Are you thinking about writing your own wedding ceremony? Whether you’re a mom who’s been dreaming of her daughter’s big day since she was born, a teacher who wants to personalise her nuptials, or a thirty-something bride who wants to make the ceremony all about you and your fiancé, here are a few tips on how to get started.
Decide on the overall tone of the ceremony – formal or informal
When it comes to deciding the overall tone of your ceremony, you may want to opt for something a bit more casual. A formal atmosphere can feel overly stiff and unwelcoming, which may leave both you and your guests feeling uncomfortable. On the other hand, being more informal can create an atmosphere that is more relaxed and inviting, allowing everyone to enjoy the day without worry. Whether it be through having light music playing in the background or incorporating a few fun activities into the schedule, an informal event can be just as memorable as its formal counterpart. Ultimately, it’s all about finding a balance between comfort and class!
Choose who will officiate the ceremony – a religious leader, a celebrant or a registrar
Choosing who will officiate your ceremony is an important decision, as it sets the tone for your special day. Whether you choose a religious leader, celebrant or registrar to officiate your ceremony will depend on what type of service you are looking for. Religious leaders can provide traditional, scripture-based services, whereas celebrants specialise in crafting unique and meaningful ceremonies tailored to suit each couple’s individual beliefs and values. Registering your marriage with a registrar may be suitable if you are looking for a more low-key formal service. Whichever option you go with, make sure the person officiating is someone whose views align with yours and can create something truly special that reflects your relationship.
Gather all the necessary information – date, time, location, and names of the couple
Making sure you have all of the necessary information is key when attending a wedding. You need to know the date and time, so you don’t miss the big event. Then there’s the location – since a lot of weddings are hosted at venues outside of the couple’s home, ensure that you have it written down somewhere safe. And, last but not least, the names of the bride and groom! Don’t forget to save a special dance for them – after all, it is their special day. All in all, make sure you jot down all informative details beforehand so that you can show up perfectly prepared for the big event.
Write out the ceremony in full, including any readings or special traditions you want to include
To start the ceremony, we’ll ask everyone to take a seat before we begin. We’ll ask both sets of parents to join us at the altar and then open with an opening reading. It could be something traditional like a Bible verse that offers an example of everlasting love or something more upbeat and sentimental like a widely-known poem or quote. We’d then transition into our vows, followed by any special traditions we want to be included. Maybe it’s cutting the cake together or sharing a toast to seal our commitment. At the end of the ceremony, after all formalities have been attended to, we’d wrap everything up with a closing reading of something meaningful and heartfelt before officially being announced as newlyweds!
Practice delivering the ceremony so you feel confident on the big day!
If you’re getting ready to deliver a ceremony or speech, practice is key! Allowing yourself enough time to go through the motions and words several times can make a huge difference when it comes time for delivery. You’ll be able to feel more confident walking into the big day if you know your content, order of events and any transitions between ideas well. Practice in front of a mirror, with friends, or even by yourself so that you can get used to everything and feel comfortable expressing yourself. Good luck!
Planning a wedding ceremony can be an intimidating and overwhelming task. With so much to think about, staying organised is key. From deciding on an overall tone of the ceremony – formal or informal to choosing who will officiate it – a religious leader, a celebrant or a registrar – you have lots of decisions to make! Collect all the necessary information like date, time, location, and names of the bride and groom ahead of time and write out the ceremony in full including any readings or special traditions you plan on including. Finally, practice delivering the ceremony as much as you can. That way when it comes down to it on your big day you’ll feel confident and prepared. If planning wedding ceremonies look like something you enjoy doing and would like to do more often for other couples, consider becoming a Celebrant with The Academy of Modern Celebrancy. You’ll gain skills from experienced professionals that will help you understand what’s involved in creating extraordinary wedding ceremonies that people will talk about for years. So why not become certified today? Make the decision to start your professional celebrancy journey now!
Jennifer Claire
Jennifer is the Director of the leading celebrant training company, The Academy of Modern Celebrancy as well as the Founder of The Celebrant Directory, supporting over 600 celebrants globally.
Jennifer run a 2.5k community of celebrants who she dedicates her time to helping them grow their businesses and taking celebrancy from a hobby to a lifestyle.
Jennifer heads up the global Celebrant Industry Awards and the global celebrant summit, Celebrantopia each year!
A celebrant herself since 2010, she knows what it takes to make it in the industry and trains the best celebrants out there across the UK, Europe and the USA.
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