Tips For Planning the Perfect Ceremony

For many newlyweds, wedding planning is mostly about the details of the reception, the honeymoon reservations, and for some, the bachelor and bachelorette parties. However, it is important for brides and grooms to take the time to consider the ceremony itself and decide together the necessary elements for creating a wedding that has meaning for themselves and their families. To have a religious ceremony or not, there are many ways for couples to incorporate themes, readings and music in ways which make their celebration truly unique.

Writing wedding vows instead of using customary phrases is one way in which couples might customize their perfect ceremony. Topics for self-authored vows could include the couple's personal history together, their interpretation of the meaning of marriage, the wonderful qualities possessed by their intended spouse, and the like. Vows do not have to be entirely somber and serious, as humor is often one of the most effective ways in which to express devotion and commitment to the impending union.

Music is another way in which couples can craft a ceremony that is truly representative of their style, personality and background. While there is certainly a canon of traditional wedding music used for the processional and recessional portions of the ceremony, there is no limit to the creativity that can be employed in the selection of not only songs, but also of musicians and instruments to be used. From Ave Maria and Greensleeves heard in a gothic nave to a serenade by an Elvis impersonator in a Vegas chapel, music is one of the most effective ways in which a couple can express their personal taste.

The selection of officiant, wedding party and included readings can also go a long way toward shaping a ceremony that is accurately reflective of the couple being married. It is possible to be married by a priest, a minister, a rabbi or an Elvis, and the choice should be one with which the bride and groom are comfortable, and not necessarily one made to appease others. By selecting poems, songs or other readings beloved by the couple, a wedding ceremony not only provides an outlet for expression of the couple's love for one another, but provides the guests with a window into the pair's unique sense of style.

While is certainly easy to become engulfed in the multitude of details surrounding the planning of virtually any wedding reception, it is important for couples to remember to significance of the ceremony itself and select its elements accordingly. With careful and thoughtful deliberation, it is possible for couples to orchestrate a truly memorable and moving ceremony.