Wedding Ceremony for Your Friends
Your best friends have asked you to officiate at their wedding. You went to the Universal Life Church website, and you got ordained. That was the easy part. Suddenly, you realize you’ve never done anything like this and you have no idea what to say or do. Instead of panicking, take a moment and breathe. You’ve got this. We have dozens of resources that will help you take on the important position of the wedding officiant. You’re not alone.
The Script
One of the best resources we offer is a wedding script generator. It has traditional and contemporary options for many different faiths:
- Christian
- Buddhist
- Jewish
- Atheist/Agnostic
- Muslim
- Pagan/Wiccan
In addition, there are special ceremony options, such as jumping the broom, hand-fasting, or a sand ceremony. You can choose from different elements, from the wedding sermon to the greeting, to give you the words to say every step of the way. Once you and the couple have decided on which elements to include, enter the information into the simple form, click enter, then download a PDF file to print out and practice. Alternatively, the couple may want to write their own script. One problem solved.
Performing the Ceremony
Now, you’re thinking you don’t want to get up in front of all those people. Very few people don’t have some form of anxiety when public speaking, but you can overcome this too. First, remember that all eyes are going to be on the bride and groom (or the two grooms or two brides). You are part of the supporting cast. Authenticity on your part will certainly cover a number of jitters, but you’re going to be prepared.
Most public speakers only got more confident by practicing. Read the script out loud. Practice in front of a mirror or in front of someone else. You don’t need to memorize the entire script, but you should be familiar with it. When you’re actually officiating the wedding, you won’t be so dependent on the script. You can look up and make eye contact with the audience or the couple. Maybe you will even feel free enough to ad lib a line here or there.
Should the couple choose to write their own script, ask them to have it to you two to three weeks before the ceremony to give you time to prepare. Go through the script and highlight parts where others speak or the parts that are not spoken. Have a clean copy to read from on the day of the ceremony that fits into your folder or Bible. Number the pages if you decide to keep them loose.
As the officiant, you are a supporting cast member, but you should still consider your appearance. Get a haircut. Make sure your clothes are pressed and clean. Get a manicure. You want your hands to look good when you’re meeting guests or holding the bible. Looking good makes you feel confident, which lets you present yourself better when you’re in front of the wedding.
The Day of the Ceremony
The wedding day can be busy and exciting. Don’t try to run on caffeine and sugar. Stay hydrated and eat healthy to have energy for the ceremony. Focus on the positive and the event. The audience is your friend. You’ve prepared for the wedding. Be yourself. If you do make a mistake, don’t call too much attention to it. The audience may not even realize it. Keep moving forward. Your friends had confidence in you to be the officiant of their wedding. They wanted you to make the day special. You weren’t asked to be perfect, just to be part of their very special day. Relax. You can do it.
