Lots of couples are opting to have a friend or relative be their wedding officiant. You may have to draft the bulk of the script yourself, as a couple. if you have a friend who graciously accepted your request to legally marry you, you can’t expect this friend of yours to write the script in it’s entirety! This job is collaborative. A Basic Non-Denominational Outline: Processional Opening Words / Introduction / Welcome ‘Who gives away?’ or ‘We Do’s’ from the guests Reading - definition of marriage, thoughts on love Personal anecdotes - let the guests know a little about each of you, and your journey as a couple Vows - I Do’s. These can be spoken by the officiant and repeated by you both, or you can both just answer ‘I Do’ to the officiant’s prompts, or you can write your own vows and read them to each other Second Reading - maybe by a guest Rings Exchange Closing by Officiant - sanctity of marriage Declaration of Marriage - “I know pronounce you Wife and Wife” Kiss! Recessional Link The Spruce The Everything Wedding Vows Book Final Tip: Don’t wait until the last minute to work on your ceremony script. And make sure you rehearse your personal vows a few times before the big day. It’s emotional, you want to be able to get through them authentically, but clearly! Also, we highly recommend a rehearsal! Get In Touch Let us know if you have any questions you need answered on the show or if you want to share your own wedding planning experiences! TWITTER: @TBWPpodcast EMAIL: thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com