American Weddings Blog

Back when we were still flying on commercial airlines (remember, back before coronavirus?) I found myself sitting next to an older gentleman and as often happens, we started to chat about what we do for work. After decades in the workforce, my fellow passenger was planning his retirement. 

He told me that he was looking forward to watching his grandchildren start their lives, including one granddaughter who had recently gotten engaged. It turned out that she had just asked him to officiate her wedding!

But, he wasn’t sure if he should. “I’m not sure I’m the sort of person that officiates a wedding,” he said. 

It wasn’t that he was afraid of public speaking, and it wasn’t because he didn’t have a special connection with his granddaughter. The problem, he said, was that there was a “spiritual” component to officiating, and he wasn’t a particularly spiritual man....(continued)

Now that you know what to say and do as a wedding officiant, it's time to look the part.

Attire should always be discussed with the couple to make sure everyone is on the same page with expectations. Many couples will say, “Just be comfortable,” or “Wear whatever you’d like,” but you should still get as many details about their wedding as possible to determine what you will wear.

For example: Is the ceremony location indoor or outdoor? What will the weather be like? Is it a laid back, bohemian-feel event - or will there be chandeliers, tuxedos and cocktail dresses?

 ...(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.

 ...(continued)

Last week we reported that couples were suing counties in Virginia for requiring them to disclose their ethnicity in downright racist terms such as "Aryan," "Octoroon," "Quadroon" and "Mulatto."

Good news folks! The state’s Attorney General Mark Herring has announced that couples no longer have to disclose their race on their marriage application.

"These changes will ensure that no Virginian will be forced to label themselves in order to get married," Herring told local media. "I appreciate the courage these couples showed in raising this issue, and I wish them all the best in their lives together."...(continued)

When it comes time to plan the wedding, couples often want to include close friends and family members - sometimes even all of their guests - in the ceremony. Weddings are a communal event, and we want the shared experience to remain in the memories of our guests long after the wedding is over and our loved ones have parted ways. 

Here’s some ideas to help you include as many friends and family as possible in your big day!

The Family and Friends Blessing

The family and friends blessing is a small piece (reading) in which the officiant explains the importance of family and friends. After the reading, the officiant asks the guests whether they will support the couple as they begin this new chapter of their lives. It’s similar to the end of aisle question, but it’s answered in unison, allowing all guests to feel like they’re a significant part of the ceremony. ...(continued)