Ceremony - Formalities
Your wedding ceremony is the heart of your wedding day, where you both will exchange vows and begin your journey together as one. To ensure this moment is perfectly planned and involves/ caters the essence and culture of your relationship. It helps to find what Ceremony Formalities resinate most with you.
Ceremony Formalities
Different weddings will have various formalities based on cultural, religious, or personal preferences. Here’s a breakdown of a few common examples:
Types of Formalities
Religious Formalities: These follow specific traditions and rituals based on the couple's faith. This can look like involving a message of faith from a known pastor, sharing communion as a married couple, feet washing, singing songs of worship, etc.
Cultural Formalities: These can incorporate family traditions which have been passed down from generations and customs from the couple’s cultural heritage. These can be rich in symbolism and unique practices. A few examples of this can be the infinite knot symbol/ demonstration, shoe stealing games, Tea Ceremony, etc.
Personal Touches
Personal Vows: Writing a message to your partner can be such a beautiful moment to reflect on your journey and relationship together so far. If you’re writing your own vows I would always encourage you to practice them beforehand to ensure they’re clear and heartfelt. As well as send them to your officiant to ensure that both vows are balance evenly in length and duration.
Guest Involvement: A fun way to celebrate your Ceremony is to incorporate your guest involvement. Highlighting the importance they have played in your relationship and separate lives. A few examples of what this can look like is allow your guest to vote and choose the surname of the Newly Weds, take their own separate photo on their phones of the couple up at the alter/ under the arch before putting their phones away, grabbing a handful of pedals/ bubbles to throw/ blow above the couple as they walk back down the aisle after their Ceremony, etc (this can be quite a fun and creative experience if done right).
Involve Loved Ones: Asking family members or close friends to do a reading or breakdown the significance of your relationship adds a personal touch and truly showcases and highlights your loved ones in your ceremony.
Meaningful Texts/ Quotes: If there are any readings and/or quotes from songs/ shows/ shared experiences that resonate with your relationship. Feel free to add them into your Ceremony as these can add more depth to your Ceremony and provide context that your family and friends will be able to resinate with as they’ve seen you both grow together.
Bonus Tips
Microphone Use: Ensure you have good quality microphones and speakers if you’re using them during your Ceremony. To allow no awkward situations due to technical difficult that you can’t control as this can really pull you both out of the significance of the moment (this is key for outdoor ceremonies). As well as this ask your officiant to hold the microphone for you why you’re giving your vows so you’re able to stay present in the moment and be intentional with the words said.
Ceremony Order: Having a clear understanding and timeline for your ceremony will help provide more clarity to your photographer, officiant and venue. In terms of the pacing of your formalities, key moments and the flow of the day. Here is a rough outline of Ceremony Order’s that have worked in the past (this can be a great idea of where to fit in your chosen formalities):
Aisle Walk > Officiant’s Welcome Message/ Couple’s History > Vows > First Kiss > Registry Signing > Walk back down the Aisle
Transitions: To compliment your Ceremony plan seamless transitions between different parts of your Ceremony. This can look like music being played during the any relioous/ cultural formalities as well as your registry signing, etc. This is just an extra thought to consider that caters more for your guest’s experience.
Creating your dream Ceremony involves a balance of honouring traditions (if any), personalising elements, and ensuring everything is able to flow smoothly. Remembering, that at the end of the day your Ceremony is for you both and should aline with what’s most important to you and your partner :)
