Wedding Stories
How to Write Unforgettable and Romantic Ceremonies for Novels
Due in 2026. More books here.
This course for the Central Ohio Romance Writers Conference soon to be a book!
Romance readers love weddings. It began with Jane Austin and continues with Hallmark and in every genre in between. How can we, as writers, make weddings unforgettable and romantic? We can make them real and filled with details that make them come alive.
We've all been to weddings, and many of us have written weddings in our romance stories and novels, but have you ever wanted to expand your writing of the wedding scene to include more nuances and insights into the ceremony itself? And do you seek a more reality-based looks at wedding stress―and drama―that can make the story more exciting?
As fiction celebrates more diverse character, it is helpful to be able to write about real weddings that reflect the spiritual and cultural values of the couple and their families. In this course we will look at how to design contemporary fictional ceremonies for characters of all backgrounds, cultures, and faiths; and, how to research weddings of all kinds to fit your story.
This course/book includes:
- Basic outline of a contemporary wedding ceremony and ideas for prayers, readings, and sharing the couple's love story as part of the wedding.
- A run-down of the kinds of ceremonies your couples may have ― religious, non-religious contemporary, non-denominational, alternative, civil, new age, or highly cultural – and the cast of characters that may be involved (and can help you move your story along!).
- Details, nuances, and rituals for a host of different cultures, such as what happens at a Hindu wedding, a Celtic ceremony, or a same sex ceremony.
- Writing wedding vows and creating scenes in which you can have your couples speak these words from the heart.
- Insights into real family issues, dynamics, and conflict situations that can arise to make your fictional wedding more fascinating (there are a lot!).
-Inspiration for the experience of the couple at the altar ― how they look at each other, what they say with their eyes, their words, and their body language.
-Different kinds of venues in which to set a wedding ― from beaches and parks, to castles and mansions, home weddings to big hotels, and houses of worship to romantic destinations.
-Ideas for engagement stories and proposals.
You will have fun planning your fictional wedding as we look at different ways to bring your couples to the altar. You'll find tips on different aspects of the wedding planning and ceremony and will have some excercises for crafting your own wedding readings, vows, and love stories to tell as part of the wedding. There is some fun research as well!