ceremonies back to planning
image Suzanne Hansen
Most wedding ceremonies that have roots in our western culture, whether Christian or Jewish, have basically the same components to them, following the same flow of events. Here is the order of components in a ceremony with some suggestions.
Processional
The Bridal Party’s entrance and walk down the aisle to the altar with the Bride always being last! The traditional order is as follows;
Family seated by ushers. First Groom’s then Bride’s family.
Bridesmaids [with or without Groomsmen]
Maid of Honor
Ring Bearer
Flowergirl
Bride with Escort [Father, Mother, brother]
Convocation or Welcome
Welcomes the guests, and generally states the purpose of the gathering.
Invocation or Prayer
Can be a great spot for a poem that expresses your ideals too.
Address or Meaning of Marriage
This is the primary body of content of the ceremony. Often in today’s non-denominational ceremonies this is the space for the Officiant to really express more than the couple’s religious beliefs. This is the best place to “tell their story” whether literally or figuratively and speak of who the couple is, where they have come from, where they are going, what their individual and collective strengths are and often to celebrate their heritage, family or ideology.
Vows
The couples spoken word to one another that reflects their hopes and promises. Either as “I do’s", repeated after the Officiant or read from a card. Most Officiants do not recommend that the couple attempt to memorize their vows, it just adds to the stress!
Ring exchange
Exchange of rings to physicalize the vows.
Benediction or blessing
Can be offered by the Officiant or by a family member if you wish to have a more traditional blessing from one family’s religion or culture.
Pronouncement
The Officiant is “proud to pronounce you husband and wife!”
Kiss
The vows are spoken, the rings are exchanged and there isn't a dry eye in the house. But the single most special moment of the ceremony is the one that breaks the spell and signifies that the couple is truly married; the kiss!
Most couples want the kiss photo to be perfect, so here is a hint from photographers; hold that kiss!
Don't just give a little peck, kiss and mean it. That does not mean dipping the bride, it means holding the kiss for a count of 3.
And the best thing for couples to prepare for this important part of the ceremony?
Practice, practice, practice.
Announcement
The Officiant presents you to your guests as married; “Ladies and Gentlemen I now present to you for the first time; Mr. And Mrs. John and Jane Doe! Or John and Jane Doe! Or John Doe and Jane Smith as husband and wife!
Recessional
The Bridal Party’s walk back up the aisle to the receiving line or reception.
image Suzanna Hansen
Today, and especially in San Diego, many couples find that they are so many looks, fashions and styles that appeal to them that just narrowing it down is the biggest challenge!
Finding your style is imperative to planning your wedding. Having someone else's style form the basis of your event leaves very little imbedded in your guests' minds to cherish and savor. Flavor your event with your style. Your unique vision should be on each and every detail to offer your guests an event rich in the essence of you.
We offer you a plethora of styles to choose from as you plan your wedding. New styles, old styles, styles from other cultures, other weddings and other types of events can all combine to make your wedding original and beautiful; a unique expression of you and your mate's life together.
Whether you are taking a fresh look at your style or just trying to get a better handle on designing your event, begin by taking our halo effect quiz; and step back and take a look at yourselves and begin to connect the dots to form a portrait of your style.
Then take a look at our "style" section where we offer you a lighthearted look at various styles; from contemporary to vintage, from dreamily romantic to earthy, from formal to laid back, and from fashionable and funky to glamorous and exotic, we take a look at some ideas that might interest you.
You will find a rich, full and diverse portrait of yourselves beginning to emerge. Look for trends; styles which resonate for you or have had a stronger influence in your life. And have fun flavoring your wedding event with the right style for you. Because, in a wedding, style is everything, but only when it is your own.
image Suzanna Hansen
What is a halo effect? When you envision a halo you think of a circle of light over an angel or saint’s head. For our purposes we are using the term in its marketing context.
The halo effect is a marketing term that conveys something invisible; the light that shines on all aspects of something. Your wedding for example. A halo effect is more than a “theme” is an inherent part of all pieces, subtlety or dramatic it ties everything together and helps an event feel complete and perfect. Staying focused on your halo effect will help you make intelligent decisions within your ritual.
As you plan your big day you are probably taking a great deal of time and energy to design an event that will express your style perfectly. We believe that your wedding should smack of your style in every detail. Your event should look, sound and feel like you; not some generic wedding that could be just anyone’s event.
Every wedding ritual offers a unique palette of history, lifestyle, tradition, family, culture and interests to work from. Whether you wish to honor your differing ideological backgrounds; a particular color, music, vision or idea; children or family that you love, the way in which you live your lives; the setting in which you have chosen to wed or a culture which raised you or resonates for you and your family; a wedding designed by and for you, that reflects your unique ideals, personalities and style will touch your guests and family for the rest of your lives. A dynamic and memorable wedding event captures and expresses a couple’s style and is more fun and powerful for everyone involved.
When you are just getting started designing your event this questionnaire can get you started in a primary design direction. Later on, if you are feeling a little bit lost in your planning, review your answers and get refocused on what you want and what style or styles express your personalities and meet your needs.
So good luck in your self-exploration and remember to keep your halo on straight, trust your instincts and those of the artists you have hired to help you and most important of all be true to yourself and enjoy!
We recommend doing our halo effect questionnaire separately and then coming together, not to compare and combat over differences, but to discover where you had the same ideas and dreams and where your individual tastes differ, creating room for a unique and respectful combination of ways. Here are some areas to explore when examining designing your wedding; Remember what Plato said; “The life which is unexamined is not worth living!”
Download our Halo Questionnaire. Have your groom do his own version separately and see where you different and where you are on the same page so you can create something that meets both your needs.