BEST TIP: Keep it simple, start on time, enjoy!

ARRIVE EARLY

Plan to arrive before ceremony time to give yourself a chance to relax, settle in and get ready. This is so important for the comfort of your guests, especially if the wedding is outdoors. It is acceptable, and normal to maybe start 10-15 minutes late, as there are always a few last minute guests and other things difficult to control. But any later than 10-15 minutes means you spend the rest of your special day playing catch-up. If the venue or day is hot you stand the risk of people (seniors/kids) fainting or becoming weary and irritated. Not a very conducive way to “feel the love” and “promote a sense of joy”.

Be early, ready to go and to start on time, your guests will love you for it, especially the ones who arrived on time, or early.

HAVE A NIBBLE

Make sure you have a little something to eat about an hour prior to the ceremony. Being hungry and nervous not only makes you uncomfortable it can also cause fainting.  Drink some water. Brush your teeth.

MUSIC

Music plays an important role in creating the right ambience. Keeping it simple really applies here. Be sure to have music playing from the moment the first guest arrives. Something easy listening that people can comfortably talk over. For the Processional you really only need 1-2 nice selections. One song for the entrance of the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids and another song for the entrance of the Bride. Have music during the “signing of the registry” as this take several minutes, and then after you are introduced a song for the recessional to play you out as Husband and Wife. We suggest something fun: The theme song for the movie “Rocky” is a great choice. We did a wedding recently where the men walked in to the "Imperial Death March" from Star Wars. It was hilarious!

CHILDREN

Kids are great in a ceremony. They teach us a lot about spontaneity.  The best age range is 5-12 years of age. Any younger and they will probably be a distraction as they tend to get shy, or fidgety. Any older and they may struggle with ‘looking cool’.  Place a “two dollar coin” on the spot you want them. A great incentive and focal point to where they will walk. (works for the Groom too!)

Send them down the aisle just before the Bride so they can have someone in the Bridal party (an aunty/uncle/sibling or parent) to go and stand beside. For the really little ones have a Grandma/Grandpa close by for them to go to and perhaps even take them out if they become quite noisy or start crying.

BRENTS STORY...

I once had a ringbearer (4 years old) get bored and decide to punch me right in ”manland”!!!.    

I don’t cry at weddings...I did that day!!!

UNITY CANDLES

The Unity Candle dates back to ‘Braveheart” days when weddings were lit by torchlight, due to the absence of electricity. Two torches would illuminate the altar area and burn as symbols of the Brides family and the Grooms family. Each torch was usually brought in by a high ranking member of each family. EG MOTHERS.

At the end of the ceremony the Bride and Groom would take these burning symbols and light a single Olympic style torch to represent their union and the merger of the two families or tribes. If they were outside, the torches would be used to light the great fire over which dinner would be prepared and the feasting, celebration and dancing would be centered around.

TODAY we simply have the mothers enter at the beginning of the ceremony. They take two unlit candles up to the signing table and light them from a small candle already burning beside the larger Unity candle. These two candles burn throughout the ceremony until after the signing of the registry and the Bride and Groom then take their respective flames and light the large Unity candle in the middle, to represent their union. (the provision of these candle is your responsibility)

PLEASE NOTE The unity candle idea is best suited for indoor ceremonies only. Outdoor ceremonies it is not recommended. Even if you have a “hurricane” lantern to cover each candle, the slightest draft can still blow them out. Not a good thing to happen just after you have lit your Unity candle.

OUR SUGGESTION If you are having an outdoor ceremony save the Unity candle aspect for the indoor reception. Place the candles at the head table and start the reception by lighting the Unity candle. Have your MC describe it’s meaning.

BLENDED FAMILIES - SAND CEREMONY

For weddings where the Bride and Groom have children from previous relationships. On the signing table have several small jars of brightly colored sand, to represent each member of the blended family. Each person pours their sand into a single beautiful glass/vase. It creates a wonderful layered rainbow effect. An excellent visual of the “blended family” to keep and display in your home.

RECEIVING LINES

Be sure to think through your timeline. A receiving line takes time. Consider the time needed for each guest to hug and kiss you, chat and congratulate you and well, you do the math. 120 guests X ½ minute each = 60 minutes/1 hour.

OUR SUGGESTION At the end of the ceremony we can make a simple announcement and explain that “in lieu of a receiving line the Bride and Groom are looking forward to greeting each and every one of you at the reception”

MEMORIALS

To honor a missing friend or family member who has passed away is a tough thing to do at a wedding. If done effectively it can create a dramatic backdrop to the moment. The best ways we have seen to deal with this are: A memorial candle burning to symbolize their presence or the laying of a single rose on an empty chair. These are highly emotive gestures, should be thought through carefully and require no explanation. Those present will know their symbolism and understand. To add comment is to over emphasize the meaning and perhaps overshadow the moment.