Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions — The Knot Community

Modern Prelude Music? HELP

amawilco — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:16:20 +0000

I am really undecided about our ceremony music! We are a young couple who enjoy more modern music and I don't think that formal classical music is our style. Prelude music is supposed to set the tone for the wedding, and I want ours to be formal but not traditional and classic. Have any of you set your ceremony music to more modern music? We are liking Marry Me by Train, Lucky by Jason Mraz and Rhythm of Love by Plain White T's but I don't want to send the wrong message to the guests, which all but family members(25%) are going to be 20-25.

Any suggestions for what songs are good to play?

Vows

jonnilyne — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 01:01:15 +0000

My fiancee and I both want to write our own vows, but I must admit I'm a little confused. I've always loved the idea of the "I do"s, and if we write our own vows instead of using traditional vows, would we even say "I do", seeing as it would be us reading our vows instead of a minister reading the traditional ones? I guess I've never seen a wedding in which the couple wrote their own vows, so I'm a little confused as to how it works!

Where do these vows come from?

TCbride1 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:52:18 +0000

Hi everyone!

I heard these vows in a wedding video and really like them. Does anyone know where they came from so I can find the full versions?

http://bruedesign.com/thecaptureblog2/?p=180

From what I could hear, it went something like this:

Groom“I give you my life this day. In the presence of god and according to his will, I leave my father and mother and now cleave to you….” “I will love you, as Christ loves the Church. Giving my life for yours, I will lead and protect you, as we share our life with God, who gave us one another Bride“According to the will of God and my desire, I give myself to you. To be your wife, and your friend, and to stand by you always as we share our life together. Leaving my Father and Mother, I now commit myself to you….”

Thank you!

Museum venue

transatlanticpigeon — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 03:27:08 +0000

I'm wondering if there is anyone who has had their wedding in a museum gallery? SO and I love art and history, so I thought it would be a fun and beautiful place for a ceremony that expresses who we are as a couple.

We would like to have a very small ceremony with our families, so that may make this more possible. Any much would it cost for us to say our vows in a public space in a museum with a group the size of a tour?

Thanks :)

Ceremony... during reception?

lgoin1 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:52:48 +0000

I didn't know whether to post this here or under Reception Ideas, so bear with me. I am rolling a reception and ceremony into one. The event schedule I have is as follows:

receive guests
drink/snack/meet guests
vows
toast from friends and family
toast from me and FI
cake cutting
more drinking/snacking/mingling and dancing

FI and I are very untraditional and not religious. We want to emphasize that our wedding is a celebration of us and our loved ones. Has anyone every done that or been to a wedding like that? Any tips or ideas? I keep thinking about songs to play and it gets a little weird since we're not doing the traditional ceremony. If it helps, we are having a Jazz Age theme.

How do we line up the bridal party?

livelifelarge24 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 02:18:41 +0000

I have read both in order of height or order of importance. I'm not interested in trying to decide who is most important to me, in fact the idea is kind of appaling! But if I line them up by height does it go the shortest next to me and then on up? Or the tallest next to me and then down? We have some seriously tall groomsmen and a couple bridesmaids that are super tall too. One of my bridesmaids is actually 6' and I'm 5'2". I will be wearing 4" heels though. I can't believe I never even thought to ask or figure this out yet.

I'm actually losing sleep over this!

swalker04 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 08:16:53 +0000

My fiance and I want to have a catholic ceremony. We booked our reception site in our hometown, and we have been looking at churches. My church will not let me get married any later than 2pm on a Saturday. Our reception is starting at 6pm..... Thats 4 hrs!!

I can't have 4 hours in between everything! It will probably be 3 hours after the ceremony and receiving line.

Is it OK to have 3 hrs in between? I don't feel like it is!

How to seat guests without walking down our decorated aisle?

kristylin223 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:15:20 +0000

So our wedding in on July 14th outside and I have this vision of a decorated aisle. I suggested that we make a walkway on either side of the aisle so that guests can get to their seats that way....however both of our Mom's got upset that their wouldnt be enough room for the usher to talk the lady down the walkway unless we really really spaced out the two rows of chairs and she wasn't crazy about making guests go on the outsides of the chairs to their seats. Our chairs will have to be placed in a half moon shape I think. Any suggestions on what to do? We are thinking of putting glitter down the aisle and I didnt want everybody to have glitter all over their shoes...but maybe it's just going to have to be that way...

Any ideas?

TNBC Vow Inspiration Help!

chacelove — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:28:12 +0000

Hello knotties!

I'm truly inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas in trying to figure out my wedding vows, particularly the last lines:

"My dearest friend, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you by your side. Where we can gaze into the stars, and sit together, now and forever. For it is plain, as anyone can see, we're simply meant to be."

I would love to turn this into my vows for me and my FH (same vows?), but am having a difficult time coming up with something that doesn't sound stupid or forced. If anyone has personal TNBC vows they've written, I'd love to hear them to try to gain inspiration! Or, if you have any ideas after reading the above passage, I appreciate any and every bit of help!

