How To Write Your Own Ceremony
There are many details to consider when it comes to creating a wedding ceremony that truly represents who you and your partner are — both individually and as a couple. As wedding planners, a frequently asked question we get is, “how do I format my ceremony?” If you’ve hired a professional officiant or are planning to wed in a church, you will likely receive their professional guidance. However, if you’ve recruited a friend or family member you may need some pointers! Whether you are looking to stick with a specific cultural or religious format, or experiment with something completely unconventional, here are some tips to customize your ceremony.
Traditional Formats
Familiarizing yourself with a “traditional” wedding format is a great way to start the process of understanding how you want your ceremony to flow. Although elements can always be rearranged, tweaked, or substituted to include specific cultural celebrations, a wedding ceremony will typically include the following:
Processional
Welcoming
Reading (s)
Homily/sermon (talk about marriage, tell stories, etc)
Exchange of vows
Exchange of rings
Unity Ceremony
Pronouncement of marriage
Kiss + Recessional
Readings
One of the best ways to creatively customize your ceremony is to find readings that speak to you as a couple. From rap lyrics to movie quotes, to inside jokes, we’ve seen it all and we love how expressive this element can be for each couple! Here are some of our Bridal Bliss staff favorites—be sure to reach out to your planner for more options if none of these fit the bill:
Becoming Ordained
Are you looking to ask a family member or friend to become an ordained minister for your wedding? Check out Universal Life Church, a non-denominational religious organization which grants all the rights and privileges afforded to clergy members of other faiths – including the ability to perform legal wedding ceremonies!
Unity Celebrations
Unity ceremonies are a meaningful way for family members to participate in your ceremony and demonstrate two families joining together as one. A unity ritual is certainly not a required element of your ceremony but can be yet another way to creatively showcase your personalities, honor a religious tradition, or celebrate a family heritage.
Sand Rituals - Two people take sand from their individual vessels and combine the grains into one. The act represents the joining of two individuals and the creation of a new union and family.
Candle Lighting - The unity candle is lit by the bride and groom from two separate family candles, representing the union of your families and creating a family of your own.
Wine/Beer Pouring - Similar to the Sand Ritual, the bride and groom will take their respective beverage and poor them into a single glass they will both drink out of.
Wine Box Ceremony - A non-religious wedding ritual in which a bottle of wine is enclosed in a box so that it can be opened by a couple at a later date. Some couples opt to add an extra layer of meaning by including love letters to each other and sealing them in the box alongside the wine.
Handfasting - An ancient Celtic ritual in which the couple embraces and their hands are tied together to symbolize the new binding of their two lives.
Paint Blending - A creative alternative that lets the couple celebrate their unity ceremony in an artistic way by mixing two colors on a blank canvas to symbolize their new union.
Braiding of the Cross - Also known as the cord of three strands ceremony, this symbolizing the tie between God, the newlyweds, braiding of the cross allows the couple to . Typically a verse from Ecclesiastes 4:12 will be read as the couple takes part in this ceremony.
The Recessional
Once you’ve tied the knot and sealed it with a kiss, it’s officially time to celebrate! Adding a special recessional can be a fun ending to your ceremony. From confetti, to dried herbs, to flower petals, to bubbles, to streamers and sparklers — there are so many options to make your final walk down the aisle that much more memorable!
