Order of Service

Once all the music and prayers have been selected it is possible to arrange the full details of the service on a printed sheet known as the 'Order of Service'. If you choose all your music and readings in good time you will be able to have this Order of Service printed for the use of all who will attend the ceremony.

The order of service might be very brief, simply listing the stages of the ceremony, or it could include the full text of the service, including hymn words, full prayers, readings, vows and declarations.

However, bear in mind that if you are printing the words to the hymns, you may have to consider the issue of copyright. This exists for 70 years after the death of the writer, and during that time, it is illegal to reproduce the text without permission. To gain this, you will normally need to pay a charge of between £10 and £25.

An example order of service might run like this:

Order of Service

Prelude: Canon in D - Pachelbel
The Procession: Trumpet Tune - Purcell
Hymn: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
Introduction
The Declaration of Intent
Reading - 1 Corinthians, 13
The Address
Hymn: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
The Marriage
The Vows
The Giving and Receiving of the Rings
Reading (Optional) - Sonnet 116
The Prayers
Hymn - Tell Out, My Soul, The Greatness of The Lord
The Blessing
The Signing of the Register - Sonata in C Minor Op 13 - Beethoven
The Dismissal
The Recession: Overture from the Marriage of Figaro - Mozart

Click here to read more from InterWedding.co.uk