ideas for civil ceremony to last 20-30 minutes?

fizzirock

hi, i'm getting married next year and we would like a civil ceremony instead of a church one, but we don't want a 5 minute in&out jobbie.....any suggestions on what to fill time with for approx 20-30 minutes?? and that it's kinda different/interesting? (my boyfriend is banning me from using more than one poem!)

namurt

The registrar's office sent us a copy of the ceremony and it has sections set aside for inserting your own stuff. We had three songs and a poem and it didn't feel rushed at all.

WaltKowalski

I was at a lovely civil ceremony that had a symbolic lighting of individual candles at the beginning of the ceremony and jointly lighting one candle at the end - same as in rc ceremony but without the religious aspect.
I thought it was a really nice touch.

Alliandre

namurt, what does the ceremony (the bit the registry office sends out) consist of? Is it just the legal part or is there more to it? How much of it is customisable?

namurt

HI Alliandre. I pm'd you the ceremony we were sent. I had to send it in two parts because it was too long. Hope you get it ok.

girlyhappyface

We're aiming to do the same as you, OP, minus the poem. I love the idea of having my best friend/ bridesmaid say a few words about me and my boyfriend as a couple, and for his groomsman to do the same, as my dad and his best man will do speeches after the dinner. I love the idea of how personal this will be, as the room will just be filled with our parents, siblings and friends- very small! I like the idea of doing the sand ceremony or the lighting of the candles thing too. The possibilities of a civil ceremony are endless. There are loads of cool pagen rituals that you should look in to.

How Strange

My MiL sang a lovely traditional Irish song at the beginning and my BiL played guitar and sang an upbeat more modern song at the end which got a laugh from the crowd. IMO we felt it had the right balance between being customised for us without being too boring for the people watching.

We really just wanted to keep the atmosphere as light and informal as possible because we'd had a sad death in our family a few months before so we were conscious that people were still grieving and needed something happy and easy going to lift their spirits as we all felt the absence of our uncle on the day.

Rylan

Hi Namurt

Any chance you could also pm me that info. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

Rylan

namurt

Hi Rylan.

Just sent it in 2 pms. Hope you get them.

SeekUp

You could also do readings that aren't necessarily poems. Anything goes these days, including excerpts from books.

snlynch

Hi Namurt,
Id love a copy of that too if u wouldn't mind
Thanks

namurt wrote: »

HI Alliandre. I pm'd you the ceremony we were sent. I had to send it in two parts because it was too long. Hope you get it ok.

magentas

My sister got married last year and they had civil ceremony.
It was beautiful and simplistic. Ceremony lasted about 20-25mins they had their own music and my dad even got to walk her "down the aisle"!

the lady who was registrar couldn't have been nicer and no-one got bored.

A civil ceremony kinda brings it back to basics. The day was all about them. You're not allowed to use anything with religious content at the ceremony but other than that you pretty much have free reign to do whatever you want

soon2Bmrs

namurt wrote: »

HI Alliandre. I pm'd you the ceremony we were sent. I had to send it in two parts because it was too long. Hope you get it ok.

would you mind sending on the information to me also? Our wedding is next yr and I have never been to a wedding with a civil ceremony.

Many thanks

Marceyd

Hi Namurt, could you pm me the ceremony aswell please? We are just starting to plan our wedding and it's second time round for both of us so it will be really different this time.
Thanks!!:D

black #8

namurt wrote: »

HI Alliandre. I pm'd you the ceremony we were sent. I had to send it in two parts because it was too long. Hope you get it ok.

Think I could get a copy of it too, if it's not too much trouble? Thanks!

wreckless

hi,

me and misses are planning a civil ceremony too. Think I could get a copy of it too, if it's not too much trouble to ask? Thanks so much!

id say the hardest bit will picking the music to go with the ceremony, we have one foo fighters song so far and need 2 more!!

Oscar K

Hi Namurt,

Is there any chance I get a copy also plleeeease???

