Wedding Ceremony Resources

• Documents Required
• Order of Ceremony
• Types of Wedding Ceremonies
•  Unity Ceremony 

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Documents required to perform a legal wedding ceremony in Jamaica

In order to get married on the island of a Jamaica a marriage licence must be granted by the government of Jamaica giving approval for your wedding. As your wedding planners, we will take the hassle out of applying for your licence. We require only that you submit a few documentations to get the process started.
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Documents Required Where Applicable​
Notarized copy of birth certificates
Proof of Divorce (if applicable) Notarized copy of divorce (must include Divorce Absolute page)
Notarized copy of driver’s license
Letter stating couple’s occupation, age, date of birth & fathers name - does not need to be notarized
Notarized copy of death certificate in the case of widow/widower
Notarized copy of adoption papers also reflecting name changes
Notarized Change of name deed if other than that stated on the birth certificate which is not associated with a marriage or adoption
Legal translation of documents to English where originals are in another language

IMPORTANT NOTES:
-All applicable documents are to be submitted 3-4 months prior to your wedding date. A late fee will be applied for documents submitted after this time.
-Each individual document must be notarized by a Justice of the Peace or by a Notary Public.  
-Scan and email notarized documents to info@bandooevents.com prior to mailing.
-All photo IDs must be clear & contain your Signature

Courier Address:
Bandoo Events Solutions
Prospect Estate
St. Mary
Jamaica
W.I.
876-812-1914 or 876-974-7457

If sending by post:
Bandoo Events Solutions
C/O Shelli Young
PO BOX 218 Main Street 
Ocho Rios
St.Ann
Jamaica
W.I.
876-812-1914 or 876-974-7457
Documents sent by posy may experience delayed arrival to Jamaica. 

ORDER OF CEREMONY

Below is the order of ceremony. You may use this template if printing wedding programs. You can also choose to add a few personal touches such as a poem, a song selection or personal wedding vows. 
Length: Approximately 15-20mins​

• Prelude……….........…(guest are being seated)
• Entrance of the Officiate, Groom, & Bestman
• Processional….......…(bridesmaids/groomsmen)
• Bridal Processional…..
• Opening Remarks……Marriage Officiate
• Officiant Addresses the Couple
• Exchange of Wedding Vows
• Blessing and Exchange of Rings
• Signing of the Marriage Register 
• Unity Ceremony (If applicable)
• Pronouncement of Marriage
• Recessional

SEE BLOG ON ORDER OF CEREMONY

CHAMPAGNE/COCKTAIL PACKAGES 
Ceremony & Champagne Packages Approximately 2 hours
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Packages  Approximately 2 hours

• Cutting of the Cake
• Serving of Sparkling Wine
• Bride & Groom Toasts
• Cake served to all guests
• Cocktail Hour (if included with wedding package)
• Couple's First Dance (if required)
• Depart site at designated time

DINNER RECEPTION
With ceremony & Dinner Reception packages (Pearl, Emerald, Moonstone, Diamond) approximately 6 hours
With Ceremony, Cocktail Hour & Dinner Reception Packages (Moonstone, White Gold, Platinum) approximately 7 hours

• Seating of guest
• Introduction of the Bridal Party
• Blessing of the meal ( you can assign someone to do is if you wish to incorporate)
• Dinner ( head table is served/guest do buffet if not plated service)
• Guest Toasts'
• Unveiling of the Cake ( usually done by the mothers)
• Cutting of the Cake
• Couple's First Dance
• Father & Daughter Dance
• Mother & Son Dance
• Bride & Groom Toasts
• Dance Floor Opens 

• Religious Wedding
• Civil Wedding
• Symbolic/ Vow Renewal
• Jewish
• Hindu
• Islamic

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A religious wedding ceremony, most often a non-denominational Christian wedding is conducted by a wedding officiator licenced by the government of Jamaica to perform legal weddings. A Religious wedding ceremony is suitable for couples who wish to have their wedding  include a prayer, a brief scripture reading and the blessing of their wedding rings.  

Most of our religious weddings are done outside of the church at beach, garden or waterfall venues. This allows you more freedom to include special items such as:

• Your personal Wedding Vows
• Unity Ceremony
• Poem reading
• Song Selection 

Is a religious Wedding Legal?
Religious Weddings are legally binding in Jamaica. Once married Bandoo Events Solutions will apply for your marriage certificate which is issued by the government of Jamaica. Your certificate will be couriered to you within 3-6 weeks of your wedding date.

Why choose a Religious Non-Denominational Wedding?

• One or both yoy are religious and like the idea of a religious ceremony.
• Both of you come from different denominations 
•  You can have poems, quotations, or book excerpts for your readings.
• You can do a unity ceremony
• You are married not only in the eyes of the law but also in the eyes of God.

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 A civil ceremony is simply a nonreligious, legally recognized marriage ceremony presided over by a legal official instead of a religious one. In a Civil wedding there is no blessing of the rings, reading of scripture or prayers for the couple.  All documents will still be needed for the application of your marriage licence. Once married, a marriage certificate will be generated by the government of Jamaica making your marriage legally binding.

​Difference between a Civil and a religious wedding
The main difference between marrying in a religious or civil ceremony is that a religious ceremony is about being wed in the eyes of God and the law, while a civil ceremony is about being wed in the eyes of the law. 

Why choose a Civil Wedding?

