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.

Have you recently been asked the question, "Will you officiate our wedding?" You aren't alone! According to the most recent, "The Knot Real Weddings Study," nearly 50% of the 2.2 million weddings that take place in the United States each year are officiated by a friend or family member.First-time Officiant is the must-have, comprehensive handbook for how you can prepare for, craft, and preside over a memorable non-denominational ceremony with no prior experience. The author himself was recently in your shoes, having been asked to officiate a wedding, and not knowing where to turn for more information.In addition to providing you with a tested, fail-proof wedding ceremony outline, this book includes three real-world examples of wedding ceremony scripts to give you the guidance and confidence to create a perfect day for those who have entrusted you with the role of officiant.

If you are performing your friend's or relative's wedding ceremony, there is so much that you just don't know. And certainly, many things can go wrong on this super important day. Take the advice given by a professional wedding officiant, who has performed hundreds of wedding ceremonies and knows the problems that can occur. This book will prepare you so you don't make the mistakes many beginners make and it will give you many tips that will ensure your first time officiating a wedding will be a success!

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!

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.

"The Wedding Officiant's Manual: A guide to Writing, Planning and Officiating Wedding Ceremonies" The Wedding Officiant's Manual is an essential guide for anyone who wants to create a wedding ceremony. Sunny Dawn Johnston, an Ordained Officiant with over a decade of experience, has written this book from the Officiants perspective. However, this manual can be used by brides, grooms and wedding consultants as well as ceremony Officiants. This guide contains fourteen complete ceremonies and a variety of vows, poems, prayers, blessings and wedding traditions. There are also several special tips that only a seasoned pro would know. Johnston's goal is to offer you a variety of material that honors your unique beliefs, traditions and intentions. "The Wedding Officiant's Manual" takes the guesswork out of the ceremony creating process and gives you options galore, all in one handy book. Included is a Q&A form to make the entire experience from beginning to end as stress free as possible. This is the Ultimate guide for step-by-step instruction on creating the perfect ceremony.

Previous ed. entitled: Offbeat bride: taffeta-free alternatives for independent brides, 2007.