Wedding Party Processional

Guests are seated and it’s time for the wedding to begin. The first thing that happens is that the grandparents and parents of the couple are escorted to their seats on the front rows. The groom’s family sits on the right side and the bride’s on the left.  The bride’s mother is the last to be seated and after that, usually there is a change in music and then the minister, groom, best man and groomsmen enter and take their place.  Then the bridesmaid’s enter one at time until finally the maid or matron of honor enters. If there is a ring bearer he comes in followed by a flower girl. The mother of the bride stands to signal everyone to stand for the bride. The bride enters to the bridal march escorted by her father.

Wedding Ceremony

With father and daughter in front of the minister, the officiant may offer a few words and a prayer before asking the father of the bride something like, “Who gives this woman in marriage?” The father answers, “Her mother and I,” perhaps kisses his daughter on the cheek and shakes the groom’s hand – and then takes his seat. The minister asks the guests to sit and the ceremony proper begins.

Ceremonies can differ from church to church, or even minister to minister. Hopefully, the minister will offer some wedding ceremony ideas to choose from. Generally, a Christian minister will deliver a marriage homily to present some ideas about the significance of marriage.

After that comes the vows ceremony. There are traditional vows of the “til death do us part” variety than is used in most cases. More and more, couples are choosing to write their vows to recite at this time in addition to or instead of the traditional wedding vows. Next comes the ring ceremony when the couple exchanges rings and ring vows.

At this point, in many weddings there is some kind of unity ceremony to signify the two becoming one. Most often it the Unity Candle Ceremony though some are opting for the Sand Ceremony instead.

At the conclusion of the unity ceremony, the minister may offer a marital admonition, reading of Scripture, and / or a prayer. Next is the pronouncement of marriage, the sealing of the covenant with a kiss, and finally presentation of the couple to friends and family.

Recessional

The bride and groom exit, followed by the best man and maid or matron of honor, and then other attendants. Often family is also escorted out but not always. There may be a receiving line where the couple, parents and wedding party greet all the guests – although this is much less frequent than it used to be. Most couples will now greet guests at the wedding reception.

There you have it. While not every detail that might be in a wedding was included in this presentation, you have here a basic outline for a Christian wedding ceremony, and you know more than 99% of the people about weddings.

This article takes a broader few. Many of the items on the checklist won’t be of interest to you. But there are certain major areas that affect most weddings. Here we are giving you the big picture to help you see the main contours of planning your wedding. Once you have the main areas in sight, you can drill down into more specifics.

We hope your won’t feel overwhelmed. That’s not the purpose – but rather to you give a sense of having control and knowing what it is you need to get done.

First, decide what kind of premarital preparation you will do. This one is at the top of the list because most wedding checklists leave it off altogether. While not strictly speaking part of the wedding, it is included since in all the wedding preparations, it is easily overlooked. Your church or minister may provide premarital preparation courses, or you can check for marriage preparation online resources. This may be the best wedding idea you hear.

Second, you will decide on the date for your wedding. It is best to not get tied too much to one date however. As you begin to search for a wedding venue and work out the other details of the wedding, you may find that your first choice of dates isn’t going to work. Certain dates are very popular and if you want one of those, you’ll have to act especially fast. Many couple wanted to marry on 7-7-07, and now 10-10-10. Your wedding date might not be that popular, but spring and fall dates are.

Third, find your wedding officiant or minister. Again, this is listed early the process because of the tendency that couples have of waiting till the last minute to find their wedding minster. Yet, the officiant is one of the essentials for having a wedding! The wedding officiate can make or break your ceremony, so you want someone that you are comfortable with and who knows weddings and can help you create the romantic ceremony you want. There are even wedding ministers who do weddings full-time.

Four, secure your wedding venue. It may be a church, a hotel, a historic venue, a garden or any number of places – but you need to book your wedding ceremony and reception location at the start. Afterall, you have to have a place for your wedding, and the place you choose can affect many other decisions about your wedding.

Five, decide on your guest list. This goes right along with number four, because the number of guests you have will affect the size, type and location of your wedding site and reception site(s).  Later you can work on reducing or increasing some your wedding guest list, and of course will need to get those invitations out. But you need a basic idea of numbers and who will be coming and from where.

