One lovely way to personalize your wedding is during the ceremony. Your wedding ceremony is the start of your marriage. It’s arguably the most important part of your wedding day and yet can be a time that’s overlooked in terms of making it truly personal and unique. Ultimately, the more personal, sentimental, and creative the ceremony is, the better it will represent you as a couple and be memorable for your guests. Don’t be afraid to infuse your ceremony with your personalities and invite loved ones to be part of the process. Here are a few things that some of my previous #LRPsoulmates have done to personalize their wedding ceremonies and them truly unique to them.

1) Write Your Own Vows

One way to add a personal touch to your ceremony is to write your own vows. This can be nerve-wracking, but it is also an incredible way to share your love and commitment with your partner as you start a marriage together. They don’t have to be long or clever or any one thing at all. Just speaking from your heart in your own words will inevitably be personal and emotional and strike all the right notes. Just make sure your wedding party has the tissues handy!

2) Choose An Officiant Who Knows You Well

Depending on the style ceremony you’re having, this can be a great way to add personality and sentimentality to your wedding and to include more people you love in your day. Wedding ceremonies can sometimes feel awkward or disconnected when you don’t have a relationship with the officiant. These days, it’s easier than ever before to go online and get a one-day certificate to officiate. And having a loved one marry you is going to create a really special and intimate ceremony that will keep everyone engaged. That person can share first-hand memories, as well as speak to how wonderful you two are as a couple. Below is an image of my husband, Scott, officiating his younger brothers wedding. Trust me when I tell you that everyone present was laughing and then crying together at various points in the ceremony. It was an incredibly special honor for Scott.

3) Choose Meaningful Processional Music 

One last and really fun way to personalize your wedding ceremony is with music. There are some popular songs you may be tempted to go with and that’s fine. But the truth is that there are no rules about music. By choosing songs that are important to you as a couple, or that let your personalities shine through, you’ll make a lasting impression on your guests. Plus, it will make your wedding ceremony much more personal.

My favorite examples is from this past summer. LRP groom Jeff, was escorted down the aisle by his parents to Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married”. He even sang along as he went! You know that song, right?! “Meet me at the altar in your white dress…Girl let’s just get married, I just wanna get married…” It set the tone for a joyful and personal ceremony and had everyone smiling from the start. Get creative and make choices that are right for you as a couple. Your loved ones will love your unique choices because they’ll be so representative of you!

If you love the idea of personalizing your ceremony, check out this article on The Knot where I was quoted for more ideas!

And of course, making sure your guests are fully present for your ceremony will help everyone appreciate the personalization. For that, you’ll want to go unplugged! Read about what that means and how to do it in my blog post all about unplugged weddings!