How do I set up a wedding ceremony schedule?

Hello Bec,

I would like to congratulate you and your fiancé on your up and coming Wedding on the 21.10.2017. Ok, This is one that I use. I normally have some gently music playing in the back ground just to help people relax, and the groom too. lol. The entrance can be done in so many different ways, so I would have the flowers girls enter, then the bridesmaids, and then, the music of here comes the bride (if that's the song the bride chooses to have playing) and The Bride then enters. Then handing over the bride to the groom, I then make sure your both ok and then I welcome everyone, and introduce myself. This will then lead into the Story of how you meet etc., /a poem that I will get you both to choose I will read, then I must read what is called the Monitum, We will then proceed to the asking, your vows of special words and exchanging rings, (we could do a special joining of the bride and groom eg: ribbons of connection, candle lighting, remembrance tribute etc.,) (so many different ideas). I will announce you Husband and Wife, and that the Groom may kiss the Bride. I will announce that we will be signing the documents/wedding certificate and after the photographer has taken his/her photo's I will ask if anyone would like to take photo's of the happy couple with their certificate. We will then finish and I will get everyone to stand and to put their hands together for Mr & Mrs.................................. and I will have your chosen music for your exit.

This does sound or seems like it would take a long time, but depending on if you do a ritual or a remembrance tribute then it could be 40/60 minutes. My motto is that I want the couple to put in as much as possible as your the couple with your own personal journey. After you leave the chapel, you will go with the bridal party and get photo's with them all, and the photographer will also get group photo's too, know this could range from 1 hour to 3 hours, this can vary is you have to drive to a different destination. And when you get back, you will be entering the Wedding Venue as MR and MRS ...................................... Enjoy the rest of your day/night and your future together. I hope this has helped you. Kind regards Annette.

Hello Bec,

Most Celebrant will have a running sheet that will guide you on what you want and don't want in a Ceremony. If you are in need of a time frame for the rest of the day then Easy Weddings has this on their website and there are lots on line as well.

Have a great day,

Marina

At the first meeting, I work out every other meeting until the wedding. This may include a rehearsal date if one is planned.

The run sheet or schedule for the big day is worked out with the venue, cake supplier, florist, decorators, photo booth supplier, photographer and videographer, etc.

Once you know how long you will take for photos before the start of the reception then we can plan the best start time for the ceremony.

Most of my ceremonies are between 30 to 40 minutes long, depending on wording choices, rituals and other inclusions.

If the reception is going to start at 6:00pm and the photographer requires one and half hours for photos, I suggest you start your ceremony at 3:30pm.

Allow at least 30 minutes for the ceremony, add 30 minutes for congratulations,  group and family photos at the ceremony venue. 

Then add one hour and a half with the photographer.

Take into account your guests will want some entertainment and drinks while they wait for you. Depending on the venue, games on the lawn or an entertainer is a wonderful way to fill the 1 and 1/2 hours. Another alternative is to suggest a great local pub or RSL.

Depending on the venue, games on the lawn or an entertainer such as a magician or live singer is a wonderful way to fill the 1 and 1/2 hours.

Another alternative is to suggest a great local pub or RSL with a reminder of the start time for the drinks and canapes at the reception venue.

Please have plan B in place in case of bad weather including a suggestion if it is raining and your guests can't stay outside at the venue.

If you have decided to have a WEDDING ORGANISER that is their job - that is what you will be paying them for. However, if you work out the schedule yourselves there are a variety of ways. This is something I discuss at first meeting. Sometimes I feel like a Wedding Organizer myself! We go through a basic schedule and work it from there. I usually (sort of) go from beginning of the day to the end of the wedding and then do the reverse, in otherwords, go backwards from the end to the start again. I know this sounds confusing, BUT it WORKS. The timelines are sorted out and you have an idea then, with the inclusions in your ceremony or the exclusions a pattern starts to form. I genuinely find that this works well and I hope it helps you as your schedule is often the most daunting task. Good luck and enjoy your wedding day - even if there is a hiccup along the way - people are there to celebrate your day and your love - don't worry.

down load from my site or email me - Mario , Treasured Ceremonies

Hi Bec. The celebrant is there to assist you to make your ceremony personal, unique and wonderful. I have a template for the schedule which I discuss with the couple. I explain the mandatory monitum and the vows and ask the couple what they want, who they want involved, whether they want personal vows and any rituals, blessings, verses, readings or cultural or religious focus and I offer suggestions to the couple.I then take that information and develop a ceremony which I email to the couple to peruse and discuss any further changes with me.

HI Bec, I'm not really sure if you're talking about a ceremony or the whole day but I'll hazard a guess that as your wedding isn't far off your celebrant has explained the order in which things happen during the ceremony. For other items it's a great idea to coordinate with your venue as there's sure to be someone who's used to helping couples plan their "running sheet" or schedule. If you're doing it yourself, however, you can check the internet for a guide then customise one to suit what's happening on your day. Does everything need to be delivered to one location, who will be responsible, what are your priorities? I always remind couples not to leave their guests standing around for too long before, during or after the ceremony, so that's another consideration. For things outside the scope of your celebrant, you can always use a wedding planner if it's all getting too much! Or, grab a big piece of butcher's paper and friend who's good at organising and talk through every item then list them in order! Good luck!

Hi Bec, To set up a wedding ceremony schedule, this is the ceremony format I offer

Starting with pre-ceremony music to create some atmosphere beforehand

Entrance of Bride and her Bridesmaids

Giving Away

Welcome including acknowledgement of loved ones (lighting of candle is often done here)

Introduction and "Love Story" of Bride and Groom

Parent's Blessing (Optional)

Reading/Poem (Optional)

Celebrant Authority (Monitum)

The Asking

Vows

Exchange of Rings

Ritual (wine, sand, reading) etc (Optional)

Declaration as Husband and Wife

Kiss

Music/signing of register and certificate

Presentation of Certificate / Conclusion

Introducing newly married couple as Mr & Mrs..

Prelude with music

I allow 30 minutes for the ceremony – less if there aren't any readings or rituals.

The ceremony is tailored around what the Bride and Groom decide they would like include.

Most photographers give approx. 10 minutes for guests to congratulate the happy couple after the ceremony as they like to get the group photograph quite quickly followed by family photographs.

These are taken at the ceremony location and average time is approx. 20 minutes.

Bride, Groom and bridal party then go and have their "Location" photos taken. Depending on photographers and location this can take 60-90 minutes or more if travel is involved.

Bride, Groom and bridal party then join their guests at the reception.

Setting up a wedding ceremony schedule The best advice I can give would be to speak with your celebrant and together you can work out if you are after just a basic ceremony or whether you wish have other special people involved - doing readings of passages or poems - and/or whether you are including rituals such as unity candles or a sand ceremony (just to name a couple). I find that a lot of brides and grooms initially think that they want something short and sweet and it is not until we talk about all the different options there are - they then decide they will include some of my suggestions. Ultimately it is the decision of the couple as to the direction the ceremony will take. Whatever the decision the ceremony will be guaranteed to be memorable for all the right reasons!

1. Bec to set up a schedule, do your timeline working backwards from the reception. if for instance your starting the reception at 6-00. What time are they serving champagne and canapes. Then go backwards so ceremony around 4-00 allow if celebrant 20mins and another 15mins for congratulations. Ask guests to arrive if area where your getting married parking is hard, or they have to walk a distance, 1/2 hour before. Then plan the rest of your day around that.