Six, the food! That’s something the groom and every guest will be interested in. Next to the wedding dress, or maybe even before it for many, people remember how good (or not good) the food at the wedding reception was. Make sure you choose good catering services. This may be provided in-house at your wedding location, or you may need to or prefer to bring in an outside wedding caterer. We’ll go ahead and mention here too the wedding cake, which maybe should be a separate item on the checklist. Cakes taste much better than they used to, but they can cost an arm and a leg too. So start tasting and shopping.

Seven, the wedding and recepton music adds a lot the celebration, so choose it well. Will you have live music or have a DJ? Arguments can be made either way for which is best. You may have both. It can depend on the venue, or your budget. Just know that this is another important part of having a great wedding plan.

Eight, you need to make some decision about wedding flowers. Again, the venue can affect what you need. Outdoor weddings tend to need less flower decorations than an indoor wedding. But there is the reception too where you may want reception table flower decorations at every table. If you work with an all inclusive wedding venue, this could all be taken care of for you.

Nine, start studying up on wedding rings. It’s not likely that anyone would ever forget to get the rings – though they are sometimes forgotten at the wedding ceremony! Shopping for the wedding bands is one of the fun parts of wedding preparations for most couples.

Ten, you have some bridal party choices to make. Who will they be and how many? It can get tricky. You want to include the important people in your life, not hurt anyone’s feelings and still stay within the financial scope of your wedding plan. Following tradition, you will also want to give them on the day of your wedding some kind of bridal party gift.

Eleven, search out the right wedding photographer. Photographers have different styles and price ranges so you will need to find the right match. Be sure to check references and see as much of their work as you can.

There it is. Eleven parts for your wedding planning checklist. And that’s not all. We didn’t even mention getting the wedding dress and tuxes, or planning the honeymoon – but we figure you were on that already. You might also need a wedding car or other wedding services not mentioned. Every wedding is different and its needs are different. Your work is cut out for you, but pace yourself and try to enjoy the process. When it all comes together, you will have a ceremony and wedding day to remember.

Here are a few elopement destinations inside the US and abroad.

The Southern U.S.

In terms of a destination for your wedding, North Carolina is one of the most underrated. The Outer Banks of the Carolina coast is a popular destination for travelers who love the beach but hate the over-crowding. There are several beaches and seaside resorts from which to choose. You also have many options in planning the actual ceremony. From a catered event to a romantic exchange of vows at sunset, there is something to fit every budget.

The scenic Smokey Mountains of North Carolina also offer many event-planning resources that specialize in elopement. They offer accommodations packages featuring cottages and suites while also encouraging their clients to bring as many guests to the ceremony as they would like. There are numerous wedding chapels in Gatlinburg, TN which has been called the wedding capital of the south. If you have dreamed of a mountain top wedding, you will find it in Gatlinburg.

The Northern U.S.

Another good choice for romantic elopement locations would include The Poconos in the Northeastern United States. For weddings that are an intimate elopement or an elaborate ceremony, the Poconos are an ideal getaway for love and romance. Most of the Pocono resorts are lakefront. Their suites offer amenities such as a split level design with a king sized bed in the sunken bedroom. Guests can choose between classic resorts or those that cater to the younger and hipper crowd. The newer resorts offer suites with a 20 square foot glass and tile shower for two and a heart-shaped whirlpool bath. The country-club style of the popular classic resort features a 32,000 square foot entertainment and sports center. Their suites feature a cathedral window for a panoramic view of the grounds.

The Western U.S.

Northern California is a perfect elopement destination idea for couples who have always dreamed of getting married in a romantic vineyard. Most ceremonies are held in gazebos of private gardens. Napa Valley offers excellent food and wine in addition to romantic cottages that may also accommodate your guests. The awesome scenery of Lake Tahoe in Northern California is also a great romantic getaway. There are lakefront-wedding chapels with very affordable packages. Emerald Bay is a secluded location on the edge of a cliff located only 30 minutes from the nearest resort or hotel.

Puerto Rico.