We want a civil ceremony also and reading this thread eally seals the deal for me that this is the right way to go! (for us anyway! )

Magnet

Can I join a long list of "PM me the details too please?"
Thanks! :P

namurt

Apologies to those of you I didn't get back to. I rarely check back in here now that the big day has come and gone. I'm going to post the sample ceremony we were given here. Hope you find it helpful.

Civil Marriage Ceremony

Start of ceremony

Music

(Optional – allocated time up to two (2) minutes)

(All seated)

Introduction by the Registrar

“My name is_____________, an appointed Registrar for Civil Marriages. I would like to welcome each and everyone of you here today, to join with X and Y in the solemnisation of their marriage.

“We are gathered here in the presence of each other, in order that this man and this woman should be joined together in the covenant of marriage. This is a union not to be taken lightly, inadvisably or thoughtlessly, but with true love and commitment.

“X and Y you both formally attended in the presence of a Civil Registrar on (date of the serving of notice) and on that occasion, a declaration was signed by you both, stating that there was no impediment of kindred or alliance or other lawful hindrance to your marriage.

Music or Reading

(Optional – allocated time two (2) minutes)

Couple invited to stand

“I do solemnly require and call on you both, to now make a verbal declaration, in the presence of your witnesses, to re-affirm that there still is no impediment of kindred or alliance, or other lawful hindrance to your marriage today.

First Declaration

Registrar says:

“X, Repeat after me”:

“I do solemnly and sincerely declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, X may not be joined in matrimony to Y

Groom repeats above ‘in sections’ if necessary after the Registrar

“Y, Repeat after me”:

“I do solemnly and sincerely declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Y may not be joined in matrimony to X

Bride repeats above ‘in sections’ if necessary after the Registrar

Registrar says to X

“X Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife?

Response: I will or I do

“Will you love her and comfort her in sickness and in health?

Response: I will or I do

Registrar says to Y

“Y Will you have this man to be your wedded husband?

Response: I will or I do

“Will you love him and comfort him in sickness and in health?

Response: I will or I do

Music or Reading

(Optional – allocated time two (2) minutes)

Second Declaration

Couple are invited to face each other

Registrar says;

“X repeat after me:

“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, X do take you Y, to be my lawful wedded wife.

Groom repeats above ‘in sections’ if necessary after the Registrar

“Y repeat after me:

“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I Y do take you X to be my lawful wedded husband.

Bride repeats above ‘in sections’ if necessary after the Registrar

Registrar says to X

“Do you understand the declarations you have now made?”

Response: Yes

“Have you made them of your own free will and without duress?”

Response: Yes

Registrar says to Y

“Do you understand the declarations you have now made?”

Response: Yes

“Have you made them of your own free will and without duress?”

Response: Yes

Exchange of Rings/Ring Ceremony

(Optional)

Music or Reading or couple may also include their own words here

(Optional – allocated time three (3) minutes)

Couple to remain facing each other

Registrar says to X

“X please present the ring to Y and repeat after me”

“Y I give you this ring as a token that I will love and honour you”.

X repeats above

Registrar says to Y

“Now Y please present the ring to X and repeat after me”.

“X I give you this ring as a token that I will love and honour you”

Y repeats above

Music or Reading

(Optional – allocated time two (2) minutes)

Signing of the Marriage Registration Form

The couple to be seated for the next part of ceremony while the parties sign both the statement of verbal declaration and Marriage Registration Form (MRF).

Concluding Declaration

Couple to stand for the concluding declaration

Registrar will say:

“Now as X and Y have solemnly bound themselves in wedlock before these witnesses present and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Civil Registration Act 2004, I can now pronounce them Husband and Wife - you may kiss the bride”

“I hope that you will join with me in wishing them both all our best wishes for their future together”

Conclusion

Music (Optional – allocated time two (2) minutes)

Notes:

The Registrar will be in attendance at the venue before your ceremony. Therefore, if including music and/or readings in the ceremony, please advise the Registrar of the names of those playing the music or reading, so as to allow them to be introduced at the appropriate time in your ceremony. You should also discuss any other requests with the Registrar prior to your ceremony.

Oscar K

Thanks a million Namurt. Great help! o and congratulations!:)