you’re not religious, the third strand can represent your family and friends. During this unity tradition, both partners will take turn braiding the cord and tying a knot at the end.
Lantern release
Inspired by Thai tradition (and probably the movie Tangled), a lantern release is a beautiful way to symbolize your union and give your guests something beautiful to look at. A lantern release can be a sign of hope for a bright future ahead or can be used to make wishes for your married life. If you want to get your guests involved, this is a great unity ceremony to do at the end of your reception, where guests can release their own lanterns. Make sure you do your research to ensure you’re releasing lanterns in an environmentally-friendly and venue-approved fashion!
Anniversary capsule
We love this unity ceremony idea! Together, you and your partner will create an anniversary time capsule for you to open on your first wedding anniversary. Your capsule can include love letters, mementos from your wedding day, a bottle of your favourite wine, etc. During the unity ceremony, your officiant can explain what items you’re putting into the box, which you can then seal closed together and open a year later!
Paint blending
An artsy unity ceremony idea is a paint blending ceremony. In this option, each member of the couple will have a different colour of paint. You’ll then apply both to a canvas in whatever design you choose, creating a piece of art that blends both colours and can be displayed in your home. You may want to test out your art materials ahead of time so you don’t accidentally get paint on your wedding outfits!
Sandwich making
One of the funniest unity ceremony ideas we’ve heard of is a sandwich making ceremony. If you always say you go together like peanut butter and jelly, why not make it literal? On a side table you can have the sandwich ingredients ready to go. One partner will add peanut butter to a piece of bread while the other partner adds jelly to another piece of bread. Smash them together and take a bite of true love!
Ceremony toast
Another great way to involve your guests in your unity ceremony is with a unity toast. While toasts are usually saved for the wedding reception, we love the idea of all of your guests raising a glass in support of your union at your ceremony. Make sure to discuss with your wedding planner how you’ll work out all of the logistics for your wedding ceremony toast so everyone can cheers to your love.
Looking for more religious or spiritual ideas for a unity ceremony? Check out a few options below! Remember to do your research before incorporating a tradition that is not from your own religion or culture.
Prayer circle: Have your guests form a circle around you and pray for your marriage.
Communion: Invite guests to receive communion at your Catholic wedding.
Wash each other’s feet: Like Jesus, take turns washing each other’s feet to symbolize your love and humility.
Circling: The Jewish hakafot tradition sees the bride circling the groom seven times, but is now commonly done by both partners.
Hasta Milap: This Hindu tradition ties a scarf or sari over the couple’s hands to signify the meeting of their two hearts and two souls.
Sofreh Aghd: A Persian ceremony that involves symbolic items displayed on a table to bless the couple’s union.
Breaking the glass: A unity ceremony traditionally seen at the end of Jewish weddings to symbolize a turning point in the couple’s lives.
Another unity ceremony idea that involves your guests is a community vow. With a community vow, your officiant might say something like, “Loved ones of Peter and MJ, do you promise to celebrate their love, support them and encourage them in their marriage? If so, please let out a resounding ‘we do!'” To which your guests will all shout, “We do!” It’s a fun, simple and meaningful way to involve your guests in your ceremony and union as a couple.
Blanket wrapping is a beautiful unity ceremony that comes from Cherokee tradition. Each member of the couple is wrapped individually in a blue blanket, symbolizing their past lives. Then, they’re wrapped together in a white blanket, symbolizing their commitment to a new life together filled with peace. A shared blanket can also represent warmth and a shared future. To add even more meaning, you can use handmade blankets or ask loved ones to do the wrapping.
Log cutting
Want to work up a sweat at your unity ceremony? A German wedding tradition, baumstamm sägen, involves the couple cutting a log together with a handsaw to symbolize the hard work they are willing to put into their marriage. Luckily, to save the couple some time and to stop them from sweating through their outfits, this log is often partially cut in advance.
Bonfire ceremony
Is your love burning like a passionate flame? Prove it with a bonfire ceremony! While you don’t want your marriage to be up in flames or burned to the ground, a bonfire can symbolize new beginnings, new life and new light. It’s also quite the wow moment for your guests! Just be sure you have venue-approval before lighting a bonfire and a plan for how to safely put it out.
Crown ceremony
The crown unity ceremony comes from Greek Orthodox weddings where Stefana crowns are placed on the couple’s heads by their officiant or family members. These crowns are held together with a ribbon, connecting the wearers to each other and to god. The couple is blessed and the ceremony symbolizes the couple coming together in god’s kingdom.
Traditionally seen in Mexican, Filipino and Spanish Catholic weddings, a lasso unity ceremony is another play on “tying the knot” to bring couples together. A lasso – usually a flower garland or rosary passed down by family – is draped over the couple’s shoulders to form a figure eight, representing their unity for eternity. The couple wears the lasso throughout the ceremony until it is removed by their officiant or special “lasso godparents.”
So there you have it, 18+ unity ceremony ideas that you can incorporate into your wedding day. Want to make your wedding day even more personal and meaningful? Check out our custom ceremony package where your officiant will write a ceremony completely personalized to your love story!
