The Wedding Ceremony Planner: The Essential Guide to the Most Important Part of Your Wedding Day

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More About This Book

Overview

Many couples want a spiritual but not a religious ceremony that truly celebrates their unique set of beliefs, values and life circumstances. They want their ceremony, their way but don't know where to begin or what questions they need to ask. The Wedding Ceremony Planner is a comprehensive and user-friendly guide. It covers everything you need to know to create a beautiful ceremony text and to anticipate and address all the profound and mundane logistics with ease, grace and fun. It includes hundreds of text excerpts reflecting the many voices with which our hearts speak. There are also ten sample ceremony texts for the inclusion of children, the telling of the couple's story, the renewal of vows and a commitment ceremony. Checklists and worksheets are included to manage all the details. The Wedding Ceremony Planner is also an invaluable resource for clergy of all faiths, wedding planners and location coordinators. Sprinkled with anecdotes about lessons learned by couples creating their weddings, this book is filled with the wisdom of experience.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal
Like Brockway, Johnson is an ecumenical minister with 14 years' experience. Written in a warm, caring tone, her guide is geared to couples wanting a spiritual, heartfelt ceremony-even though they may not be tied to a single religious tradition. As she presents ideas for incorporating personal beliefs and ethnic traditions, she reminds couples of points to consider when designing the ceremony and provides eight sample ceremonies with worksheets to record ceremony cues and sequencing so things run smoothly. Johnson also addresses nonspiritual practical considerations, e.g., chair placements and photography options, that if done poorly can detract from sacred moments. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781402203435
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
  • Publication date: 3/1/2005
  • Pages: 384
  • Sales rank: 196,549
  • Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 8.00 (h) x 0.79 (d)

Meet the Author

Judith Johnson holds a doctorate in social psychology and is an ordained ecumenical minister, honoring all religious and spiritual traditions. She has officiated at hundreds of weddings over the past 14 years.

Read an Excerpt

How to Design Your Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ritual is the ceremonial container for the celebration of a couple's love and their decision to journey through their lives together. To assist those of you who are embarking on the adventure of designing your own wedding ceremony, this section of the book contains collections of passages to be used for each of the traditional ceremonial components. You are encouraged to trust your own instincts as you read through the choices, choosing those elements that are right for you. The worksheet entitled "Designing the Ceremony Text" can be a helpful tool in collecting those passages that speak to you as you create a very rough first draft. Using the sample provided on page 23 as a guide, begin with the blank form provided for you on page 291. Just hold up the mirror of yourselves to the passages included here and you will find the ones that ring true for you. Feel free to find sentiments in one section that you would like to use in another, or to change or eliminate words or phrases, or use only a sentence or two from here or there. With the exception of rewriting poetry, give yourself lots of editorial license.
As with any well-constructed ritual, a wedding ceremony has a certain flow and order to it that leads up to the sacred moment of the exchange of vows and rings and the pronouncement that the bride and groom are now wife and husband. The format that is presented in this section provides a sequencing of components that allows for flow and order, yet customizing of the ceremony to your own taste.
It's a good idea to start with a rough draft and allow yourselves to explore various ideas without being concerned about what will make it into the final version. Like filling your plates at a smorgasbord, just gather all those items that appeal to you-discernment will follow. This more relaxed approach fosters greater creativity and the opportunity to consider the various components of the ceremony over time. It also allows you to more carefully consider and negotiate your way with passages that one of you likes and the other does not.
You may feel a bit overwhelmed by the volume of text choices. However, you are likely to find that the process of elimination goes much faster than anticipated and you will be able to come up with a rough draft in several hours. At this point, you may not have chosen readings and, if you are planning to write your own vows, you may want to do so after the first draft is written. Then you can work with the draft, giving careful consideration to the specific wordings, sequencing, and adding or deleting words and sections until it is just what you want. If the officiant is actively working with you on the ceremony text, it is helpful if you set specific deadlines for completing the text well in advance of the ceremony. Of course, there is not always that much time or the luxury of meeting in person, in which case you and the officiant can customize your process to your circumstances. Most of the couples I work with prefer to send email drafts back and forth until the text is complete.
I always give each couple a copy of their finalized wedding ceremony. This way, when guests want copies of certain passages, the bride and groom can easily provide them. And, many couples like to keep their ceremony among their wedding day keepsakes. On their anniversary, or anytime, some rededicate themselves to their vows, perform the candle ceremony together, or quietly re-read their ceremony together. It is a loving reminder of the foundation they have laid for their marriage.

