DELISH MAGAZINE JANUARY 2020
HOW TO PLAN A
M
onths of planning is par for the
course for couples about to tie the
knot. Much of that planning concerns
the reception, and rightfully so. Recep-
tions last longer than ceremonies, and
couples are often involved in every
reception detail, from picking the ap-
petizers to serve during cocktail hour to
choosing the final song before everyone
calls it a night. But it’s equally important
that couples devote considerable atten-
tion to their wedding ceremonies.
A wedding ceremony might not
last long, but it is the most crucial
component of a couple’s wedding day
and can even set the tone for the rest of
the festivities. From choosing readings
to honoring loved ones to immersing
oneself in his or her faith, these tips can
help couples plan their perfect ceremony.
• Give the ceremony equal footing
with the reception. Spend time trying to
put a personalized spin on the preceed-
ings, whether that entails writing your
own vows or choosing moving music
that means something to you. When
given ample attention, seemingly minor
details can make for a special, memo-
rable ceremony.
• Choose a ceremony location that is
close to the reception site. If a ceremony
will take place in a house of worship, try
to choose a reception venue close to the
ceremony site. This keeps guests, some
of whom may be out-of-towners who
have already traveled extensively, from
spending too much time on the road
during the day of the wedding.
• Get to know the officiant. The
officiant should be someone with whom
you both feel comfortable. This person
should know you well enough that he
or she can preside over the ceremony
and add sentiments that come across as
authentic and personalized.
• Do your best to avoid especially
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lengthy ceremonies. Couples will need
to meet the religious requirements if
they are getting married in the faith,
and there may be some aspects of the
ceremony that you cannot cut short or
modify. But if you have wiggle room,
try to keep the ceremony to around 30
minutes; otherwise, you run the risk
of guests getting antsy, especially if
children are in the audience.
• Decorate the ceremony space. While
the altar and aisle are key places to draw
attention, couples also can dress up the
chairs/pews, ceiling (if allowed), and
entrance to the space to make it welcom-
ing and romantic.
Even wedding ceremonies that likely
won’t run long can benefit from some
pre-wedding planning.