Some of the most amazing beaches in the world are in Puerto Rico. There are many hotels, resorts and spas available to host your wedding. In the Northeastern part of the island there is a six-story fortress built by the Spanish explorers in the 1540′s called El Morro. It is one of the most attractive wedding destinations in Puerto Rico. There is also a botanical garden in the heart of the rain forest called El Yunque, which is uniquely popular for a destination wedding ceremony.

Jamaica.

The sights and sounds of Jamaica along with its storied tradition are not to be underestimated as a memorable location for your destination wedding ceremony. From the perfect white sand beaches to the cascading waterfalls to the majestic mountain ranges, the breathtaking natural scenery of Jamaica is a classic and magical location for your ceremony. Maybe you envision yourself getting married under a wedding canopy on the beach. There are highly rated resorts in Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios. Be sure to inquire about tours and excursions offered by the local wedding planner authorities.

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

The perfect marriage of modern amenities and classic charm is Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. With over 600 acres of beachfront, this futuristic resort is inspired by organic architecture. Passion does however have a price. This location is probably at the top of the list in terms of cost. They do offer a complimentary wedding with a minimum five-day reservation, but the room rates begin at $1150 per day. Jade Mountain does not perform dozens of weddings every day. Their goal is to make you feel special on your special day. Afterward, for your honeymoon, there are plenty of day and evening activities. There are soft sand beaches, immaculate coral reefs, scuba diving and snorkeling as well as windsurfing and sailing. They have a five-star restaurant with all food grown, fished and harvested locally.

Be sure to check the marriage license policies of the elopement wedding locations that you select. There could be long waiting periods, required documents or tests that need to be conducted prior to the ceremony. Also, be sure to research international travel and document policies when leaving the country to get married. Finding the right location is the first part in planning a perfect destination wedding ceremony.

The city is informally known as the wedding capital of the South, and this truism is largely owed to the gorgeous natural scenery that surrounds the city.

Surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains chain, what better place to get married than with a view of the gorgeous Appalachians in the distance, or standing near a stately waterfall? Wedding chapels in Gatlinburg are well familiar with the needs and wants of the many couples who throw their weddings, and as such they are ready and willing to oblige whatever makes the perfect wedding.

Some desire the traditional, white steepled chapel they dreamed about in their childhood, while other elect to have the ceremony performed at a gazebo atop a mountain, or in one of the many lush gardens that populate the area. Whatever you may want, Gatlinburg wedding chapels will cater to you.

Popular options for weddings include butterfly or dove releases, a waterfall wedding which places your engagement on a gazebo near one the areas numerous falls, and the mountaintop wedding which affords a breathtaking view. Chapels will generally either provide their own limousine, or else have ready a recommendation of where one can be rented locally.

They also will have ample information regarding local florists, dress makers, tuxedo rentals, photographers and event planners. This information makes choosing a Gatlinburg chapel into a kind of one stop shop.

Finding a chapel is as simple as a brief Internet search. There exist dozens of websites detailing the many features available to a prospective couple, and the proprietors remain fully aware that your wedding is your day; they won’t argue with you or try to dissuade you from what you want. In truth, this is can be chiefly attributed to the sheer number of chapels available to choose from.

Finding cheap Gatlinburg wedding chapels is quite simple as a result of the massive competition for your business. Once a possible sight is found on the Internet, it is imperative that you check the reservation book. It is highly likely that the popular weekends in the spring and fall will be booked, which could force you to reconsider which chapel you use. Alternatively, if you are really sold on a particular location, then you could reschedule your intended wedding date, though most are loathe to do this.

If you have always dreamed of the picturesque white chapel wedding, Gatlinburg Tennessee is the place for you. With so many options to choose from, and the ease with which further wedding details can be attended to, it is clear why the city is considered the Southern capital of weddings. There exists no other place so ready and willing to help you have the perfect wedding.

During days gone by an engagement or betrothal was looked at as a lawful commitment to matrimony, but in the present day it is an infinitely more variable agreement. On the other hand, it endures as a hint around the world that you are sold on sharing your life with another person, and also a sign to the other person that you love them.

Customized engagement rings is often an alternative if the price tag isn’t the very first concern and you want something truly unique. In order to make a regular diamond ring into one that is customized, some young couples just add enhancements, engravings, and other elements on the ring. It’s also workable to build customized rings from a regular base, by adding the gemstone of your choice to the setting.

