The Wedding Officiant's Guide: How to Write and Conduct a Perfect Ceremony
Order the paperback or ebook now at Barnes & Noble, Chronicle Books, or Amazon.
This paperback (or ebook) comprehensively answers the urgent question: "How do I perform a marriage ceremony?" Now in its 2nd edition, it has sold more than 20,000 copies since it was introduced.
The Guide for Performing a Wedding Ceremony
I wrote it to inspire confidence in any nervous new officiant. It covers every step from getting authorized to perform a ceremony to filing the license. You'll learn how to create a ceremony that really reflects your couple, how to manage the wedding rehearsal, and how to stay calm, collected, and in charge on the big day.
Rituals, Readings, and Resources
The book also contains wedding readings and rituals from different cultures and faiths so you can easily create a wedding that fulfills marriage laws, delights guests, and honors the marrying couple. Will this be a destination wedding? Interfaith or cross-cultural? Same-sex wedding? Agnostic or civil ceremony? All are covered. This source book will be valued by betrothed couples and wedding planners as well.
Order the paperback or ebook now at Barnes & Noble, Chronicle Books, or Amazon.
How to write and conduct a perfect ceremony
If you were recently invited to perform a friend or family member's wedding, this book was expressly written for you.
For you, or for a gift
If you are a bride or groom who wants a family member or friend to perform the wedding, this comprehensive guide is a great gift to give to your newbie officiant.
It's one thing to surprise people with a close friend or relative officiating, but it's even better when your officiant delights everyone. Having your friend or family member do a great job of officiating is where my guide comes in. It explains not only what to do, but how to do it with excellence, grace, and sensitivity.
Here are some ceremony tips and tricks that didn't make it into the book!
For the wedding planner
Wedding planners have been ordering multiple copies, saying, "More and more of our couples are being married by a family friend!" Having a few of these on hand could be a valuable and inspiring addition to your client offering.
For the career officiant
If you're a seminary student, a life celebrant, or hoping to officiate at weddings as a career, this book will be an invaluable resource.
Reader: If you've already read the book and want to talk about page 95:
You can find further discussion here.
Press Coverage
Online articles about Lisa Francesca and The Wedding Officiant's Guide:
"4 Wedding Ceremony Readings to Consider for Your I Do’s" by Elisha Hahm, Martha Stewart Weddings.
"Walking Down a Different Aisle: Lisa Francesca" by Roz DeKett, The Right Word
Lifestyles: Wedding Bells column by Joanna Brichetto
Review in The Journal-Record's Periscope
Interview with Erica Goss, Poet
The Guide for Performing a Wedding Ceremony
I wrote it to inspire confidence in any nervous new officiant. It covers every step from getting authorized to perform a ceremony to filing the license. You'll learn how to create a ceremony that really reflects your couple, how to manage the wedding rehearsal, and how to stay calm, collected, and in charge on the big day.
Rituals, Readings, and Resources
The book also contains wedding readings and rituals from different cultures and faiths so you can easily create a wedding that fulfills marriage laws, delights guests, and honors the marrying couple. Will this be a destination wedding? Interfaith or cross-cultural? Same-sex wedding? Agnostic or civil ceremony? All are covered. This source book will be valued by betrothed couples and wedding planners as well.
Order the paperback or ebook now at Barnes & Noble, Chronicle Books, or Amazon.
How to write and conduct a perfect ceremony
If you were recently invited to perform a friend or family member's wedding, this book was expressly written for you.
For you, or for a gift
If you are a bride or groom who wants a family member or friend to perform the wedding, this comprehensive guide is a great gift to give to your newbie officiant.
It's one thing to surprise people with a close friend or relative officiating, but it's even better when your officiant delights everyone. Having your friend or family member do a great job of officiating is where my guide comes in. It explains not only what to do, but how to do it with excellence, grace, and sensitivity.
Here are some ceremony tips and tricks that didn't make it into the book!
For the wedding planner
Wedding planners have been ordering multiple copies, saying, "More and more of our couples are being married by a family friend!" Having a few of these on hand could be a valuable and inspiring addition to your client offering.
For the career officiant
If you're a seminary student, a life celebrant, or hoping to officiate at weddings as a career, this book will be an invaluable resource.
