Ceremony Selection with Mass

Rehearsal date and time: _________________

Wedding date and time:__________________

GROOM: _____________________________

BRIDE:______________________________

BEST MAN:_________________________________

MAID OF HONOR_______________________________

NUMBER IN WEDDING PARTY (including bride &groom) ____

RING BEARER YES or No _____ FLOWER GIRL(S) YES or No _____

Type of entrance procession:  
TRADITIONAL Y/N  

 Other _______

INTRODUCTORY RITE:

Presentation of bride and groom to one another.

Opening prayer:  _______

1ST READING: ___________________

Read by______________________

Responsorial Psalm  ___________________

Sung/Read by_________________

2ND READING: (Optional)

_____________________________

Read by______________________

Gospel Acclamation: ____________ Read by _________________

Gospel   __________________     Read by Priest

Wedding Rite:

Wedding vows   ____________

Blessing of rings   ____________          

Unity candle (optional)  Yes / No   (See possible wording)

Other rituals   Yes / No 

____________________________

Prayers of the faithful (Choose 4-5 prayers and the people to read them.)

Prayers? ___________________

People _____________________

Offertory procession:  Yes/No ____

 People: ___________________________

Eucharist under both species?:  Yes/No

Eucharistic ministers? Yes/No ____ Names: ___________________________

Nuptial Blessing after the Our Father.   ________________________________

SIGNING OF THE PAPERS:

Who will be your witnesses:

___________________________

___________________________

Music/Songs (possibilities)

Entrance ____________________

Responsorial Psalm: Song or Spoken? _____

________________________

After Vows (instrumental) Yes/No  _______________________

Offertory Song

______________________________

Communion Song

____________________________

Signing of Papers (2 Songs) _____________________________________

________________________________

Recessional Song ______________________

Rite of Marriage

The essence of what needs to be communicated are in these words.

Fr. Michael: (Couples names), the promises you make to each other today are serious, because they will bind you together for life in a relationship so close and so intimate that it will profoundly influence your whole future. That future with its hopes and its disappointments, its successes and it failures, its pleasures and its pains, it joys and its sorrows is hidden from your eyes. You know that these elements are part of every life and are to be expected in your own.

And so not knowing what is before you, but trusting in God’s companionship, the love of your family, and each other, you take each other through the best and worst of what lies ahead, until death.

Fr. Michael: Couples names, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?

Couples names: I have.

Fr. Michael: Will you love and honour each other as husband and wife for the rest of your lives?

Couples names:: I will.

Fr. Michael: Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His church?

Couples names: I will.

Fr. Michael: Couples names, since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your hands and declare your love and commitment before God and us your family and friends.  

Optional

Fr Michael: Will you, the family and friends of Couples names, support and inspire them in their marriage and their journey through life?

All: We will.

The following are optional.  They are sometimes used to highlight the specialness of the vows:

The Hands Ceremony – Author Unknown 

This can be said by the priest - or imagine if both set of parents come forward and say this to you?

As you face each other I invite you to take each other’s hands. See in the others hands the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on this your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. 

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes to you. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. 

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will join your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it, support and encouragement to pursue your dreams, and comfort through difficult times. 

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. 


From "The Hungering Dark" – Frederick Buechner 

Matrimony is called holy, because this brave and fateful promise of a man and a woman, to love and honor and serve each other through thick and thin, looks beyond itself to more fateful promises still, and speaks mightily of what human life at its most human and most alive and most holy must always be. Every wedding is a dream, and every word that is spoken there means more than it says, and every gesture - the clasping of hands, the giving of rings - is rich with mystery. And so we hope with every bride and groom, that the love they bear one another, and the joy they take in one another, may help them grow in love for this whole world where their final joy lies. 

"You Were Born Together" – Khalil Gibran 

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spades in your togetherness. And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone, even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the land of life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together, for the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow. 

"Sooner or Later" – Anonymous 

Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines, and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories, and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all -- one known only by those who love.

Vows:

Lighting of the Marriage Candle (After your vows)

The Unity Candle is lit from the flames of the two family candles.  This new flame represents the family that _______  and  _______ ‘s union has created.        May this light shine brightly as a reminder of the love and commitment they share today.  

1. Prayers of the Faithful

Reader:

1.      We pray for _______ & ________  on this, their wedding day. Through the sacrament of Marriage, may their lives be enriched by all those they come into contact with and may they be constantly challenged by the gospel.

Lord Hear Us. R Lord hear our prayer

Reader:

2. We pray in thanks for the parents, family and friends of _______ & ________  who have taught them the value of love.  May they be blessed on their own journeys.   

Lord Hear Us. R Lord hear our prayer

Reader:

2a   We pray for married couples. Through their wisdom, inspiration and love may they continue to promote the nobility of marriage and sacredness of family throughout the world.

Lord Hear Us. R Lord hear our prayer

2b   Bless all married people and make their homes places of

laughter and happiness, patience and understanding.  

Lord Hear Us. R Lord hear our prayer

Reader:

3a  We pray for those who are unable to be here with us today including,

_________________ We also pray for those of our loved ones who have died, whose spirit lives on in the lives of many present here, __________________ Through the lives of their family and friends, may these people continue to challenge and inspire us.