Designing an engagement ring from scratch is another option . Even so, commissioning an artist to make you a ring is likely to be expensive. You should also learn about the different metals, setting choices, as well as the four Cs (carat, color, clarity and cut) of the diamond before settling on a custom-made ring. Alternatively by picking antique engagement rings you will also be able to get something distinct and romantic.

You will find equally as many good reasons to give some thought to buying an antique engagement ring as reasons for getting engaged to the woman of your choice. As modern-day jewelers battle to give clients something exclusive and contemporary, your girlfriend might be much more keen to adore the flavor and vintage appeal of an antique.

Yet another perfectly valid reason for purchasing an antique ring is that they often deliver potential buyers a much better quality gem for less money than a brand new ring. Antique rings can be found in a number of places, for instance, antique outlets, auction sales, and via certain suppliers on the internet or in your area who specialize in the purchase and resale of antique jewelry. Regardless of where you acquire your engagement rings, try to remember to obtain a comprehensive description of your purchase written down and stick to suppliers who give you a written refund policy.

If you want to buy an engagement ring, the first thing you have to take into consideration is her personal essence. So spend some time and narrow down the quest to rings that she will simply adore, not merely like. Most styles are available in yellow gold, cool white gold, or perhaps platinum, whichever she prefers.

Gold used for jewelry normally has two different qualities 14 Karat and 18 Karat. 18 karat gold has more pure gold in the mix and is therefore more supple than the lower quality 14k gold. Therefore 14k gold wears better and doesn’t scratch as easily. This is something to consider as the ring will most likely be worn daily. 18K gold is a bit more precious, since it has a higher pure gold content, but is less hard-wearing and deeper in color. Another thing that it is important to remember is that the wedding ring should be of the identical karat of gold as the engagement ring mainly because if they are different the stronger one will damage the softer one.

Flower girl gifts need not be flamboyant or expensive, but they should express the love you have for your flower girls in a special way.  There are many flower girl gift ideas advertised in magazines, bridal shops or through online shopping; however personalized flower girl gifts are the kind that come from the wedding couple’s heart that carry special meaning to their little flower girl for a long time to come.

Gift baskets make delightful gift items full of special treasures for your little girl’s enjoyment.  A wicker basket is the traditional choice to hold the small gifts, but innovative ideas for other types of containers include jewelry boxes, treasure boxes, a trendy child’s handbag, decorated gift bag and more.

Some of the gift items you may want to collect for your special lady could be children’s jewelry such as a necklace, bracelet, or ring; children’s makeup such as lip gloss or nail polish; cute stationary items; body lotion and perfume; a decorative hairbrush and comb set along with her favorite hair accessories; chocolates or other special candies.

If you know your flower girl quite well, you will probably choose the items you know she will enjoy most.  If you are not so familiar with her likes and dislikes, you could ask her family for ideas.  Making your gift basket as personal and specialized as you can says “we care” to someone special which she will remember long after your wedding is over.

Another idea that your young bridal participant may enjoy as a gift is personalized clothing.  You can find out her size from her parents and have a personalized T-shirt, nightgown, sweatshirt or other piece of clothing designed especially for her to commemorate the wedding.   Photos of you and the bridegroom together with your flower girl or group photos make beautiful mementos as well as inscribing a meaningful poem or quotation on the clothing just for her in a decorative and cute fashion.

Other special gift ideas include customized picture frames with a group picture of the wedding party or a personal photo of the three of you; a personalized backpack with her name embroidered across the top; a special jewelry box tailor made for her with special pieces of jewelry inside(putting an inscription of the wedding date on the bottom adds a personal touch.)

If your flower girl enjoys arts and crafts, a special kit of the kind of crafts she likes would make a nice gift item.  And last, but not least, gift certificates for all occasions – movies, ice cream parlors, skating rinks, a favorite restaurant – make fun and wonderful [flower girl and ring bearer gifts] alike and will be appreciated for your thoughtfulness and consideration.

