Many people planning a wedding are doing it for the initial time no expertise in wedding planning. Of course, you want your special day to be perfect and with all the things you have to worry about it, can be very stressful. But, if you get well organized and keep on the right path, your wedding ceremony can be smooth sailing.

Here are key points things to consider when planning your wedding ceremony:

1. You and your future partner need to construct your lists and see the number of people you are going to invite. If you are over your estimate, start to crossing out people. Go back and forth until you have the number you are comfortable with. Remember, everyone that you will invite to your wedding ceremony, you will need to invite to the wedding party.

2. Determine how big your wedding party is going to be. Again, you and the future partner are going to have to construct a list of who is important to you and work out your wedding party.

3. Decide on the final count. Religious or non-religious, you will have to make a decision and then determine the church or location that you are going use. This will decide the type of ceremony that you will have. If you go the route of a church or other official religious ceremony, it is going to more formal and you will want to get people to participate (readings), if you are going less formal, it will be easier to organize that particular segment of it.

4. Pick your flowers. You will need flowers for the ceremony (sometimes these are reused during the wedding party as center pieces, everyone will do it so don’t think you are being cheap), for the cocktail wedding party, for the wedding party, bouquets, boutonniere’s and or corsage’s.

5. Your wedding music will have to be arranged for the ceremony. You are going to have to decide what music you want played as the guests are arriving, during the procession and at certain times during the ceremony. Also you will need to decide on music as the wedding party leaves and as the guests leave the church or hall.

6. You will also need to determine the arrangement for the receiving line as people are leaving. It is important that everyone knows their place.

7. Photographs. You will want to capture the entire day as the bride gets prepared, the ceremony, the wedding party and surely the bridal party pictures. You may actually want to decide on also securing a videographer to capture your ceremony forever.

8. Transportation. Most times, the groom will arrive at the church by one of the drivers and the bride will make her way a limo but you can decide on the final details. Be sure that all your guests have a way to get to the church!

9. Final point, DON’T FORGET THE RINGS!

By: Lisa Longport

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Weddings are so much fun! Not only do many couples feel like they never want the celebration to end, some also want to get the festivities started as soon as possible. In addition to the post-wedding brunch, one of the ways to make even more of your wedding weekend is to kick things off with a cocktail hour before the ceremony.

There are a variety of reasons why the concept of a pre-wedding cocktail hour has taken off. The main one is that it is just plain fun. Your guests will love the chance to mix and mingle while sipping a cool beverage before the formal service begins. It can be a great way for people from the bride’s side and the groom’s side to get to know one another a bit before the reception later on. In addition, it is just a very hospitable way to welcome your guests to your wedding.

There can be some practical advantages to having a little cocktail hour before your wedding, as well. These days, many couples are choosing to have their formal wedding portraits taken before the ceremony, and the cocktail hour would give you the perfect opportunity to do so while your guests are otherwise engaged. The nice thing is that everyone will look their freshest, with the bride in her un-wrinkled wedding gown and fabulous bridal jewelry, and the bridesmaids still feeling fresh in their crisp dresses and pretty bridal jewelry. This can be particularly smart if the bride and her attendants are wearing fabrics that crease easily.

If you are one of those people who is always running fifteen minutes late, this can be another benefit to a pre-wedding cocktail hour! At least your guests will not mind being kept waiting as much. Guests who are chatting and enjoying a drink or a glass of Champagne are going to be a lot less antsy than those sitting impatiently in their seats wondering if the bride has made a break for it.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you do decide to have cocktails served before your wedding ceremony. The first is that the bride should definitely plan to save her grand entrance for the ceremony. You will have plenty of time to mix and mingle with your guests after the service, especially if you take care of most of the photos beforehand.

Another thing to remember is that you do not have to make your pre-wedding cocktail hour very elaborate. You can choose just a few drinks to serve, and save the full bar for the start of the reception. A nice idea would be to choose a signature drink, perhaps in one of your wedding colors. You can round things out with glasses of Champagne, and a non-alcoholic “mocktail” for those who are hoping to remember the wedding ceremony.

The pre-wedding cocktail hour is a trend that is only going to get more popular. This is especially true for brides and grooms who have their ceremony and reception all in one location, as it is very easy to set up. How wonderful to begin your wedding festivities in such a hospitable fashion!

By: Guy Antonelli

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When guests arrive for your wedding ceremony, they should be greeted by a beautiful setting, a comfortable atmosphere, and appropriate wedding background music. These wedding songs are heard before the official start of the ceremony, which is usually keyed by the First Processional, or the parents processional (which will be covered later here at EzineArticles). Of course, Metallica and the Black Eyed Peas are probably not what you want to play here, but that doesn’t mean you have to use music that will put your guests to sleep!

A lot of people will go the classical route, playing string quartet or trio music from artists such as Bach, Brahams, and the like. Another typical route would be piano, guitar, or some other solo instrument playing the same. If this is what you have always dreamed of hearing before the start of your wedding, then go for it. Many couples use classical for their ceremony music or have that solo instrument playing classical. These are fine, but in today’s wedding arena, people are spreading their wings and branching out!

I recently had a string quartet playing love song arrangements from the Beatles, Journey and Dave Matthews. Of course, they needed to get the sheet music for these songs, but they did so for free, as an investment for their group. There’s also modern pianists, like Steve Siu, who recently put out his versions of contemporary songs from Toni Braxton, Josh Groban and even Coldplay! There is an electric harpist named Hillary Stagg that has some great pre-ceremony music on CD or on iTunes. Another popular artist is Enya. I know, seems a little too early 90′s but she’s always putting out new stuff that works great for before the ceremony.

