The Celebrant Institute is Australia's leading professional celebrant support membership, offering the Certificate IV in Celebrancy, along with mentorship and support from Josh Withers and Sarah Aird.

How to say the monitum with warmth

Posted by Josh Withers | Oct 15, 2019 | The Art of Ceremony | 8 |

Tracey asks:

I’d really love some input about how/where in the ceremony you would say the Monitum. In amongst all the beautiful ‘love’ words it can feel a bit cold and clinical. I’m yet to find a way to bring it into the ceremony without it sounding a bit like an announcement! I feel pretty ok with writing sections of a ceremony. Tying them together is the tricky part for me!

This is a great question Tracey, but one that everyone will answer differently. I thought the easiest way for me to answer would be to share a snippet of video of me delivering a ceremony.

Post in the comments how you deliver the monitum with class, style, and a smile!

About The Author

Josh Withers

Josh is a marriage celebrant since 2009, based on Australia's Gold Coast with his wife Britt and two daughters. With Sarah Aird he co-founded the Celebrant Institute and specialises in the business of celebrancy and the art of present and intimate ceremony.

8 Comments

Alison P on October 15, 2019 at 4:34 pm

This is so different and interesting, Josh. How do you do the earlier parts of the monitum? Do you keep it all pretty close together, or do you do the first part when introducing yourself and the ‘solemn and binding’ nature part somewhere else?
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Josh Withers on October 15, 2019 at 5:31 pm

I address the earlier section of the monitum earlier in the ceremony 🙂
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Sarah Aird on October 15, 2019 at 6:00 pm

Great question Tracey. I say the first sentence in my first paragraph when I’m introducing myself.

“Welcome to blah, my name is Sarah Aird and I am delighted to be the authorised celebrant to officiate at this wedding between X and Y. I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriage according to law.”

Then I say the second and third sentence directly before they say their vows. I have some nice words about “you’re about to say your vows, they mean whatever, take a moment and take it all in.” Then I pause, and say “Before you are joined in marriage…” Then they say their vows.

I think they’re always going to sound a bit clinical to your ear, but if you deliver them with warmth and a smile, they won’t sound that to the guests. I wouldn’t worry too much about introducing the monitum; I think if you draw more attention to it, it will sound weirder and more out of place. Just say it and move on!
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- Gemma D on November 20, 2019 at 9:54 pm
  
  This is very interesting to me – I didn’t think we were allowed to break it up into smaller bits and have other paragraphs of ceremony in between. I can’t quite believe it.
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  - Sarah Aird on November 21, 2019 at 10:19 am
    
    We sure are allowed! P68 of the Guidelines says:
    
    5.6.7 Can the sentences of subsection 46(1) be separated?
    It is possible to separate the first sentence from the second and third sentences and say them at a different part of the ceremony.
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    - Linda Marsden on September 6, 2021 at 3:16 pm
      
      finally finding the time to browse the web site, great ideas and some answers to questions I have too. thank you
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Tracey T on October 15, 2019 at 8:25 pm

Thank you Josh & Sarah! This is exactly why I love the Celebrant Institute. I love hearing both points of view. To be honest, when I did my training we weren’t told that it could be said separately. It sounds much softer being broken down into sections.

Thanks again
Tracey
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Aimee C on October 17, 2019 at 9:20 pm

I have been totally breaking mine down into sections of late and it’s working so well.

I started with the whole paragraph thing… it didn’t sit right for me…

SpreadI got it out in the ceremony allows it to be captured as required but subtle in delivery…..

Aims x
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