Basic Outline for Celebrating the Rite of Marriage outside of Mass
Entrance Rite
Liturgy of the Word
Rite of Marriage
Concluding Rite
(Optional or possible additions are in parenthesis)
- Gathering
- Welcome of the bride and bridegroom (at the door of the church or at the altar)
- Procession (many choices for the entrance song)
- Greeting (three options)
- Opening Prayer (four options)
Liturgy of the Word
- Old Testament Scripture Reading (nine options)
- Responsorial Psalm (seven options)
- New Testament Scripture Reading (thirteen options)
- Gospel Acclamation (choice of musical settings)
- Gospel (ten options)
- Homily (based on the Scriptures, Church teaching on marriage, and the couple’s lives)
Rite of Marriage
- Address to the couple
- Questions regarding intentions
- Consent (two choices of vows for the couple to speak to each another; a third alternative, when pastoral circumstances dictate, has the priest or deacon pose the vows as questions)
- Reception of the consent (may be accompanied with a musical acclamation by the assembly)
- Blessing and Exchange of Rings (three prayer options)
- General Intercessions (three suggested forms available, personalization possible) with the Nuptial Blessing (three options)
Concluding Rite
- The Lord’s Prayer
- Communion Service (optional, under certain circumstances and in accord with the policy of the local diocese, if Mass cannot be celebrated and distribution of Communion by a deacon is desired)
- Blessing (a simple blessing or four solemn blessing options)
- Dismissal (three options)
- Recessional (many choices for music)
(Optional or possible additions are in parenthesis)
The only difference of this option compared to the Rite within a Mass is that this option for the ceremony does not integrate the Eucharist into the celebration.