If the time has finally arrived and you get to plan the wedding ceremony of your dreams, you may be wondering where to start. This is one of the biggest events of your life that should reflect you and your partner’s great love for each other. Wedding planning can feel daunting and overwhelming at times; however, the reward is completely worth it.
With the right information, this process doesn’t need to be difficult. If you’re not completely sure where to start, then continue reading. Here is everything you may want to know about the 12 most important factors to consider when planning your wedding ceremony.
1. Location
One of the first things you’ll have to consider is the location of your ceremony. You want to choose a location that beautifully works with your wedding theme, style, and season. If you’re having a winter wedding, think about an indoor ceremony or a quick outdoor ceremony with heat and warm blankets.
For summer weddings, take into consideration where the sun will be during your ceremony and attempt to provide areas of shade for you, your bridal party, and your wedding guests. Additionally, make sure that the location you choose is accessible for all of your wedding guests and vendors.
2. Timing
The timing of your wedding ceremony will affect many other aspects of your wedding planning process. Take into account how long your ceremony will last and how many readings, vows, and remarks you want to have. A typical wedding ceremony lasts for about half an hour, including your grand entrance and exit.
3. Theme
Most people have a specific wedding theme that you’ll want to include in your ceremony. You can incorporate this overarching theme into the readings, remarks, vows, and blessings. Read from your favourite love poem for a romantic wedding theme, write sailing metaphors into your opening remarks during a beach wedding, or talk about the blossoming nature of love at your garden wedding.
4. Decorations
Decorations for your ceremony can be a little less extravagant than your reception. This way, the main focus will be placed on you and your partner. Simple key decoration elements for a ceremony may include flowers, programs, seating, special lights, signage, and wedding altar.
5. Vows
Write vows that represent your unique love for one another. Your vows should be special to you as a couple and can be romantic, funny, or traditional. Typically, vows have representations of the past, present, and future of your relationship.
6. Music
You’ll need to choose music for your prelude, entrance, bridal entrance, bridal party exit, and postlude. For your ceremony, it’s most common to have live musicians or a string ensemble. Alternatively, you can play music through speakers set up around your venue.
7. Officiant
When choosing an officiant, we recommend that you meet with a few different people so that you find the one that most aligns with your wedding style and tone. If you’re religious, you may want to be married by a minister, priest, pastor, or rabbi. For a more relaxed and personal tone, you may ask one of your close friends to get ordained so that they can officiate.
8. Legality
For your wedding to be official and legal, your ceremony needs to meet certain criteria, including the following:
- Your wedding officiant needs to officially introduce themselves.
- You and your partner’s full names need to be said out loud.
- You must exchange vows.
- The officiant must recite a monitum.
- There need to be at least two witnesses over the age of 18.
- Two marriage certificates must be signed.
9. Ceremony order
When planning your ceremony, practice this traditional order for your rehearsal and wedding day:
- Prelude
- Entrance:
- Grandparents
- Groom’s parents
- Mother of the bride
- Groomsmen individually
- Bridesmaids individually
- Maid of honour
- Ring-bearer
- Flower girl
- Bride and father of the bride
- Opening remarks
- Readings
- Officiant address
- Vows
- Ring exchange
- Marriage pronouncement
- You may now kiss the bride!
- Unity ceremony
- Closing remarks
- Recessional
- Bride and groom
- Flower girl
- Ring-bearer
- Maid of honour and best man
- Bridesmaids and groomsmen paired together
- Parents of the bride
- Parents of the groom
- Grandparents
- Postlude and guest exit
10. Personal touches
Add personal touches to your ceremony to make it feel more special. You can include any religious or cultural traditions that have a special meaning for you and your partner. Have someone read from a poem or book that holds importance to you. Another way to add personalization is by having a special unity ceremony such as mixing sands together or releasing a wish lantern.
11. Planning your exit
When planning your exit, you’ll not only need to plan the order, but also ways to make it special. Provide your guests with confetti, flower petals, bubbles, rice, or sparklers to make it a moment you’ll never forget.
12. Final thoughts/checklist
On your wedding day, keep in mind this small but incredibly important day-of checklist:
- Remember to bring the wedding rings!
- Have an electronic and paper copy of your vows.
- Continue checking the weather in case you need to set up at your backup location.
- Bring the forms you need to make your marriage legal and official.
- Eat and drink the morning of your wedding ceremony to stay fueled, energized, and in good spirits!
- Pack an emergency wedding day glamour kit filled with waterproof mascara, stain remover, makeup, hairspray, bobby pins, and other necessities!
For further information about planning the perfect wedding ceremony or booking a wedding ceremony hall in Vaughan, please reach out to Chateau Le Jardin at 1-888-529-8573 or contact us online. Our team of event experts would love to help you feel calm and prepared for your special day in any way we can. We proudly provide high-quality event services including a grand ballroom, expert catering, an outdoor area with warm fireplaces, and much more.
