How To Officiate A Non-Denominational Wedding Ceremony: Revised and Expanded!

On very short notice, I was called to officiate a wedding for a friend and immediately panicked. I was so touched and honored that the pressure to write a moving and beautiful script overwhelmed me. I would recommend this book to anyone faced with the challenge of performing a wedding, regardless of denomination or setting. In fact, I would recommend that it is the first thing you read because a lot of my other research was discarded for the more concise and practical guidance offered in this book.It helped me brainstorm parts of the couple's relationship that I felt unique to them and that I wanted to highlight throughout their ceremony. I learned the various components and sequences of modern weddings, including various unity rituals [my couple went with handfasting] and opening and closing prayers. It offered a wide range of verbiage so you could make the vows customized and contemporary or traditional ("I do thee wed"). It even offers tips for nontraditional wedding parties that may be missing a father or mother of the bride to walk her/him down the aisle, which I appreciated.I ended up receiving so many compliments on the flow and beauty of the script and how well it fit the bride and groom that I wasn't just relieved after the ceremony, I felt like a card-carrying professional. It is now several months post-wedding and I was asked by the bride for the full script because it was one of her favorite parts of her wedding day. So I'm getting it turned into a small crafted book that can sit with their wedding album!5 out of 5 stars*****

Invaluable resource for sacred and secular weddings. Thank heavens I found it!I was asked on very short notice to officiate for some friends, and after the immediate feeling of being honored, I panicked. Thank goodness I found JP's book, and was able to put a ceremony together that honored my friends' wishes, and made sense. I got a lot of compliments, even from the bride's uncle! The book includes very practical tips, checklists, orders of service, samples of sacred and secular vows, prayers, blessings, and even possible introductions of the different elements of a ceremony. At one point when I needed help, I was able to contact JP, and he responded quickly and was so much help that he made me feel much more at ease right away. The wedding went so well today that I hope I get to do it again someday! Thanks, JP, I really appreciate your help!

I was asked to officiate a friend's wedding. A great honor, yes, but also much pressure as I had never done one before. I ordered this book, as well as 3 others from here on Amazon: The Pastor's Wedding Manual, Christian Weddings, and The Wedding Ceremony. The other 3 would be better for those with more experience, as they are mostly content options. This book, on the other hand, covers everything from content to the flow and transition, and has abundant advice on personal preparation as well. Highly recommend this book!

My best friend offiiciated my wedding and JP's book helped keep us organized. We did not where to start before reading the book. JP creates an entire outline for the Ceremony and all we had to do was add our personal stories/touches.We were so impressed with how the book got us organized, I reached out to JP who happens to live near. We scheduled an hour consultation to review what we had pulled together for the Ceremony. We had such a blast and JP warmly shares his years knowledge and even gave us guidance on writing our vows.Thank you JP

Absolutely perfect. I was asked to officiated my nephew’s wedding and had NO idea where to start. I followed the book pretty much the whole way. When I met with the couple, I created an outline for them from the suggestions in the book and they chose options and specified from there.I was so much less nervous with this as a resource and with 200 people in attendance, it turned out to be arguably one of the most beautiful weddings I had ever seen. It’s such an honor to think I played a small part in that.

This is an outstanding book if you're going to officiate a wedding. Loaded with scripts and everything you'll need. I do Google searches for good material and advice, yet I always come back to this book. Now I see a new edition just came out this month (May 2017). Very easy reading. Full of warm, practical information. This is a "must have" book if you'll be doing a wedding.

Even is I have been a JP for many years I truly enjoy JP's book and his words within it. Well worth it and love the Wedding Ceremony Podcast's that JP and Clint Hufft do very week. I never miss them and they keep me energized.

I recently officiated my sisters wedding (first time officiant), and I was panicking. I read 3 other books before this one, but this book proved to be by far the most helpful. It really gave me clarity as to how to give structure and pacing to my script. I definitely recommend it to any other struggling first timers.

Two of my favourite people in the world are getting married next year and asked me to officiate the ceremony (after a legal thing at the Register Office - the UK law insists). Whilst this is obviously a great honour, it is also one of the most terrifying things anyone has ever asked me to do! This book really helped put my mind at ease. It has clear ideas for the structure and tone of a wedding ceremony, and also some excellent tips about dealing with nerves and other problems that might arise. A light-hearted, but sincere tone and some great expertise. Recommended.

Great book. Helped me officiate at my Godsons wedding. Loved all the options it provides for you and them. Loads of examples.

Great book. Eat to read. Quite informative.

I am already a celebrant )officiant) but this had some nice ideas I will incorporate into some of my thinking and my ceremonies.