Thanks so much!

Ashley

small wedding party question

orangehills — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:14:26 +0000

We are thinking about having about 25 people at our wedding. It will just be our immediate family and then closest friends. With that small amount of guests, do you think it would look odd if I had 2 maid of honors and he had 1 best man, standing up with us?

paying for rental tuxedos

AubreyGriffith — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 05:54:15 +0000

What is the norm for paying to rent tuxedos? Is each groomsmen expected to pay for it himself?

If so, what is a reasonable price?

I'm worried I am going to get the brunt if they aren't happy about it...

Timeline...

lnreynol — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:52:15 +0000

So FI and I met with our photographer yesterday and we were going through the schedule of events and came to a road block when we discussed the end of the ceremony transition to the reception. We are getting married at a church and then our reception is about four blocks away from the ceremony so our assumption is that people will probably drive to the reception. FI and I want to do the normal recessional. We plan to greet guests at their tables during the reception so we are not doing a recieving line and or dismissing guests from their pews (which i hate). We are also not doing a "send off" we refised to spend 800$ renting a limo that would drive us 4 blocks (seemed silly to us both) so we will be riding in my good old mazda (so its nothing grand or picture worthy)

My question is, how do we let the guests know that they are free to go to the reception so that they are not expecting us until the reception. Our pastor is making an announcement to those who will not be attending the reception to stay behind so that we can thank them for coming and then we will proceed directly to family pictures in the chuch.

I hope this made sense! :-)

Sand Ceremony

mnewbybeise — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:26:35 +0000

I am working on the reading for my sand ceremony and I really want to include my fiance and my mom in the ceremony. I was thinking of having my mom and his mom pour white sand into the largest vase during the processional and then my fiance and I pouring in our seperate colors in later on in the ceremony. Does this sound like a stupid idea and does anyone know of any readings that would go along with this? Thanks.

Vow Renewal Ideas

skylily — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:46:41 +0000

Hi Ladies!

I need some help getting people on board for a vow renewal. My husband and I have heard quite a few times that many people wish they could have been at our wedding. (FYI: We were married at the courthouse). - We have also heard that a vow renewal that is less than 10 year is simply people asking for gifts or a "second wedding."

With that said, I have a completely differnet motive. Now this is all an IDEA. Nothing official. I'm a planner and I enjoy planning and brainstorming fun things. So this September DH and I are going to start TTC - and we are hoping its immediate. (I know its not like that, no one needs to tell me). If all goes as I hope it does I want to throw a vow renewal for our anniversary - for our family members who regreted our decision, and a little for me to be pretty :) - but what I REALLY want to do is hand out the "favors" for the night to everyone at the same time - have key photographers focused on key people - and then when they open their favors they will see a cute box with a bag inside that reads STORK DELIVERY - and a small stick with a tag that reads "Due:(Expected Delivery Date) - - then when they open the bag it will have a hand crafted nest (I love crafts) and an egg inside with the baby's date/name - I hope we can put the egg in pink or blue but I don't think we'll know the sex by then... any way I wanted to tell everyone at the same time. My family is terrible about spilling the beans before I get to.

What do you think? How can I get ppl on board for the vow renewal without telling them that my real reason is to have everyone together for our great news? - - - and vow renewal or not I am thinking of doing something similar if we don't get pregnant right away. Only trouble with that is - the majority of our family will not come to some backyard picnic. But a vow renewal would be a bigger event that our family would actually want to attend. - - I just have no idea how to take the next step in brainstorming how I can explain to family why we want a vow renewal and why they should be there. Thoughts?

Are programs necessary?

hwoychowski — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:07:20 +0000

We are only having 50 people at our wedding and I have always thought they were a little unnecessary. Maybe I am missing something. Please fill me in!

arch alternatives?

id012 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:24:52 +0000

We are getting married on the beach in the sand.

Its going to cost an arm and leg to have our florist do an arch because they have to come back and pick it up, and are about an hour away.

So im trying to think of something else we could do to mark the "alter". I deffiently want something at the end of the isle, but im not sure what to do that either i can provide of that is something that i can bring back to the shop after the wedding.

I could do 2 flower arrangments but.. its not really my style.

What i wanted was something like this..

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1C1TSNP_enUS464US464&biw=1777&bih=861&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=maXlmuVu3AxEXM:&imgrefurl=http://www.achampagnewish.com/services/wedding-portfolio/beach-weddings/&docid=t5cgPwgiXdTDXM&imgurl=http://www.achampagnewish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/364.jpg&w=3456&h=2304&ei=VSzpT8yKJrOu0AHw-pGPDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1326&vpy=231&dur=383&hovh=182&hovw=274&tx=134&ty=126&sig=114588041197584675510&page=1&tbnh=128&tbnw=171&start=0&ndsp=55&ved=1t:429,r:43,s:0,i:209

anyideas?

