Please see the simple marriage script below, with the legal words that must be said in bold, and the additional optional words spoken by the couple in italics:
WELCOME
Good morning/afternoon everybody, and on behalf of (Partner 1’s name) and (Partner 2’s name), I would like to extend a warm welcome to (name of the venue).
My name is (Registrar’s name) and I am a deputy superintendent registrar for Islington and City of London. I will conduct the ceremony, and (Second registrar’s name), the registrar, will complete the schedule, which is the legal record of the marriage.
This ceremony will be in accordance with the civil law of this country. This requires the couple to declare their freedom to marry one another. They will then go on to make their marriage vows in which they promise to take each other as partners for life. These vows are a formal and public pledge of their love and a promise of a lifelong commitment to each other.
This place in which we are now met, has been duly sanctioned, according to law, for the celebration of marriages, and we are here today to witness the joining in matrimony of this couple and to share in their happiness.
If there is any person here present who knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage, then they should declare it now.
DECLARATORY WORDS
Before you are joined in matrimony, it is my duty to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows that you are about to make. Marriage in this country means the union of two people, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others.
I am now going to ask each of you in turn to declare that you know of no legal reason you may not be married to each other.
Are you (Partner 1) free lawfully to marry (Partner 2)?
Partner 1: I am.
Are you (Partner 2) free lawfully to marry (Partner 1)?
Partner 2: I am.
CONTRACTING WORDS
Now that you have both declared that you are free to marry, we have come to the part of the ceremony where you take each other as husband/wife and husband/wife. Please repeat after me:
(Partner 1), please repeat after me:
I, (Partner 1), take you (Partner 2), to be my wedded wife/husband.
(Partner 2), please repeat after me:
I, (Partner 2) take you (Partner 1), to be my wedded wife/husband.
RINGS (OPTIONAL)
The wedding ring is an unbroken circle, it has no beginning and no end. It symbolises unending and everlasting love and is an outward sign of the lifelong promise you have made to each other.
(Ring bearer’s name), please could you come forward with the rings? Please give the ring for (Partner 2) to (Partner 1).
(Partner 1), please place the ring partway onto (Partner 2)’s finger and repeat after me:
(Partner 2), I offer you this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion.
(Ring bearer), please could you give the ring for (Partner 1) to (Partner 2)?
(Partner 2), please place the ring partway onto (Partner 1)’s finger and repeat after me:
(Partner 1), I offer you this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion.
PRONOUNCEMENT
(Partner 1) and (Partner 2) you have now both made the declarations required by law and have made a solemn and binding contract with each other in the presence of your witnesses, guests and the registrar of marriages.
It therefore gives me great pleasure, to pronounce you are now husband/wife and wife/husband.
Congratulations! You may now kiss each other!
SIGNING OF THE SCHEDULE
Please can I ask the couple to come over to the table to sign the marriage schedule, which will be the legal record of their marriage?
[COUPLE SIGN]
Can I ask the two witnesses to please come forward to sign the schedule?
[WITNESSES SIGN]
[REGISTRARS SIGN]
CONCLUSION
And now that you have signed the marriage schedule, on behalf of myself and (Second registrar), we would like to congratulate you both and wish you a long and happy married life together.
Guests, if you would please like to be upstanding, and put your hands together to congratulate (couple’s names as they have asked to be declared on the pre-ceremony organiser)!
[COUPLE EXITS, FOLLOWED BY THE GUESTS]