Asking a friend or family member to officiate your wedding is a great way to make your ceremony feel more personal.
You want your ceremony to feel intimate and personal, so asking a friend or family member to officiate feels like the right choice. However, it can also feel like a lot of pressure on a first-time officiant—especially the ones who want nothing more than to do right by you.
Your loved one is suddenly responsible for the words everyone will remember, the flow of the ceremony, and leading a room full of people with no do-overs.
Without clear support, your friend is left to Google scripts, cobble together a ceremony based on advice from the internet, and hope it somehow feels like you.
i can help because i've been there.
Give them the support they need so they can write the ceremony you deserve.
I’m Katie — writer, editor, and officiant. I help thoughtful couples and their chosen officiants turn a big, vague responsibility into a clear, supported role.
More Than Words is the framework I wish every friend-officiant had: a step-by-step course and set of tools that show them exactly how to design, write, and deliver a ceremony that feels like you — and feels both manageable and fun for them.
"I am forever grateful for Katie and the fantastic service Something Borrowed provides – it made me the officiant I always aspired to be."
— Maraya K.
Introducing
more than Words
More Than Words gives them everything they need to carry this role with confidence, write with skill, and deliver with ease.
What your friend or loved one gets
A clear ceremony framework — So they’re not guessing at the order or trying to reinvent the wheel from Google and ChatGPT.
Writing prompts and examples — So they can turn what they know about you into words that feel like you — not like a template.
Logistics and leadership guidance — So they understand how to manage timing, cues, and the room, not just read from a page.
Rehearsal and delivery support — So they walk into the ceremony knowing what to say, where to stand, and how to hold the moment.
"Katie is an abundant source of knowledge, exceptionally personable, kind, compassionate, and profoundly caring."
She seamlessly combines honesty, wisdom, and a touch of humor in every interaction, making her the ideal mentor for those learning to become officiants. She is undeniably a treasure, and her resources are outstanding!
— Chera J.
“I didn't realize now how much time a could have saved….”
While I’m creative, think on my feet, and am comfortable with public speaking, the amount of details an officiant has to keep in mind leading up to the wedding day, as well as the things I only thought of on the day of the ceremony—all detracted from my ability to be fully engaged on my friend’s big day. Seeing all that More Than Words offers, from the Logistics Tracker to templates and scripting preparation-- I realize now how much time I could have saved in making the ceremony all that I had hoped, instead of learning as I went. I’ll be much better prepared for my next officiating opportunity!
— Michael K.
“Katie orchestrated the perfect ceremony for our wedding. I was blown away by all the touches she put into her speech.”
She is organized, thorough and professional. She took a very thoughtful approach to preparing the ceremony and started the planning process well in advance of the big day. The end result was a beautiful ceremony that my wife and I will never forget. I would highly recommend that anyone learn from her.
— John O.
FOR YOUR FRIEND...
A clear, step-by-step path instead of a pile of random scripts.
Less panic, more confidence.
An opportunity to fully enjoy the process, and show up with excitement
FOR YOU...
A ceremony that feels personal and intentional
Confidence that the most meaningful part of your wedding isn’t left to chance.
A friend who can actually enjoy the day instead of quietly spiraling.
What happens if they’re left to figure it out alone?
Most friend-officiants care deeply and want to do a good job, but they’re stuck stitching together scripts from Google, over-preparing one part and forgetting others, or planning to wing it and hoping for the best.
That’s how ceremonies end up feeling disjointed, too long, too inside-jokey, or just slightly off — not because anyone didn’t care, but because no one gave them a roadmap.
Looking for more support?
If you’d prefer to have a professional step in a bit more — whether that’s co-writing the ceremony, building a custom script your friend delivers, or having me officiate myself — I offer a limited number of officiant and ceremony-writing services each year.
Officiant services
