Planning a wedding can be really stressful. You have to juggle with all the tasks on the to-do list and make sure they are all done impeccably. Among many questions you will have to answer are the type, the place and the performer of the ceremony. Will you have a religious or a civil ceremony? Will you wed in a church or some other religious place? Will it be in a meeting room or outside? Who will be your officiant? Those are the questions that demand thorough consideration from you and your partner. Still, there are some elements that are applicable no matter the different choices regarding the ceremony. Here, we will guide you through them.
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Give Your Welcome
Your guests are an essential part of the wedding ceremony, and they deserve a nice welcome. If you have guests from out of town, arrange airport/bus stations pick-ups and drop-offs, and discounts for hotel rooms. Consider how you will decorate the space where the guests will go in. Bad first impressions are very hard to forget. Place DIY signposts and welcoming signs. Give the guests welcoming bags/buckets containing small but cute things, such as candy bars, magazines, photos, letters, etc.
Processional
Making an entrance is the key of every wedding ceremony. The groom, the best man and groomsmen usually wait with the officiant for the lady of the day to go in. The honored guests are seated, and here comes the bride. Or not? Well, the traditional ceremony requires following order: ring bearer in an adorable mini groom suit if possible, bridesmaids and maid of honor (matching dresses) and adorable flower girl with rose petals or a vintage sign announcing the bride. If traditional mini-me style of the flower girl is not your cup of tea, there are many modern flower girl dresses to choose from.
Telling the Story
Now comes one of the most emotional parts of the ceremony – telling the story about the couple. It is a big deal that you have decided to spend your whole life together and to share that decision with your guests. That is why it is important to tell them why. Your officant can recount the story how you described it. You can also include a reading where you and your partner will read a piece that you think speaks about your relationship.
Wedding Vows
Sometimes, it is enough to say “I do” and take the ring. You can include more traditional vows that you will repeat after officiant. Still, having in mind that you are about to step into unity that will last as long as you both shall live, it would be more personal and romantic to read your own vows. Here, we do not mean to find examples on the web and redo them, but really think of your own, from the hearth. One ordinary word of a loved one is worth more than thousand pages of poetry from a stranger. Still, you can use some famous love quotes to get you started.
By now you are probably pronounced man and wife. If you have some post-declaration ritual (breaking of the glass, jumping of the broom, etc) this is about the time to do it, so the party could get started. Do not forget to allow the photographer to capture your triumphant smiles while starting your own happily-ever-after. Congratulations!