Diamond Wedding Ceremony
$375
Our Diamond Ceremony has it all. It can be religious or nonreligious. The choice is yours. Our Diamond Ceremony has all of the elements of a wedding ceremony taking into consideration many guests are attending. This is for the couple that wants their guests to witness them walk down the aisle, be addressed for the first time as being married, etc! This service is customized for you, personalizing the ceremony to make it your own! It includes:
Payment and legal details:
A 50% deposit is required at time of booking. We take all major credit cards, checks, and cash. We offer a $10 discount for payment in full at time of booking if more than 30 days out. Checks will need to clear before date is secured. A contract will be sent to you at time of booking.
You will need a valid marriage license in the State of Michigan and picture IDs for both of you on the day of your service. Our website explains all the details about obtaining your marriage license if you have any questions.
The Ceremony:
1. Prelude (pre-wedding music, rituals like lighting of candles, unrolling aisle runner, ringing of bells, etc)
2. Procession
This is the walk down the aisle of the wedding party to the altar. This symbolically represents the couple’s transition from their individual lives to the union of marriage and the attendants’ support of this union.
The officiant, groom, and best man wait at the altar for the wedding party to walk in the following order: first groomsmen paired with bridesmaids, then maid/matron of honor, ringer bearer/flower girls, and last the bride. Facing the altar, women are on the left and men are on the right.
Music can be a single song or separate songs for the wedding party and the bride. Of course it is your wedding and you can alter this in whatever manner you choose. We understand this is the traditional view and are happy to adjust things to reflect who the two of you are.
3. Convocation (welcome/introduction)
This is when all in attendance are called together to begin the ceremony. The words are welcoming and thanking guests and oftentimes an introduction of the purpose of the gathering.
4. Invocation
The words spoken here are intended to invoke a higher source (God, Great Spirit, Universe, etc.) to elevate the intent of the ceremony. The address can be here with just a sentence or two instead of #5. This element is designed to encourage reflection on the significance of this commitment. This may or may not include a historical reflection on the relationship, a story of how the couple met, etc.
5. Marriage Address
This can be longer than the invocation and personalized for the couple about them. Officiant speaks about significance of marriage and possibly about the couple that is marrying. If the Marriage Address is used, the Invocation is different.
6. Declaration of Intent*
This is where a couple say the traditional “I dos”. The words spoken here declare the couple’s intention to marry. Oftentimes, Marry-Makers, offers a “we will” as support from the guests .
7. The Vows
Yes, the vows are separate from the Declaration of Intent. This is the verbal exchange between a couple that expresses the promises they are making each other. The words here are in addition to the Declaration of Intent and can be memorized, read from paper, or recited after the officiant.
8. Blessing of Rings
This is an explanation of the symbolism of the rings and the exchange and any sentiment a couple wishes to be reminded of as they wear them.
9. Exchange of Rings
This is the physical exchange of the rings and the verbal exchange between the couple that expresses the significance of this exchange. Words may be memorized, read from paper, or recited after the officiant.
10. Pronouncement*
This is the pronouncement that the couple is officially wed.
11. The Kiss
A kiss shared between the couple and symbolically represents sealing the promises made.
12. Benediction (closing blessing or prayer)
Words spoken to communicate the hopes and wishes for the couple as they begin their new future together.
13. The Presentation
The official introduction of the newly married couple. How you would like to be addressed to your guests is your choice; i.e., Mr. and Mrs. Name, or First Name, Last Name and First Name, Last Name, or the newly married couple, First Name, First Name.
14. The Recessional
This is the wedding party’s walk down the aisle from the altar to the festivities. This walk signifies the completion of the ceremony and the beginning of the celebration of their new life together. The wedding party traditionally exits in the opposite order they entered with the couple exiting first.
*15. Signing of the Marriage Certificate
*Elements 6, 10, and 15 are required by law in the State of Michigan.
Extra Ceremony Elements
16. Ceremony Add-Ons:
17. Additional elements, or ‘mini ceremonies’ to symbolize the joining together of two lives into one and any other forms of symbolism such as (all $45 a pc):
Icing on the Cake Add-Ons:
18. As a retired professional wedding photographer, Jill will create a few beautiful images if you choose not to hire a photographer. Examples of her work are all the images on the website and our Facebook page.
19. Small, hand-tied professional bouquet of in-season, mixed flowers $65
20. Boutonniere to match $25
21. Wedding cake for two $25
22. Witnesses ($40 per witness)
23. Travel fee outside of area (20 mile radius) - call with location address for a quote.
- Customized ceremonial wording throughout service
- Many choices of prayers, blessings, vows, ring ceremony, etc.
