You’re planning out your calendar as the bride to be, and you realize you’ve hit the final countdown until the moment you say, “I do.” Wedding bells are ringing and loving family and friends who will be there to support you and your future spouse on your wedding day want to know all the details! That’s why today on the blog we’re breaking down the order and elements to a wedding ceremony, which typically all gets run through during the rehearsal! Knowing the details and components of a ceremony helps to make it go seamless and can be easily communicated to those involved. Let’s break it down, shall we?

ORDER OF CEREMONY

Typically, the wedding ceremony breaks down a little like this…guests arrive, processional takes place, the father gives the bride away, a marriage message will commence followed by any special readings, then vows and rings are exchanged, along with some couples choosing to implement a symbol of unity, then the big moment takes place where the couple is pronounced husband and wife, they kiss after saying “I do,” then the time is signaled to end by the recessional! That’s what we call a brief run through of what this time of the wedding day will look like!

GUEST ARRIVAL

While you’re in the midst of soaking in the last moments with your bridesmaids and being behind the scenes, family, friends, and loved ones will be arriving at the ceremony space! This typically has a welcome table or sign signifying where they should be entering. If you choose to implement a table, some additions we like to recommend include adding a guest book, programs, and fun decorations, a box or basket for cards and gifts, along with a water station, because let’s be honest, it gets hot her in Arizona! Another friendly role to incorporate into your ceremony are greeters and ushers, which are PERFECT for those who want to be involved in helping on your day! These roles are typically responsible for answering any questions and walking guests to their seats. Something we as planners regard as critical is having the correct number of seats for the guests, along with making sure any rows of seats are reserved for family!

Pro tip: Ushers, please offer your right arm to female guests, and walk alongside male guests!

PROCESSIONAL

Here comes the bride, that’s right, it’s almost time! When it comes to the processional, bridesmaids will remain on the left, while the groomsmen will remain on the right, facing the arch. Groomsmen will extend their left bicep, while the bridesmaids hold their bicep with their right hand as they are escorted down the aisle. Bridesmaids are traditionally expected to hold their bouquet at their belly button with their left hand. Grandparents, parents, along with any other significant members will approach their reserved rows, followed by the bridal party being escorted filing from furthest to closest to the arch at a nice, paced walk down the aisle!

ROLES AND ETIQUETTE

Traditionally, the ceremony holds special roles and expectations for how it is supposed to go! This normally looks like the bride and groom holding hands, the bridal party standing evenly spaced as they face the bride and groom, groomsmen holding their left hand over their right, bridesmaids’ forearms resting on their hip bones, holding their bouquets at the belly button, while the flower girl and ring bearer are seated. Many ceremonies also follow the traditions of the mother of the bride signaling guests to stand, while the father of the bride gives the bride away, the best man is responsible for holding the rings, and the maid of honor offering any support the bride needs. This structure is typically the blueprint for what we see in many ceremonies!

PERSONALIZATION

We touched on some traditional roles and expectations for what a ceremony looks like, but you may be thinking you had something different in mind, which is perfectly okay! We’ve come up with some ways to personalize or mix up the ceremony for you! Some things we see are only the bridal party participating in the processional while the groomsmen enter from the side, a solo bride entrance, skipping the “giving away” tradition, along with special ways to honor loved ones like adding charms to the bride’s bouquet or framed photos to reserved seats to hold a space for them! We also see some couples choose to implement a symbol of unity which can look like lighting a candle, using unity sand, or including any religious traditions! Lastly, the ceremony’s tone is set by music selection, for which you have total control over! Be sure to have songs picked out for the prelude, processional, the entrance of the bride, any elements to the ceremony, as well as the recessional!

HUSBAND AND WIFE, NOW WHAT?

The bride and groom are officially pronounced as husband and wife and some announcements need to be made! Typically, the guests will be dismissed to cocktail hour, the family should expect to stay back for photos, followed by the bride and groom going to sign the marriage license and taking any final portraits of the two!

We’ve just gone through the timeline of what the structure of a wedding ceremony looks like! We hope this was helpful and remember, the rehearsal will be the perfect time work out any mishaps, so don’t stress if you find yourself in that place! We hope you feel so celebrated and encouraged on your special day!

Wedding Ceremony and Rehearsal