Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Ceremony Scripts
What goes into a wedding ceremony script? Whether you're planning your own wedding or preparing to officiate one, writing a script for the ceremony is an important task you'll need to tackle before the big day.
On this page, we'll cover every aspect of creating a wedding ceremony script. By using the helpful writing tools and free sample wedding ceremony scripts we've compiled here, you'll be able to create a polished plan for the ceremony that both brings special meaning to the occasion and checks all of the legal boxes.
If you know what you're looking for, hit the link to one of the sections in the menu below. Otherwise, keep reading to get started.
Wedding Ceremony Template
First, let's review what typically goes into a wedding script. A script for officiating a wedding includes a welcome, a declaration of intent, a ring exchange, vows, the pronouncement, etc. Below, our wedding pros here at the ULC have broken down the elements you'll find in most modern wedding ceremonies in the order in which they typically occur. That said, most of these ceremony elements are optional and can be adapted however you see fit for your upcoming ceremony.
Welcome Statement
In the Welcome Statement, the officiant greets the guests of the couple being wed, emphasizes how special this day is, and walks everyone through how the ceremony will proceed.
Family Blessing
The Family Blessing is the tradition wherein one or both of the parents of each member of the couple will be invited by the officiant to stand and give their blessing to the union.
Wedding Sermon
The Wedding Sermon provides an opportunity for the officiant to talk more about the couple and the special love they share for one another. The officiant's speech here is deeply personal.
Consecration
The ceremony is often overshadowed by the other events of the day. Regardless of one's beliefs, the Consecration offers an opportunity to highlight how serious and special marriage is.
Vows
During the exchanging of vows, the couple will share (often in their own words) their feelings for one another and the commitment that they are pledging to make to their new life partner.
Declaration of Intent
A legally crucial element of the ceremony, it is at this moment that the officiant will ask the couple to declare their intent to be bound in marriage. The customary response is “I do!”
We would encourage the officiant and the couple being married to review this framework together. Before one gets too deep into the script-writing process, it's crucial that everybody is able to give input on what they expect and what they would like to see in the wedding ceremony.
When you've got everyone on the same page, it's time to set pen to paper and get writing!
Wedding Script Generator
Once you've been able to establish the blueprint for your upcoming ceremony, we would invite you to utilize our Wedding Script Generator, custom-built for ordained ministers of the ULC, to begin filling out the script. This helpful tool allows you to plug in specific information about the couple and their preferences. After you've entered in all those details, the system will craft a unique wedding minister script that is perfectly tailored to meet the moment.
When you're finished, you'll be able to download the completed wedding script to your device, print it out, and begin practicing. You'll be delivering an amazing wedding officiant speech in no time! Click the image below to try it now!
Wedding Script Generator
CREATE A CUSTOM WEDDING SCRIPT CATERED TO YOUR NEEDS
Wedding Script GeneratorLooking for something even more advanced? Our wedding experts and engineers here at the Universal Life Church have been hard at work on a brand new version of our interactive wedding script creation assistant. This feature is still in testing, but if you would like to give it a try, you can access that by clicking here.
Example Wedding Ceremony Scripts
The ULC team has been supporting wedding officiants (and performing weddings ourselves) for decades now. In that time, we've become experts in this area and have come to understand what can transform a good wedding script into a great one.
With that in mind, we've curated a library of sample wedding scripts spanning a wide variety of ceremony types. These carefully-crafted officiant wedding script templates should provide a helpful example of how you might structure a ceremony for each theme.
As you browse the collection of sample scripts below, don't hesitate to borrow any sections that stand out. You can even print off an entire script for free and use it as-is!
Most Popular Wedding Ceremony Scripts
These wedding ceremony scripts are the most frequently downloaded on our site. They certainly cover a wide range, and collectively have inspired the words in thousands of weddings around the world.
Traditional Wedding Ceremonies
Who doesn't love the classics? This special collection of ceremony scripts was assembled with history in mind. These scripts have truly stood the test of time, but of course they still hold up well to this day.
Modern Wedding Ceremonies
Why so serious? Don't get us wrong, marriage is serious business… but that doesn't mean the ceremony has to be rigid. These modernized wedding scripts lighten things up a bit, without dropping the meaning.
Specially Adapted Ceremonies
Now, all weddings are special… but some occasions call for something extra specific. These wedding ceremony scripts are carefully tailored to meet the needs of unique couples in unique circumstances.