Designing the Ceremony Text Worksheet Sample
1. Create a rough draft. Use the sample text elements that have been included in this book and any others that you have gathered for inclusion in your ceremony. List all items in the order in which you would like them to occur. If you only want a segment of a sample item or want to change the wording, make note of that here as well. Remember, this is just a rough draft. So, don't be too concerned about editing at this point. Just focus on gathering those elements that speak to you, at least in part. At this stage, you are likely to select more passages than will appear in your final ceremony text.
Opening Prayer: OP2 Page XX Gathering Words: GW3, lines 1-12 Page XX GW5 Page XX Remembrance/Acknowledgment: RA3, lines 1-3 Page XX Names to be included: maternal grandparents _____ and _____ _____
Readings and Songs: Selection Author Reader/Singer Declaration of Support: DS3 Page XX Marriage Address: MA2 Page XX Sacred Rituals: WC Page XX Vows: To be written later Ring Exchange:
Officiant Prelude: PRE8&9 Page XX Couple: RE1 Page XX Final Blessing: FB3 Page XX
2. Identify any additional elements you would like to include in your ceremony such as religious or family traditions and note where they will occur:
3. Once you have created a rough draft according to your directions above, begin the editing and fine tuning process. Be sure to read the text aloud to be sure that it flows smoothly and isn't too long or short for what you want. Set a specific deadline for completion of the ceremony text well in advance of the ceremony.

Table of Contents

Part One: Your Wedding Ceremony: The People, The Place, and Special Considerations

Chapter 1 Setting the Tone for Your Wedding What is a Spiritual Wedding?
Your Dream Wedding Remember to Take Charge Choosing an Officiant A Personal Perspective

Chapter 2 Deciding Who the Participants Will Be What to Consider in Designing the Ceremony The Couple The Guest List The Wedding Party Traditions

Chapter 3 Planning the Ceremony Location Finding Your Wedding Ceremony Location Identifying Your Needs and Desires Researching Possible Sites Agreeing on Terms of Use of Your Chosen Site Optimizing Your Ceremony's Location Balance and Fit Special Considerations for Outdoor Weddings Easily Accessible and User-Friendly Factors to Consider in Designing the Ceremony Site Ceremony Site Layout Worksheet—Sample The Wedding Party Props Chairs Music

Chapter 4 Special Considerations
"Handle With Care" Relationships Who Does What, When, Where, Why, and How Wedding Day Information Sheet—Sample Just Before the Ceremony Checklist—Sample The Wedding Program The Wedding Rehearsal The Wedding Rehearsal Checklist—Sample A Note About Ushers

Part Two: Designing Your Ceremony

Chapter 5 The Ceremony Text Designing the Ceremony Worksheet—Sample Ceremony Overview In the Beginning The Seating of the Guests The Processional Processional Cues and Sequencing Worksheet—Sample Opening Prayer Gathering Words Remembrances and Acknowledgments In the Middle Readings and Songs Charge for the Couple The Declaration of Support Marriage Address Symbolic Rituals Candle Ceremony Tree Planting Ceremony Water Ceremony In the End Wedding Vows Ring Exchange Prelude by the Officiant Ring Exchange by the Couple Final Blessing and Pronouncement Benediction The Recessional Recessional Cues and Sequencing Worksheet—Sample

Chapter 6 Incorporating Personal Beliefs and Circumstances For a Smaller Wedding The Friendship Circle When Your Ceremony Involves Children Incorporating Religious Traditions Jewish Wedding Rituals Explanation of Jewish Traditions Blessing and Drinking the Wine The Seven Blessings Prayers from the Old Testament Symbolic Gestures Incorporating Ethnic Traditions Greek Crowning Ceremony and Common Cup The Polish Ritual of Symbolic Gifts The Wrapping of the Mantilla

Part Three: Putting It All Together

Chapter 7 Sample Ceremonies Ceremony One: Spiritual and Heartfelt Ceremony Two: Short and Sophisticated Ceremony Three: Incorporating Your Story Ceremony Four: Inspired by Nature Ceremony Five: Short, Spontaneous, and Intimate Ceremony Six: A Marriage with Children Ceremony Seven: Nondenominational Christian with Scriptural Readings Ceremony Eight: Joyful Family Togetherness A Note About Commitment Ceremonies Ceremony Nine: A Heartfelt Commitment Ceremony Ceremony Ten: Renewal of Marriage Vows

Chapter 8 Checklists and Worksheets Ceremony Site Layout Worksheet Wedding Day Information Sheet Just Before the Ceremony Checklist Wedding Rehearsal Checklist Designing the Ceremony Text Worksheet Processional Cues and Sequencing Worksheet Recessional Cues and Sequencing Worksheet

A Note to Officiants A Final Thought

Judith Johnson holds a doctorate in social psychology and is an ordained ecumenical minister, honoring all religious and spiritual traditions. She has officiated at hundreds of weddings over the past 14 years.

Customer Reviews
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  • Posted March 23, 2010

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    Invaluable resource for creating your wedding ceremony!

