The wedding ceremony is the official start of your big day, so we know the pressure is on for you to make it absolutely perfect.
That’s why we’re sharing all the little details you need in order to be sure your ceremony is exactly what you’ve dreamed of!
The Ceremony Timeline
When planning everything out, it helps knowing what is typically included in a ceremony and the order that it’s usually completed in. So let’s go through everything from beginning to end!
First is the processional (a.k.a. walking down the aisle). This includes your family, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, etc.
The order of the processional is up to you, but typically, your officiant and both families will enter first, followed by the bridal party, then the bride and, if she chooses one, her escort.
Once you’ve reached the end of the aisle, your officiant will welcome everyone, and then family or friends who you’ve selected to do any readings will be asked to begin.
There’s no specific number of readings that you must include, but we recommend keeping it to three or fewer so that the messages don’t become too repetitive.
The readings are a big part of your day, and we love seeing close family or friends who were unable to be included in the bridal party have a special role in your wedding by reading a passage that sets the tone for the beginning of your married life.
After the readings, you’ll say your vows!
These can be written by you and your partner or can be vows you find elsewhere that resonate with you – either works and will be absolutely beautiful, so don’t feel pressure to write your own.
Once your vows are done, you’ll exchange rings.
Some couples choose to include a unity moment as well. This can be playing a special song, lighting a unity candle, or even taking a unity shot.
Next up is everyone’s favorite part of a wedding ceremony – the first kiss! No matter what your ceremony looks like, we know this special moment is sure to bring a tear of happiness to many of your guests’ eyes.
And lastly: the recessional, when you’ll walk together back up the aisle. We recommend choosing a particularly upbeat song for this as it’s the start to your life together.
Once you’ve made your exit, your bridal party, officiant, and families will also make their exit.
See? Once it’s broken down into basic steps, planning your wedding ceremony is a breeze! And as a bonus, we have a few last considerations for you before you finalize your plans…
Our Best Tips
Your ceremony is for YOU, so don’t feel pressured to include a tradition that doesn’t resonate with you. Take a look for alternatives so that your ceremony is a reflection of you and your partner’s love rather than something that isn’t authentic.
On that note, don’t be afraid to add personal touches!
For instance, many will use “Here Comes the Bride” for their entrance song, but if you want to do something a little different and enter to an acoustic version of a Taylor Swift song, be fearless and do what feels right for you.
Lastly, choosing an officiant who is important to you personally will add an element of intimacy to your wedding that can’t be matched. They’ll be able to share stories of the love you and your partner have for each other.
What a perfect way to tie everything together as you tie the knot!
Well, there you have it! Your wedding ceremony is all planned, and we know it’ll be the perfect start to a day you’ll never forget.Looking for more of all things weddings and events, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