• Neither of you are religious or subscribe to an organized religion, or you feel uncomfortable with the idea of a religious ceremony.
• Both of you come from different religious backgrounds, so you choose the civil route to avoid potential problems with interfaith ceremonies (but know that interfaith marriages are increasingly common and not the headache they once were).
•  You can have poems, quotations, or book excerpts for your readings. You can do a unity candle (or sand) ceremony. The officiant could still deliver a short message without mentioning God.

A symbolic ceremony is the promise of love between two people.  It is the exact same as a regular wedding ceremony, including the exchange of vows and exchange of rings.  The only difference is that it is not legally binding.  

You can opt to get legally married in your home country and have a symbolic wedding ceremony in Jamaica.   If you prefer, your wedding guests don’t even need to know this is a symbolic ceremony.  About 30% of our couples decide to have a symbolic ceremony, and for them this is the actual wedding; the legal paperwork is then only a formality.

VOW RENEWAL
The Vow Renewal is similar to the symbolic ceremony in that no paperwork is needed as you are already legally married.
Simply put, a vow renewal is a way to celebrate your marriage. Perhaps you've made it to 2, 5, 10, 25 or 50 years together and you want the world to know that you'd do it over again in a heartbeat or maybe you just want to reaffirm your commitment to each other. 

• Unity Sand Ceremony
• Unity Candle Ceremony
• Cord of Three Strands
• Butterfly Release

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A Unity Sand Ceremony is a type of unity ceremony that represents two people coming together in marriage.. Typically, each person has a different colored sand which is poured from separate vessels  into one clear vessel, forming a layered effect

How is a sand ceremony performed?
First, the officiant says a few words about the ceremony and its meaning. 

• The first person (often the groom) starts by pouring his sand into the central vase
• Next, the second person (often the bride) pours her sand into the central vase, forming a second layer.
• If other family members are participating, they each pour their sand into the central vase. If it's just the couple participating, they typically each add another layer to the vase.
• To finish, everyone pours at the same time, forming a mix of colors at the top that represents the united family. Some couples choose to reserve this last step just for themselves, while others include the whole family. Keep in mind that the more people you include, the more difficult it will be for everyone to pour at the same time.

What is needed for a sand ceremony?
“You need only acquire the physical items needed to conduct this ceremony, namely:

• Sand - different colours
• Two small vessels, one for each participant 
• One larger vessel that can contain the volume of sand to be poured from both smaller vessels
• Small table- Bandoo Events Solutions will provide a small table with linen at the ceremony

Sand Ceremony Script
BRIDE and GROOM, today you join your separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent all that you are and all that you will ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today.
As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.

In the Unity Candle Ceremony the bride and groom each take a lit candle (often lit by their mothers to symbolize their individual families) and simultaneously light a third larger "unity candle." They may blow out their individual lights, or leave them lit, symbolizing that they have not lost their individuality in their unity.

Unity Candle Script:
Officiant:
It was very important to _________and _________that we take some time today to honor the two wonderful families who have guided them to this very moment. Their love, support, and endless encouragement have prepared our bride and groom to step into their new lives with optimism and grace. A wedding is not only a union of two soulmates, but a declaration of the lives that have come before them: modeling love and raising children into the people who stand before you today.LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES:
Officiant:
We have three candles. The two candles on either side represent the blessing of this marriage by each family. The unity candle in the center represents the merging of both families together as one - strong, supportive, and enduring.As representatives of _________’s family, we have _________and _________coming forward to light their candle.
As representatives of _________’s family, we have _________and _________coming forward to light their candle.
Please come forward and light your candles at this time.
(Families light each of their candles and step back to the audience)
OFFICIANT Now, as a testament to their faith and commitment to their families and to each other, _________and _________will take their respective candles and join the two flames together over the unity candle.
 (Couple lights the larger candle)
A new flame has been born. This new flame symbolizes the beginning of their own family, and bids honor and respect to the families that have brought them here today.

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

The Cord of Three Strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God into a marriage relationship. This ceremony sees a good marriage as having love as its foundation. Since it is believed that love is a gift from God, it symbolizes the divine involvement at the very center of this new union. During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom braid the Cord of Three Strands Gold, Purple and White together. The groom holds a small metal ring with three attached strands. The bride then braids the strands together, symbolizing the union of God, husband and wife. While braiding the Strands your officiant will read the explanation of the braiding and guide you through  the ceremony.

Cord of Three Strands Script:
Today, __________ and ___________ have chosen to braid three strands together into a single cord. Each strand has a significant meaning. The gold strand represents God who has given the gift of love. The purple strand represents the groom and his life. The white strand represents the bride and her life. In braiding these three strands together,  __________ and ___________. are demonstrating that their marriage is more than a joining of two lives together. It is a unity with God as well. They have chosen to allow God to be at the center of their marriage, woven into every aspect of it.
As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reads, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
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What is the significance of the Colors of the Cords?

• Gold Strand - The divinity of God is represented in Gold. This covenant relationship is initiated by Him, will be built under His authority, and is intended to glorify Him.
• Purple Strand -  As a new creation in Christ, the majesty of the Groom is represented in purple. As the husband loves his wife and submits himself to the Lord, the Lord in turn will demonstrate His great love in the marriage relationship.
• White Strand -  Having been cleansed by salvation in Christ, the purity of the Bride is represented in white. As the wife honors her husband and submits herself to the Lord, the Lord in turn will nurture and strengthen the marriage relationship.