American Weddings Blog

When writing a wedding ceremony, a question that often comes up is, should there be humor in a wedding ceremony, and if so - how much?  

Well... the way we look at it, the ceremony should reflect the couple. Since most couples love to laugh together, some humor in the ceremony is not only acceptable, but actually desirable. Injecting a dash of (appropriate) humor into the ceremony adds emotional variety to the event, providing a counterpoint to the more somber, serious moments. 

That said, the 'precise' amount of humor is something that the officiant and the couple must work out. But one thing's for sure -- adding light-heartedness to a ceremony is great for couples who don’t want to cry through the whole ceremony. It’s also great for couples that are worried about being nervous (laughter calms the nerves, it’s a fact!).

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It took more than just complex rigging and experience to make Ethan and Tiffany Fowler’s zipline wedding a memorable event. They might have figured out a way to get Tiffany’s dress into the sling, and they might have successfully transitioned the couple from their harnesses to the ceremony, but it wasn’t until Bradley Brown, the adventure park’s manager, got ordained online that the whole affair came together. 

The couple made headlines last month when news outlets got wind of their original and daring wedding ceremony at Keystone Safari, and adventure park in Pennsylvania that features a zipline course. Here at American Weddings our first thought was, “this sounds like something one of our ministers would do.”

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Hey Couples: whether you are hiring a professional officiant, or asking a friend or family member to officiate your wedding, regular communication is critical. Your officiant’s job is to lead the ceremony, and the better you communicate with him or her, the more powerful and memorable your ceremony will be!

In practical terms, this means that a certain amount of communication between the couple and the officiant should be scheduled right from the beginning. Regardless of who you pick, make sure they are committed to regular communication. Make sure they understand their role -- which is helping to translate your vision into words. 

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We recently worked with a bride that straight up warned us that she might have a panic attack during the wedding ceremony! 

Spoiler alert, she was just fine, and the wedding ceremony went off without a hitch! But as anybody who has experience with these matters can attest, nerves are a huge part of the ceremony experience and it’s best to address the problem head on, and find a solution that works for the couple. That way, everyone is relaxed and happy on the big day.

Our first line of advice is the following: Your wedding is going to be an emotional day and there will be plenty of nerves to go around. Once you accept that, you can create a plan to address or accomodate these feelings, because they are natural. 

Let’s get started......(continued)

We recently received an email from a bride who was planning her ceremony and wanted to walk down the aisle alone, and asking for our advice. Since it wasn’t the first time we’ve been asked that question, we figured this is a discussion worth having here on American Weddings, so here goes. We’re always interested in hearing from you, so make sure to follow us on social media and tell us about your experiences! 
 
Dear AMM, 

I’m not very close to my father, and we never had much of a relationship, to be totally honest. And while I could have someone else walk me down the aisle, I would rather just walk by myself. I've always been an independent sort of person, and I see this as a statement of my autonomy. Is this common, and what should I keep in mind if I go this route? -- Shelby in Albuquerque  
 
Hi Shelby, ...(continued)