Reader: If you've already read the book and want to talk about page 95:
You can find further discussion here.
Press Coverage
Online articles about Lisa Francesca and The Wedding Officiant's Guide:
"4 Wedding Ceremony Readings to Consider for Your I Do’s" by Elisha Hahm, Martha Stewart Weddings.
"Walking Down a Different Aisle: Lisa Francesca" by Roz DeKett, The Right Word
Lifestyles: Wedding Bells column by Joanna Brichetto
Review in The Journal-Record's Periscope
Interview with Erica Goss, Poet
. . . and more honest, unsolicited feedback from readers and Amazon reviews:
"Definitely a lifesaver. I loved this guide. I am a first time officiant, but I had no idea about the sequence of events or what my full responsibilities would be. I was able to read the book and prepare for my first interview in just a few hours. Recommend!!"
"This is a relatively small book, but it is absolutely packed with all the information you'll need as a new wedding officiant."
"Francesca's guide provided me with a career's worth of wisdom and practical pointers, which ensured that the ceremony will be remembered for all the right reasons. It was a relief not to disappoint; it was a thrill to have added to the couple's day in a very special way--this guide made all the difference."
"So helpful! Thank you for the great information! I’m not anxious after reading this."
"Lisa's book offers the know-how of a veteran officiant that will benefit laity as well as seminarians and even veteran clergy. The book is user friendly and comprehensive. In my experience there has been no other book that beats Lisa's when it comes to guidance from A-Z. Must have!"
"Excellent with all the details you need to be an officiant. I thought I thought of everything until I read this book. I am SO glad I got this prior to the event I'll be officiating for."
"Incredibly useful and easy to read. Had a very open-minded, healthy, multi-cultural vibe."
"Excellent resource for new marriage officiants. I use it regularly. Highly recommended to my seminary students."
"This past weekend I officiated my son's wedding. It was a wonderful ceremony, the bride and groom were very happy with how it went, and many people came up to me after and expressed how much they enjoyed it. Then many want on to ask, "Have you done this before?" I think that question indicated how well we (the couple and I) were prepared thanks to this book. It's packed with so much helpful information into 135 pages that my copy is now stained and dog-eared. I really didn't have to go looking for much more information. From the steps to getting appointed an officiant (invaluable) to the questions to ask the couple and how to get ready the day of, this is truly a great guide. This book is like a Rick Steves guide for wedding ceremonies!"
"Definitely a lifesaver. I loved this guide. I am a first time officiant, but I had no idea about the sequence of events or what my full responsibilities would be. I was able to read the book and prepare for my first interview in just a few hours. Recommend!!"
"This is a relatively small book, but it is absolutely packed with all the information you'll need as a new wedding officiant."
"Francesca's guide provided me with a career's worth of wisdom and practical pointers, which ensured that the ceremony will be remembered for all the right reasons. It was a relief not to disappoint; it was a thrill to have added to the couple's day in a very special way--this guide made all the difference."
"So helpful! Thank you for the great information! I’m not anxious after reading this."
"Lisa's book offers the know-how of a veteran officiant that will benefit laity as well as seminarians and even veteran clergy. The book is user friendly and comprehensive. In my experience there has been no other book that beats Lisa's when it comes to guidance from A-Z. Must have!"
"Excellent with all the details you need to be an officiant. I thought I thought of everything until I read this book. I am SO glad I got this prior to the event I'll be officiating for."
"Incredibly useful and easy to read. Had a very open-minded, healthy, multi-cultural vibe."
"Excellent resource for new marriage officiants. I use it regularly. Highly recommended to my seminary students."
"This past weekend I officiated my son's wedding. It was a wonderful ceremony, the bride and groom were very happy with how it went, and many people came up to me after and expressed how much they enjoyed it. Then many want on to ask, "Have you done this before?" I think that question indicated how well we (the couple and I) were prepared thanks to this book. It's packed with so much helpful information into 135 pages that my copy is now stained and dog-eared. I really didn't have to go looking for much more information. From the steps to getting appointed an officiant (invaluable) to the questions to ask the couple and how to get ready the day of, this is truly a great guide. This book is like a Rick Steves guide for wedding ceremonies!"
