The Anglican Church of Australia has three authorised forms of service, either of which may be used at a wedding in an Anglican church such as St. John's . Couples being married at St. John's should read through each and discuss their choices with their celebrant.

(a) A Service for Marriage Second Order (from A Prayer Book for Australia 1995)

This is the most popular and widely used service, and most marriages at St. John's follow this format. It provides for considerable flexibility and there is usually provision within it to accommodate most requests and special wishes etc.

(b) A Service for Marriage First Order (from A Prayer Book for Australia 1995)

This order is more traditional in wording and format, but also provides for some flexibility according to the wishes of the couple concerned. It is possible to include elements from each of the two services (e.g. the Second Order could be used but with the Preface from the First Order).

(c) Solemnisation of Holy Matrimony (from the Book of Common Prayer 1662)

The 1662 Book of Common Prayer was, for several centuries, the only form of service used in the Anglican Church and reflects the origins and continuing heritage of our church in the Church of England. The language has a beautiful poetic quality (akin to 'Shakespearean English') but is, clearly, very different to the language in common use today.

(d) The Marriage Service from Common Worship: The Church of England

In addition to the three authorised services above, couples being married at St. John's may also choose to be married according to the rites of the Church of England by making use of the marriage service from Common Worship 2000.   

The full text of all four orders of service are avaialble for download at the bottom of this page

The notes below are based on the Second Order, option (a) above, and provide an overview of the elements that are normally included in every Anglican marriage service, in the order in which they normally occur.

A template of the Second Order (a) which will be especially helpful to those planning to print their own order of service is available for download here template.

1. THE PROCESSIONAL

The service begins when the bride arrives and is ready to enter the church, usually in a procession including the bridal party (bridesmaids, flower girl, page boy etc.). The congregation is asked to stand and the organist begins to play the processional music. Music is an important part of the marriage ceremony and there are a variety of choices that couples may make regarding the pieces to be played and the hymns (if any). See the information provided in the separate brochure. The order of procession is entirely traditional and may be varied according to the wishes of the couple concerned. Most modern marriages follow American tradition whereby the bride enters last preceded by her attendants (bridesmaids, matron of honour or chief bridesmaid, flower girl and page boy etc.), however in the English tradition the bride enters first with the attendants following. The groom and his attendants (best man, groomsmen, etc.) will already be standing at the front of the church. The bride enters the church on the right arm of the person who escorts her, if it is desired there be an escort. Looking from the main door towards the front of the church, the groom and his attendants stand on the right hand side and the bride and her attendants on the left.

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2. THE PREFACE

When the bridal party have all entered and taken their place at the front of the church alongside the groom and groomsmen, the celebrant begins by reading the preface. The words used in the Second Order are below. Before the preface begins the celebrant may ask the person who has escorted or 'brought' the bride into the church 'Who brings this woman to be married to this man?' (this is optional and is not included in the Second Order).

The preface

We have come together in the presence of God

to witness the marriage of N and N,

and to ask God’s blessing on them

as we share their joy.

Marriage is a gift of God our creator.

It is a symbol of God’s unending love for his people,

and of the union between Christ and his Church.

Christ loved his bride the Church,

and gave himself for her.

As he has called N and N to marriage,

so he draws their differing gifts and hopes

into a unity of love and service.

Scripture teaches that marriage is a lifelong partnership

uniting a woman and a man in heart, mind and body.

In the joy of their union, husband and wife

enrich and respond to each other,

growing in tenderness and understanding.

Through marriage a new family is formed,

where children may be born

and grow in secure and loving care.

Marriage is therefore to be honoured by all.

No one should enter it lightly or selfishly,

but responsibly and joyfully,

with mutual respect and the promise to be faithful.

A short prayer then follows and the congregation are asked to be seated (if they have not already done so).

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3. THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

The Ministry of the Word includes the readings, at least one of which must be a reading from the Bible, and a short address given by the celebrant (the 'homily') which may be based on the readings selected and sets out some of the responsibilities and duties of Christian marriage. The bridal party (bride and groom and bridesmaids and groomsmen etc) will all remain standing for this part of the service. Family members or friends may be invited to read. The readings are to be chosen by the couple in consultation with the celebrant. Where more than one reading is selected, the usual sequence will be Old Testament reading, New Testament reading, Gospel reading. Where the service is to include Holy Communion a Gospel reading must be included.

(HYMN)

There may be a hymn at this point of the service. The couple being married should carefully consider whether to have a congregational hymn, bearing in mind who among their family and friends, and among those likely to attend, are used to singing hymns in public. A marriage service would not normally include more than two congregational hymns.