- Unlimited planning meetings with two meetings in person if you choose and the remainder being by phone, email, Skype, or FaceTime (includes rehearsal)
- Ceremony emailed to you for review and revisions
- Keepsake copy of ceremony
Payment and legal details:
A 50% deposit is required at time of booking. We take all major credit cards, checks, and cash. We offer a $10 discount for payment in full at time of booking if more than 30 days out. Checks will need to clear before date is secured. A contract will be sent to you at time of booking.
You will need a valid marriage license in the State of Michigan and picture IDs for both of you on the day of your service. Our website explains all the details about obtaining your marriage license if you have any questions.
The Ceremony:
1. Prelude (pre-wedding music, rituals like lighting of candles, unrolling aisle runner, ringing of bells, etc)
2. Procession
This is the walk down the aisle of the wedding party to the altar. This symbolically represents the couple’s transition from their individual lives to the union of marriage and the attendants’ support of this union.
The officiant, groom, and best man wait at the altar for the wedding party to walk in the following order: first groomsmen paired with bridesmaids, then maid/matron of honor, ringer bearer/flower girls, and last the bride. Facing the altar, women are on the left and men are on the right.
Music can be a single song or separate songs for the wedding party and the bride. Of course it is your wedding and you can alter this in whatever manner you choose. We understand this is the traditional view and are happy to adjust things to reflect who the two of you are.
3. Convocation (welcome/introduction)
This is when all in attendance are called together to begin the ceremony. The words are welcoming and thanking guests and oftentimes an introduction of the purpose of the gathering.
4. Invocation
The words spoken here are intended to invoke a higher source (God, Great Spirit, Universe, etc.) to elevate the intent of the ceremony. The address can be here with just a sentence or two instead of #5. This element is designed to encourage reflection on the significance of this commitment. This may or may not include a historical reflection on the relationship, a story of how the couple met, etc.
5. Marriage Address
This can be longer than the invocation and personalized for the couple about them. Officiant speaks about significance of marriage and possibly about the couple that is marrying. If the Marriage Address is used, the Invocation is different.
6. Declaration of Intent*
This is where a couple say the traditional “I dos”. The words spoken here declare the couple’s intention to marry. Oftentimes, Marry-Makers, offers a “we will” as support from the guests .
7. The Vows
Yes, the vows are separate from the Declaration of Intent. This is the verbal exchange between a couple that expresses the promises they are making each other. The words here are in addition to the Declaration of Intent and can be memorized, read from paper, or recited after the officiant.
8. Blessing of Rings
This is an explanation of the symbolism of the rings and the exchange and any sentiment a couple wishes to be reminded of as they wear them.
9. Exchange of Rings
This is the physical exchange of the rings and the verbal exchange between the couple that expresses the significance of this exchange. Words may be memorized, read from paper, or recited after the officiant.
10. Pronouncement*
This is the pronouncement that the couple is officially wed.
11. The Kiss
A kiss shared between the couple and symbolically represents sealing the promises made.
12. Benediction (closing blessing or prayer)
Words spoken to communicate the hopes and wishes for the couple as they begin their new future together.
13. The Presentation
The official introduction of the newly married couple. How you would like to be addressed to your guests is your choice; i.e., Mr. and Mrs. Name, or First Name, Last Name and First Name, Last Name, or the newly married couple, First Name, First Name.
14. The Recessional
This is the wedding party’s walk down the aisle from the altar to the festivities. This walk signifies the completion of the ceremony and the beginning of the celebration of their new life together. The wedding party traditionally exits in the opposite order they entered with the couple exiting first.
*15. Signing of the Marriage Certificate
*Elements 6, 10, and 15 are required by law in the State of Michigan.
Extra Ceremony Elements
16. Ceremony Add-Ons:
- Adding in one of the traditional ceremony elements missing from your package. $25-$45
- Reading of poems, etc., to be read aloud by person of your choice inserted in ceremony before 6 or 10 of the ceremony. $15
17. Additional elements, or ‘mini ceremonies’ to symbolize the joining together of two lives into one and any other forms of symbolism such as (all $45 a pc):
- Rose ceremony (honoring present loved ones such as parents, mother, grandparents)
- Sand ceremony
- Unity candle lighting
- Hand-fasting
- Honoring important people who are deceased
- Declaration of intent for children of the couple involved in the ceremony (family vows)
- Many other options based on your beliefs
Icing on the Cake Add-Ons:
18. As a retired professional wedding photographer, Jill will create a few beautiful images if you choose not to hire a photographer. Examples of her work are all the images on the website and our Facebook page.
- Up to 5 professional photographs - all images will be hand-finished by Jill and either
19. Small, hand-tied professional bouquet of in-season, mixed flowers $65
20. Boutonniere to match $25
21. Wedding cake for two $25
22. Witnesses ($40 per witness)
23. Travel fee outside of area (20 mile radius) - call with location address for a quote.
