This is a standard ceremony presented by Alberta Gov vital stats which can be changed to your needs and requirements but gives you an idea of how a ceremony flows. It is Not the exact ceremony I perform.

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During a civil ceremony, each person getting married is required to declare the following 2 legislated statements in front of their intended spouse, both witnesses and the marriage commissioner:

• I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, (name) may not be joined in matrimony to (name).

• I call on those persons present to witness that I, (name), do take you, (name) to be my lawful wedded (wife/husband/spouse).

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Ceremony

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Please note the underlined words below are mandatory to be said by both parties in front of two witnesses and Marriage commissioner.

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We are gathered here today to witness the formal joining of (groom).....and

(bride).... in the legal state of matrimony. You are to be married according to

the orders, customs, and the authority granted by the government of the

Province of Alberta.

Matrimony, as understood by us, is a state enriched by a long and

honourable tradition of devotion. According to the law each participant is

equal and supports the common rights of one another to the marriage.

Marriage is not just a ceremony here today. It is a commitment for life.

Therefore, it is not to be entered into thoughtlessly, or irresponsibly.

There must be a desire for lifelong companionship. Couples will support

and comfort each other, thought the changing experiences of life. May you

laugh together in joy, grieve together in sorrow, and grow together in love.

Marriage means caring as much about the welfare and happiness of your

marriage partner as about your own well-being. Marriage also means

working together to create and sustain a home in which the marriage may

flourish. With this understanding (groom)... and (bride)... wish to be joined

in marriage.

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I now call upon you both in the presence of these witnesses, to repeat

after me:

Let the bride say: I DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT KNOW

OF ANY LAWFUL IMPEDIMENT WHY I, (full legal name)... MAY NOT BE

JOINED IN MATRIMONY TO (full legal name)...

Let the groom say: I DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT KNOW

OF ANY LAWFUL IMPEDIMENT WHY I, (full legal name)... MAY NOT BE

JOINED IN MATRIMONY TO (bride - full legal name)...

As no impediment was declared or admitted, I require you to give answers

to these questions: Do you (groom)... promise to give to this woman the

love of your person, the comfort of your companionship, and the patience

of your understanding? Will you share with her equally the necessities of

life as they may be earned or enjoyed by yourself; and to respect the

dignity of her own personal rights? Answer: I DO

Do you (bride)... promise to give to this man the love of your person, the

comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding?

Will you share with him equally the necessities of life as they may be

earned or enjoyed by yourself; and to respect the dignity of his own

personal rights? Answer: I DO

The marriage vows

Now would the groom and bride please face one another, join hands, and

let the groom repeat after me: I CALL UPON THOSE PERSONS

PRESENT TO WITNESS THAT I, (groom)... DO TAKE YOU, (bride)... TO

BE MY LAWFUL WEDDED WIFE, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FROM THIS

DAY FORWARD, IN WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES OR EXPERIENCES

LIFE MAY HOLD FOR US.

Let the bride repeat after me: I CALL UPON THOSE PERSONS PRESENT

TO WITNESS THAT I, (bride)... DO TAKE YOU (groom)... TO BE MY

LAWFUL WEDDED HUSBAND, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FROM THIS

DAY FORWARD, IN WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES OR EXPERIENCES

LIFE MAY HOLD FOR US.

The ring exchange

Having declared these marriage vows, let the groom place the ring on the

third finger of the bride's left hand, repeating after me: (name)... I GIVE

YOU THIS RING THAT YOU MAY WEAR IT AS A LASTING REMINDER

OF OUR MARRIAGE VOWS AND AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND

COMMITMENT TO YOU. Let the bride say after me: I ACCEPT THIS RING

AS A SYMBOL OF YOUR LOVE AND COMMITMENT. If a second ring is

presented, let the bride place the ring on the third finger of the groom's left

hand, repeating after me: (name)... I GIVE YOU THIS RING THAT YOU

MAY WEAR IT AS A LASTING REMINDER OF OUR MARRIAGE VOWS

AND AS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO YOU. Let the

groom say after me: I ACCEPT THIS RING AS A SYMBOL OF YOUR

LOVE AND COMMITMENT.

The declaration

(name)... and (name)... you have consented in marriage, and have

declared your solemn intention in this company, before these witnesses

and in my presence. You have exchange this ring(s) as the pledge of your

love to each other; you have joined your hands to accept one another.

Now upon the authority vested in me by the Province of Alberta, I

pronounce you 'husband and wife'.

(Commitment may be sealed with kiss)

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