A catholic wedding ceremony or mass has a set pattern of prayers, readings, and hymns that are followed even during a wedding mass, with the nuptials interjected in between. Very few changes are usually allowed in the ceremony, and the format is a grand tradition. Most couples distribute its printed copies (usually booklets), which enables guests to follow the proceedings and join in when required. It is especially useful to help non-catholic guests not familiar with the proceedings to participate, and in situations where either the bride or groom is not catholic. The following is a traditional catholic wedding ceremony program example. Cover Page The Wedding Liturgy Uniting [Name] and [Name] in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony [Wedding Date] Text Inside Prelude - 'Name of the piece' [list the prelude music of your choice, for example - Immaculate Mary or Rondeau. Many include the name of musicians providing the music] Procession - 'Name of the piece' Bridal Entrance - 'Name of the piece' Priest: The Lord be with you Response: And also with you I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do. I ask blessed Mary ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen. Gloria [include Gloria of your choice] Priest: Father, you have made the bond of marriage a holy mystery, a symbol of Christ's love for his Church. Hear our prayers for [Bride] and [Groom]. With faith in you and in each other they pledge their love today. May their lives always bear witness to the reality of that love. We ask you this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. [Get the opening prayer from the priest who will say your mass] R: Amen. First Reading Genesis 2:18-24 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. This is the word of the Lord. R: Thanks be to God Responsorial Psalm [include the psalm you have picked, for example- Psalm 145] Second Reading 1 John 4:7-12 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is the word of the Lord. R: Thanks be to God Gospel Acclamation [include the Alleluia you have chosen] Mark 10:6-9 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark R: Glory to you, Lord "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female'.'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." This is the gospel of the Lord. R: Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ. Statement of Intentions Priest: [Bride] and [Groom], have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives? Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church? Exchange of Consent Blessing and Exchange of Rings Prayer of the Faithful [Include the intersessions and response] Priest: Pray brethren that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, our almighty father. R: May the Lord accept this sacrifice from your hand, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his church. Priest: Lord, hear our prayer and accept the gifts we offer for [Bride] and [Groom]. Today you have made them one in the sacrament of marriage. May the mystery of Christ's unselfish love, which we celebrate in this Eucharist, increase their love for you and for each other. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R:Amen Eucharistic Prayer Priest: The Lord be with you R: And also with your Priest: Lift up your hearts R: We lift them up to the Lord Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God R: It is right to give him thanks and praise Sanctus R: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. R: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Priest: Through him, with him and in him, in the unity of holy spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty father, forever and ever, amen. The Lords Prayer 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. Nuptial Blessing [list the prayer your priest will make] Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always R: And also with you Priest: Let us offer each other the sign of peace R: Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. Priest: May almighty God bless you, the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Go out to love and serve the Lord. R: Amen Recessional Hymn Back Cover [The back cover usually includes the names of the celebrants, maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers, readers and musicians] This template can be used as a basic outline. Your final draft will include all the readings, prayers, and hymns that will be part of your ceremony. Get the prayers from the priest who will say the mass, and allow him to approve the final draft before printing. Check several samples before you decide on your program, to get ideas about paper, fonts, and colors. Well prepared program booklets enable your guests to join in the ceremony, and also make great souvenirs.