Weddings - Universal Life Church Monastery Blog

Popular Wedding Websites Go to War Against Plantation Weddings

December 9th, 2019

Plantations are popular wedding venues for couples seeking to give their nuptials some antebellum charm. Recently, however, popular wedding websites removed the venues - citing their history of slavery and injustice. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Weddings | 31 Comments »

Why More Couples Want Friends or Family to Officiate Their Wedding

March 25th, 2019

A recent survey showed that 43 percent of couples chose to have a friend or family member officiate their wedding ceremony. What's driving this trend? Continue Reading »

Posted in: Weddings, Progressive Spirituality | 36 Comments »

'I Now Pronounce You Mom and Wife': Incest Goes Unnoticed for Years

March 19th, 2018

Officials in Oklahoma were shocked to discover that a married lesbian couple were actually a mother and daughter. Two years after lying on a marriage license to hide their incest, the couple was finally caught. Now they're both facing serious legal consequences. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Weddings | 34 Comments »

Tongue Tied? Try the Wedding Ceremony Script Generator

September 30th, 2015

So you’ve been asked to perform a wedding. There’s a lot to consider to make sure everything works out, and you may be a little nervous. You’ve checked with the office that is issuing the marriage license to see if you need to register with documentation Continue Reading »

Posted in: Weddings | 2 Comments »

6 Ways to Advertise Your Wedding Officiant Services

August 27th, 2015

Many of you have been ordained by the Universal Life Church in order to officiate a wedding for a friend or family member. We receive emails and calls from ministers every day not only curious about how to perform a wedding, but how to advertise your services Continue Reading »

Posted in: Weddings | 35 Comments »

The Marriage Fight in Alabama

February 27th, 2015

Years ago, Alabama, like many states, took a stand for conservative Biblical principles by defining marriage as being between one man and one woman. That's why for proponents of marriage equality, it was almost too good to be true when a federal judge recently Continue Reading »

Posted in: Uncategorized, Weddings | 281 Comments »

Running from Marriage Rights

January 9th, 2015

As marriage equality sweeps across the United States, ordained ministers are left to figure out their role in the institution. For denominations that have fundamental disagreements with same-sex marriages, do they continue to officiate ceremonies or do they ab Continue Reading »

Posted in: Weddings | 56 Comments »

The Rise of the Themed Wedding

June 20th, 2014

Imagine you are performing a wedding and the bride and groom roll up in a Delorean in a Back to the Future-inspired wedding. Extravagant props like this have become the centerpieces of themed weddings, which have seen a marked rise in popularity in recent year Continue Reading »

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How to Perform a Wedding Ceremony

May 12th, 2014

A person asked to perform a wedding ceremony may be overwhelmed by the process and not quite know where to start. You must become legally ordained, find out local requirements, and prepare for the performance. There are three simple steps that ensure everythin Continue Reading »

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The Wedding Vow: Ever Changing Pledge of Devotion

April 9th, 2014

“To have and to hold”. “To love and to cherish”. Such phrases have left an indelible mark on our understanding of what it means to unite in holy matrimony, at least in Western Christianity. But what are the origins of the wedding vow, and how has it ev Continue Reading »

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