How to Write an (AWESOME) Wedding Ceremony Script

Hey friends 👋🏼 I'm Jeff, a Canadian-based wedding officiant 🇨🇦 I've officiated over 1,500 ceremonies across Canada (and some in Europe) and I want to help you be an awesome officiant who delivers an incredible ceremony (because boring ceremonies are the wooorst, right?!).

In this video, I'll show you the 9 steps I use to write a wedding ceremony! And if you want my most up-to-date script, scroll down and check out my Deliver Better Ceremonies course where I have ALL of it available!

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Here are two videos I'd check out next:
5 Key photos you're going to want to get the HECK out of!

🚀 One more thing: if you're looking for my full, UPDATED FOR 2024 ceremony script, I've got the entire thing available in my course Deliver Better Ceremonies, plus hours of content outlining my exact process to write and deliver personalized and hilarious wedding ceremonies.

Check it out ⬇️

FOLLOW ME
📸 Instagram: @heyjeffmaeck

⌚️Timestamps:
0.00 Intro
0:30 Start with the end in mind
1:32 My style of ceremony
2:43 Let's get started
3:27 Formal seating
4:41 Step 1: Vibe Setting Announcement
5:36 Why start with this announcement
6:21 Step 2: Processional
8:19 Final checks and getting started
9:01 Step 3: Sharing the couples Love Story
11:55 Adding a Reading to your wedding ceremony
12:46 Tips for choosing the person to share a reading in your wedding ceremony
14:27 Personalizing a wedding ceremony
16:40 Recap so far
18:10 Step 4: Writing and Sharing Vows
20:23 Step 5: Ring Exchange
21:20 Step 6: Signing the Marriage Licence
23:18 Step 7: Announcement
24:28 Step 8: Declaration, Kiss and Presentation
27:09 Step 9: Recessional
28:11 Wrapping Up

[KanethCroal-llys]

Hey Jef.
I'm Thamsanqa from South Africa. Will be officiating a wedding for the first time this Saturday the 28th of December 2024.

You vedios have been of great help. Thanks a lot my brother. Gid bless you tons

[anthonyzamora]

Hi Jeff,

I just officiated my friends’ wedding and it was my first time doing that. Your video was extremely helpful in helping me prepare and practice. It was a slam dunk and so many people throughout the night were like have you done that before and OMG you were amazing. Many thanks to you!

[this_is_MyHandleNow]

I'm officiating my first/last weeding in about a week. I gotta say, you're a life saver. I will steal a line or 2 if you don't mind. For a moment, I was trying to scroll down to the bottom of the comments but I lost patience. Not surprising, you have lots and only positive comments. You deserve it. Thank you

[DrakesRealEstateTV]

I'm shaking in my boots - my 1st ceremony (i regret accepting the responsibility) is April 1st.... NO JOKE!!! I"ll be studying this.

[gordyalderson]

The details and format was awesome but the real gem here is the paradigm shift in mindset making it less formal but still exceptionally classy and fun.
U let us all realize that it can be BOTH!
Thx 4 takin the time!

[davefisher]

Great video, great structure, and great energy to set as an example. I just officiated my first wedding yesterday and this video (coupled with some others + a lot of time writing and prepping) helped a ton. I think the key takeaways for me was: 1) warming up the crowd beforehand by letting them know you're excited and you want them to feel excited as well and the structure set up here works great; 2) splitting up the officiant's speech into subsections; and 3) just having fun with the couple and the crowd. I'd also add that I found it great to huddle up with the wedding party just prior to the start to let them know that we're a team and that if anything goes wrong (and it will) that we have each other's backs. Jeff, you rock my man!

[conversationswithcristina]

This is the best and most informative wedding officiant video I have seen 💯!! Thank you for all the details and breaking down each section of the actual ceremony. I am officiating my first wedding in March. This video has helped ease my nerves.

[christopherennevorennevor]

Thank you very much. I was asking to officiate a wedding. Its my first to. This helps a lot. One love 🇯🇲.

[davidad]

THANK YOU!! As an up and coming officiant I am preparing my first ceremony and you give a brilliant guide for structure. I'm a natural public speaker but my main concern has been keeping it smooth neat and tidy. My worries have been relieved!! Thanks again and God bless you brother!!

[alex-hance]

This made a huge impact in helping me plan to officiate my first wedding! It gives you ideas for structuring your script into individual sections and makes the whole process seem less overwhelming.

Jeff definitely seems like he knows his stuff and loves what he does. If you're prepping to officiate, definitely watch this and take notes!

[stagsyboo]

Iv been asked by 2 of my best friends to officiate. This is a great template to use. Thank you buddy!

[Nerdalyst]

Hi Jeff, thanks for this awesome training video. I'm going to be officiating a friends wedding soon and you laid out a wonderful framework - starting with the desired outcome and working backward from there. Love your attitude, values, and vibe.

[TheMCFARTPANTS]

Thank you so much for producing these videos. These are an absolute blessing to have. I will be officiating a wedding in September and I desperately needed some guidance and perspective.

[dfelici]

Jeff, thanks so much for your suggestions! I had been stressing out for weeks trying to figure out how to plan and prepare. This video has helped me so much. I can't begin to express how much I appreciate the time and patience you took walk through the entire ceremony. I've overcome my writers block and have finally been writing my script and am now very much looking forward to the big day! Cheers!

[matts]

Wow, just what I needed as a first timer. Thank you!

[danedinderman]

Hey Jeff, I “ borrowed” a couple ideas from your video, appreciate it! It was my daughters wedding, and I said at the end “ You may have kissed a “couple” times before, but….”

[roberti]

Awesome. Thank you. I am doing my 1st wedding in just over a week. And I am using this video as a template. I switched a couple of things around but this has been extremely helpful. Thank you.

[Ryan-shdp]

This was awesome! I’ve never officiated a wedding before and ever since my sister asked me to perform hers I’ve been so stressed. This is the best advice I’ve gotten so far after doing tons of research!

[timmyneeley]

I'm doing my fourth ceremony and haven't done one since 2019. I had lost my confidence. After hearing this video and getting some great ideas, my confidence is back and I can't wait to nail it. Thank you for the very simple instructions, you make it easy.

[thetwistedtexan]

Thanks for this
I am officiating my first wedding Saturday
Not sure what all to say but have been working on it for a couple of weeks now
This video actually saved me some steps that I don’t need to add to ceremony