The length of a civil wedding ceremony typically lasts around 30 minutes. It is not uncommon for the whole event to last up to two hours. A civil wedding ceremony is a ceremony celebrating the joining of a couple in marriage and is usually conducted by an officiant with religious or legal authority. It generally consists of exchanging promises, vows, rings and other gifts, prayers or readings from a bible or other scripture, and sometimes music. In some cultures, it may also include the parents' blessing for the newlyweds and/or their children.