Planning your Ceremony
You've spent hours and hours obsessing over every detail of your reception, and with good reason -- it's going to be the party of a lifetime. Today we're going to talk about tome tips for planning your ceremony.After all, that special moment when you and your fiance are pronounced husband and wife is the true highlight of your wedding -- one that friends and family members will remember long after the cake is cut and the bouquet is tossed.
To help give you the best design advise we'll be talking with our own expert designer with 15 years experience in event planning in New York City and Greenwich Connecticut - Heidi Kunsman and we also sought advise from the Rev. Judith Johnson, author of "The Wedding Ceremony Planner"; and with their guidance, you'll have all your ceremony bases covered -- from writing your vows to choosing your readings.
Where to Begin
Begin by choosing how you're going to add to the standard order of ceremony events with creative touches that represent you as a couple. And the best place to start? Your entrance.
The wedding party that danced down the aisle on YouTube may inspire you, but there are other ways to make the processional your own. We once had a wedding where the bride's and groom's guests met at opposite corners of a park, then walked to meet in the middle. Work with your officiant to choreograph an entrance that works for you and your venue. But keep it simple and not too over the top.
The Seating
Consider the various configurations in which you can seat guests. For an alternative to traditional seating that separates the bride's side from the groom's side, arrange chairs in the round or in small groupings. Or, for a very intimate wedding, we had a couple that chose to have their guests join hands and surround you in a circle as they exchanged vows.
Your Reading, Your Story
Ask your officiant to incorporate a chapter from your love story into his or her address. "It will help guests who may not be privy to the details of your courtship feel more connected to you". Share the sweet story of how you met, when you got engaged, or how you chose your wedding venue. Or print a special quote or song lyric on your program.
Whether it's a beloved poem or a passage from your favorite book, your readings should truly celebrate who you are. "Only include them if the literature is meaningful and speaks to your heart," Otherwise, it could feel like filler. Should you opt to include one (or two), consider printing the text in the program so guests can follow along.
Your Traditions
If you will incorporate a cultural or religious tradition such as breaking a glass or jumping a broom, you may want to explain it in your program. if you have guests without background information or who may not be familiar with your traditions thry may not fully understand the meaning.
Your Vows
We always reccommend couples write their own vows. The warmth it brings to a ceremony is almost indescribable. Writing down your love on paper may seem daunting, but it's easier than you'd think.
Rituals
Consider a Ritual
This is a powerful way to express your love, and the perfect complement to your vows. One ritual we've seen many times is the unity candle. In this Judeo-Christian tradition, the bride and groom each use a lit candle to light a larger third candle that represents their union. This can also be performed by the bride and groom's parents to symbolize two families coming together. Or, to involve guests, design a display where they may light a candle and say a blessing as they enter the ceremony.
Here are a few more rituals to consider.
Blessing Of Rings
Before the couple exchanges rings, the wedding bands are passed among the guests (or, in larger weddings, just the first two rows) so friends and family can share their well-wishes for your marriage. Consider tying the rings to a pretty string of ribbon, or attaching them to a pillow. Once they've made their way around the room, the rings are then returned to the altar, with the love and support from your nearest and dearest symbolically attached.
A Sword Detail
Are you marrying a man in the military? After the ceremony, it's tradition for your groom's fellow officers to form a sword detail. As the bride and groom walk through the arch formed by the blades, each pair of men lowered their swords and announce, "The right of passage is a kiss." So with every few steps newlyweds embrace for a smooch.
Tree Planting
Planting a tree that commemorates the anniversary of your wedding and grows with your marriage is a thoughtful touch for ceremonies that take place at a family home. The tree should be almost completely planted prior to the ceremony, with soil reserved in two small containers. During the ceremony, the bride and groom should place soil from the two containers on top of the planting, representing two individuals coming together as one.
Sand Pouring
The bride and groom each have a container with different color sand, together they pour their sand into one container symobolizing their coming together.
Handfasting
This ancient Celtic ceremony has many modern incarnations. Prior to saying their vows, the couple joins hands, making a figure eight to represent eternity (right hand to right hand, left hand to left hand). Their crossed hands are then tied together with ribbon to represent two individuals coming together. For a more personal touch, consider using a piece of heirloom fabric in lieu of ribbon.
Ok, so there are a few tis on your ceremony. Have some of your own? let us know what you've done or have seen.
Need additional ideas? try these
http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Ceremony-Planner-Essential-Important/dp/1402203438
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/category.jsp?itemId=cat10040734
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