Please see the script below, with the legal words that must be said in bold, and the 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.
You are here today as guests to witness the joining in matrimony of (Partner 1) and (Partner 2), who would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate the beginning of their new life together as husband/wife and husband/wife.
It means a great deal to them that you can be here, to share in their happiness, and witness their marriage vows.
(Partner 1) and (Partner 2) the purpose of marriage is that you may always love, care for, and support each other, through the joys and sorrows of life.
Marriage means making a commitment to developing and maintaining co-operation, friendship and mutual respect.
It calls for trust, understanding and encouragement. But more than this, marriage is also intended to provide the love and friendship, help and comfort, which each ought to have for the other.
However, if there is any person here present who knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage, then they should declare it now.
1ST READING (OPTIONAL)
Please can I call forward (Reader 1’s name) with their reading.
[READING]
Thank you (Reader 1), you may take your seat.
DECLARATORY WORDS
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.
(Partner 1), please repeat after me:
I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (Partner 1), may not be joined in marriage to (Partner 2).
(Partner 2), please repeat after me:
I declare that I know of no legal reason why I (Partner 2), may not be joined in marriage to (Partner 1).
2ND READING (OPTIONAL)
Please can I call forward (Reader 2’s name) with their reading.
[READING]
Thank you (Reader 2), you may take your seat.
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 are about to make your marriage contract with each other. Please face each other for these words and hold hands.
(Partner 1), please repeat after me:
I, (Partner 1), take you (Partner 2), to be my wedded wife/husband. I promise to be loving, faithful and loyal to you for the rest of our lives together.
(Partner 2), please repeat after me:
I, (Partner 2) take you (Partner 1), to be my wedded wife/husband. I promise to be loving, faithful and loyal to you for the rest of our lives together.
PERSONAL VOWS (OPTIONAL)
(Partner 1) and (Partner 2), you have chosen to make personal vows to each other on this special day.
(Partner 1), would you please read your vows to (Partner 2).
[PERSONAL VOW]
(Partner 2), would you please read your vows to (Partner 1).
[PERSONAL VOW]
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. May it remind you always of my vows to you today.
(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. May it remind you always of my vows to you today.
3RD READING (OPTIONAL)
Please can I call forward (Reader 3’s name) with their reading.
[READING]
Thank you (Reader 3), you may take your seat.
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]