Blog - Matt's Wedding Ceremonies

How to get ordained to perform weddings and become a wedding officiant

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Around half the weddings in my town are officiated by people who get ordained online. As of this writing, online ordination is legal in 47 states. You can read more about it here. Not every couple is on the spiritual path or practices a specific religion, so ordaining a close friend or family member to […]

How to officiate a wedding: What to do when someone faints or throws up

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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?

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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: Jewish Wedding Traditions-Break the Glass

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Wedding Imagery: Jewish Wedding Traditions-Break 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, “Mozel tov!” Here’s what I normally say when a couple wants to honor Jewish wedding traditions and break the […]

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How to officiate a wedding: The ceremony is too long. We need more time for photos!

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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

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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 […]

Wedding ceremony samples: Nonreligious wedding readings – Never Stop by Safetysuit

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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 [...]

How to officiate a wedding: How to manage unexpected noise and distractions

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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 […]

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How to officiate a wedding: What to do when wedding participants aren’t prepared

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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 […]

Wedding ceremony samples: Non religious wedding readings — Adam Sandler from The Wedding Singer

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Wedding ceremony samples: Non-religious wedding readings — Adam Sandler from The Wedding Singer 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 […]

Who can officiate a wedding? Can anyone officiate a wedding?

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Who can officiate a wedding? Can anyone officiate a wedding? 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 […]

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How to officiate a wedding: Here’s how wedding guests will judge you

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How to officiate a wedding: Here’s how wedding guests will judge you 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 to do […]

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How to officiate a wedding: A few tips while at the ceremony

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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 […]

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How to officiate a wedding: Want other wedding vendors to be really nice to you?

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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

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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

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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 […]

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How to officiate a wedding: Newbie ordained minister mistakes

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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 […]

How to officiate a wedding: What is a sand ceremony?

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How to officiate a wedding: What is a 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. I usually say…. “Bride and Groom have chosen to commemorate […]

How to officiate a wedding

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How to officiate a wedding Many friends who’ve gotten ordained online have asked me how to officiate a wedding and I lead them through my process. The main elements of a contemporary ceremony are: 1) Welcoming Guests (thank everyone for coming and let them know how important they are) 2) Opening Commentary (speak to the couple […]

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Nonreligious wedding ceremony vs. Nondenominational wedding ceremony

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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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