Invite a Friend To Perform Your Wedding Ceremony

In January 2019 I married my best friend. I don't mean this in the way that couples do when they make cute statements about their partner on Facebook. I mean I performed the wedding of my best friend and her fiancé and it was one of the proudest moments in my life. For the couple it made their wedding much more personal. Not only could I tell their love story accurately but I could tell it with passion and emotion because I lived it with them. The tear jerker moments were heartfelt, the laughs were appropriate and the whole ceremony was filled with love.

Increasing numbers of couples are forgoing traditional wedding ceremonies and opting for ones they feel are more individualised, emotive and more fun. A wedding performed by a friend offers much more than even the most experienced celebrant can. In the USA where an individual can easily obtain a marriage licence online it is estimated that up to 40% of weddings are officiated by friends. Unfortunately in Australia it isn't as easy to officiate a marriage ceremony as when Joey married Chandler and Monica in Friends. The amount of studying for the qualification is significant (expect it to take approximately 300 hours) and expensive (expect to spend approximately $1500 including registration fees). The good news is that if you follow the simple tips below, you can turn your dream of having a friend perform your ceremony into a reality.

1. Pick the Right Person To Perform Your Ceremony

Your best man and chief bridesmaid are naturally your best friends. When considering your wedding celebrant it's also important to take into account their strengths and skills. Ask yourself if the person you have in mind will be a good fit? Are they confident speaking in front of your guests? Will they listen to the feel you want the ceremony to take? Do they have strong communication and creative writing skills? Do they have time to research and write a ceremony?

2. Make Sure It's Legal

However you envisage your ceremony you want to be legally married at the end of it. Before and after the ceremony your paperwork must be checked and submitted by an authorised marriage celebrant. At the ceremony there are 4 lines that an authorised marriage celebrant must say for it to be legal. The rest of the ceremony can be completely personalised and performed by whomever you like, however you like.

3. Consider Professional Help With Writing The Ceremony

Writing a best man speech is one thing - writing a wedding ceremony is a different skill. If you'd like the confidence of knowing that your wedding ceremony will be personal yet professional you may want to enlist a the help of a celebrant or writer who can work with your friend to research, design and rehearse your ceremony.

4. Have a Backup Plan

Sometimes even the most confident and prepared people get struck by nerves and emotions on a wedding day, plus, well sometimes people just get inconveniently sick. Make sure that you have a second friend on standby or that your authorised celebrant who is at the ceremony to perform the legal lines is willing to step in and perform the whole ceremony should the need arise.

SarahEmeryCelebrant.com offer a range of services to assist you in having a friend perform your wedding ceremony. Whether you would like support in the design and presentation of the service or simply a celebrant to make the process legally binding. I love helping you make your day extra special. Get in touch to discuss the options that suit you best.