The Marry Me In Indy Formal Wedding Ceremony Guide.
This is why I became a wedding officiant. I want to give couples the opportunity to choose their wedding ceremony script. What words describe you and your relationship? What do you want the tone of your wedding ceremony to be?
I have collected countless options for wedding ceremonies. Sometimes, there are too many options! If you just want me to come and perform a ceremony, I can ask you a few questions and perform a ceremony appropriate for you.
We never ask anyone to "obey. " We don't ask, "If anyone can show just cause as to why these two should not be married speak now or forever hold your peace." We don't assume you need to be "given in marriage." We can say these things if you request them.
The only thing required in a wedding ceremony is for you to say, "I do!" Everything else is up to you!
Photo taken at the pergola at Balmoral House by Casey and Her Camera.
What kind of wedding ceremony do you want?
I want you to understand that you have options.
Your wedding and be short and sweet.
It's not the length of your ceremony, it's the words you say that count.
You can have a fun wedding ceremony!
Your wedding ceremony can be light-hearted and express your personality.
You can have the traditional ceremony you've always dreamed of.
If there is a way you have always envisioned your wedding ceremony, we can create that. We can bring your fantasy to life.
We can find a happy medium for everyone.
I became a wedding officiant to help you create a ceremony that makes you, and everyone in your family happy. We can bring together different traditions and beliefs in a way that is beautiful, honoring everyone from the most religious guest to the least religious.
If we perform a truly beautiful ceremony, most people will not notice what we did, or did not say. The goal to have everyone walk away thinking, 'That was a great ceremony! Let's celebrate!"
How To Use This Guide.
Choose a Package
When couples ask about prices, the price depends on the package you choose.
I used to personalize every ceremony for every couple. I would ask questions, provide options based on answers to those questions, and we'd create a ceremony.
After a while, I'd created a lot of ceremonies and gathered many options.
At some point, I came up with a perfect template for a ceremony with option you could plug in to each part - different readings, vows, ring exchanges, etc...
It didn't take long for most couples to just choose the template as it was. They liked that ceremony and saw no reason to change it.
It was at that time I decided to offer the pre-written ceremony for one price and a personalized ceremony for a higher price. Couples LOVED IT! And they still do.
Prices are for the ceremony only. Rehearsals are an additional $150
$250 Formal Wedding Ceremony
My basic $250 Formal Wedding Ceremony Package has 10 pre-written ceremony scripts to choose from.
I've broken them down into Traditional, romantic, Christian, Christian-lite, Jewish themed, handfasting, and Secular Humanist. There is something for just about everyone. You can find a ceremony with a tone that fits you as a couple.
I still offer many options for each "part" of a ceremony so you can still personalize your ceremony if you want. You might like the traditional ceremony but want a different reading or ring exchange. You may choose to remove parts of a ceremony or add something.
You are welcome to choose a ceremony as it is or make these minor changes.
A couple might say, "We like Ceremony #3 but we prefer vow option #6, we want to add the reading "Union." and perform a Whiskey Blending Ceremony - or a unity candle.
This can be so much fun for many couples!!
$350 Formal Wedding Ceremony
The $350 package is for couples who want a more personalized ceremony.
Personalizing a ceremony is a group effort. I can only personalize a ceremony for you if you share more information with me. For some couples, that means writing their love story into the ceremony. How you met, and the journey that brought you to your wedding day.
Some couples don't want to share their story, they just want a ceremony that expresses more of who they are.
When you book this option I will ask you questions about you and your relationship and what you would and would not like in your ceremony. I'll ask you to read through the ceremonies to find the tone you want. I'll ask you to point out things you like, and we will build from there. I'll do the research to find more options to choose from and write original parts of the ceremony. This may include a unique unity ceremony.
If you want to write your own ceremony and have me perform it, this is the option for you.
Some couples want to write their own ceremony and create something new.
I had a couple last season use Chatgpt to completely re-write some of my pre-written ceremonies. It was something I don't think I'd ever have created on my own, but it was exactly what the bride wanted and that's what we gave her! Well, almost - there was one part I had to change, because she was asking her guests a question and I didn't think they'd understand me the way it was written so I tweaked it just a little bit to be able to get the response she wanted. AI still needs the human touch!!
How Do We do This?
I use Goolge Documents. When you book a wedding with me I will sent you a wedding ceremony document set to edit. You can make all the changes on the document itself. You can cut and paste directly into the document or you can use the comment function.
Below is what your ceremony document will look like. I'll send you a link to a document basically filled with links. It explains everything.
We can both literally be on the same page at the same time. We can be on a phone or zoom call and edit your ceremony together in real time.
On the day of your wedding, I bring your document up on my tablet. My iPad has a leather cover that looks like a book.
Start with reading a ceremony.
Many people really don't know where to begin. When I sit down with a couple and ask if they have any questions, it is not uncommon for them to not really have enough information to know what questions to ask. I think it helps so much to just read a ceremony.
Most people have seen a wedding on TV or in a movie and most people have been to a wedding. It's pretty to easy to get lost in the process of figuring out how to take what you've seen and create your own. It can get lost in translation.
I think one of the first things to start with, is finding your tone. What's the vibe of your wedding? What do you want your ceremony to feel like? Romance? Poetry? Traditional - whatever that means to you, Do you want a Christian ceremony? A basically non-religious ceremony with a prayer? Do you want Jewish elements? How about a handfasting?
If you are a reader, and want to scroll through all the ceremony information at once, click on the first link below. It will take to a page that will start from the sample document above, through all 10 ceremonies. It's in blog form, each ceremony is an article. Then, I have an article explaining each part of a ceremony, then more articles with examples of each part of a ceremony. The articles are all linked so you can find your way around.
If you just don't have time for that, or really aren't interested. No worries! I have pre-written ceremonies to fit just about any couple. This page breaks everything down with short explanations and quick links to help you to get what your are looking for faster.
This can be such a fun experience! I recommend every couple be in the mood. A cold winter day can be great for this!
If you are in a hurry, read Formal Wedding Ceremony #2 and #3. #3 is the most popular. #2 is the most traditional and the best template to use to create your own ceremony.
Make your ceremony your own.
Once you have read a ceremony and have gotten a feel for it, you may want to tweak it a bit. Each ceremony has basically the same parts. There are different options for each part, and you don't have to include each possible part.
You can pick and choose what you want in your ceremony. Technically, all you have to say is, "I do!" But, it is nice to welcome your guests and say a few words along the way! The words you choose can help to express you!
This part is a rabbit hole you can go down and get lost. Below, are all the parts of the ceremony. I have an article that explains each part, or you can just jump to a part. There is an explanation on each page with examples of each. You can cut and paste them into your document.
The possibilites are endless. Below, is my curated collection of options, If you are looking for more, let me know, I have another collection of options I used to personalize ceremonies. Putting them all in one place is a little much,
Diversity Statement
I am open to marrying any couple. It is my goal to meet each couple where they are and help them to have a positive wedding experience. In order to meet you where you are, I approach every wedding with an open mind - I don’t know anything about you until you tell me and that’s only if you choose to tell me. Wedding ceremony scripts have been written for years for brides and grooms. Now, bride and bride or groom and groom are very common. Some couples are choosing to forego traditional gender roles altogether and are using the terms spouse or partner. If you have made the choice to use non-traditional pronouns, please let me know, and I will be happy to honor your preferences. Any wedding ceremony script can be changed to reflect those personal preferences.