This article was originally published as a guest post for Honeyfund. Weddings are amazing milestones in life, but ceremonies can be boring and sometimes guests are just waiting for the reception. Fortunately, I’ve got a few memorable wedding unity ceremony ideas to share, so that your couples’ are meaningful and stand out. Incorporating symbolism and imagery …
Ready to become an ordained minister? Around half the ceremonies in my town are officiated by people who get ordained online. As of this writing online ordination is legal in 47 states, so thousands of people want to know how to get ordained to perform weddings. You can read more about the states that allow …
How to officiate a wedding: What to do when someone faints or throws up I’ve officiated weddings for ten years as of this writing, and only within the last year have I experienced people throwing up or fainting during the ceremony. In the audio clip below, the bride came down the aisle with her mom …
What if you and your couple disagree on parts of the ceremony? Fortunately, this doesn’t happen to me all that often. You’ve been asked to officiate a wedding, but at the end of the day, it’s their ceremony and should be the way your couple wants it. It’s a presentation of their truth, not yours or …
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Wedding Imagery: Breaking the Glass Jewish weddings can be really fun, from carrying the bride on a chair and dancing the Horah, or toasting wine during the ceremony, to stomping the glass and yelling, “Mazel tov!” Here’s what I normally say when a couple wants to honor Jewish wedding traditions and break the glass, “Bride and …
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Officiate A Wedding: The ceremony is too long. We need more time for photos! One of the most common challenges officiants face is the setting sun. Many couples choose not to see each other on their wedding day until the bride is coming down the aisle, so they’ve not taken any photos together. Photographers are …
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How to reduce wedding Couples stress? One of the most frustrating things I face is a couple who doesn’t meet the deadlines I give them. They’re getting married because they’re grownups and grownups can be asked to meet deadlines. Your sanity and stress level matters too! You want to bring your A-game and it’s a team …
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Wedding ceremony samples: Nonreligious wedding readings – Never Stop by Safetysuit One of my couples came to me with lyrics from this song, wanting to use them as one of their readings, which isn’t uncommon. I’ve read lyrics from a Jack Johnson song and even from a metal band called, Avenged Sevenfold. Ask your couple …
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How to manage unexpected noise and distractions You’ve rehearsed and practiced your ceremony, but are you prepared for unexpected noises and distractions? I rehearse every ceremony many times so I’m able to look up from the page and speak to the couple. My discipline has paid off many times over because unwanted distractions happen. The …
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What to do when wedding participants aren’t prepared Many couples choose ceremony elements that include their guests, like the wine box, letter box, unity candle, guest readings, etc. and often times those guests aren’t prepared. Most of the time it’s because the couple forgot to tell them, so I’m always sure to introduce myself to …
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Non-religious wedding readings — Adam Sandler from The Wedding Singer Not every couple is religious, so it’s a good thing there are plenty of non-religious wedding readings to choose from. Robert Fulghum wrote one of my favorites, called Union and Taylor Mali has another one of my favorites called, How Falling In Love Is Like Owning …
Can anyone officiate a wedding ceremony like a friend or family member? Yes, in 47 of our 50 states. Online ordinations are widely recognized, with Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee being notable holdouts. Check your local laws here. Some states require your ordination credential to be filed, so be sure to check with your county. What about other countries? …
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What makes a great officiating a wedding? Here’s how you’ll be judged by vendors and guests Nonverbal communication is perhaps the most important kind of communication. Studies have consistently shown that audience ratings of a lecture are more strongly influenced by delivery style than by content. I’d love to tell you that my ceremony material is all …
How to officiate a wedding: A few pro tips while at the ceremony One of the reasons I’m blessed to be busy is that I make things as easy as possible for everyone I work with, vendors, couples and their families. If you want to know how to officiate a wedding, here are a few easy tricks …
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Officiate a wedding: Want other wedding vendors to be really nice to you? Roughly half the weddings here in Scottsdale are officiated by friends or family and their rookie mistakes can be annoying for full-time wedding professionals. Here are a few easy things you can do so that your experience officiating a wedding is even more positive: 1) Write …
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Officiate a wedding: Dealing with uncomfortable family dynamics My parents got divorced in 1981, when I was only six years old and they still don’t really get along. They often make the room uncomfortable because everyone can pick up on one’s distaste for the other and that’s not cool at all. Unfortunately, the same thing sometimes happens at rehearsals and weddings. …
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