Wedding Officiant & Minister serving Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, NC, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Reston, Sterling, Leesburg, Bluemont, Centreville, Manassas, Stafford, Springfield, District of Columbia, Prince William, King George, Potomac, Wheaton, Bethesda, Annapolis, Queenstown, Mt. Vernon, Georgetown, monuments, College Park, Greenbelt, Downtown.   weddings by lance - serving the needs of brides and grooms of all faiths
From Leesburg to Annapolis, VA mountains and Washington DC monuments to Charlotte NC.

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Revised 12/27/2008
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Example Ceremonies

This page list and describes the typical wedding ceremony parts that Lance uses. Generally speaking, the only difference between a civil, religious, or spiritual wedding ceremony is the wording of each ceremony part used. But most use the same order of parts. Whether all parts are included, or just a few, I pace the ceremony to last about 25 minutes. 

Different Ceremony Types
(ordered from religious to non-religious)

There are modifications that can be made to each ceremony such at:

  • Table ceremonies for the Turkish tradition
  • Bi or tri lingual ceremonies where everything is translated into many languages as the ceremony progresses
  • Inclusion of Orthodox triple phrases and other traditional parts
  • Addition of dates and honey or salt and bread for Muslim or Lithuanian traditions

Stage Set Up

Here is a typical wedding venue setup.

Sample Vows

Optional Add-0ns

Basic Parts of a Wedding Ceremony
not all parts will apply in every ceremony

  • Processional
    This how you get the minister, wedding party and parents to the front. My preferred style is for the minister to come in first followed by those groomsmen not escorting, then groomsmen that have someone to escort like parents or grandparents who are seated during procession, then groom with his parent(s), then ring bearer, bride's maid individually, flower girl, bell ringer, then bride.
     
  • Introduction
     
  • Giving of the Bride
     
  • Pledge of Support
     
  • Parent(s)/Sponsors Involvement
    This may be accomplished with the mothers lighting unity candle tapers, receiving flowers from the bride and groom during a mini-parent greeting, or sand preparation for a sand ceremony. This is when the minister talks about the important of parents getting us to this day.
     
  • Cording & Veil
    This is a Pacific rim and South American tradition where the sponsors, Godparents, or mothers pin a veil to the couple then place a cord over their heads. A Blessing is invoked then the cord and veil are removed in opposite order.
     
  • Reading #1
     
  • Words on Love or Marriage
     
  • Blessing of Rings
     
  • Exchange of Rings & Vows
     
  • Reading #2
     
  • Charge to the Couple/Affirmation of Love
     
  • Prayer
    A prayer can be done religiously or a spoken blessing from a guest, parent, or sponsor.
     
  • Couple Unity Activity
    The couple can light a unity candle, complete the sand ceremony, or drink from a chalice. The drinking of wine or pseudo-wine can be done in a religious, spiritual, or earthy way. No matter what activity is used, its the couples first formal act as husband and wife.
     
  • Joining of the Children
    This is where brides and grooms have an opportunity to include their children in the ceremony. This may include a blessing, exchange of vows of commitment of care, and exchange of gifts, medallions, or rings.
     
  • Bridal-couple-only Communion/Eucharist (see above)
     
  • Nuptial Blessing
     
  • Pronouncement of Marriage
    Formal legal declaration of unity.
     
  • Announcement of Marriage
     
  • Benediction/Conclusion
     
  • Breaking of the glass (combined Christian/Jewish)
     
  • Jumping the Broom
     
  • Recessional
    May be a straight forward exiting of the bride, groom, and wedding party or it can include the groom picking up the bride and carrying her away before the wedding party recesses.
     
  • Receiving Line
     

 

 


A little help with getting ready
for the wedding day...

 

 
The Ultimate
Wedding Vow Toolkit

 All The Tools You Need To Write Vows That Are A Romantic Masterpiece
Get details Here
 

 
Fitness For Weddings
 The Only Diet Created Specifically For The Bride To Be.
Get details Here

 

 
Rousing the Lion shows you
the art of moving your  man's emotions...so that, with your help, he moves mountains...for you!
Get this great book and plenty of added bonus features HERE.

 

 
 
Four Great Books, One Low Price:
 
Main of Honor Guide,
Maid of Honor Speeches,
Bachelorette Party Ideas, and
Bridal Shower Games & Ideas

Find out more by
visiting their website here.

 


BUDGET WEDDING
Get Your Copy Today!

Instantly downloadable
Wedding Planner reveals Tim and Lisa's strategies that made their $2,000 dream wedding and countless other beautiful dream weddings possible.
Get your copy NOW HERE
 

 
BEST MAN JOKE BOOK
A guide book for ever Best Man to Ensure His Speech is Just Right!
'The Best Man Joke Book' is the perfect one-stop shop to get a ton of classy jokes for the best man which to choose. No Best Man is complete without it."
Get Your Copy Here

 

  
How to Create Your Own Stunning Wedding Flower Bouquets and Arrangements  – Without Paying Expensive Florist Fees
Read more about this book HERE.

 

 
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Cake & Cupcake
 Business Ideas
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Fairytale Wedding On
A Shoestring Budget.
Learn more here.

 

 
Photographing A Wedding
Find Out The Secrets Of A Professional. Includes Events And Groups. Learn how here.

 

 
Step-by-step Photo Instruction On Flower Arrangements
Get more information here.
 

 

Copyright 2002 - 2009 Weddings by Lance - Phone: (202) 903-0925
Search Engine Words: Wedding Officiant & Minister serving Virginia, DC, Maryland, NC, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Reston, Sterling, Leesburg, Bluemont, Centreville, Manassas, Stafford, Springfield, District of Columbia, Prince William, King George, Potomac, Wheaton, Bethesda, Annapolis, Queenstown, Mt. Vernon, Georgetown, monuments, College Park, Greenbelt, Downtown.  Washington monument.
Copyright and Use: No portion of this website may be used without explicit written permission of Lance W. Orndorff.
Special thanks to Bishop Jim Burch for his extensive contributions to my officiating career and original ceremony
content which is presented in this website with heavy revisions. His kind guiding hand initiated the path that led me to be
the officiant I am today and resulted in my bringing wedding joy to more than 800 couples and 80,000 guests.