To Plus or Not to Plus?

As your wedding officiant, I offer two levels of ceremony services – Custom and Custom Plus. Some of my couples aren’t sure which option to choose. With both you have the opportunity to select your own vows, ring ceremony wording, readings and marriage blessing. But if you want to have the ceremony be more personalized and include your own story as a couple, then Custom Plus is the way to go.

​What does this actually look like?
 
To tell your story as part of the ceremony, I craft a narrative from your answers to questions like these:

• How did you meet?
• What attracted you to each other in the beginning?
• How did your relationship progress from there?
• What do you love, respect and admire about each other?
• What are your strengths as a couple?
• How do you balance each other? What have you learned from each other?
• What do you want to create together as a married couple?
• What does marriage mean to you?
• Is there anything else you want to include?

 
Based on your replies to these and other questions, you can choose what you want to have emphasized during the ceremony.

The Custom Plus ceremony is meaningful if you want your guests to know more about you or if you simply want your story to be a part of your special day. It is an opportunity to inject some storytelling or humor if that is what you want. Most of the photos you see of couples laughing in the photo gallery are taken during this part of the ceremony. But if humor is not what you want to convey, the story can also deliver sentimentality - you know...when there is no dry eye in the room. It can also give you the chance to express the feelings you have for each other through my voice. Couples who know they will feel vulnerable or nervous speaking in front of their guests on this very important day, tend to appreciate this.
 
Along with your story, I also include a Spiritual Address on the joys and challenges of marriage, but it is shortened to make room for the story.
 
If you are indifferent about having your story told or if your guests already know a lot about you, go with the Custom ceremony. My Custom ceremony is awesome! With it you can also choose your own vows, ring ceremony wording, readings and marriage blessing, and my Spiritual Address (which usually moves everyone at some level) is more extensive. 
 
I hope that helps you make your choice!