Wedding Planning I - Scheduling

Ceremony Steps

Seating and Music

• Ushers: Seat guests as they arrive.
• Mother of the Bride: Seated last unless she accompanies the bride to the altar.
• Musicians: Play background music.

Processional

• Start Time: Officiant, groom, and best man take their places at the altar.
• Processional Music: Begins as the ceremony starts.
• Unity Candle: Mothers light the tapers for the Unity candle ceremony.
• Order of Procession:
  • Ushers and bridesmaids in pairs
  • Maid of honor
  • Ring bearer and flower girl
  • Bride, escorted by her father or both parents

Ceremony

• Officiant: Greets guests and leads a brief opening prayer (if religious).
• Special Readings and Music: Follow the opening prayer.
• Officiant's Message: Delivered to the couple and guests.
• Vows: Exchanged by the bride and groom.
  • In remarriages, include vows from parents to children.
• Exchange of Rings: Followed by the pronouncement of "husband and wife."
• Kiss: Bride and groom kiss.
  • In remarriages, give each child a piece of jewelry and pronounce them a new family.
• Unity Candle Ceremony: Include children in remarriages.
• Introduction: Officiant introduces the couple as husband and wife.
  • In remarriages, introduce the couple and their children as a new family.
• Exit Procession: Bride and groom, followed by attendants, ring bearer, and flower girl.

Photography

• Photos: Taken while guests proceed to the reception.

Reception Steps

Receiving Line

• Participants: Bride and groom, parents, and attendants.
• Drinks and Hors d'oeuvres: Served by waiters during the receiving line.
• Background Music: Played throughout.

Dancing and Dinner

• First Dance: Bride and groom open the dancing either before or after the meal.
  • If dinner and dancing are planned, the first dance occurs after dinner.
• Parent Dances: Bride dances with her father, groom with his mother.
• Guest Dancing: Begins after the parent dances.

Toasts and Cake Cutting

• Toasts: Begin at the end of the meal.
  • Best man toasts the bride first.
  • In remarriages, the couple introduces their children before the first toast.
  • Other toasts follow.
• Cake Cutting Ceremony: Takes place after the toasts.

Garter and Bouquet Toss

• Timing: Occur just before the couple leaves for their honeymoon.

Send-Off

• Guests: Send the couple off with rice, rose petals, bubbles, balloons, butterfly release, or doves release.

Post-Honeymoon

• Thank-You Notes: Don't forget to write and send them.

Interesting Stats

• Average Wedding Cost: In the U.S., the average wedding cost is around $28,000 (The Knot, 2021).
• Popular Wedding Months: October and September are the most popular months for weddings (WeddingWire, 2020).
• Destination Weddings: Approximately 25% of couples opt for destination weddings (Brides, 2021).

Additional Resources

For more detailed wedding planning tips and resources, visit The Knot and WeddingWire.

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