Dr. Kimber Lee Wilkes, of The Ring Please, gave us this advice on planning your
ceremony! Dr. Wilkes is a non-denominational officiant available in Southern California.
Read on for some tips on creating the ceremony that best fits you!

The Ceremony has three areas to be considered; content, duration, and meaning.

Content
The content of your ceremony should speak the words that reflect you as a couple. The
guests should feel the the officiant knows the couple based on what is said which would
make the ceremony feel authentic. For the officiant, this would include spending some
time with you as well as getting to know your backgrounds and lifestyles.
Duration
The average ceremony lasts 20-30 minutes. This duration can vary depending on any
traditions that may be added, such as the unity candle, readings, rose exchange, or the
sand ceremony, just to name a few. Guests remain better engaged in ceremonies lasting
between 20 and 30 minutes.
Meaning
What type of ceremony would you like to have? Ceremonies can be simple or very
elaborate and involved. The tone can be serious and formal, or can involve some
levity. The meaning of your ceremony can sometimes be determined by the location.
For example, beach or garden ceremony can be less formal than a church ceremony.

Thanks to Dr. Kimber Lee Wilkes, The Ring Please, for this great information that is
sometimes overlooked as part of the planning!