    My fiance and I were trying to work on our ceremony at a local Barnes & Noble and I decided to browse through the wedding section. We consider ourselves lucky to have found this book! It proved to be an invaluable resource to help us create our wedding ceremony. It is a very organized, laying out different aspects of a ceremony. Worksheets were provided including a ceremony script outline, rehearsal checklist and day of checklist. Several aspects for a wedding ceremony are described and how to implement them for your own ceremony. There are numerous examples for the different sections of your ceremony including the gathering words, sand/tree ceremony, vows, final blessings, cultural traditions, religious readings etc. We used examples from the book along with suggestions from our officiant. Our vows were taken from two of the vow examples in the book as well. If you are not following a specific religion's ceremony script then I highly recommend checking out this book to help you create your personalized ceremony script. (Married 13 March 2010)

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 7, 2010

    we bought 7 planning books and this one was by far the best one

    being type-A, we bought 7 planning books and put sticky pads and notes in all of them. However, we soon found that this book was the only one we kept referring to.

    It's very well structured -- giving you choices for each part of the ceremony. Judith Johnson is a gifted writer and, in the end, it's her writing that sets this book apart from all the others.

    She made our wedding truly special and very personalized. Many many people have told us that it was the sweetest and most beautiful wedding they'd ever been to, and we give this book much of the credit for it.

    If you're only going to buy one book, buy this one.

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  • Posted May 6, 2010

    Excellent Resource

    Incredibly useful guide for planning your own wedding cerremony, with a lot of information and options. Very glad I found this resource.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 24, 2010

    Needs some work!

    Very general. Would have like some more from this book. Lots of samples though.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 10, 2008

    A must for everyone planning their own wedding

    This book is a must have for couples who are trying to plan their own wedding but are not sure where to start or what order things are done in. It includes the what, when, where, how and why. There are ideas for your wedding, checklists so you are able to make sure everything has gotten done without worrying about it. This will also prepare you for meeting with your wedding officiant and will help you answer the questions he or she will ask you. Also, if you know the answer to some of the topics in this book you will be better prepared for picking the proper location for you wedding. If you know all the aspects you wish to include in your wedding you will be able to book the appropriate location that will allow you to do what you are looking to do. For example, including a unity candle or wine ceremony or certain types of religious ceremonies. There are also several examples of prayers, vows and ring exchanges to help get you started. If you plan on buying any books to help plan your wedding this one should be your first choice. As a wedding officiant I would recommend this book to couples and other officiants as well.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 26, 2008

    I never write reviews, but this book is FABULOUS

    Since I got engaged, I have received many 'hand me down' wedding planning books from my friends. These books although fun to read never provided me any information on the entire ceremony. This book does just that! I love it, and my fiance and I were able to put together our entire ceremony with the guidance of this book. If you are writing your ceremony, this is the only book to use!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 14, 2008

    Very insightful, supportive, and helpful

    We are in the midst of creating and customizing our upcoming wedding ceremony, which has given us mixed emotions. Although we proudly and happily decided to go the non-denominational route, we are waving through the challenges it has posed, coming from a very traditional religious family. Reading this book has helped support and affirm our choice to pave our own spiritual path that is true to our beliefs. Of course the checklists and multiple ceremony passage examples are also extremely helpful-- they are providing us the scaffolding to begin putting together a ceremony that we can truly call our own.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 9, 2006

    Don't get married without reading this book!

    My fiancee and I eloped and had no idea what that entailed. Although it was just the two of us, we really wanted to make our day special. We hadn't realized how important it was to be able to personally choose the passages we wanted read at our ceremony. We hadn't given it much thought until we bought this book and knew that we wanted to customize our ceremony for our needs. Reverend Johnson's book helped us create a ceremony that was meaningful, lovely and memorable. This book is essential for ANYONE getting married - no matter how traditional or atypical your ceremony is. As the title says - it is the most important part of your wedding day. 'The Wedding Ceremony Planner' helped us tremendously.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 7, 2006

    Excellent clergy resourse

    As clergy I find this book is an excellent resourse. After the first meeting, I give the couple a copy of this book to take home. The many options, the many ideas allow them to personalize their service. As well the language is beautiful, the spiritual images are lovely. I enjoy speaking the prayers.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 16, 2006

    'The Wedding Ceremony Planner' is, by far, one of the best books I have come across for constructing wedding ceremonies!!

    This is an excellent resource for clergy and couples. It is well organized, beautifully written and replete with lovely spiritual vows, prayers, rituals, ceremonies and ideas. As a minister who performs many weddings, I will be recommending this book to all my future clients.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 23, 2005

    This book helped us plan a wonderful ceremony

    The Wedding Ceremony Planner, by Judith Johnson, is a wonderful, comprehensive, book that made it easy for us to plan a meaninful and beautiful wedding ceremony. As an older couple, we were fumbling for the words we needed and this book let us find the way.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 4, 2005

    The Most Complete Guide Out There

    I found this ceremony planner to be more useful than any of the internet sites or wedding books that I got a hold of. Rev. Johnson allows the bride and groom to create their own ceremony that refelcts their personal style. There is something for everyone in this book.

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    Posted March 2, 2010

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    Posted May 29, 2009

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    Posted October 24, 2009

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    Posted August 19, 2010

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