American Weddings Blog

In previous articles, we mentioned the need for good communication between the couple and their officiant, independent of whether the officiant is a professional or a friend or family member. We also mentioned that if your chosen officiant is performing a wedding ceremony for the first or second time, they should seek guidance. 

There’s a reason for that! 

Below, we recount some stories that folks have shared with us, to illustrate why strong communication, research, and preparation are so important. So, settle in, pour yourself a holiday cocktail, and let the drama unfold!

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With Donald Trump threatening to shut down the government if Democrats refuse to pay for his border wall (see update), several of our ministers have reached out to AMM with two important questions. Will AMM ministers still be able to perform marriages during a shut down? And, can the couple still file their marriage licenses?
  
We have good news for you -- unless you live in Washington DC. Since the licenses are issued by the state, and the shutdown will only affect federal agencies, ministers can still  perform the ceremonies and couples should have no trouble filing their marriage licenses. UPDATE:  D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has signed a bill that will allow her to grant marriage licenses and authorize officiants for 90 days. ...(continued)

What started out as a joke between two fans of AMC’s hit TV show "The Walking Dead" quickly turned into an unconventional and inspired wedding ceremony, replete with zombies, brains, and gallons of fake blood spilling down the aisle. 

“We had both been married before and done traditional ceremonies, so we wanted to do something completely different,” the groom told us. “Initially we joked about it but when we thought in more detail, we realised how it could be.”

Chris and Anabell on their wedding day, in full zombie makeup.

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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)

You know you are doing something right -- hopefully not wrong -- when the New York Times features you in a story, and that’s exactly what happened to American Marriage Ministries today! 

An article in the New York Times titled, “How to Officiate Your First Wedding (and Why You’d Want To)” by San Diego-based journalist Whitson Gordon told readers that, “You don’t need to go to seminary to officiate a wedding. In fact, depending on where you live, it may take only a few clicks of a mouse.”...(continued)