"You may now kiss the bride" - no longer happens??

It's happening when I get wed on Wednesday.lol xx

Happened for us! But our minister did send us the ceremony to personalise so I s'pose if we hadn't wanted it we could have asked for it to be taken out. Not that I ever would!

Didn't happen for us - we forgot to wait for it ?

If you want the registrar to say those words then you can ask them, but you don't need the words because it will sort of build into a crescendo and you wont need the actual words something like along the lines of "you have sealed your commitment to each other with the giving and receiving of rings and before me and your witnesses and your gathered friends and family it gives me great pleasure to announce that you are now joined in matrimony as husband and wife" ---- big cheer/ clap- "the kiss"

I think some registrars and priests have steered away from saying it in fear of it sounding cliché

Didn't happen to us either, and I didn't even think about it either.

I think its actually an American tradition & not something that priests/ registrar's do here unless it's requested.

We had it at our wedding. H is not keen on PDAs, but my uncle (our minister) asked at the rehearsal whether we wanted to or not and H surprised me by saying yes. Just ask your minister or registrar if you want to be sure.

Our minister includes it in his standard order of service. You would have to ask for it to be taken out.

We had a civil ceremony and it was stated at the end, we hadn't asked for it specifically though so I think it must depend on the registrar or clergyman that is performing the ceremony.

Our vicar told us he wouldn't be saying it. "as it'll be obvious when you're supposed to do it"!

Is it really bad that I can't remember whether it happened or not?! We certainly did kiss though and everyone clapped/cheered, but I can't remember if they said the words!

We were married in the Anglican church and the vicar had us do it twice!

In our experience it tends to be religious ceremonies where it isn't always said. We've been "warned" by a few of our couples that it wont be said so we know when the kiss will be coming (or not, if they've chosen not to kiss)

As far as I can recall, most civil ceremonies do still include the line, but not always those exact words. Often it's a bit less formal. Something along the lines of "It's my pleasure to announce that you are now officially husband and wife. You may want to give your new wife a kiss!"

I had it in my wedding 25 years ago and most of the couples I have written ceremonies for have had something similar. It's entirely up to you x

The CofE wedding I recently went to didn't have it, or anything to formally declare them man and wife.

They started with the vows, then a hymn, a reading, another hymn, another reading and then the witnesses were called to the back room to sign the register and then we all walked out in procession (I was a witness).

There was nothing to actually say 'your now married' I was a bit surprised!

All the weddings I've been to have included it - or should I say my dad always includes it when he takes a wedding, because most of the weddings that I've seen were in the church choir as a child! It's the sort of thing that I imagine would be 'optional', in a way? I'm not sure if it's actually technically written into the CofE Common Worship marriage service (or BCP), or if it's just something that has become tradition at a certain point.

We had a civil ceremony and it was an option on the form our registrar gave us for the ceremony wording.

I've been to quite a few weddings recently and they have all included this in one way or another apart from my cousins Catholic ceremony where the vicar(? preist? not sure!) said 'in a catholic church we dont pronounce you man and wife and we dont say you may kiss the bride, but you are, and you may!!' and everyone had a little giggle. Maybe the wedding that your OH brother went to was a catholic service? Or the couple took it out of the ceremony. But I would check with your officiant to make sure it is definately in your service if you want it.

I'm so glad somebody started this topic. I would like to have that phrase and no I know I should specifically ask for it

This is a good example where there could be a "rule" or a given norm but each vicar will do things differently, its the same with the question of who gos down the isle first, bridesmaids or Bride

is the register signed in the vestry or on a table at the alter or to the side,

is the register signing right at the end or is there another hymn then final prayer after,

does the vicar warn the groom that any smell of alcohol on his breath he wont marry you - or is he in the pub before with the groom.

I am always ready for the "kiss" but on the rare occasion it dosent happen, it dosent quite feel right, sometimes in a civil ceremony I have seen the bride and groom have quick sneaky peck when they 1st meet each other at the top of the isle