Step1
Select an officiant of your ceremony. An officiant can be a judge, lawyer, Justice of the Peace, or even a non-denominational minister that will promise to keep God out of the ceremony.
Step2
Decide where you would like to hold your wedding ceremony. There are many options available that don't include the tradition church or chapel. Hold your ceremony on the beach, in your back yard or in a community center. The sky is the limit when it comes to location.
Step3
Focus the wedding's theme around your personal views, instead of a set philosophy or institution. An atheist wedding ceremony should demonstrate the hopes, goals, aspirations and dreams of the bride and groom, taking into account the uniqueness of their relationship.
Step4
Choose the "Gathering Words" of your ceremony. Many traditional, Christian weddings begin with the words, "We are gathered together under God," however the atheist option could be something like, "We are gathered together in love," or the like. The opening words can be a statement, or something more personal and unique, like a poem or song.
Step5
Write your wedding vows. Regardless of what you decide to add to or eliminate from your wedding ceremony, it is important that you include vows, because without them, the marriage is not legal. You can keep your vows as simple as the traditional "I do's," or write your own, personal declarations for one another.
Step6
Exchange a symbol of your new, legal relationship. Many atheists choose to eliminate the traditional exchange of rings, however you might consider other symbols of your love, such as bracelets, charms, or necklaces. If you choose not to exchange gifts, you might consider the symbolic tying of the wrists, which represents the union, drink wine from the same bottle, or simply light a candle together.
Step7
End your atheist wedding ceremony with an acknowledgment of the union. These words do not need to be the traditional, "I now pronounce you man and wife," but may be anything that your imagination can dream up.
Comments
moonlyte said
on 11/1/2007 Excellent article! A lot of people call my husband (a non-denom minister) and are worried that the ceremony will have to include God or some form of religious talk. They are quite pleased to learn that their ceremony is THEIRS and they can dictate every single word that is spoken. It's a wonderful time to be getting married (this century I mean) as the bride and groom control it all down to the tiniest detail. We've performed hundreds of ceremonies that don't include any type of 'creator' unless you count Mother Earth! And outdoor ceremonies are the best of the best!
Thanks for a great article!