The Wedding Ceremony Planner: The Essential Guide to the Most Important Part of Your Wedding Day [Paperback]

Judith Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

Many couples want a spiritual but not a religious ceremony that truly celebrates their unique set of beliefs, values and life circumstances. They want their ceremony, their way but don't know where to begin or what questions they need to ask. The Wedding Ceremony Planner is a comprehensive and user-friendly guide. It covers everything you need to know to create a beautiful ceremony text and to anticipate and address all the profound and mundane logistics with ease, grace and fun. It includes hundreds of text excerpts reflecting the many voices with which our hearts speak. There are also ten sample ceremony texts for the inclusion of children, the telling of the couple's story, the renewal of vows and a commitment ceremony. Checklists and worksheets are included to manage all the details. The Wedding Ceremony Planner is also an invaluable resource for clergy of all faiths, wedding planners and location coordinators. Sprinkled with anecdotes about lessons learned by couples creating their weddings, this book is filled with the wisdom of experience

Praise for The Wedding Ceremony Planner

"Weddings are sacred acts surrounded by material hoopla. The Wedding Ceremony Planner clarifies the worldly issues but keeps the spirit central. It's the balance that every couple needs."
-Marianne Williamson, author, The Gift of Change

"With countless samples of ceremony segments and worksheets to put them all together, The Wedding Ceremony Planner affirms what we all hope for: to communicate our love in a clear, heartfelt manner that truly reflects who we are."
-Jack Canfield, co-author, Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul®

"In this time of increasing exchange and friendship between people of many cultures ... what the world needs is an intelligent and compassionate 'how to' book on performing interfaith ceremonies. This book is an excellent example."
-The Very Reverend James Parks Morton Founder and President of the Interfaith Center of New York

"[This book] was [wonderful] in helping us create our wedding ceremony. Not only was it easy to follow, but it made us think of things we never would have thought of on our own ... Going through the book also brought us closer ... it is the one thing we have sat down and done 100% together."
-Jennifer Buehler and Frank Yanoti Jr., Bride and Groom

"Planning the wedding ceremony in itself can be a process of discovery for a couple entering marriage ... this marvelous book ... help[s] couples design a ceremony that truly and personally characterizes the meaning and uniqueness of each union."
-Pril Smiley, Mohonk Mountain House

"This book will aid and guide the couple in the creation of their unique wedding ceremony that appropriately states their personal beliefs. How refreshing, how important, how appropriate to help make the wedding yours."
-Alexandra Stoddard, author of Choosing Happiness

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

As an Ecumenical Minister, I honor all religions and spiritual traditions and each person's right to find his or her own way in these matters. Performing weddings is one of my favorite ways to minister, for it keeps me constantly in touch with the remarkable power of love in our lives.

I have performed hundreds of wedding ceremonies and have run into just about every eventuality, from a flower girl who was afraid of hurting the flowers by pulling off their petals, to a bilingual ceremony with sign language. Whether you have children from a previous marriage to include in the ceremony, sensitive parental attitudes, or some other concern, it can be addressed in your ceremony with grace and sensitivity. The decision of two people to live in a committed relationship is one of the most beautiful things that can happen in life, and I find their choice to be united in marriage a sacred and joyous cause for celebration. It is a public declaration of love, hope, devotion and the couple’s intention to nurture themselves, each other, the relationship, and any children brought into the family by their union. My heart looks past any differences in race, creed, color, situation, or circumstance and I wildly applaud people for caring so deeply for each other. As you step across this threshold together, may you tenderly love one another and yourselves, and be blessed with a safe and happy marriage journey.

About the Author

Judith Johnson holds a doctorate in social psychology and is an ordained ecumenical minister, honoring all religious and spiritual traditions. She has officiated at hundreds of weddings over the past 14 years.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402203438
• ISBN-13: 978-1402203435
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

It took me a while to figure it out, but I simply have to write. It is not only a passion and an essential form of expression for me, but a process of claiming my truth.

When I write, time disappears. I become immersed in the creative process of birthing my understanding and expression. My brother is a sculptor and I often notice how similar our experiences are. We are driven by the need to bring forward a level of expression that feels complete and satisfactory to us. It is a birthing process.

Every article, poem, book, and both of my doctoral dissertations have taken me through this same journey. The essence of each project presents itself within my consciousness and then unfolds and evolves until I am sufficiently satisfied to let it go. I have learned to make peace with this part of my journey. After all, what is the alternative?

I have many back burners filled with projects in process. Some have been cooking for over twenty years. I have learned to honor this process. While I have been given good intuitive skills and facility as a writer, I am humbled by the reality that I have to wait for inspiration to present itself and then run to my computer or journal before the thoughts vacate my brain.

Writing comes very easily to me. I have the sense of getting out of the way and allowing words to flow through me. I don't have any great orderly process of creating outlines or laying out the structure of what I am to write. I simply sit down and write and go through the organic process of pieces revealing themselves. Completing a piece of work, whether poem or book, is cathartic and exhilarating for me. Writing is not negotiable for me - it is something I simply must do.

In addition to my writing, I wear a lot of different hats and each one seems to evoke a different label. To the couples I marry, to those who ask me to perform a Memorial Service or Celebration for a loved one, or those who come to me for grief counseling, I am usually "Reverend Johnson." To my coaching clients, I am "Dr. Johnson." To my friends, I am Judith. To my brother, I am Judy. And one dear friend has nicknamed me "The Cosmic Minister" because she understands that no matter what I am doing, my intention is to sustain a state of consciousness that celebrates and honors all.