Before anything else, what you should think about when choosing the right words to put in your wedding invitation is your wedding theme. If you can, you may want to choose the wording in your invitation in accordance with your wedding’s theme. For example, if your wedding is going to be a formal affair, the wedding invitation should have details written in a formal manner; while for a more casual event, you can keep the tone of the invitation wording casual, as well. This not only goes for the wording in your invites, but it also goes for how you spell particular words and the calibre of printing used. Think how different for instance a Western wedding invitation would be for a Western themed wedding, than a formal high-church wedding.

Secondly, make sure that you include all the important details when making your wedding invitations. You and your spouse-to-be must make sure to include the names of the wedding hosts. This holds true particularly if you’re not going to do the hosting yourselves. This may sound a little strange, but it’s critical as you may have wedding guests whom you may not have communicated with for a long time. Play it safe and avoid embarrassment by including the complete names. You should also include the location, date and time of your wedding reception as well as the ceremony itself to avoid confusing the guests.

Makers of wedding invitations often have samples of various kinds of wordings. It may be a little troublesome when attempting to add details about the wedding hosts, but this problem can easily be fixed by doing some research. You or your spouse-to-be can decide to utilize one of the examples given to you by the wedding invitation vendors, or take elements from each and combine them to create unique and meaningful wedding invitation wordings. Alternatively, you can fully customize your invitations by writing the wordings yourselves.  By doing this, the end result would be touching and DIY personalized wedding invitations that would epitomize the happy emotions permeating your wedding.

No matter what type of wedding invitation wording you choose, you should make sure that all the details are correct and all the words are spelled correctly. Have a friend proofread the invitations to make sure you’ve got everything right. Sending wedding invitations with inaccurate information would only lead to embarrassment, so you really should make sure that all the details are accurate.

As long as you and your spouse to be have allotted enough time to choose the wedding invitation wordings and proofread and order the invitations, making the perfect invitations will be as easy as pie. Don’t forget: the wedding invitation wording is a great way for you and your spouse-to-be to show off your individual styles as well as the love that you feel for each other!

Vintage wedding cars like Mustangs, Bentleys and Rolls-Royces are alluring in magazine images. What a great wedding idea for the bride and groom to ride a real classy, luxurious car adorned with white ribbons dancing in the wind.

To make that dream a reality, you can rent a vintage car from wedding transportation companies.  However, only one or two vintage cars are available for rent in most of these centers due to an expensive maintenance for these cars.  A dedicated search to find a classic car for advance-booking is a brilliant thing to do to make sure it will be available for you when you need it.

Look for wedding car rental centers in your city to find that vintage car of your choice.  Have it checked for any defect and give instructions to have it washed sparkling-clean.  You don’t want to upset your groom if you arrive in your dazzling presence in a grubby and embarrassing car.

Don’t forget to make an inquiry about whether the company offers chauffer services; since you and your groom wouldn’t be on the same car, and he won’t be driving for you on your wedding day.

It is very necessary that you request for a test drive of the car you chose to check its perfect condition.  This will ensure that it runs smoothly and if there are things need to be fixed it will be solved right away.  You wouldn’t want to be shamed by a car that doesn’t open on your arrival.

Add your creative touch to your bridal car.  Decorate it with beautiful flowers and long ribbons to really make a stunning arrival.  With that, you will feel like a prince and princess and look like the beguiling Cinderella with her Prince Charming on your wedding day.

If you want gorgeous wedding photographs, it’s critical that you obtain the services of a skilled wedding photographer. The food, flowers and beverage won’t last for a lifetime, but your wedding pictures and the memories in them will. Simply looking at your wedding photographs will transport you back to you wedding day. With that said, it’s essential that you choose a photographer who is intuitive and can be relied on to capture the most important moments of your wedding day. The perfect wedding photographer is the kind who makes you feel like a celebrity!

When choosing a wedding photographer, you may want to consider these requirements before making your choice:

1. The photographer must have good-quality professional photography equipment, including a professional 35mm camera and a medium format camera.

2. He or she must have a tax license that’s  legitimate and valid.

3. S/he must has proof of business insurance.

4. A photography studio with a permanent address.

5. She or he must be a member of a professional photographic association.

6. He or she must be able to provide samples of recent work including some wedding album designs.

Here are some other important factors you should consider:

Experience and References: Ask the photographer for references to find out more about his background as a professional photographer. If possible, talk to one of the photographer’s former clients and ask if they were pleased with the work. Avoid hiring photographers who cannot or will not provide references.

