Step 5 - Recite The Wedding Ceremony To Yourself

This will be your first round of editing.

As stated earlier, words feel different when recited as opposed to being read. There will likely be sentences in your ceremony that sound good on paper but feel awkward when spoken. This exercise is meant to identify and remedy those problem areas.

Find a quiet, private place and set some time aside to do nothing but read your ceremony out loud. Read through the ceremony a few times. Identify the pieces that feel awkward. Make the necessary changes and read the new version aloud. Do this as many times as it takes for you to feel good about how the words roll off your tongue.

Bonus Exercise: Find a trusted friend that is willing to listen to you recite the ceremony. Solicit their feedback on how the ceremony feels. They will be able to provide insights into parts that feel awkward, and they can give you pointers on your delivery.

We understand that this takes a lot of courage. It is crucial that you do this exercise with someone you trust enough to receive constructive criticism. If you find yourself taking things personally, take a step back and remind yourself why you are doing this. The ultimate goal is to craft the best ceremony possible.