Lord Hear Us. R Lord hear our prayer

3b  We pray for all those who have died and gone before us specially our relatives and friends, may they enjoy perfect happiness and total fulfilment in eternal life.  We pray especially today for our loved ones _______________ who are with us in spirit today and every day.

Lord Hear Us. R Lord hear our prayer

Reader:

4   A similar prayer that expresses your own prayer for those beyond your family and friends.  

Lord Hear Us. R Lord hear our prayer

Alternative - Compose the Prayers of the faithful around the characteristics of your love – or invite friends to make up and pray a prayer on the characteristics of your love.

Begin each with

We pray for ‘ a characteristic’  –  Lord, add your prayer.  

Conclude – Lord hear us .. and the response is All:  Lord hear our prayer.

Eg.  We pray for commitment – Lord, Commitment is at the heart of John and Mary’s love for each other.    We thank you for those who have taught them this quality – we thank you for the way they live it with each other – and we pray that you strengthen and deepen it throughout their married life.

Lord hear us.

All:  Lord hear our prayer.

Nuptial Blessing

A.   My dear friends, let us ask God for His continued blessing

upon N and N..

Holy Father, we humbly pray to you

for N and N. who today come together in marriage.

Lord, grant that they may comfort and help each other,

living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy.

Heavenly Father, maker of all things, you enable us to share in your

work of creation. Bless this couple in the gift and care of children,

that their home may be a place of love, security, and truth,

- and their children grow up to know and love in your Son,

Jesus Christ, our Lord.

May they pray to you in the community of the Church

and be your witness in the world, and may they reach old age

together in the company of their friends and families.

B.   May almighty God, with his Word of blessing, unite your hearts in the never-ending bond of pure love.   Amen.
May your children bring you happiness, and may your generous love for them be returned to you, many times over.  Amen.
May the peace of Christ live always in your hearts and in your home.  May you have true friends to stand by you, both in joy and in sorrow.  May you be ready and willing to help and comfort all who come to you in need.  And may the blessings promised to the compassionate be yours in abundance.   Amen.
May you find happiness and satisfaction in your work.  May daily problems never cause you undue anxiety, nor the desire for earthly possessions dominate your lives.  But may your heart’s first desire be always the good things waiting for you in the life of heaven,   Amen.
May the Lord bless you with many happy years together, so that you may enjoy the rewards of a good life.  And after you have served him loyally in his kingdom on earth, may he welcome you to his eternal kingdom in heaven.  Amen.

C
My dear friends, let us turn to the Lord and pray that he will bless with his grace this woman [or N.] now married in Christ to this man [or N.] and that [through the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ,] he will unite in love the couple he has joined in this holy bond.

Father, by your power you have made everything out of nothing. In the beginning you created the universe and made mankind in your own likeness.

You gave man the constant help of woman so that man and woman should no longer flesh, and you teach us that what you have united may never be divided.

Father, by your plan man and woman are united, and married life has been established as the one blessing that was not forfeited by original sin or washed away in the flood.

Look with love upon this woman, your daughter, now joined together husband in marriage. She asks your blessing. Give her the grace of love and peace. May she always follow the example of the holy women whose praises are sung in the scriptures.

May her husband put his trust in her and recognise that she is his equal and the heir with him to the life of grace. May he always honour her and love her as Christ loves his bride, the Church.

Father, keep them always true to your commandments. Keep them faithful in marriage and let them be living examples of Christian life.

Give them the strength which comes from the gospel so that they may be witnesses of Christ to others. [Bless them with children and help them to be good parents. May they live to see their children's children.] And, after a happy old age, grant them fullness of life with the saints in the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

D
Let us pray to the Lord for N. and N., who come to God's altar at the beginning of their married life so that they may always be united in love for each other [as now they share in the body and blood of Christ].

Holy Father, you created mankind in your own image and made man and woman to be joined as husband and wife in union of body and heart and so fulfil their mission in this world.

Father, to reveal the plan of your love, you made the union of husband and wife an image of the covenant between you and your people. In the fulfilment of this sacrament, the marriage of Christian man and woman is a sign of the marriage between Christ and the Church. Father, stretch out your hand, and bless N. and N.

Lord, grant that as they begin to live this sacrament they may share with each other the gins of your love and become one in heart and mind as witnesses to your presence in their marriage. Help them to create a home together [and give them children to be formed by the gospel and to have a place in your family].

Give your blessings to N., your daughter, so that she may be a good wife [and mother], caring for the home, faithful in love for her husband, generous and kind. Give your blessings to N., your son, so that he may be a faithful husband [and a good father].

Father, grant that as they come together to your table on earth, so they may one day have the joy of sharing your feast in heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

E
My dear friends, let us ask God for his continued blessings upon this bridegroom and his bride [or N. and N.].

Holy Father, creator of the universe, maker of man and woman in your own likeness, source of blessing for married life, we humbly pray to you for this woman who today is united with her husband in this sacrament of marriage.

May your fullest blessing come upon her and her husband so that they may together rejoice in your gift of married love [and enrich your Church with their children].

Lord, may they both praise you when they are happy and turn to you in their sorrows. May they be glad that you help them in their work and know that you are with them in their need. May they pray to you in the community of the Church, and be your witnesses in the world. May they reach old age in the company of their friends, and come at last to the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.