LGBT Wedding Ceremonies
Love wins! These days, marriage can come in all different shapes and sizes. We're proud to celebrate love, no matter what it looks like, with this special collection of wedding scripts built for the LGBTQ+ community.
Unity Ceremonies
A marriage ceremony marks the moment when two individuals intertwine their lives and commit to one another. In these scripts, creative couples have come up with all sorts of ways to represent this blending.
Denominational Ceremonies
One of the most wonderful things about weddings is that they are represented across the faith spectrum. It's like the whole world saying: “You belong together!” These scripts are built to fit any particular faith.
Holidays / Special Occasions
Every wedding is a special occasion, but depending on where they fit on the calendar or the circumstances of the couple, some ceremonies may demand a little twist. These scripts are tweaked to meet the moment.
Still haven't found what you're looking for?? Check out these scripts submitted directly from ULC Ministers for more inspiration!
Tips for Wedding Officiants
We hope you've found the tools and resources above helpful as you make your preparations for the ceremony. From experience, we know that the prospect of performing a wedding can be a nerve-wracking one… but remember, you've been asked to officiate the wedding for a reason. The couple trusts you to incorporate their wishes, speak from your heart, and engage their friends and family with a thoughtful message. They know that you've got this, and we know it too!
Here are a few helpful tips for officiants about the wedding script drafting process:
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Ask the couple about their ideal ceremony style and length, as well as if they want to include a special ritual like a unity ceremony, before you begin drafting your script. And make sure you let them review the final product, too!
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A good first impression is always advised! We'd encourage you to pay special attention to your welcoming statement in the script, as it sets the tone for the whole ceremony.
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Don't feel pressured to review too many scripts. We've collected some of our favorites here that should spark plenty of ideas for you — but we've found that once you have a solid roadmap in hand, you'll know exactly what you want to say.
Legal Considerations
One important note to keep in mind as you write your wedding ceremony script: to ensure the ceremony is legally-binding, your script must include certain legal language.
Specifically, you must be sure to include a declaration of intent (the familiar “Do you take XYZ to be your lawfully married…?” → “I do” exchange), and a pronouncement (in which the minister officially pronounces the couple married).
Every jurisdiction has different rules about how a marriage ought to be solemnized, but most of them do require that these two sections in particular are incorporated into the wedding ceremony script. We encourage you to play around with the format as much as you like, but be sure not to remove those two crucial elements.
Customizing the Ceremony Script
There are many ways to make your wedding ceremony unique with script elements that reflect the couple's story of how they met, their personalities, their religious beliefs, and their expectations for their marriage.
In addition to sharing their own custom vows, the ceremony also allows the couple to utilize the words of others to express their love for one another — whether that be through the sharing of favorite readings or verses, or the inclusion of special songs.
Why the Script Matters
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A well-written wedding script organizes and guides the proceedings efficiently, highlights the aura of love and support in the room, and connects the wedding guests with the couple as they celebrate the union.
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As a wedding officiant or a couple planning the wedding, collective decisions about the script will affect how you incorporate readings, vows, music, acts of unity, and the length of your ceremony.
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Working from a template or an example script can help you create a meaningful ceremony that aligns with the couple's values while also incorporating any state legal requirements for a marriage ceremony.
When the officiant works together with the couple on their selected script to customize it to align with everyone's hopes and expectations, everyone is practically guaranteed a ceremony that will remain with the couple, the officiant, and their guests for years to come.
Special Ceremonies
Not every wedding ceremony looks the same, and that's okay! For one, more and more, couples are working to incorporate special ceremonies or rituals into their wedding — whether these be rituals pulled from the past or devised more recently.
One particular tradition has made a stunning comeback recently - the handfasting! We get asked about incorporating handfasting ceremonies into weddings all the time. Derived from Celtic Paganism, handfasting is a beautiful ritual in which the hands of the couple are bound together using a cord or ribbon. This binding beautifully symbolizes the spiritual bond being formed between the pair. If you're interested in incorporating this ritual into a wedding ceremony, we've published a more detailed guide on performing handfastings for you to review.
Another ceremony increasing in popularity is a slightly more modern one: the vow renewal. More and more, already-wed couples of all ages are holding ceremonies to pay homage to the strength of their pre-existing union, and to recommit themselves to one another for the years to come. These can be one-off events, or re-occur with regularity. With increasing frequency, we hear from ULC ordained wedding officiants who have been invited to preside over these beautiful renewal ceremonies — often for the same couples they married years, even decades prior! You can learn more about conducting these special ceremonies by reviewing our guide on how to perform vow renewal ceremonies.
