Whether you’ve copied and pasted one from the depths of the internet, or you’ve written it out and made it totally custom, at the end of the day you're going to have a ceremony script. What does a custom ceremony script entail, how do you write one and where do you start? These are all great questions that I hope to answer throughout the course of this blog post! So buckle up, we’re going on a trip!

Tip #1: Start at the beginning

Like most couples who have looked at creating a custom ceremony script, you are probably confused as to what exactly this script is and where you should start! A ceremony script is basically an order of events for the ceremony. It includes the processional, welcome, addresses, vows and all the other items you usually hear and see during a ceremony. So, let’s say you want to make a custom ceremony script, where do you start? I’d recommend you start at the same place as everyone, the beginning. Grab a pre-made ceremony script off the internet and get to work!

Tip #2: Decide what type of ceremony script you want to have

This will come as no surprise, there are different types of ceremony scripts. Generally, there are two main options, a traditional script and a modern script. The great thing is that you can base your ceremony off either! You just need to examine both and decide which one fits your style best! Once you’ve decided which path, you’d like to follow you can really start to tear it apart and piece it back together in whatever way you desire!

Tip #3: Decide on duration 

Yes, this part is really up to you, and it will affect the last two points on this list. A wedding ceremony will go for as long as the ceremony script runs. With that in mind, think about you and your guests. How long do you want to be standing and reminiscing about memories or telling stories from the past? There’s no issue with having a longer ceremony if you want one, just be aware that people can get fidgety after sitting still for a while. Not to mention both of you and your parties and the officiant will be standing for as long as the ceremony lasts with little to no moving around. Most ceremonies last between 25-30 minutes so that’s probably a good time frame to shoot for!

Tip #4: Share a story or favorite memory

With the previous point taken into account, I’d encourage you to make the ceremony your own. Maybe you want to share a particularly funny story about the two of you when you were dating. Maybe your officiant has a memory of the two of you that they wish to share. Whatever the situation may be, the ceremony will feel so much more personalized with a little trip down memory lane. That said, you may not have a lot of time for a long story and truth be told, it might already be hard enough to get just the necessary words out during this special moment. If you do decide on a story or memory my advice would be to keep it short and sweet!

Tip #5: Include a non-traditional union event

Another great way, time permitting, to make the ceremony your own would be to include a non-traditional union event. Most religious couples will have communion before the end of the ceremony, however there are some other ways to symbolize your communion to each other and to your God. One of my past couples incorporated assembling a unity cross along with communion to show their commitment to each other and their God before their guests! It was a cool thing to watch and not something you see at most weddings! Plus, they had a beautiful icon to display in their home after the wedding!

I hope you found these tips helpful. There are tons of other tips for creating a custom ceremony script that I didn’t have the chance to include in this blog post! Seriously, the best place to find ideas and scripts to deconstruct is on the internet. So, get out there and take a look around! Make your ceremony something truly unique to you and your spouse!