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 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 […]
How to officiate a wedding: 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 […]
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 […]
How to 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. […]
How to officiate a wedding: How to reduce your and your couple’s stress level 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 […]
How to officiate a wedding: 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 […]
How to officiate a wedding: 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 […]
Remember this scene from The Wedding Singer? The song starts at 1:35. Most people love Adam Sandler. His song lyrics work great to end a ceremony with because they’ll get everyone smiling and ready to celebrate. Nonreligious wedding readings: Adam Sandler in the Wedding Singer I wanna make you smile whenever you’re sad and carry you around […]
Can a friend or family member officiate your ceremony? 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? At the […]
How to officiate 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 you need […]
How to officiate a wedding: A few 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 […]
How to 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 […]
How to 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 […]
How to run a wedding rehearsal — WEDDING REHEARSAL GUIDE 1) Review the couple’s notes from your meeting. Make sure you’re aware of any deceased parents or divorced parents and potentially strained relationships. Every now and then someone is rude and it’s good to know that it’s because that person is stressed out due to […]
How to officiate a wedding: Newbie ordained minister mistakes When you’re new at anything it’s normal to make mistakes, but when you’re on the microphone in front of a crowd, avoiding the common pitfalls will help you stay comfortable and do a good job for your couple. *Avoid this newbie mistake and check traffic conditions before leaving […]
What is a unity sand ceremony? Symbolism and metaphor are effective ways to dramatize any ceremony. Imagery helps to make a great wedding by starting a new tradition, creating a keepsake, or getting guests involved. Using imagery also makes for excellent photos. Blending sand is a way for couples to symbolize two lives coming together […]
How to officiate a wedding ceremony they’ll remember Many friends who’ve gotten ordained online have reached out for help, having no idea where to start with ceremony planning. They need guidance and fast! So, I lead them through my process. The main elements of a contemporary wedding ceremony are: 1) Welcoming Guests (thank everyone for […]
Nonreligious vs. Nondenominational wedding ceremonies How is a non religious wedding ceremony different from a nondenominational wedding ceremony? It’s a question that I’m asked every now and then. Nondenominational still implies that the ceremony is Christian in some way, without adhering to a particular sect of Christianity. There are many sects, with 30 or so main denominations. […]
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