How to Officiate a Wedding
Once your personalized wedding script is generated, and you have examples to reference, you can move on to other parts of your checklist to perform a wedding. If you haven't already, we would strongly recommend that you review these instructions on how to officiate a wedding in your area.
Be sure to review the comprehensive Wedding Training section of our site for guidance on other key aspects of officiating, like how to prepare for the ceremony itself and how to fill out and file a marriage license.
Please allow these and other resources on this site to guide you in how to create the best wedding officiant script for your upcoming ceremony and help make someone's special day even more special.
Additional Wedding Resources
Finding a Wedding Officiant
Finally, if you are a couple searching for a minister who can perform your dream wedding ceremony, feel free to use our Find a Minister tool to search for a ULC minister near you who has offered their services as a local wedding officiant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a wedding ceremony script?
A wedding ceremony script is a carefully crafted document that guides an officiant and a couple being wed through the wedding ceremony. It can be as detailed as mapping out precise movements and exact words that ought to be recited, or as basic as a simple roadmap of the important elements one hopes to incorporate in the ceremony.
Are Universal Life Church wedding scripts legal?
Yes! In addition to helping ULC-ordained ministers officiate over thousands of marriage ceremonies every year, our team has thoroughly researched wedding laws in every single jurisdiction. You can rest assured that the scripts made available here meet those requirements. The real legal heavy lifting enters when it comes time to deal with the marriage license!
How long is a wedding ceremony script?
The length of the script is completely up to the officiant and the couple! The scripts we've curated on this site range the gamut in both focuses and lengths in order to meet the needs of every marriage.
The median length of a marriage ceremony these days is about ~20 minutes, and as a general rule of thumb, one can expect that each page of a wedding ceremony script will take between 1.5 and 2 minutes to get through… meaning the typical wedding ceremony script is about 13/14 pages long.
How do you end a wedding ceremony script?
Once the vows have been shared, the rings exchanged, and the kiss shared, it's time to start saying goodbye! Typically, a wedding ceremony ends with the ‘Pronouncement', wherein the officiant will introduce the individuals who have just been wed for the first time as a couple.
After the ‘Pronouncement', it has become increasingly common for the officiant to remain standing at the altar until after the wedding party has exited the ceremony area to share important information about the wedding reception, at the request of the couple.
Where can I find free wedding ceremony scripts online?
Well, there are plenty right here on this page! We do hope you got a chance to take a look at the wide variety of example wedding ceremony scripts published here on the Universal Life Church website.
But if none of those sample scripts are striking you as the right fit just yet, you can always utilize the Wedding Script Generator or our basic wedding script template information (also published above) to craft your own custom wedding script!
How to write wedding vows
While a wedding ceremony script, including many of the scripts we've included elsewhere on this page, can include pre-written vows for the couple to recite to one another, many couples elect instead to exchange vows to one another that they have written themselves.
This can be an especially daunting challenge for some folks… just how is one supposed to express their affection for their partner when confined to mere words? It's certainly not always an easy task, but the script professionals on our team have published a helpful guide to writing wedding vows that is sure to make the process less daunting.
What are good example readings for weddings?
Humans love talking about love – they've been doing it (and writing it down) for thousands of years! Very often, weddings contain readings or recitations of the words published by some of our best and brightest. Depending on the preferences of the couple and the tone of the ceremony, these could range anywhere from a beloved Bible verse to the lyrics of a Mariah Carey song. We would certainly consider all officiants and couples to get creative in this area to incorporate the words that hold the most meaning for them. If you are looking for inspiration, here are some popular wedding readings.
How can I submit my script?
We love it when ULC officiants and the couples that they wed are kind enough to share their scripts with us (and the world!). These scripts, which have already proven their worth by uniting at least one couple, provide invaluable inspiration to our global network of ULC wedding officiants.
If you and the couple you wed have a script you'd like to share, you can email that to outreach@ulc.org. Don't worry, we'll be sure to remove all personally identifying information from the script before we publish it online.
What are some popular templates for wedding vows?
If you think you may know what you want to say in your wedding vows, but you're just not sure how to organize all of your thoughts, you may benefit from reviewing a few sample vows. The tried-and-tested vows we've made available in our free online wedding vow sample library are a fantastic resource to peruse for some extra inspiration as you start to prepare your own special message.