Your wedding ceremony should feel like you. Not like something you found on Pinterest, not a carbon copy of your best friend’s script, and not something stiff that makes you both feel like you’re reading lines in a play. It should sound like the two of you — your story, your laughter, your quirks, your kind of love.

Start with the Heart

Before you even think about the wording, think about the feeling you want in the air that day. Do you want guests wiping tears, or smiling the whole way through? Maybe both. The tone guides the language — sentimental, lighthearted, poetic, or playful.

When I work with couples through Celestial Ceremonies, this is always our starting point: How do you want your ceremony to feel? Everything flows from that answer.

Tell Your Story (Briefly but Beautifully)

The ceremony isn’t just a formality — it’s the why of the day. Share how you met, what made your hearts settle in, what you’ve built together. Your guests already know you, but they’ll love hearing the story told through your eyes. A good officiant can weave this into the script so it feels natural, not scripted.

Write Vows that Sound Like You

Forget about trying to sound poetic or perfect. Speak like you would to each other on a quiet Sunday morning. Promise the things that actually matter — the small, everyday commitments that build your life together.
If writing vows feels intimidating, start with a simple sentence:

“I love that you…”
and go from there. Before long, the words will find their rhythm.

Keep the Traditions You Love (and Let Go of the Rest)

You don’t have to include every reading, unity candle, or ring blessing if it doesn’t feel like you. Choose what holds meaning and skip what doesn’t. The most memorable ceremonies are the ones that are simple, intentional, and honest.

Let It Breathe

Pauses matter. So does laughter. So do those small, unplanned moments — the nervous giggle, the whispered “I love you,” the way you look at each other. Those are the things that make the ceremony genuine.

Your ceremony is the heartbeat of your wedding day. It’s where everything begins — not the décor, not the playlist, not the seating chart. When your words are true and the energy is authentic, your guests feel it. And so will you.

At Celestial Ceremonies, I help couples craft ceremonies that are heartfelt, personal, and completely their own — whether it’s five minutes under the stars or thirty by the lake. Because your love story deserves more than a template; it deserves to be told beautifully.