Style of Photography: Do you like the way the pictures were taken? Does the style of the photographer’s work appeal to you?

Personal Characteristics — When discussing the pictures to be taken, are you on the same page as the photographer? Communication between you and the photographer should be free-flowing and constant, and he or she should be able to understand your needs in terms of the photography style.

Time Frames and Deadlines

Make sure that you ask the photographer how long he or she will be able to complete your album, the photos taken during the ceremony, and your bridal portrait.

Fees

Make sure that hiring this photographer won’t make you go over budget. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the photos and services included in the wedding photography package prices.

Payment Methods And Refunds

Find out what the photographer’s policy is on refunds. Also, question the photographer on whether or not he or she has a partner who will be able to take over his or her responsibilities if the photographer didn’t show up. Make sure that the photographer’s answers satisfy you. If not, remember that there are other photographers out there.

Legal Contract

Read everything, including the fine print, before you sign it. If something in the contract bothers you or if you ned to clear something up, don’t hesitate to ask the photographer to clarify things for you. If you need more time to look over the contract, ask the photographer to leave the contract with you for at least a day. Make sure that everything you and the photographer agreed upon is included in the contract.

When viewing samples of the photographer’s previous work, look for the following:

1. Normally, a sample album contains pictures from only one wedding, so make sure the photographer has a lot of sample albums.

2. Ask the photographer if he took photos at a recent wedding, and ask to look through the album.

3. Check each album thoroughly to see if each album chronicles the each important detail at the wedding.

4. The photos should all be clear and should have captured the mood of the subject.

5. The photos should employ a play of light and shadow and look artistically done.

Keep in mind that your wedding photographs will serve to be reminders of your wedding day, allowing you to treasure your special day for a lifetime. After youve found and hired the perfect wedding photographer, you should just relax and enjoy being the star of the show on your wedding day. That doesn’t mean that you have to go crazy, but you should enjoy being the center of attention on the day of your wedding.

There’s a difference between being funny and being rude. Quite a few people think it’s perfectly okay to tell embarrassing stories about the newlyweds. Well, it’s not. Some time ago, my brother was invited to be his best friend’s best man. The evening before the wedding, he must have been more jittery than the groom. Although my brother has always been a very social and confident person, he had a lot of trouble making his best man speech. He had no idea what he was going to say and he was so jittery about having to face all of the wedding guests and making a touching and memorable speech.

Some people have a horrible fear or public speaking. If you’re one of those people, read on for the same advice and helpful hints that I gave my brother for you to utilize in creating the best speech you ever made. If you follow my advice, there will be absolutely no danger of you committing a faux pas or humiliating yourself and the newlyweds in front of the guests.

Good Posture Is Important

When making a toast or a speech, make sure that you’re standing up straight. Wait until you have everyone’s attention before you begin your speech. The fastest way to get the wedding guests’ attention is by standing up. Having good posture is one of the most important things in public speaking, at weddings or elsewhere.

Plan Ahead, Write A Draft

Don’t just get up and make an impromptu speech. A good best man speech is planned, written down, corrected, practiced, and learned by heart. Take my brother. He started writing and practicing his best man speech several weeks before the wedding. If you’re really good at public speaking and you have a lot of experience doing it, only then should you just go out there among the wolves and wing it. Otherwise, plan what you’re going to say beforehand.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Nothing could be worse than giving your best man speech and not once taking your eyes off your notes. Make sure you have the whole speech memorized. If you have to have your notes with you, at least don’t fiddle with your notes.

Don’t Embarrass The Groom

Maybe you and the groom have been friends for a long time and you’ve had a lot of not-so-clean fun together, but that’s not something that people want to hear about. Giving a best man speech isn’t your chance to shove your groom’s skeletons out of his closet; and infuriate the bride and humiliate the groom. Don’t regale the wedding party with tales of your strip joint adventures.

Keep It Short And Sweet

Nobody likes a long-winded speech. Make your speech short, but don’t forget to make it reflect your sincere happiness at the couple’s union. Remember that the wedding is about the bride and groom, and no one else.

I hope that this article was able to help you be more prepared to make your best man speech. I wish you the best of luck!