What Makes Your Ceremony Special
Many wedding magazines, planners, and wedding shows provide a multitude of great ideas
and resources to help make your day special. They focus on everything from hairdos and
headpieces to transportation and can be a bride and groom's best friend as they plan their
special day. But what really makes your day special is the ceremony.
A wonderful ceremony will make for a wonderful celebration. A terrible ceremony may cast
a shadow over the remainder of your day. So being prepared and taking care of the small
details, before your ceremony begins, can reward you with fun and pleasure for the remainder of your momentous day.
Here are a few suggestions, from 'lessons learned' to help you have a stress free ceremony.
First, I suggest that you arrive early; not ON TIME or LATE, but early. Then after you arrive, if you want your ceremony
to be a little late that's OK. You are now in control. If possible, it is a good idea for you to dress in a bridal room. Arrive
with your hair and make-up in place. If that is not possible it is still wise to arrive at least 20 minutes early even if you
wait in the limousine. This will provide you with some 'personal time' to prepare for the most important part of your
day. Your photographer may take some photographs of you alone and with your attendants.
Sometimes a ceremony will begin a few minutes late. This is acceptable and often unavoidable as it usually takes a few
minutes to coordinate the 'start up'. Beginning your ceremony reasonably close to the invitation start up time is a small
way in expressing gratitude for your guest's presence and will assure a stress free ceremony. Most of the guests do
arrive early and on time.
Occasionally 'late arrivals' may even enter during the 'processional' with the bridal party. To prevent this from
happening, instruct your ushers ( or Wedding Liaison ] to hold back late arrivals until the wedding party has entered.
After the wedding party has entered they may be escorted to their place.
You may want to ask immediate family to arrive one half hour early to greet guests.
It is prudent for the officiant and Wedding Liaison to be in charge of the 'start up' of the ceremony. On occasion,
when others have been in charge, the bridal party has found itself coming down the aisle without the officiant and
groom in their places.
In the case where your guests are transported to the ceremony site via a rented bus it is wise to instruct the bus
drivers to arrive early rather then just arriving on time.
Ask your ushers to begin escorting your guests to their seats no later then 15 minutes before the scheduled start of
ceremony.
Let your officiant know in advance your wishes regarding your photographer and videography. Request that they
coordinate their activities with your officiant.
Young children love to take part in your ceremony but have a contingency plan in place to prevent a potential incident.
Summer outdoor ceremonies which are held during a extremely humid, sunny, hot day may be a source of stress for
your guests. Cold water, fans or sun protectors (umbrellas) may be a thoughtful way to lessen the effects of hot
weather. Perhaps setting up chairs in the shade could also be considered. Your guests will appreciate your
thoughtfulness.
Finally! Most of the ceremonies I assist run smoothly from beginning to end. I realize that sometimes it is the
'unexpected' that adds life and laughter into a great ceremony. It is great when things go as planned. However, on
occasion there can be a few 'awkward' moments. Some of these 'moments' were due to unforeseen circumstances. They
could not have been prevented. Many were not even noticed. However, others, happened because people did not
understand the significance of a 'stress free ceremony'.
HAPPY WEDDING PLANNING !
Many wedding magazines, planners, and wedding shows provide a multitude of great ideas
and resources to help make your day special. They focus on everything from hairdos and
headpieces to transportation and can be a bride and groom's best friend as they plan their
special day. But what really makes your day special is the ceremony.
A wonderful ceremony will make for a wonderful celebration. A terrible ceremony may cast
a shadow over the remainder of your day. So being prepared and taking care of the small
details, before your ceremony begins, can reward you with fun and pleasure for the remainder of your momentous day.
Here are a few suggestions, from 'lessons learned' to help you have a stress free ceremony.
First, I suggest that you arrive early; not ON TIME or LATE, but early. Then after you arrive, if you want your ceremony
to be a little late that's OK. You are now in control. If possible, it is a good idea for you to dress in a bridal room. Arrive
with your hair and make-up in place. If that is not possible it is still wise to arrive at least 20 minutes early even if you
wait in the limousine. This will provide you with some 'personal time' to prepare for the most important part of your
day. Your photographer may take some photographs of you alone and with your attendants.
Sometimes a ceremony will begin a few minutes late. This is acceptable and often unavoidable as it usually takes a few
minutes to coordinate the 'start up'. Beginning your ceremony reasonably close to the invitation start up time is a small
way in expressing gratitude for your guest's presence and will assure a stress free ceremony. Most of the guests do
arrive early and on time.
Occasionally 'late arrivals' may even enter during the 'processional' with the bridal party. To prevent this from
happening, instruct your ushers ( or Wedding Liaison ] to hold back late arrivals until the wedding party has entered.
After the wedding party has entered they may be escorted to their place.
You may want to ask immediate family to arrive one half hour early to greet guests.
It is prudent for the officiant and Wedding Liaison to be in charge of the 'start up' of the ceremony. On occasion,
when others have been in charge, the bridal party has found itself coming down the aisle without the officiant and
groom in their places.
In the case where your guests are transported to the ceremony site via a rented bus it is wise to instruct the bus
drivers to arrive early rather then just arriving on time.
Ask your ushers to begin escorting your guests to their seats no later then 15 minutes before the scheduled start of
ceremony.
Let your officiant know in advance your wishes regarding your photographer and videography. Request that they
coordinate their activities with your officiant.
Young children love to take part in your ceremony but have a contingency plan in place to prevent a potential incident.
Summer outdoor ceremonies which are held during a extremely humid, sunny, hot day may be a source of stress for
your guests. Cold water, fans or sun protectors (umbrellas) may be a thoughtful way to lessen the effects of hot
weather. Perhaps setting up chairs in the shade could also be considered. Your guests will appreciate your
thoughtfulness.
Finally! Most of the ceremonies I assist run smoothly from beginning to end. I realize that sometimes it is the
'unexpected' that adds life and laughter into a great ceremony. It is great when things go as planned. However, on
occasion there can be a few 'awkward' moments. Some of these 'moments' were due to unforeseen circumstances. They
could not have been prevented. Many were not even noticed. However, others, happened because people did not
understand the significance of a 'stress free ceremony'.
HAPPY WEDDING PLANNING !
| Copyright © 2009 Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison |
