Readers are given all the information they need to write and officiate a personalized and meaningful wedding ceremony, including: The meanings behind each traditional element of a wedding ceremony; A large collection of spiritual and non-spiritual wording examples; Several sample wedding and renewal ceremonies; A worksheet to help you easily compose your ceremony; Ideas for including extra personal touches; Clear information on who can legally perform your ceremony; Instructions for obtaining your marriage license; Steps to becoming ordained; Advice on selecting the right Officiant; Information on filing the paperwork to make your wedding legal.

Gravitas and fun get married within these pages, and we're all invited Certified lifecycle celebrant Christopher Shelley is on a mission to revolutionize the wedding ceremony—or at least to make it as enjoyable as the reception. In Best. Ceremony. Ever., he will forever alter the way couples and wedding pros think about tying the knot. Shelley, who has officiated hundreds of weddings, walks couples and officiants through working together, from setting the atmosphere to telling an unforgettable love story. He shares questions for the couple to ask themselves before meeting with their officiant, and offers a wedding vow workshop and complete sample ceremonies. Shelley cares about the guests as much as the couple getting married, and his friendly, entertaining guide is a treasure chest of ideas to make guests laugh, cry, and then laugh at how much they’re crying. From announcing the wedding (insert cliff-hanger) to selecting venues (consider breweries!) to choreographing processionals (dance party!) to explosive recessionals (balloon drop!), opportunities to surprise guests abound.

Bestselling Author, Dayna (Reid) Mason, walks you through all the steps needed to establish yourself as a reputable, well paid, and in-demand Officiant. Key information in this book includes: •Guidance on how to establish your business •Ideas for advertising your services •Advice on pricing your services and getting paid •Guidance for meeting with your clients •Instructions for conducting the rehearsal •Guidance on how to officiate the wedding ceremony •Steps to becoming ordained •Clear information on offering pre-marital counseling •Ideas for following up with couples after the ceremony

Say “I do” to tying the knot. “Officiant Lisa Francesca has literally written the book on how to plan the perfect ceremony.” —Martha Stewart Weddings According to a 2019 WeddingWire report based on data from more than 18,000 newlyweds, only twenty-five percent of weddings are taking place in religious institutions. More than one in three American weddings are being officiated by a friend or family member. With the officiating trend on the rise, novice officiants need a resource to guide them. In The Wedding Officiant’s Guide, interfaith minister Lisa Francesca breaks down the entire officiating process, from becoming an ordained officiant and interviewing the couple to drafting and performing a moving ceremony. Written in an engaging and friendly tone, and featuring empowering advice, suggested readings, stories and lessons learned from new officiants, and practical tips from wedding planners, this inviting handbook will help new officiants write and deliver a wedding ceremony that fulfills marriage laws, delights guests, and honors the marrying couple.

A companion to the popular website APracticalWedding.com and A Practical Wedding Planner, A Practical Wedding helps you sort through the basics to create the wedding you want -- without going broke or crazy in the process. After all, what really matters on your wedding day is not so much how it looked as how it felt. In this refreshing guide, expert Meg Keene shares her secrets to planning a beautiful celebration that reflects your taste and your relationship. You'll discover: The real purpose of engagement (hint: it's not just about the planning) How to pinpoint what matters most to you and your partner DIY-ing your wedding: brilliant or crazy? How to communicate decisions to your family Why that color-coded spreadsheet is actually worth it Wedding Zen can be yours. Meg walks you through everything from choosing a venue to writing vows, complete with stories and advice from women who have been in the trenches: the Team Practical brides. So here's to the joyful wedding, the sensible wedding, the unbelievably fun wedding! A Practical Wedding is your complete guide to getting married with grace.

Wedding Sermons and Marriage Ceremonies by Derl Keefer is a book on wedding sermons and wedding homilies. Topics covered in this book include: - wedding sermons - christian wedding sermons - protestant wedding sermons - wedding homilies Marriage ceremonies don't have to fall into a routine of just doing and saying the same old things. This creative resource provides pastors with several unique marriage liturgies, including ceremonies for a traditional wedding, a wedding of an older couple, a second marriage with children, a marriage combined with communion, and more. They're guaranteed to put meaning into one of the most important days of a couple's life. This is a wonderful resource for those who want to be sensitive to the needs of couples from all backgrounds. Tom Barnard, Vice President Eastern Nazarene College Quincy, Massachusetts This collection also contains 14 five-minute wedding homilies which addresses a variety of situations. Blending images from scripture and the practical realities of modern life, these succinct messages reveal the connection between faith in God and the promises of marriage. Included are meditations for a marriage when both parties have been divorced; a widowed, mature couple; a wedding in an outdoor setting; a formal wedding; and the marriage of a couple with a baby...and more! Derl Keefer is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University (B.A.) and Nazarene Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and is senior pastor of Three Rivers Church of the Nazarene in Three Rivers, Michigan. His sermons and articles have appeared in numerous clergy publications, and Keefer leads workshops and seminars on preaching and Sunday School ministry. Cheryl Rohret graduated summa cum laude from Sterling College (B.A.) prior to earning the M.Div. degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She has served as pastor of churches in Iowa and Washington, and currently spends her time writing, preaching, and leading retreats. Wedding Sermons and Marriage Ceremonies by Derl Keefer is a book on wedding sermons and wedding homilies. Topics covered in this book include: wedding sermons, christian wedding sermons, protestant wedding sermons, and wedding homilies.

To officiate a wedding ceremony for a couple you know and love is one of life's great honors and delights.When your couple invited you to conduct their ceremony, you felt flattered and excited. Then, a little later, chances are you began to wonder - what did I get myself into? How do I conduct a wedding ceremony? HOW TO OFFICIATE A NON-DENOMINATIONAL WEDDING CEREMONY guides you through every step of the process for writing and delivering a personalized ceremony that is traditional enough in structure to make guests comfortable, yet contemporary in word and substance. Topics include: -How to personalize the various moments in a ceremony -How to involve guests and the wedding party-How to incorporate cultural traditions-How to introduce and segue various segments-How to organize for flow and energy -How to speak with confidence Bonus Sections include information on: -Vows-Rings-Unity Rituals-Blessings-"Non-blessings" - Readings and inspiration-Essential prep and day-of checklistsThis Revised Edition includes: NEW Bonus Sections!New Bonus #1: Interviews with first-time officiants who share their perspectives on the experience. New Bonus #2: A "before and after" ceremony script from a first time officiant I coached. New Bonus #3: Tips on how to personalize a ceremony incorporating Family + FriendsNew Bonus #5: 20 Things you need to keep in mind as you prep for your ceremonyNew Bonus #6: How to answer "The" question couples most often askYour couple invited you to officiate their ceremony because they want something that is uniquely theirs and not clichéd drivel from some unknown officiant. The ceremony is your gift to the couple and in this book I going show you how to give them a gift that will be a touchstone for their life together!