Step 3 - Write Your First Draft

By this point you should have everything you need to start writing the ceremony. If you want more details and options, check out our revised version of Asked to Officiate, the AMM's comprehensive guide to planning and executing marriage ceremonies. Also check out our 9 page guide to Writing a Wedding Ceremony. Following the list below ensures that you cover all your bases.

The two biggest challenges for most writers are procrastination and distraction. In order to set yourself up for success we recommend that you:

Block out the Time

Set your timer for an hour. Sit down and tell yourself that you will dedicate yourself to this task for the next hour. Do not allow yourself to get distracted with another task until that hour is up. It may not even take an hour to write the ceremony, but be deliberate about setting aside the time.

Mitigate Distractions

Having your focus broken can really slow down the writing process. Chances are you will be writing your ceremony on a computer, possibly within a web browser. As great as computers are, their multifunctionality means that distractions are just a click away. We recommend that you do the following to avoid common pitfalls:

1. Put your phone away
   Do not answer calls, do not respond to texts, do not snapchat. Unless it is truly an emergency, it can wait. Your phone can be your worst enemy when it comes to focusing on your writing.
2. Find a distraction free space
   This is different for everybody. Maybe it is your local coffee shop, or your back patio. Do not write on the couch in front of the TV with Netflix on, that is not going to cut it.

Register your Wedding - Weddings logged in your AMM minister account include a personalized ceremony. This helps you kick start the writing process as you already have a foundation. You can copy and paste the ceremony from our website, and then work on it using your software of choice.