Wedding Mechanic

Choosing the Right Wedding Ceremony January 29, 2009

Choosing the Right Wedding Ceremony

Ceremonies are important aspects of weddings. The ceremony allows you to publicly declare your love and commitment to your partner. In effect, the ceremony is a public promise made between you and your partner. Choosing the venue for the ceremony is therefore important. You both need to feel comfortable in your setting, otherwise the ceremony may not have the same effect. Most people either chose to marry in a church or hire a celebrant and venue separately. Either options have positive and negative aspects.

Churches are not always willing to accommodate for creativity and entertainment. Lets face it, most people dislike the traditional church wedding ceremony, not because of religious affiliations (although some may) but because the service is often very long. My job is to provide other visual stimulations for guests attending the wedding, however this isn’t always easy. Churches have strict traditional customs, and often are not receptive to creative displays and decorations.

My advice to couples having a church ceremony is to pick a good priest who can speak well, incorporate great decorations and use music that can cater for the religious aspects of the ceremony whilst creating a calming and relaxing environment. The ceremony itself leaves guests feeling sleepy and relatively mellow, however the right music can turn a boring affair into a romantic and surreal experience. Guests leave feeling calm and relaxed whilst appreciating the romantic appeal.

Like with most wedding businesses, effective negotiating is vital to ensuring that a church ceremony is successful. Additionally, like most businesses, money allows some flexibility when attempting to push an idea, churches included. Some churches offer packages whereby they provide music and flowers. For couples on a budget, this can be great, however if we go back to the visual stimulation, these packages can be rather bland. For great visual stimulation,with entertainment incorporated I always advise couples to use a choir and the harp. Watching others sing is not only entertaining but also provides visual stimulation.

The priest conducting the ceremony should be able to speak clearly and loudly A priest that is close to approaching death cannot deliver a clear, and vibrant ceremony. Bargaining with the church will provide better options, after all, they too want business. If you are contemplating decorating the church yourself, opt for white flowers with some greenery. White bows at the end of each bench seat compliment the setting well. A floral arrangement on the signature table, or near the altar will also provide a romantic appeal. It’s always advisable to follow the theme of your wedding from the ceremony through to the reception. Flowers should be similar if not identical to the flowers used in the bouquets, and at the reception. Colour coordination should also be maintained.

Whilst church ceremonies have a traditional and spiritual atmosphere, some couples do prefer to hire a celebrant to avoid the complexities associated with churches. This is primarily due to the fact that Celebrants provide brief ceremonies without the religious affiliations attached. Couples have the option of adding to the ceremony, or eliminating some of the mumbo jumbo and simply getting straight to the point of saying ’I do’. For couples, this means having greater flexibility to be creative and entertaining. Whilst there are pros attached to using a celebrant, it needs to be acknowledged that with the flexibility and simplicity comes money. Celebrants can charge a fortune for their service, so it literally pays to do your homework.

A good celebrant will provide fa flexible approach and allow for creativity. The celebrant should also complete all the necessary legal forms for you, ensuring that all forms are sent to the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. If you find a celebrant that fail to do any of this, then chances are they are ripping you off. If you need help finding a reputable celebrant, go to Kiss the Bride wedding directory and start browsing.

Whether you chose the church ceremony or opt to use a marriage celebrant in a setting of your own, there are both positive and negatives attached. Whilst church ceremonies provide the traditional and spiritual setting, there are a number of hoops to jump through. Given the religious affiliations, one partner must be able to demonstrate that they are affiliated with that particular religion in order for the marriage to be recognised by the church. This can take time, and can often prove to be difficult when attempting to obtain the correct documents.

Utilsing a marriage celebrant allows for flexibility and creative flair, however the ’traditional’ aspect is lost. Additionally, you also have the added task of finding a location for the ceremony, which can be an added cost.

Whether you opt for the church or celebrant, your ceremony should reflect who you are as individuals and as a couple. The ceremony should reverberate your personalities, and your love for one another. Your guests should be able to leave with a deeper understanding of who you are, and the feelings you both have for one another.

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