Ceremony Sites

The Ceremony

Your wedding day is about the celebration of your vows. You and your groom-to-be should carefully plan the wedding ceremony so it reflects the commitments you personally want to make to each other.
Here are Some Things to Consider:

• Religious or civil ceremony. If religious, talk to you prospective officiant months in advance to confirm date and time of ceremony, how many people the church or synagogue will comfortably seat and how many of your own words you can add to the vows. If you’re getting married somewhere other than a house of worship, make sure your religious officiant is able to marry you there.

• If you’re planning an interfaith ceremony, make sure your officiants can handle it together. Ask both of them.

• If your ceremony is taking place in a hotel, a garden, the beach or a park, you may need an nondenominational minister.

• Decorating the site? Find out when the flowers can arrive and if there are restrictions.

• Determine if there are restrictions on photography or videography.

• If you are planning on getting dressed onsite, check the size of the room, particularly if you have more than a couple of attendants.

• Where will the groom and his attendants wait?

• Feel strongly about writing your own vows or about the wording of traditional vows? Make sure your officiant is aware of it.

• Go over all fees: officiant, organist, cantor, etc. Whoever is paying the fees can give the envelope to the officiant immediately after the ceremony. If you, the couple, are paying for it, give the envelope to the best man to handle.

• As a courtesy, invite the officiant and spouse to the rehearsal dinner and the reception.

The Vows

• Writing your own? Keep them short. These are promises not an autobiography.

• If your officiant is writing a ceremony especially for you, request that he or she keep the word count down as well.

• If you are using a traditional ceremony and want to make changes, discuss these carefully with your officiant so that he or she can make the occasion flow.

• Have kids? If possible, make them part of the event. They can stand with you during the ceremony and should be acknowledged in the vows. Ask your officiant about the best way to handle it.