Finally, picking love songs, old or new, works well if kept at the appropriate level. Just about every artist on the planet has recorded a love song so it shouldn’t be too hard to find the 5 to 10 artists that work for you. Give your list of 20 songs to your DJ or put them on a disc and you’re ready to go.

The wedding songs you pick for before the ceremony should reflect your music ideas, style and taste. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. It is, after all your wedding. Choose your wedding songs. Your music ideas. Be yourself and your guests will love you for that!

By: James Loram

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When you are getting married in a place like a church, you will not have much choice in the type of seating at the ceremony. For an outdoor wedding, however, you will bring everything in. This means that you can choose seating that will enhance the style and atmosphere of your wedding.

One of the first decisions to make about seating for an outdoor wedding is placement. In some sites, there will be only one good arrangement, but if you are in a more wide open type of space, you will get to choose where you want the chairs to be. Think about things such as maximizing the views and the time of day. Be sure to avoid an arrangement that would put the sun directly into your guests’ faces on a hot summer day. If there is no natural shade from trees, consider renting a tent for the guests to sit under. (Also a good insurance against rain if you do not have a backup location indoors.)

There are many types of seats from which to choose once you have determined your basic layout. You will want to pick ones that are in keeping with the feeling of your wedding. For example, if you are having a rustic autumn wedding, with the bride in a casual gown and very simple bridal jewelry, rows of haybales would look great instead of regular chairs. (Be sure to have a few conventional chairs on hand for any guests who need a little more support, such as the elderly.)

Destination weddings are very popular, and you would want an entirely different type of seating then you would for a rustic ceremony. For a wedding on the sand, the classic white folding chair will look light and fresh. They will be simple and not detract from the natural beauty of the ocean in front of them.

For a mountain top ceremony, think about using more rough-hewn looking chairs from a natural wood. They will complement the rugged beauty of your setting perfectly. If the bride and groom will be seated during the ceremony, you can even consider getting a pair of chairs that are made from actual tree branches. You can find some stunning artisan-made pieces that you will love adding to your home after the wedding.

An outdoor wedding doesn’t have to be informal. A beautiful style is to have a vintage garden wedding. The bride can wear a lace gown with romantic bridal jewelry. In keeping with this very feminine wedding style, the chairs can be covered with fabric to make them look like a boudoir slipper chair. A moire fabric would be lovely, as would a sheer organza over a chair with nice lines.

Small weddings will allow for even more creativity with the seating. If you do not need to arrange chairs in rows, it really opens up your options. For an intimate summer wedding on a porch in New England, Adirondack chairs would be ideal. A ceremony before thirty guests in a New York rooftop restaurant would be made even more chic by renting minimalist lounge seating, like sleek benches and ottomans. You can really make the seating a statement in and of itself.

Your seating may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you are planning your ceremony, but it can definitely make a major impact. Instead of just using something standard, take it as an opportunity to enhance the d?cor of your wedding. When you are having an outdoor ceremony, the possibilities for seating are as wide open as the blue skies above.

By: Guy Antonelli

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I am asked all the time to put together a wedding ceremony for couples who have lost someone special to them and they are always looking for ideas on ways to remember them within the ceremony. On a day when the couple brings together their beloved family and friends, this loss, no matter how much time has passed, is present within the day. It’s important for the couple, and the family and friends, to acknowledge these people in a spirit that represents them. There are lots of public ways to do this.

A short remembrance in the wedding program. This is pretty common as it allows the couple to list everyone in their lives who are there in spirit along with a heartfelt note and it can be used in conjunction with other memorials. A special flower arrangement. This is a lovely way to remember you loved ones, especially if they had a favorite flower or color. You can have minister make an announcement of what they represent or include it in the wedding program. A moment of silence. This is a wonderful public acknowledgement as people throughout the congregation will also use it to remember the ones that they loved who have gone as well. A special prayer. Usually used in conjunction with the moment of silence. Your minister probably has a few prayers on hand or may be able to help you write one for yourself that is both meaningful to you and your families. A framed picture. A very visual reminder of the person who you want to remember. Including it with your engagement picture and wedding pictures of your parents/grandparents/family etc. will keep everyone connected and yet still provide a lovely reminder of the loved ones. A candle lit in their honor. This is especially beautiful during a unity candle ceremony or after the two candles for the unity candle have been lit during the processional.

However, some couples may wish to remember the loss privately or would like some private reminder of someone special. There are a couple of ways to incorporate that into a wedding day.

Carrying a special memento. Carrying a handkerchief or other small item that is a reminder of that person keeps the connection you had to them without making it public. Small pieces of jewelry can be sewn onto the dress or woven into the bouquet or boutonniere. In one wedding, I saw the grandmother’s brooch pinned to the wrapped stems of the bridal bouquet. All three sisters had done the same thing at their own weddings. Writing a letter. Writing a letter to the person about how much they meant to you, how you miss them, and how they would be proud and wish they could be there helps bring a certain catharsis to the loss. This can also be incorporated into the wedding by carrying it with you in some way. Saying a prayer. This can be done privately with just you just talking to them as though they are there. Or you it can be done as a family along with the minister. A short prayer thanking them for the influence that they have had in your life and for showing you how to love, just as you now love your new spouse.

Any way you choose to do it, it’s important to remember to make it special to you. Just like your wedding is a reflection of you as a couple, how you remember your loved ones should be a reflection of your relationship as well.

One last note: It’s important to remember your loved ones, but it is also important to remember their lives and how you loved them. This is a wedding. It’s a day for joy and to joyfully remember their love, so you don’t to focus too much on their death. Your loved ones would want you, and your guests to be jubilant and not stuck on their death.

So go and be joyful in their loving memory!

By: Erica Adkins

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