Step by Step Guide to Creating a Wedding Ceremony for Officiants!

Congratulations! Your BFF (or family member) has agreed to be the officiant at your wedding. This may be their first time, and neither of you have any idea where to start or how to get officiated. Of course you can hire a professional officiant, but having a fun, charismatic loved one lead the ceremony on your big day can really add a special touch.

As wedding planners based in Chicago and Miami, the Fierce Productions team loves to see friends and family officiate their loved ones’ weddings, so we created a step by step guide on how to get ordained and plan out a ceremony:

Step One: Become A Licensed Minister

Getting ordained is the easiest part of the entire process - and it’s FREE! All you have to get ordained is to go to the Universal Life Church and follow the prompts. It only takes about 5 minutes! Later on in this guide, we’ll discuss how to prove you’re an officiant on the wedding license.

Step Two: Consider the Ceremony Theme & Vibe

Once you’re licensed, it’s time to sit down with the couple and find out what their vision is for the ceremony. Schedule a time to make this happen. Put together a checklist before the meeting so you are prepped and ready to go. Wedding planning is super stressful so the more you can do to support the couple - the better! Asking them to create a wedding script themselves is NOT helpful. You are the person who is marrying your friends and with this comes great responsibility!

Here is a great wedding ceremony planning checklist you can use for your first meeting with the couple:

• Do you want to have a traditional or non-traditional ceremony? Do you want to make up your own traditions or follow ones that have been done many times? Ie. Father walking the bride down the aisle.

• How do you feel about gender roles when it comes to the wedding ceremony?

• Do you have a wedding party? Are they going to stand during the ceremony with you?

• Are there any wedding traditions or customs from your culture you want to incorporate?

• Would you like to have any readings? Poems? Songs?

• How did the two of you meet?

• What are your favorite memories from your relationship?

• Is there anything you want me to make sure that I say?

• Who would you like to walk you down the aisle?

Step Three: Build the Ceremony Timeline

A standard wedding ceremony usually features the following elements and lasts around 30 minutes or less beginning to end:

• Wedding Party Processional

• Couple’s Processional

• Introduction / Welcome

• Readings

• Exchanging vows

• Exchanging rings

• Pronouncement / First Kiss

• Final Remarks

• Recessional

As you build the timeline you can incorporate the input from your initial meeting with the couple, considering any meaningful words they’d like you to share. In addition to quotes, poems or special memories, there may be musical performances or multimedia elements to include as well.

Step Four: The Wedding Ceremony Music

The couple’s DJ or band will handle most of this for you. They will include pre-ceremony music, music for the ceremony itself, and the music post-ceremony. However, if the couple wants to have music during the ceremony (or host a sing-along to a Beatles classic like one of the couples we worked with at Cheney Mansion did), you can help them spark ideas!

Step Five: The Logistics

Before the big day, make sure to get in touch with the wedding planner or wedding coordinator, so you know what to expect in terms of timing and logistics. Don’t rely on the couple to figure it out by themselves. (And if they don’t have a wedding planner or coordinator - suggest that they consider one! It will save them time, money and stress.)

Here is a wedding planning checklist that will prepare you for the logistics of the ceremony.

• When and where is the ceremony rehearsal?

• What time and where is the ceremony?

• What time are guests arriving?

• What is your guest count?

• What kind of microphone will be available?

• Will I have a podium?

• Would you like me to provide a notebook or am I using something that you are providing?

• What is parking / transportation like?

Some Frequently Asked Questions about Wedding Ceremony Planning

Should I rehearse my wedding ceremony?

YES! It is SO important to rehearse the wedding ceremony. Don’t skip this step. Even if the couple doesn’t think you need one make sure to have one. The rehearsal is an opportunity for the wedding party and family to get on the same page about where they need to be and when on the wedding day. You would be surprised how messy a ceremony can look if it isn’t rehearsed properly! There is blocking to consider - like where should the wedding party stand? How should they process? What time? Who will cue them? (Here is another reason why a wedding planner is essential by the way. We help coordinate all of this!)

PS: If you can’t rehearse at the wedding venue, consider the couple’s hotel or rehearsal dinner location. If they don’t have a wedding planner, you can always call the hotel and ask if they have a large conference room you can use the day before the wedding or the restaurant. Many hotels and restaurants are used to this request.

Should I write my own wedding vows?

Yes! Encouraging your couple to write and recite their own vows is so important! Vows are an opportunity for the couple to express themselves, and for their guests to get an idea of who they are and why they’re in love.

How long should the ceremony be?

In short—as long or as short as the couple desires. Typically it lasts about 30 minutes or less, but it depends on how many special moments the couple wants to add. We recommend not having it last longer than an hour because guests could potentially get a bit antsy, but remember—it’s the couple’s day!

What do I do after the ceremony?

A major thing the officiant must do after the ceremony is sign the bottom of the marriage license. It is the couple’s responsibility to pick one up from the Clerk’s office. If the couple doesn’t have a planner, it would be a good courtesy to remind them to get one. It is typically then the officiant’s responsibility to drop it off, or mail it back to the Clerk’s office. The couple can then receive their marriage certificate.