Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony is the heart of the wedding. It's the reason the couple's loved ones have gathered together - to witness the wedding vows that joins the couple in matrimony. This touching expression of love, devotion and commitment has moved many a guest to tears. A wedding is one of life's most joyous occasions and many guests are honored to have shared in the special moment.

Religious wedding ceremonies are the perfect way for a couple to join together in the name of God. A beautiful expression of love and faith, a religious wedding ceremony often follows sacred and time-honored traditions that have a special significance. A religious wedding ceremony often accentuates the spiritual side of marriage and the joining of two souls.

A non-religious wedding ceremony is better suited to those of a more secular nature. While religion is not mentioned the same themes of love, trust and commitment remain. Non-religious wedding ceremonies include services that are without rituals; ceremonies that include rituals but no religious elements; and finally those that are religious in feel, but not in practice. Due the variety of styles and experiences among non-religious wedding ceremonies many include custom wedding vows.

Writing your own wedding vows allows you to express your feelings for your partner in your own words. While certain requirements should be met (for legal purposes) you are free to write vows that better reflect your hopes, dreams and expectations. If you're having trouble articulating your feelings your wedding Celebrant can provide suggestions. Of course, you must first choose your wedding Celebrant

In addition to deciding how to get married you must also decide where to have your wedding ceremony. You may decide to get married in a church. Or you may prefer an outdoor wedding ceremony. The advantage of an outdoor ceremony is that Mother Nature provides all the necessary wedding ceremony decorations.

Lastly, decide if you would like to include additional rituals during the ceremony. A unity candle is popular for its symbolism and as a sweet way to end the ceremony. You can also honor past loved ones during the wedding ceremony. This should be done in a simple and dignified manner. There's no need to dwell on sorrow during what is a happy, joyous occasion. A wedding is a celebration of life – which your past loved ones would understand.

Choosing a Wedding Celebrant

The wedding ceremony sets the entire tone of the wedding. A well-conducted ceremony gets the wedding off an optimistic start, just as a poorly performed wedding can mar your entire day. Of all the details involved in planning a wedding choosing your wedding Celebrant t is the most important. Unfortunately, choosing a wedding Celebrant is nowhere near as exciting as shopping for wedding dresses or picking the wedding flowers! As such, most couples give it minimal thought.

The overall feel and style of your wedding will help determine the personality and style of the wedding Celebrant. A dignified, conservative wedding Celebrant would be better suited performing a formal, large-scale wedding, while a wedding Celebrant that is lighthearted and relaxed would be more at home at a casual wedding. That is not to say you can't have a serious wedding Celebrant at a smaller, intimate wedding or a jovial Celebrant at a traditional wedding. Your personality and that of the wedding Celebrant should complement one another. You'll be spending a lot of time planning the ceremony with your wedding Celebrant, so make sure it's someone you enjoy working with.

The single most important aspect when choosing your wedding Celebrant is trust. Is this someone you can trust to perform your wedding ceremony proficiently? For all intensive purposes you're entrusting your wedding ceremony to a stranger. If you regularly attend church or temple you may be lucky enough to know your Celebrant – in which case they make an obvious choice. Otherwise, ask a lot of questions; do your research and ask for references. And most important of all – trust you instincts. You'll know when it feels "right".

Given the amount of time that goes into planning the wedding ceremony the actual act only takes a half hour or so to complete. Despite the wedding ceremony's significance, the Celebrant fee can be surprisingly affordable. On average an Celebrant fee ranges from $200 to $1000. The actual amount will vary depending on costs associated with the ceremony: pre-wedding counseling, ceremony/vows customization, Celebrant travel, ceremony site administrative fees and the rehearsal ceremony. Likewise, these fees vary by city and time of year. Some Celebrant will charge a flat rate, while others charge by the hour. As always, expect to pay more for experienced and well-regarded Celebrant. The more notable the Celebrant, the busier their schedule – either book your ceremony early or be willing to comply with their schedule. However, hiring the best Celebrant  is well worth the extra cost and effort; an exceptional Celebrant  is the key to a successful and memorable wedding ceremony.

Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies

Outdoor wedding ceremonies are romantic and beautiful in a completely different way from a church ceremony. They're also an ideal choice for couples that are having a non-religious wedding ceremony. Provided it's legal you can have an outdoor wedding ceremony almost anywhere: at the beach, lake front, deep in the woods, in a wildflower filled meadow, a pretty garden or even your backyard (if you have the room). However, for all its charm an outdoor wedding ceremony requires extra considerations – Mother Nature has a way of ruining the most careful of plans!

First off, scout out scenic or interesting locations to have your outdoor wedding ceremony. It is logistically possible to host the wedding ceremony there? Is there enough room for all your guests? Where would you place the chairs? Where would you place the tent? Is the site easily accessible to everyone? Your grandmother may not appreciate a hike up the mountains! You must also consider if the wedding Celebrant is willing to perform the wedding ceremony outdoors. Some religious wedding ceremonies can only be performed within the church. Lastly, get the necessary permission from the authorities. Some national parks forbid large gatherings, while others may have set hours when the wedding can occur (after which the park closes). If the site is particularly popular you may need to check its availability – just like a church.

Once you have the site secured consider renting a tent that can easily hold all the guests. Not only does a tent shield the guests from the sun's rays in the summer, but it will also keep them dry during the unpredictable rain of spring. If you're having a fall wedding a tent can also go a long way in keeping the guests warm. Make sure the tent is waterproof and made of heavy-duty material. Can you imagine how horrible the ceremony would be if the tent leaked, or worse blew away?

