A Funny Wedding Ceremony?

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6 Expert Tips for Creating a Wedding Ceremony with Laughter

One of the services a wedding Celebrant provides to couples is a custom ceremony tailored to them in both content and tone.  If they prefer a solemn but joyous start to their big day, they get that.  If they want a funny wedding ceremony that invites a little laughter (or a lot), they have that option too.  Jump straight to the tips.

A moment of laughter in a wedding ceremony. Photo credit: Erika Dolph Photography

There are many things to talk about when I first sit down with couples who are looking for their wedding officiant.  We cover many topics as I reach for a high-level understanding of what each couple wants out of their ceremony.  Broaching the subject of wedding ceremony humor is always delicate.  On one hand, I know that every couple wants to enjoy their wedding day from start to finish, and good-natured laughter from guests and the couple is part of joyful celebration.  On the other hand, couples who find their way to me are highly invested in the meaning of their wedding ceremony.  They aren’t looking to be married by a stand-up comic, and don’t want their ceremony turned into a joke. 

Not a wedding officiant.

I enjoy laughter as much as the next person.  But I understand a couple’s apprehension about their wedding ceremony being too funny.  I certainly don’t want to create the impression that their ceremony will turn into a comedy routine!  To be fair, I’m about the farthest thing from a natural comedian that you’ll find.  By choice I prepare meticulously – I have zero desire to ad lib, ever.  The humor that makes its way into the ceremonies I write is carefully planned and the result of much thought.  And of course, all my couples have full and final approval over their ceremonies. Payoff comes in the form of knowing giggles when guests recognize the personalities of the couple within the ceremony, and the happy couple smiling along with their loved ones.

So if you want to lighten the mood with humor during your ceremony, what’s the best approach?  It will help of course to work with a wedding officiant who is writing your ceremony from scratch.  Stale, re-hashed jokes from a “funny wedding ceremony script” copied and pasted from the internet - with no real connection to you - are much more likely to fall flat.  There’s not much worse than a wedding joke that gets absolutely no reaction from guests. 

Another approach is to find a wedding reading that brings a laugh or two. Generally, this is safe territory, since the humor isn’t likely to be directed at anyone present. And readings, even when personally meaningful to the couple, usually have a feeling of being somewhat distinct from the rest of the ceremony.

Here are my best tips for creating a wedding ceremony that will invite good-natured laughter

• A little goes a long way.  Choose a few well-timed points within your ceremony to go for a laugh.  An experienced wedding officiant will be able to help you use humor at key times so that it enhances rather than derails your ceremony.

• Keep it light.  A wedding ceremony is no time for a joke that’s mean-spirited, or funny at anyone’s expense. 

• Keep it clean.  Ditto for racy jokes, or profanity.

• Be inclusive.  Let everyone enjoy the humor by avoiding insider jokes that leave any of your guests feeling left out or confused.

• Don’t make fun of marriage itself. This is your wedding, and presumably both of you are happy about getting married. Jokes that present marriage in a bad light will definitely sour the occasion.

• Make it relevant to you.  If the two of you root for rival sports teams, or both geek out over something obscure, or both hate a particular household chore, or if you have strange “house rules” - turn it into a joke!  Your guests will love this sort of material because it reflects the two of you.

Keeping these guidelines in mind will mean that there’s fond laughter in your wedding ceremony to go along with the happy tears.  You’ll have moments within your ceremony that make you grin and help shake off any nervousness you might be feeling. When it’s your funny wedding ceremony rather than a generic script, guests will be engaged and thoroughly enjoy this time when the meaning of your special day is expressed – and it will set the tone for the rest of your wedding day!  Your ceremony will fly by, leaving you and your guests feeling both moved and light-hearted.

A great wedding ceremony can include fun and laughter.

Want guidance on planning other aspects of your ceremony? Here’s how you can have an unplugged ceremony, add a beautiful reading, or include your canine buddy in your wedding day.

Are you planning a wedding day that reflects the two of you and makes everyone smile? Whether you envision an elopement or a grand gathering, if you’re looking for the help of a professional wedding officiant in Pennsylvania, I would love to connect!

What do you think? Would you prefer some laughter to balance the happy tears in your wedding ceremony? What’s the best joke you’ve heard at a wedding? Leave a comment!