Articles Index
Wedding Ceremony Details: Community Vows of Support
The community vow of "speak now or forever hold your peace" is a traditional part of many wedding ceremonies. But if you can, rather than asking this question in the negative, I suggest asking your guests to help sustain your marriage and love for one another, with a community vow of support.
Classic Wedding Readings
Are you a traditional bride- the one who's been dreaming of wearing a fluffy white dress while a loved one reads a classic text? Or perhaps you're just looking for the one of the wedding readings that have meant so much to so many brides and grooms over the years. Here are the most classic and traditional wedding readings:
A Library of Wedding Readings
If you're looking for a wedding reading, start with this library of wedding readings. There's sure to be the right one for you, whether you're looking for classic and traditional to unusual and unique. Sources range from the Bible to fiction and poetry.
Wedding Readings from the Bible
Looking for a wedding reading from the Bible for your ceremony? Here are the most classic ones, and the ones that speak of love and marriage in the most loving ways.
Unique Wedding Readings
Create a unique ceremony by including wedding readings that are extremely meaningful to you, which most people haven't heard before. Here are some unique wedding readings that might be perfect for you, or at least might stir your imagination!
Personalize Your Wedding Vows
Writing your own personalized wedding vows can be a daunting task, but it's not quite as hard as it looks. Here are six easy steps that you can follow to write your own wedding vows.
5 Ways to Make Your Guests a Meaningful Part of Your Wedding Ceremony
If you've chosen to get married in front of family and friends, rather than eloping, it's because their witnessing your nuptials is important to you. But how do you make them a meaningful part of your wedding ceremony? Here are several ideas:
Sample Secular Wedding Ceremony
If you're writing your own wedding ceremony, it can be hard to know where to begin. After all, there are a lot of resources for writing your vows, but relatively few available for writing your own wedding ceremony. This example is a particularly beautiful one which incorporates ritual and tradition. Feel free to adapt it to meet your needs and personalities.
Wedding Programs
Wedding programs are one of those little details that add that extra something to your big day. Here is information on what should be included in a wedding program, and how to decide if you should have one.
Contemporary and Secular Wedding Ceremony Music
Until about twenty years ago, wedding music was limited to church hymns and other religious music. Now, couples are choosing secular music for their wedding ceremonies that fits their personalities and vibes. Here are some unique and fun suggestions to help you find the right wedding ceremony music for your wedding
Planning Your Wedding Ceremony
Many couples today are choosing to have a non-religious wedding ceremony, or be married by a friend or family member. Yet an important role of the officiant is to give you guidance in crafting your wedding ceremony, often following a predetermined format. If you are going the DIY route, here's advice on creating a memorable and personal wedding ceremony
Wedding Ceremony Music
It's the moment you've been waiting for -- you and your bridal party making a grand entrance and walking down the aisle. But what will you choose for your wedding ceremony music? Here is a list of both classic and contemporary wedding ceremony music to help you set the right tone, and make that dream entrance.
The Wedding Processional
One of the grandest part of any wedding ceremony is when the bridal party makes its entrance. The air is full of anticipation, and the groom anxiously awaits his first glimpse of his bride in her wedding dress. But do you know what order your bridal party should walk in? And who escorts the mother of the bride? Here is a guide to different types of wedding processionals, including Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, and non-denominational.
Children and Weddings
Children in a wedding can be adorable and unpredictable. If you have children from a previous relationship, or young friends or family members you'd like to include in your wedding, read this guide to roles they can play, and ways to make them comfortable.
Vow Renewals
In this world where divorce seems to be the norm, a couple managing to stay together through thick and thin deserves some celebration! If you and your spouse have made it to a significant anniversary, or you just want to have a "do-over" wedding, consider a vow renewal. Here is a guide to the reasons for vow renewal, vow renewal etiquette, invitation wording, and how to get started planning your ceremony.
Funny Wedding Vows
If you're getting married and you want to share your humorous side, you might consider using some funny wedding vows. Here's some inspiration to get you started
Wedding Readings from Books and Novels
Some of the most romantic ceremonies I have attended were ones that included wedding readings that the bride or groom had remembered from a great work of literature - ones that had particularly described the meaning of love or marriage. Here are some of my favorite wedding readings on love and marriage from great works of literature.
Shakespeare Wedding Readings
We all know that Shakespeare's sonnets and plays are full of romance, so it makes sense that Shakespeare is a natural fit for wedding readings. If you are looking for a reading for your wedding, consider these excerpts and poems from Shakespeare.
Sample Vows for a Vow Renewal Ceremony
Renewing your wedding vows? Congratulations! Since you may have chosen a vow renewal for a variety of reasons, there are a wide variety of words you can say. Many people write their own vows, but here are some samples to get you started.