Wedding Ceremony

Almost 75% of wedding ceremonies in Australia are civil ceremonies conducted by Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrants. The role of Marriage Celebrants is to provide ceremonies in accordance with the legal requirements of the Marriage Act 1961 and the Marriage Regulations 1963, as well as provide couples with the necessary information to choose or create a ceremony that suits their needs and expectations. A Marriage Celebrant conducts and leads the ceremony in accordance with the couple’s wishes, with the appropriate professionalism, dignity, and presentation. Marriage Celebrants must maintain a high standard of service in their professional conduct and practice. Marriage Celebrants are permitted to solemnize marriages in almost any location in Australia and therefore their work takes them from beaches to wineries, parks, restaurants, chapels, the list is endless. 

As a Marriage celebrant, I will ensure:

• Fulfill all the legal requirements outlined in the Marriage Act 1961
• Adhere to the Marriage Regulations 1963 Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants
• Meet with the couple to discuss their ceremony
• Provide the couple with varied and diverse ceremony options
• Provide couples with a choice of ceremonies that suit their needs and expectations, or compose a meaningful, personal and tailored ceremony 
• Liaise with anyone involved in the ceremony, from family members and friends to other wedding vendors and venue managers
• Offer support, assistance and information at all times to couples 

All celebrants should have a detailed knowledge of different wedding ceremony rituals that they can offer couples to include in their ceremony. A ritual can add a very personal touch to a wedding ceremony. Below is a list of traditional wedding ceremony rituals with sample wording included. 

Please note that most rituals can take many different forms and celebrants will have their own interpretation for each one.

• Indian Wedding

Indian is a country comprises of 23 states. Each state represents a culture 23 (uniqueness). Each State has its own language.

The wedding rituals is mostly the same pattern in all Indian cultures. There could be little variations in each culture. 

In each culture, the wedding rituals are named differently but the meaning is the same (similar).

Baa-rat Swagat or Mapilai Viphzu Etc

The Bridge’s family welcome the Bride-groom, his family and friends at thh entrance of the Wedding Avenue

Ganesha Puja

The family performs payer to Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles and bring of good luck.

Kanya Aagman

The bride will enter the Wedding Avenue

Jilakara Bellam

The couples put a paste of jaggery (Brown sugar) and cumin on each other. The mixture of bitter (cummin) and sweet (jaggery) symbolises the in separability if the couple through both prosperous and difficult times.

Jaimala  (Varamala) – Exchange of garlands

Varamala means exchanging of garlands by the bride and the groom. 

The couple are proclaiming their mutual love, respect and acceptance by bestowing a garland of flowers on each other.

It is made of fresh and pious flowers. In ancient times it was believed to be the acceptance ritual by the bride and the groom for the marriage.

Kanyadaam (Bestowing of hand of the bride)

This ritual will be NOT same. Each Culture will have different rituals.

Eg: . Bride’s Father places Bride palms and over bride-groom palms. Bride will be be holding a Coconut in her hands.

Mangalya Dharanam

This Ritual is MOST IMPORTANT in Indian Wedding. This ritual will be NOT same. Each Culture will have different rituals.

A mangala sutra (from Sanskrit mangala “holy, auspicious”, and sutra “thread”) or thaali is a necklace that the groom ties around the bride’s neck in the Indian subcontinent, in a ceremony called Mangalya Dharanam (Sanskrit for ‘”wearing the auspicious”‘).

The bridegroom ties the Mangalya Sutra around the Bride Neck.

The first two knots tied by the groom signify the commitment of the couple and to assure the well-being of the bride. Meanwhile, the third knot tied by the groom’s sister signifies commitment between the two families.

Gathabandham

The bridegroom sister ties the corner of of bride and bridegroom garments together, to re-present the Unbreakable bond between the two, to spend their whole live together.

Mangalaphera

The couple walk around the holy fire (Agni) four times. Agni signifies of God presence at the ceremony and is an external witness of the wedding. The Mangalaphera (four rounds) symoblises the four ideals of Hindu Scripture:

• Dharma
• Artha
• Kama
• Moksha

After the final round the couple step on a stone representing future challenges and resolve to be firm and steadfast in their mutual love and married life.

Saptapadi (Scared Seven Steps)

1. Let us provide for our household, stay in good health and carry out our duties and responsibilities to each other, our families and our tradition.
2. Let us develop our mental and spiritual powers
3. Let us increase our wealth and comfort by righteous and proper means
4. Let us acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect and trust
5. Let us be blessed with contended family of strong, virtuous and heroic children
6. Let us be blessed with long lives
7. Let us remain true companions, committed only to each other

After these rituals the Marriage Celebrant declares the Couple as Husband and Wife.

Followed by blessings from the parents, grandparents, elders siblings of the Couple. Then the couple seek blessings from the guests followed by Sumptuous Lunch (Dinner).

• Sand Ceremony

The bride and groom pour coloured sand (or salt) from individual glasses into a larger centre glass as a symbolic act of the blending of their lives and families. As the grains of sand will never be able to be separated, so the couple are bonded for life.

Two variations on a wedding sand ceremony:

A parents’ variation of the sand ceremony is a great way to involve the couple’s parents. Each set of parents, the bride and the groom have a vase with different coloured sand. The parents take turns to pour their sand into the central vase before the couple, creating a layered effect. This symbolises their support of the couple in marriage. 

