Article: “Wedding Planning I – Scheduling” Nily Glaser
Copyright: © Nily Glaser 2004
“A-wedding Day” had many requests for information about the
chronology of steps for both the wedding ceremony and reception.
I hope that the following steps will help you schedule the
details involved with your wedding ceremony and reception. It is
important that you note that these are general and the actual
procedure for your personal wedding may vary according to your
preference and these of your officiant as you incorporate your
religion, heritage and customs. I have included steps for
incorporating kids in re-marriages and blending families.
Ceremony Steps: The ushers seat guests as they arrive for the
ceremony. The mother of the bride is seated last, unless she
accompanies her daughter to the altar. The musicians play
background music. At the scheduled start time, unless the
officiant, the groom, and the best man are in the processional,
they take their places at the altar (or ceremony place). The
musicians start to play the processional music. Mothers light
the tapers for the Unity candle ceremony that will follow the
bride and groom’s kiss.
Procession – The most traditional order of the processional is
ushers and bridesmaids in pairs, followed by the maid of honor,
ring bearer, and flower girl. The bride enters last, escorted by
her father or by both parents. The officiant greets the guests.
In a religious wedding, the officiant leads a brief opening
prayer. Special readings, songs and or music follow. The
officiant’s message. The vows – Bride and groom. In re-mariage
the vows – blending family -vows from parents to children. The
exchange of rings and the pronouncement “pronouncing you husband
and wife”. Bride and groom kiss.
In re-mariage giving each child a piece of jewelry and the
pronouncement ” pronouncing you a new family”. Bride, groom and
kids hug and kiss. Unity candle ceremony (In remarriage, include
the kids). The officiant then introduces the bride and groom as
husband and wife. In remarriage, the officiant then introduces
the bride and groom and their kids, preferably by names, as a
new family. Exit procession: bride and groom, followed by the
adult attendants in pairs, followed by the ring bearer and
flower girl. Take photos while the guests go to the reception.
Reception Steps
The reception starts with a receiving line that includes the
bride and groom, parents and attendants. At the same time it is
appropriate for waiters to circulate with drinks and hors
d’oeuvres while the receiving line is in progress. Background
music played. The bride and groom can open the dancing either
before or after food is served. If you are planning a dinner and
dancing reception, the “bride and groom’s first dance” occurs
after dinner followed by the bride dancing with her father and
the groom with his mother after which other guests are allowed
out on the floor. Toasts should begin at the end of the meal.
The first toast is the best man’s toast to the bride. In
re-marriage, the bride and groom introduce their children before
the first toast. Other toasts. Cake cutting ceremony. The garter
and bouquet tosses occur just before the couple is ready to
leave for the honeymoon. The guests send the couple off for
their honeymoon with a shower of rice, rose petals, or bubbles,
balloons, butterfly release or doves release.
After the honeymoon, do not forget to write the thank-you notes.
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Thank you! Nily