In response to a request from a How To Be A Wedding Officiant visitor, I have posted Word document files of the prewritten wedding ceremonies for free download.

You may find the Word document files helpful because you can modify the text and copy/paste in order to create your own customized wedding ceremonies.

These Word docx files can be found at the bottom of each ceremony page.

Here’s the list of ceremonies where you can find a free download of these helpful Word files:

Peace, Love and Joy To You!

Avary

Here is a beautiful “Everlasting Promise Of Faithfulness, Tenderness and Helpfulness Vow Renewal Ceremony” that I have posted for you in its entirety. I have also posted the free PDF fillable form for this ceremony. And be sure to get the Everlasting Promise Certificate of Vow Renewal template also offered for free download at the bottom of the page. The form and the certificate have No watermark so you can use them for your personal projects, ceremony or small business.

The fillable form is in a nice easy to read printable format that can be used as a script for the Officiant as well as a keepsake for the couple. The PDF is enhanced to be a fillable form, so you can tab to the fields and you only need to enter each field once as the remainder of the form will automatically be filled in. See fillable form help for more info on PDF forms.

There is also a Word .docx editable document you can download for free. The Word .docx file is at the bottom of the page.

As a wedding officiant you may want to offer your services for Vow Renewal ceremonies.

Many couples choose to honor and celebrate their years in the sacred bonds of matrimony by having a vow renewal ceremony in which they reaffirm their wedding vows. I have put together the wording for a Vow Renewal Ceremony by taking the wording from the Promise Of Faithfulness, Tenderness and Helpfulness Wedding Ceremony and adapting it to be appropriate for a renewing of vows ceremony.

Compare the original Wedding Ceremony wording to the Vow Renewal Ceremony wording to get an idea of how I made changes in order to transform it.

Read More for the complete Vow Renewal Ceremony Wording, Free PDF Fillable Form and Free Vow Renewal Certificate!

If you don't know where to begin when it comes to starting your wedding officiant business, you may want to check out some of the helpful information offered in these pages listed below.

Ordination

Learn about online ordination and how to become a wedding officiant. See the article > Ordination And Marriage Laws.

Another helpful resource is the ULC page that lists Marriage Laws and Minister Requirements by state.

Checklist and Helpful Links

See the Checklist page and begin taking the steps in order to become a wedding officiant and start your business. The checklist helps you to organize your tasks/steps in a logical sequence and also has links to supplemental information pages and articles for corresponding topics.

Use the Helpful Links page to complete even more steps as it provides time-saving links for many promotional tools and resources. You will find links for listing your business with wedding directories such as Wedding Wire and The American Association Of Wedding Officiants as well as promotional tools such as submitting your site to Google Places, Yelp and many more!

If you complete these steps you will be well on your way to becoming a wedding officiant and starting a wedding officiant business!

Good Luck!

Avary

Here’s a lovely wedding ceremony that can be used for an outdoor wedding ceremony. It is very earthy and spiritual in its tone.

This wedding ceremony wording includes a tree planting unifying ritual that comes after the exchange of rings element in the ceremony.

You can download the PDF version of this ceremony for free.

It is enhanced with the fillable form feature and you can type in the bride and groom’s name once and then all the bride/groom fields on the the form are automatically filled in with the corresponding names.

This ceremony is nicely formatted for the wedding officiant script and makes a nice presentation to the bridal couple as well.

Scroll to the bottom of the ceremony to get the free PDF download.

In recent years it has become very popular for couples to add a unifying ritual element into their wedding ceremony.

As explained in the previous post > Tree Planting Ceremony – Unifying Ritual For A Wedding, the act of symbolically planting a tree is a unifying ritual in which the couple puts dirt and water into a potted sapling container and then later plants the tree at their home.

In preparation for the tree planting element of a ceremony you should have the following items located on a nearby altar or table; a sapling in a pot/container, a watering can, 2 gardening trowels and small container of soil.

The tree planting unifying ritual format can consist of the couple using the trowels to add some soil to the potted sapling. The bride and groom each use their trowel to put some additional soil in the potted sapling container and then together the couple uses the watering can to water the newly potted sapling. While the couple is conducting the actions of the symbolic tree planting the officiant may do some readings and/or there may be music and/or a song performed.

The format options listed below consist of the officiant making an opening statement then a verse reading followed by a closing reading. The opening is a statement explaining that now a tree planting unifying ritual will be taking place. The reading is a bible verse, poem or poignant quote. The tree planting ritual ends with a closing reading that illustrates the comparison of the planting, strengthening and growing of a tree to that of a thriving marriage.

Below are listed some wording options for the tree planting unifying element of a wedding ceremony.

Opening Options

(Opening Option 1)
Officiant:
In a further symbol of their bond of unity, _____________ and _____________ will now take part in a unifying ritual of symbolic tree planting.

