There can be some
variation, however, the ceremony generally proceeds as follows:
All participants in
the ceremony are asked to be at the church entry 15 minutes before the hour
set for the wedding.
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The bride and the bridesmaids will gather in the choir
room; the groom and the best man will meet in the clergy's study.
The procedure
for the wedding proper is generally as follows:
The wedding party meets
in the vestibule just outside the sanctuary approximately five minutes before
the hour set for the wedding, ready to take part.
- The first solo.
- The groom's
grandparents are seated.
- The bride's
grandparents are seated.
- The groom's
parents are seated.
- The bride's
mother is seated.
- The second
solo.
- If the white
runner is to be laid along the aisle, this should be done by the ushers
at this time.
- The head usher
signals the organist.
- The ushers go
down the aisle in pairs and take their places, the tallest going first.
- The clergyman,
the groom and the best man enter from the right and take their places
facing toward the bride when the wedding march starts.
- The bridal
processional begins with the tallest bridesmaid going first.
- As the bride
enters the sanctuary, the mothers of the bride and groom stand. The
guests will then automatically stand. The mothers and the guests should
turn toward the aisle so that they can better see the bridal party as
they come down the aisle.
- When the bridal
party reaches the front, the people may be seated.
- The details of
the ceremony itself can best be decided upon during the rehearsal.
After the
ceremony.
Immediately after
the bridal party returns to the back of the church, the ushers return to the
front of the church to escort the parents of the bride and groom. The
procedure for ushering them is: the usher offers his arm to the bride's mother
while her father follows behind, and then similarly for the groom's mother and
father. After having ushered the mothers out, the ushers return immediately to
the front and indicate to the guests, pew by pew, that they may leave.
The receiving line
should not be in the vestibule, but in the lobby or the fellowship hall. The
order for those standing in line is determined by the bride, but a sensible
order seems to be: (left to right) the bride's mother, the groom's father, his
mother, the bride's, father, the bride, the groom, the maid of honor and the
bridesmaids. It is optional whether or not the fathers or the ushers stand in
the reception line.
Note: This Ceremony Schedule is used by a non denominational church. It is to
be used for a guide only.
Following
are some final suggestions and reminders:
- Plan
and follow through with the details of your wedding far enough ahead so you
can really enjoy not only the preparations but the wedding itself.
- Have as few social functions as possible the week before the wedding
so you won't be too tired.
- During the rehearsal,
and especially during the wedding ceremony itself, try to be completely
relaxed. There is nothing to memorize for the ceremony simply follow the
directions given you by the clergyman. You will be more relaxed and less
self-conscious during the ceremony if you think of the meaning of the words
spoken both by yourself and the clergyman.
- Remove the rings from their boxes before the wedding and have the best
man keep the ring for the bride in his right coat pocket, and the maid of
honor keep the ring for the groom on her thumb or middle finger.
- The marriage license must be given to the clergyman before or at the
rehearsal. He will fill it out and return it to the County Clerk after the
ceremony.
Matters to
discuss with your minister are:
- Length of
ceremony
- Number of
guests church or synagogue will comfortably hold
- Whether,
when, and how photographs and/or a video recording may be taken before,
during and/or after the service
- When to
make an appointment with the organist to select music, or whether you are
using alternative music
- What kind
of floral arrangements/decorations are permitted
- How to
arrange access for the florist; the disposition of flowers after the
ceremony
- Whether
there is a room for dressing prior to the service, if you require one
- Whether
rice, rose petals, bird seed, etc. are permitted to be thrown outside the
building
- If you want
an aisle carpet, whether one is provided
- What
fees are required for the use of the facility; the organist; for
additional musicians and for the minister.