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4. THE WEDDING

The actual wedding follows. This includes the elements, as set out below, in sequence, from the Second Order. The couple and their attendants stand in front of the celebrant.

(i) The consent

The couple are each asked by the celebrant to give their consent to the marriage. This follows the form of a question below, to which the couple each respond with the words 'I will'. The congregation are then asked to give their support to the marriage and do this by saying together 'We will'.

Man's consent

N, will you give yourself to N to be her husband,

to live with her according to God’s word?

Will you love her, comfort her,

honour and protect her,

and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her

so long as you both shall live?

Answer I Will

Woman's consent

N, will you give yourself to N, to be his wife,

to live with him according to God’s word?

Will you love him, comfort him,

honour and protect him,

and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him

so long as you both shall live?

Answer I Will

(ii) The Vows

The couple are asked to face each other and join hands as they say their respective vows. In the Second Order of the marriage ceremony the vows are identical for both bride and groom.

Man's vows

I, N, in the presence of God,

take you, N, to be my wife:

to have and to hold

from this day forward,

for better, for worse,

for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

so long as we both shall live.

All this I vow and promise.

Woman's vows

I, N, in the presence of God,

take you, N, to be my husband;

to have and to hold

from this day forward,

for better, for worse,

for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

so long as we both shall live.

All this I vow and promise.

(iii) Exchange of Rings

The giving of the rings is usually included. The celebrant calls for the ring/s and says a prayer of blessing. The groom may give the bride a ring, or both may exchange rings. The words below are said by the giver as the ring is placed onto the receiver's finger.

I give you this ring

as a symbol of our marriage.

May God enable us

to grow in love togther.
The receiver of the ring responds.
I receive this ring
as a symbol of our marriage.

(iv) Declaration

The celebrant asks the couple to join right hands and pronounces the declaration, using the words below.

Before God and in the presence of us all,

N and N have joined hands

and made their solemn vows,

promising life-long faithfulness to each other.

In the name of God,

I declare them to be husband and wife.

What God has joined together,

let no one separate.

(v) Blessing

A prayer invoking God's blessing for the newly married couple is now said. The couple may stand or kneel for this.

God the Father lovingly enfold you,

God the Son grace your home and table,

God the Holy Spirit crown you with joy and peace.

The Lord bless you and keep you in eternal life.  Amen.

(vi) The Kiss

Although not actually part of the ceremony in an Anglican service of marriage, the couple are normally invited by the celebrant to seal the marriage with a kiss (the words 'you may now kiss the bride' are usually said).

(vii) Signing the Marriage Certificates

The necessary documents and certificates are signed at this point, with the bridal party proceeding to the table used for this purpose. There are three documents to sign – the certificate of registration lodged with the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, the church service book, and the certificate given to the couple to keep. Two persons aged over eighteen years of age, chosen by the couple, act as witnesses on each document (often the best man and matron of honour / chief bridesmaid perform this role). The time needed to complete the documentation will be 5-10 minutes. Music is played as the signing takes place.

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5. THE PRAYERS

The bridal party proceed to the front of the church and stand in front of the celebrant, in the same place as they were when the ceremony began. Prayers for the newly married couple, and others, are now offered. The prayers may be said by the celebrant, or the  couple being married may invite a family member or friend to lead one or more of the prayers.

The prayers may take the form of –

(i) A longer continuous prayer with congregational responses, technically called a litany, always used where the service includes Holy Communion

(ii) A selection of shorter prayers, usually between two and five, that may be selected by the couple in consultation with the celebrant.

(iii) Concluding with the Lord's Prayer (or 'Our Father') said by all together.

The Lord's Prayer (traditional)

Our Father, who art in heaven,

      hallowed be thy name,

      thy kingdom come,

      thy will be done,

      on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses

      as we forgive those who trespass

            against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

      but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power,

            and the glory

            for ever and ever.  Amen.

(HOLY COMMUNION)

Holy Communion may be part of a marriage ceremony in an Anglican Church, if desired by the couple being married. For those who chose to do so, this can be a very meaningful and important part of the service, as the sacrament is received for the first time as husband and wife. All present may be invited to receive Holy Communion, or the bridal party only, or the bride and groom only. This can be discussed further with the celebrant.

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6. THE RECESSIONAL

The service concludes with a blessing for all present said by the celebrant. The newly married couple lead the recessional (procession out of the church) with the bridal party following. Music is played as the wedding party leave the church and the church bells are rung.

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