Many couples love the idea of a surprise wedding ceremony. Rather than go through the hassle of months of wedding planning, they’ll throw together a ceremony under false pretenses. This can be fun for guests, but what about you now you’ve been asked to act as their officiant? Here is a guide on how to perform a surprise wedding ceremony to get you started.
Check out How to Officiate a Wedding For the First Time Here.
Are Surprise Weddings legal in Australia, UK and USA?
Yes. The Marriage Act 1961 in Australia insists that both partners have to consent to getting married one calendar month ahead of time. This protects against anyone being forced into a union out of social pressure. It can only be a surprise for the guests, not either member of the couple!
How Does a Surprise Wedding Work?
Surprise weddings typically start out as one event and transform into a ceremony as couples surprise their guests. As the officiant, you can help your friends handle some of the details and logistics during the day while they prepare for the big event. You can help coordinate caterers, guests, and photographers while maintaining the secret.
It doesn’t matter why guests are there, as long as they turn up and have a great time. Some couples like to turn engagement parties into surprise weddings to ensure that all the right people are in attendance. Others may do this at their birthday parties, or summer garden parties. With the right organization, it could even be an intimate ceremony in the backyard.
Fulfilling Your Role As You Officiate A Surprise Wedding Ceremony
There is a lot to handle with the organization and the way you conduct the ceremony. For a start, you need to figure out how to reveal a surprise wedding as the officiant. Grab everyone’s attention, thank them for attending, and inform them that the event isn’t quite what they expected. From there, you have two options. You can,
- use your role to lead people to a separate venue and have them take their seats.
- announce the arrival of the bride and groom as they appear in their wedding outfits.
You might want to invest in the best PA system for marriage celebrants to rise above the chatter or play some entrance music.
Crafting the Perfect Surprise Wedding Ceremony Script
Once the surprise is announced, you have the important job of conducting the wedding. This means making sure the couple says their vows, exchanges their rings and signs the marriage license. Don’t forget to call on the pre-arranged witnesses for this part too.
As long as you hit all these important points, you can have some fun with the surprise wedding ceremony script. Meet up with the couple beforehand to see what they might want you to say and discuss the general tone. You can also find out if they want to say their own vows or repeat traditional ones after you.
Practice this in the mirror, and don’t worry if you stumble on the first day. You’re allowed to show emotion for your friends even though this is a professional role. If this is your first time doing anything like this, check out our guide on how to officiate a wedding to get you settled.
Tips for Maintaining Secrecy And Building Anticipation For a Surprise Wedding
It is vital to work on coordinating with the couple and other participants for a seamless surprise. Surprise weddings work best when you have a well-oiled machine of trusted people working underneath a watertight cover story.
Here are some tips on How to Perform a Suprise Wedding Ceremony.
- The fewer that know the truth, the better.
- Talk to the couple about who to tell, such as giving parents and kids a little warning.
- If they want a specific maid of honour, don’t assume that person will show up to a general garden party.
- Make sure there are places off-limits where caterers can set up, the couple can change, and you can set up a suitable venue.
- Tease guests with the idea that something fun will be happening at the party at a specific time. This improves the chances that they are all present and don’t show up late.
Ensuring a Memorable Surprise Wedding Ceremony Experience for the Couple and Guests
Whatever the couple plans to do, and whatever the cover story, you need to be ready to take care of them and help them keep this secret. You are their rock during a hectic day as you officiate a surprise wedding ceremony. Now you know how to perform a surprise wedding ceremony, you can start planning something amazing.
Surprise Wedding Ceremony Specialist