Here's what I am really passionate about:

-Living life as a spiritual being having a human experience.
-Celebrating our oneness while honoring our differences.
-Choosing to stay conscious in the present moment in a state of loving.
-Exploring and balancing the multiple dimensions of our being.
-Bringing forward more joy, grace, ease, fun and authenticity.

To learn more about me and to read some of my articles, please visit my website at www.judithjohnson.com or check out my blog on The Huffington Post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-johnson/.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Guide for Planning Your Ceremony May 17, 2006

By A. McClenahan

Format:Paperback

I used this book to customize every aspect of my recent wedding (one month ago today), from the opening prayer & gathering words to the final blessing & pronouncement. There are several passages of each "section" of the ceremony for you to choose from, as well as suggestions on personalizing each section. The sample ceremonies will give you a great place to start if you know you want to personalize your ceremony but aren't sure where to start.

The book isn't just geared towards those looking for religious ceremonies: there's a perfect balance of ceremony passages for those looking for religious words as well as passages for non-traditional unions (ex: same-sex ceremonies, second marriages, marriages with children from previous relationships, etc). The helpful hints, practical advice, and checklists throughout the book made this an indispensable resource.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Our wedding ceremony was so beautiful and personal that every guest told me afterwards how much they'd enjoyed it & that our wedding was the best they'd attended; even our ecumenical minister was impressed and teared up while performing the ceremony. In summary, this is a wonderful book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Erased any jitters I had and replaced them with the perfect plan October 11, 2007

By Julie Jordan Scott

Format:Paperback

I was a first time officiant about to perform the wedding of two dear friends. I was nervous. Who did I think I was to perform a wedding? I knew I had the credentials, but did I have what it takes?

Under the tutelage of this phenomenal guidebook, I found that I did.

Part One didn't have anything to do with my part of the wedding, but the information is invaluable. It sets the context for the ceremony. Who is involved, where the wedding is, what intention do the bride and groom have for there special day, what is the tone they want to create... that sort of thing.

Part Two was all about the ceremony, in other words - my stuff. In these pages, Judith Johnson laid it all out succinctly while at the same time gave me many ideas. I got a blueprint and a variety of ways to bring that blueprint to life. Reading this section really boosted my confidence.

Part Three included the nitty gritty of weaving all of this together. It gave samples and suggestions, fleshing out some of Part Two and offering the expertise of Johnson's many years of experience.

I know this is a reference book I will refer to over and over and over again. I will recommend it to both officiants and couples alike.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most helpful book September 3, 2006

By Kathy Schwerin

Format:Paperback

I just performed my first wedding ceremony and found this to be the most helpful book of all I consulted. In addition to all that the other reviewers have noted, I found the section on doing the rehearsal invaluable. It had many tips that I never would have thought of (and I'm a very organized person who has put together all kinds of events); as a result the rehearsal went very smoothly, which in turn led to a ceremony in which all the participants were clear and able to be emotionally present. Thank you Judith!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wedding Ceremony Planner: An Essential Resource April 9, 2005

By J.C. Shaw

Format:Paperback

This book is surely a "must have" for anyone planning a wedding, including those who believe they know exactly what they are doing. Rev. Johnson's book clearly elucidates all of the subtleties of planning a successful wedding. She provides excellent anecdotal support to deeply insightful direction which evidences years of experience in conducting wedding ceremonies of all kinds. She offers guidance for both traditional and original style weddings, and excellent comparisons of the merits of each. She also offers many excellent examples of the exact language used for each part of the ceremony, and many example prayers, which makes planning a non-traditional service a less daunting exercise. Most importantly, this book provides an excellent center of focus from which a couple can improvise and customize their own perfect wedding.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best resource for planning your wedding January 9, 2007

By H

Format:Paperback

This is the best book to help make your day truly special. Wonderful ideas on traditions (and explanations regarding the traditions) from many different religions. I am a catholic (not practicing) and my fiance is spirtual. We didn't know where to begin and we realized we didn't want cookie cutter wedding. This book has been great in helping us incorporate elements that are important to us. Everything from writing your own vows to the timing and staging of the ceremony are covered in this book and have been invaluable in planning our wedding.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Got our non-religious ceremony off the ground! May 25, 2005

By I. Hitron

Format:Paperback

Rev. Johnson's Wedding Ceremony Planner was a lifesaver for my husband and I when planning our wedding. Neither of us are religious, but we still wanted to have a meaningful ceremony to initiate our marriage. When we sat down to write the ceremony, however, we were lost at sea! Rev. Johnson's guide navigated us to the creation of a beautiful, personal ceremony. We even incororated many parts of the sample ceremonies into our own. My brother and his fiance are now in the process of planning their own wedding, and I just bought them a copy of The Wedding Ceremony Planner to help them along.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best I've used! October 25, 2009

By Judith A. Harper

Format:Paperback

Being an ordained minister/wedding officiant I have found this book to be one of the best I've ever found. It continues to help me create unique contemporary weddings full of meaning and love!!! All my wedding couples are pleased with the ceremonies I create. I can't live without this book. It will serve as a resource in my ceremonies for years to come. I am able to create the type of wedding that my couples want and will cherish for years to come. I also provide a complementary copy of their ceremony so they can save the words/vows to live by for the rest of their lives together.

revJudith
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