American Weddings Blog

Looking at the title of this article, you might be thinking, “of course the ceremony is important.” You can’t really have a wedding without a wedding ceremony. But you might be surprised, because while some couples understand that the wedding ceremony is a key part of the wedding day, others look at it as a formality that they need to rush through so they can get to the partying.

We wanted to write this post to speak to that second group. Don’t worry - there will still be champagne and cake! - but without an investment in your ceremony, something will be missing. Here’s how to avoid that:

At American Marriage Ministries, we have always insisted that the wedding ceremony sets the tone for the rest of the wedding festivities. After officiating/planning/attending more weddings than we can count, we have received plenty of feedback from both couples and other wedding vendors to back up this belief. ...(continued)

Asked to Officiate

Originally written by expert and professional wedding officiant Bethel Nathan (who has performed nearly one thousand ceremonies), AMM recently acquired and updated this workbook - making it the most comprehensive, detailed, and helpful book of its kind on the market. Asked to Officiate will:...(continued)

Have you been asked to officiate, and even though you’re excited, you’re not sure where to start?

Or – are you embarking on a new passion or career path in performing weddings, and looking for an all-in-one inclusive guide?

Fear not! Asked to Officiate – one of our most popular resources – is here to help.

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The key to a great wedding ceremony is to make it flow. And when we talk about “flow,” we’re referring to the words and the emotion of the ceremony, and that magical combination of saying the right thing at the right time. 

When planning a wedding ceremony, consider what traditions or readings will resonate with the couple and audience. Perhaps there’s a prayer, or a reading, or a traditional blessing that speaks to the couple's values or emotional state. Then, decide where to fit these parts into the ceremony. 

Think about the ceremony as a story, with each piece fitting into a logical order. Consider which pieces fit best leading into or following one another. I often write short transitions between pieces. Not only do the transitions help with the flow, they also give me an idea of whether one piece works well following another, based on how easy it is to write the transitional wording....(continued)

It happens to the best of us… we make a goof while delivering a wedding ceremony. It may be missing a word (or words), it may be pronouncing something incorrectly, or perhaps it’s a matter of losing our place in the ceremony. We’ve all been there. You’re not alone, so if it happens, don’t worry!

But truthfully, 95% of the time, it is not the goof that matters, but how you handle it. So, here are some tips:

Stay Calm

This is sometimes tough but if you realize you made a mistake or lose your place, staying calm will prevent you from making more mistakes. If you let yourself get flustered by the one mistake, you increase the likelihood of making more mistakes. If you have to, wait till you get to a natural pause point (e.g. the end of a paragraph), take a deep breath, quickly center yourself, and then move on.

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