American Weddings Blog

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)

“Clothes make the man” - Mark Twain

A ceremony is an “event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion.” That means there are prescribed ways of doing things. Certain clothes to wear, words to say, and ways to act. Few ceremonies carry as much ritual significance as wedding ceremonies, where couples publicly declare a legally binding commitment to each other. 

But, that doesn’t mean you can’t let your personal style shine through. Heck, that’s probably why the couple asked you to officiate in the first place. Wedding officiants -- that’s you -- are rockstars! 

Let’s dive into what to wear as a wedding officiant, because there are a lot of variables - such as the feel of the event, weather, location, venue, and what the couple are wearing - that come into play!

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In previous articles, we have talked about how to create a “religious feel” in the wedding ceremony that matches the couple’s own spiritual disposition. But what about the “standard pieces” of the ceremony, like the end-of-aisle question or the pronouncement?

Do the words used really matter?

They do! When performing a wedding ceremony, every piece of the ceremony contributes to the overall feel, and is a reflection of the couple. Plus, most folks have already heard their fair share of invocations, vow exchanges and other standard parts of a wedding ceremony, so they will be wondering, “How are Matt and Rita going to do theirs?” ...(continued)