(Bride and Groom begin adding the soil to the potted sapling and after the soil is put in they use the watering can to water the newly potted sapling.)

Some couples choose to have a unifying ritual included in their wedding ceremony. The unifying ritual symbolizes the joining of the two individuals into one.

A tree planting ceremony can be very lovely and is especially good for an outdoor wedding. Although the tree is not actually planted in the ground during the ceremony therefore this ritual can easily be done inside as well.

The tree is symbolically planted as the couple puts dirt and water into the potted sapling container. Then later they plant the tree at their home or special place.

The supplies needed are; a sapling in a pot/container, a watering can, 2 gardening trowels and small container of soil. The supplies should be set up on a table near the altar.

During the symbolic tree planting the officiant may read a special verse or phrases, blessings, prayer or poem for tree planting or a guest might recite a reading. Or instead of a reading they may opt for music or a song to be played during the tree planting.

The couple will scoop the soil with the trowels and add it to the potted sapling; then together
they water the sapling.

Here’s an example of the wording for a Tree Planting Ceremony in a wedding:

Officiant:

As an illustration of their bond of unity, _____________ and _____________ will take part in a symbolic tree planting unifying ritual.

(Bride and Groom begin adding the soil to the potted sapling and after the soil is put in they use the watering can to water the newly potted sapling.)

Officiant continues: Let us read from the book of 1st Chronicles chapter 16, verses 33-34; Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Amen.

The marriage of ______________ and ______________ shall be like the trees of the forest; firmly rooted while reaching towards the light… skyward to the heavens, whispering to God their praises of gratitude for the gift of divine love and grace. Together their bond stands firm, yet bends and yields to gusts and gales in order to keep from breaking as their love endures all things. The roots grow deeper and the tree grows stronger; so shall it be with their love.

Traditionally this is the “Presentation of the Bride” or “The Giving Away of the Bride”. It is the time in the ceremony when the minister asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man” and the bride’s father says “I do”.

In contemporary weddings the minister may ask both sets of parents “Who gives these individuals to be given in marriage”? The parents answer “We do”. Other scenarios may have a different relative, family representative or child of the bride or groom that “gives them away”.

Some people may view this element as outdated and sexist and may choose to not include it in their ceremony. This is due to times in the past when the woman was considered as property and was given away in arranged marriages. Unfortunately there are many parts of the world where that is still the case. We are blessed to live in the United States of America, where women have equal rights and most people are not forced into arranged marriages.

Here are two lovely Keepsake Marriage Certificates that I have posted for you to download for free. The files are in PDF format.

One of them is bright and colorful with a touch of whimsy and a poem. I used a landscape orientation and a purple border with a multi-color chroma rose brush design that I made using Photoshop.

The other one is done in portrait orientation and is black and white. The frame is an intricate vintage frame.

It looks to be Victorian and even a bit Steampunk!

The vintage frame graphic I used to make this certificate is from The Graphics Fairy website. I love that website!

The fonts I used on the intricate fancy frame certificate are more formal looking than the fonts used on the colorful whimsy keepsake certificate. There is a quote from scripture at the bottom of this lovely keepsake marriage certificate.

The pronouncement as husband and wife is the part of the wedding ceremony when the officiant makes the official proclamation that the bride and groom are now husband and wife.

This element is usually near the end of the ceremony and can be followed by the benediction and the announcement as newlyweds.

The pronouncement often includes the familiar “you may kiss the bride” statement. The officiant may also declare their authority, i.e. “by the authority vested in me by the state of…”

Below is a list of examples of the Pronouncement As Husband and Wife:

1. Officiant: Inasmuch as you__________, and you __________, have thus consented in holy matrimony and have witnessed the same before God and this gathering and by the authority vested in me by the State of ________, I now pronounce you husband and wife and what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. You May Kiss The Bride!

2. Officiant: Therefore because ________ and ________ have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealed their vows in the giving and receiving of rings and have expressed their complete and pure dedication to one another before God and our gathering then it is by the authority vested in me by the State of _____________, I now pronounce you husband and wife. -- You may kiss the Bride!

It’s fun for everyone!

Even if you are already married you can use the build a wedding ceremony form.

Use it just for fun!

A romantic and fun thing to do with your significant other... you can both create a ceremony and then read them aloud to each other!

It’s easy to use the Build A Wedding Ceremony automated tool. Just select your favorite option from each element category and then click the submit button. You will receive your ceremony via email. It’s a great way to celebrate an anniversary or special date with your spouse or significant other.

Create as many ceremonies as you wish, as often as you want.

Officiants can use it as a tool in their business. Wedding couples can create a ceremony to bring to their officiant.

Try it out today! Go to the Build A Wedding Ceremony website.

It's Free, It's Fun, It's Helpful!