10 Things To Consider When Planning Your Wedding
Wedding Ceremony Venue
Couples often stress about finding the right place to hold their ceremony, looking for that special place at times can be costly and unavailable. How often do you look around the area you live at?
A park, a walkway, down your street? What many don’t often notice is how beautiful an area can be at different times of the day… obviously it has to be practical and don’t forget to ask permission from your local council!
And the contingency plan, don’t forget the contingency plan if the weather turns on the day
Wedding Guests
Remembering that when you do the guest list you consider the elderly, pregnant and family or friends who may have a disability when you pick the ceremony venue.
Will they be sitting in the sun too long? Will they be standing? Is there a footpath to the area of the ceremony? Is it slippery if it’s wet? How far from the car park to the venue? Are there bathrooms around to freshen up?
Having water or umbrellas for shade on a hot day is a thoughtful idea.
Rituals and Traditions
There are many rituals and traditions that can be incorporated into a ceremony.
A‘Candle Ceremony’ and ‘a Sand Ceremony’ both incorporate unity, two into one, you can also incorporate children from former marriages to join into the new family. ‘Ring Warming’ incorporates the guests blessing the rings by holding them before they are worn by the couple.
There are many more that we can discuss. Perhaps you have cultural traditions that have special meaning in your lives.
Absent Love Ones
We often wish that loved ones that have passed were present when important events in our lives occur.
You can choose to have their picture displayed, light a candle, wear an item that belonged to them or mention them in the ceremony.
You can also acknowledge loved ones that could just not attend.
Your Vows
Make sure that if you are doing your own vows and you do not want your partner to see it before the day make sure that your celebrant see’s them both.
This is to ensure that you do not have one saying a lot more than the other, that they are both equally meaningful and there is no embarrassment when they are read out.
The Ceremony
Do you want your guests taking photos? Do you want those photos shared to social media before you do? Maybe you have already set up a #hashtag for sharing.
Do you want children in the ceremony and are you going to be ok with crying babies or bored littles ones? Maybe you can find a way to keep them entertained!
Are you having your fur baby involved? Will someone be doing any readings?
Legalities
The only things you HAVE to do on your wedding is; have a registered celebrant, two witnesses over 18 and have the celebrant read the monitum and you read out the legal vows and sign the legal paperwork.
From here you add as much a you like to the ceremony!!
Think outside that box and make it all that you want it to be
The Ceremony
Don’t downplay your important day just because you want a small intimate wedding.
Wear your chosen outfit, which ever colour. You may want to choose a theme or wear costumes. You may just want it to reflect who you are.
Make it meaningful, make it unique and make sure you take lots of photos!
After all its about the two of you and want you want it to mean on the day.
Expectations
You don’t have to exchange rings, you don’t have to be announced as Mr and Mrs, Mr and Mr or Mrs or Mrs.
You don’s have to say any vows outside of the legals ones.
You don’t have to be walked down the aisle, you don’t need to have male/female assigned best man/bridesmaid.
You don’t have to wear the traditional outfits.
It’s both your day, make it as fabulous as you want it to be. No traditions expected outside of the legal ones.
The Celebrant
Your celebrant should be someone you are 100% comfortable with.
They must listen to your ideas and offer advice.
When you first meet you should not feel pressured, you should be able to walk away and decide if they are the person for you both.
Coming up to your day and on your day, your celebrant should put you at ease and guide you through the ceremony.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out if unsure. After all this is one of the most important days of your life and you should both be content and feel the assurance that your celebrant has got this.