American Weddings Blog

Most first-time wedding officiants find themselves asking, "what pieces or parts are necessary in a wedding ceremony, and what else can be added to make the ceremony special?"  

You’ve probably seen hundreds of wedding ceremonies by now -- both in the real world and on television -- including some that you remember years later. 

What’s the secret? 

Well, there isn’t a “secret” because every couple is different, and their ceremony needs to be approached with fresh eyes. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a formula though. Don’t worry, we’ve got it down to a science, so here’s what you need to know to start with, and we’ll be with you right up to the ceremony: ...(continued)

...the officiant? The bride? The groom?

Siri?

Short answer: it depends. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to who should write the wedding ceremony. Every couple, every situation, and every ceremony is different.  Since we’re particularly close to the officiating side of the wedding world, we used to assume that the ceremony was almost always written by the friend or family member who was being asked to perform the ceremony: the officiant. 

However, what we have found over the years is that the couple often wants to write their own ceremony....(continued)

We hear all of the time that one of the main reasons couples ask their friend or family member to perform their wedding ceremony is because they want the ceremony to be personal. And many couples figure that no one can make their ceremony more personal than a good friend or a close family member who knows their story best.

In many instances this is true, however, some couples and their officiants still find it hard to get that “personalized” feel when they sit down and start writing the wedding ceremony. Here are some pointers for finding the elements of a ceremony that will make it yours:

...(continued)