The bride will also need to choose her wedding dress according to the weather, especially if the couple is having an outdoor reception. Hot weather requires a lighter dress; cooler weather something heavier. The type of bridal veil will also be affected by the weather. Some veils are so delicate that the lightest of breezes will blow them around. Consider purchasing a veil that can be firmly secured or don't wear one at all.

The most important aspect of having an outdoor wedding ceremony is noise. Is there a lot of distracting background noise? You may have your heart set on a quaint downtown garden, but did you consider the noise of traffic? Likewise the crashing of the waves on a beach may make it hard for guests to hear you exchange your vows. To alleviate this problem rent wireless microphones or microphone clips for the bride and groom and the wedding Celebrant .

For all the extra planning it requires having an outdoor wedding ceremony is a unique and memorable way to exchange your vows.

Unity Candles

Lighting a unity candle is a beautiful and moving addition to the wedding ceremony. The lighting of candles has long been practiced in cultural and religious rituals, but the unity candle ceremony is relatively new. As such, there are no set rules on how to perform a unity candle ceremony.

The unity candle is normally lit once the wedding vows and wedding rings have been exchanged. The ceremony can be performed at the church altar, off to the side of the altar or even outside. Unless the day is perfectly calm and windless you may want to avoid lighting the unity candle outside – it may be difficult to light and your dress may get wrecked.

The unity candle ceremony involves three candles; a candle each for the bride and groom and a single candle representing their union. The individual tapers can be lit prior to or during the unity candle ceremony. A nice touch is to have the parents light their child's taper than hand it to them. This act symbolizes the continuity of family and the sharing of the "eternal light of life". The couple use their individual tapers to light the one large candle together. The lighting of the single candle symbolizes two individuals joining as one.

Once the unity candle has been lit, there are two options for the individual tapers. They can be extinguished, signifying the couple's willingness to put the needs of their marriage before their individual needs. Or the individual tapers can remain lit, symbolizing the individual strengths the bride and groom contribute to their union. Some couples choose to incorporate a small prayer or blessing during the lighting of the unity candle. This old Irish blessing is particularly sweet:

" May the blessing of light be on you -

light without and light within.

May the blessed sunlight shine on you

and warm your heart

till it glows like a great fire. "

Honoring Past Loved Ones

Although your wedding is the happiest day of your life it's easy to miss past loved ones you always thought would share your special day. While it's understandable you would want to honor the deceased it should be done in a simple and dignified manner. A wedding is a joyous occasion – which your past loved ones would understand. You can choose to honor past loved ones in a private way or publicly before all the guests.

Light a memorial candle: a single candle can be used to honor all the past loves ones of the bride and groom's families. Once the candle is lit the couple or the minister can say a few simple words such as "This candle is in honor of (name of the deceased), who the bride and/or groom miss very much and who they know is present in spirit here today." This can be followed with a short prayer.

Light a candelabra: have each of your siblings light a candle for each loved one that is no longer with you.

Offer a prayer: the minister can give a short prayer in memory of the deceased.

Special bouquets: have special bouquets placed on the altar as a silent tribute to past loved ones.

Framed photos: place a framed photo of the deceased on the altar. The bride can then pull a single flower from her bouquet and place it before the picture. If the bride lost her father or mother she may choose to carry their framed picture down the aisle. The picture can then be placed on the altar, which may or may not include a memorial candle or special bouquet.

Carry something special in your bouquet: the bride may carry something in memory of her past loved one in her bouquet. This could include their favorite flower, ribbons in the colors of their favorite sports team, or a small charm (in the shape of their favorite hobbies, passions) attached to the bouquet's handle. The favorite flower and colored ribbons could be repeated in the boutonnieres.

Recite a song or poem: read out a poem or play a song that had special meaning for the deceased.

Make a bequest: make a donation to the deceased's favorite charity.

Give a speech: acknowledge your past loved one during your wedding speech.

Second Wedding Ceremonies

Getting married a second time provides the couple with more freedom as it pertains the wedding ceremony and reception. The big "fairy tale" wedding is no longer a necessity; chances are you already had that style of wedding. That's not to say a second wedding can't be a big, extravagant affair. The benefit of a second wedding is it can really be anything you want. As you're likely older and wiser your second wedding is more about your wants and needs, rather than the expectations of others.

Prior to applying for the marriage license you will need to establish your single status. This could be providing proof of divorce or a death certificate if widowed. Other legalities should be considered, such as guardianship of your children, inheritance (if widowed) and changing your name (for women).

With that hurdle cleared you are now free to plan your wedding ceremony. If you're writing your own vows or are considering a non-religious wedding ceremony your options are fairly open. It's only when you want a religious wedding ceremony that you may encounter some difficulties. Unfortunately, some churches frown on divorce and may decline to perform your wedding ceremony. If this is the case you may have to "shop around" to find a more sympathetic minister who is willing to officiate the wedding.

Although some may be tempted to re-create their first wedding ceremony, as a word of advice, don't. Your second wedding ceremony should reflect who you are now, your current hopes and dreams and the new life you're about to begin with your partner. Your previous wedding ceremony should remain in your past and your memories alone.

If you have kids you may decide to include them in your second wedding ceremony. They could join you in a family unity candle ceremony, sing or recite a reading. However, if the remarriage is difficult for your kids to cope with it may be easier for them to simply attend the wedding, rather than be an active participant.

As for who walks the bride down the aisle it can be anyone the bride chooses. Although you are welcome to ask your father, you're not required to do so. You can ask your son or a favorite male relative. Or perhaps you'll decide to walk down the aisle alone, as a symbol of your independence. Another great option is to walk down the aisle with the groom.

Remember that a second wedding ceremony is just as important as a first wedding. It deserves the same respect and excitement - so do what makes you happy.