A children’s variation of the sand ceremony is perfect if the couple have children together already, or have children from a previous relationship. Each child, the bride and the groom have a small vase with coloured or white sand and they pour this into the central vase just before the couple finish pouring in their sand. This provides a layer where the couple’s and children’s sands are mixed. The children can then pour the rest of their sand on top of the couple’s sand.

Bride and Groom, the individual urns of sand represent your two families and your separate lives. As these urns of sand are poured into the family urn, the individual urns of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual urns, so will your marriage and family be, united as one for all of your days. Please unite your sand.

OR

Bride and Groom today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. Your relationship is symbolised through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand; one, representing you, Bride and all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be; and the other representing you, Groom and all that you were and all that you are and all that you will ever be.

As you each hold your sand, the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one.

You may now blend the sand together symbolising the uniting of the Bride and Groom into one.

• Rose/Flower Ceremony

After the vows, the bride and groom can give each other a flower as their first gift as husband and wife. It can be a promise that whenever they argue through their marriage they will always present each other with a flower to say sorry. Alternatively the bride and groom can present their mothers with a flower as a token of their thanks and love. In fact, a flower can be given to anyone at the ceremony!

Rose ritual for bride and groom

Bride and Groom have chosen a Rose Ceremony as a symbol of their love for each other. Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings, which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honourable titles that may exist between a man and a woman – the titles of “husband” and “wife.” In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing – it meant the words “I love you.” So it is appropriate that your first gift as husband and wife would be a single rose. Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife. That rose says the words: “I still love you.” The other should accept this rose for the words which cannot be found and remember the love and hope that you both share today. 

Rose ritual for mothers

Long before our bride and groom were standing here, they were loved and nurtured by two very special ladies. Can our two mothers please come forward and stand next to their children?

Bride’s Mother and Groom’s Mother, our bride and groom wanted to acknowledge you on their wedding day with a gift of a single rose as their way of saying thank you for everything you have done to make them the person they are today. Thank you mums! (Bride and groom give their mothers a rose)

Please note this is a guide to a basic, traditional order of service. Couples and celebrants are welcome to add, change, reorder and/or omit any parts as long as the Monitum and minimum legal vows are said by the celebrant and the couple in accordance with the Marriage Act 1961. 

Introduction

Celebrant welcomes all the guests and provides any applicable housekeeping announcements (phones on silent, ‘unplugged’ info, what’s happening after the ceremony – group photo etc.)

Processional

The bride walks down the aisle to music with the bridal party and her nominated escort (father, mother etc.) Sometimes the bride and groom may choose to enter together. 

Giving Away

If desired, the bride can be given away. Traditionally the father gives the bride away but the bride can choose her mother, a sibling, a friend or can be anyone.

An alternative option here is a family blessing/ acknowledgement, where the parents of both the bride and groom are asked to confirm their love and support of the marriage.

• Welcoming

The celebrant welcomes everyone, talks about love, the meaning of marriage and the couple’s story. The welcoming can include any particular thanks (parents, people who have travelled) and acknowledgements (loved ones who are no longer with us or absent family and friends). 

• Reading

The couple may choose to include some readings or poems. These can be read either by the celebrant or a guest, or even the bride or groom.

• Rituals/Blessings

The couple may include any particular wedding rituals or blessings. These can be traditional, religious or multicultural.

• Monitum

The legal wording from the Marriage Act 1961, stated by the celebrant.

• The Asking

This is where the celebrant asks the couple to confirm their intentions to marry. It’s the non-legal part that ends with the couple saying “I do!” or “I will!”

• Vows

The couple state their vows to each other (including the legal minimum vows from the Marriage Act 1961).

• Ring Exchange

The couple usually exchange rings, often accompanied by a short ring verse.

•  The Declaration

The celebrant concludes and announces the couple as husband and wife. If the couple would like they can kiss! 

• Signing of Register

The couple sign their wedding documents with their celebrant and two witnesses.

• Presentation

The celebrant presents the newly married couple, usually as “Mr. and Mrs.” or the “newly married couple”. 

• Recessional

The couple walk back down the aisle to music, sometimes followed by their bridal party.

While I remain a member of the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants Inc. (AFCC), I agree to comply with the spirit, intent, and provisions of this Code of Ethics and accept the responsibilities implied by membership in the association:

• To maintain the highest levels of business, professional and personal standards;

• To respect in all circumstances the privacy, confidentiality and trust expected by clients and members of the public;

• To provide sufficient, timely, transparent and accurate information about the range and extent of services available, the costs of those services and the functions and responsibilities accepted for and on behalf of clients;

• To respect the personal choices of clients, having due regard to the diversity of beliefs, cultural backgrounds and practices; 

• To ensure that all personal advertising is in good taste and directed at informing the public without indicating any conflicts of interest,

• To be conversant with relevant legislation and regulations directly or indirectly applicable to celebrancy and to comply with such;

• To respect the ethical expectations of other professionals with whom I interact in my celebrancy activities

• To inform and provide access to relevant client advisory services and authorities to facilitate mediation or resolution of any