Just figured out my ceremony wording... please give opinions :)

kfrazel — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:11:06 +0000

Just a bit of background info.. FI & I are not religious and we are having an old family friend, get licensed to be a one day marriage officent (this has been taken care of). He has never performed a wedding so I figured I'd just get it out of the way tonight and get the ceremony wording out of the way. we have been planning on a quick ceremony so I thought this was short & sweet, please tell me what you think :)

Welcome to family and friends:
Friends, we have come together today to witness the marriage of Paul and Kimberly. The legal requirements of this state having been fulfilled, and the license for their marriage being present, I must ask of each party if they come of their own free will and accord.

Paul, do you come to this union of your free will, and with the intention of being faithful in marriage to Kimberly as long as you shall live?

Groom answers "I do."

Kimberly, do you come to this union of your free will, and with the intention of being faithful in Marriage to Paul as long as you shall live?

Bride answers "I do."

Who presents Kimberly to be married to Paul?

Bride's father (or representative) responds "I do."

Vows:
Please repeat the following after me:
I,Paul, do take you, Kimberly, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise from this day forward to be your faithful husband, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as I shall live.

Please repeat after me:
I, Kimberly, do take you, Paul, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise from this day forward to be your faithful wife, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as I shall live.

Rings
The wedding ring seals the vows of marriage as a signature bears witness to a written covenant. As the ring is placed upon the finger, will you repeat these words:

With this ring I give you my heart. I promise from this day forward you shall not walk alone. May my heart be your shelter, and my arms be your home.

We have come together in this place and have heard the willingness of Paul and Kimberly to be joined in marriage. They have come of their free will and in our hearing have made a covenant of faithfulness. They have given and received a ring as the seal of their promises.

Therefore, by the power vested in me by the state of Massachusetts I pronounce that they are husband and wife.

Ignore the italics and weird bolded stuff... thanks!

Wedding Ideas And Collection

NainaD — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 06:32:33 +0000

http://perfectweddingcollections.blogspot.in/

Hello Everyone....

This is my first post....

I created my own blog on wedding ideas and collections, which provide you best information and latest ideas to make your wedding day unforgettable. Wedding themes, songs, photography, decorations, bridal dresses and jewellery and many more is now just at one place. So are you ready to make your wedding day.... A Very Special Day Of Your Life !!!!!!..... Memorable....????

Justice of the Peace. HELP!

roxabdollahi — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:53:39 +0000

Help! I've been searching high and low and I can't seem to find a justice of the peace that will marry us at our location.
Does anybody have any advice?

Do I list ceremony musicians' names in programs?

ali585 — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:24:50 +0000

We're having a string trio play during our wedding ceremony. Do we need to list their names (or just the name of their group) in our programs?

Need help with ceremony components!

mgkush — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:53:49 +0000

Hi all! I've been mulling over ceremony components and things for days and am still lost. I could really use some suggestions! My fiance and I are not religious and are planning to have a pretty nontraditional wedding. We're getting married outdoors in a gazebo in downtown Charleston, SC in April next year and having the reception at my parents' home. My father is officiating the ceremony and that's about all we've decided on considering the ceremony. We're going to read our own vows and each read a poem to each other as well, but I have no clue what else to include in the ceremony. I think since Dad is officiating that I'm going to have Mom walk me down the aisle because I'm very close to both of them and that way they both play a huge role in the wedding. Does anyone have suggestions for readings or unity ceremonies that aren't religious? Maybe something more science minded or nature related? Anyone have a great nontraditional wedding they could tell me about for ideas? Thanks in advance for the help!

Pets

jdailey1 — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:18:30 +0000

I am considering having my Cavalier walk down the isle with my fiance and I. He really is like our child, doesn't bark, and would be taken home right after the ceremony. We are having a really casual wedding outside at a vineyeard, so the venue fits. However, is it really weird to have a dog in your wedding? Think I'll regret it? I think he will be SO cute in pictures with us, so I may have him pose for pics and not walk down the isle. Thoughts?

I'm thinking i'll have to go with the Plan B wedding....

mmolina25 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:44:46 +0000

Due to some health issues my mom is having I was really thinking of postponing the wedding. My mom refused of course so that's when I came up with Plan B wedding. I was thinking a destination wedding with just a ceremony and only the immediate family and then hang out somewhere afterwards. I live in the Dallas area and was wanting to stay in TX since more than likely we'll drive. I'm not sure how to go about all this so I'm really needing some ideas. We are pushing the wedding up shooting for September, since that is when my dress will be here, or October of this year. I did look online at some places like San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston. I want an outdoor wedding. If you know of any places to go please let me know.
Thanks!

Readings...so many questons

aluaevolver — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:18:53 +0000

My FH's mom told me that if I'm not having my futue sister in law (who is 13) as a bridesmad (she's not responsible enough) then she needs to at least do a reading. I asked her what that was and she didn't quite explain.

I understand that the reading happens sometime during the wedding ceremony. I just don't know when.

I understand that I pick the thing to be read but I don't know what because I don't understand what exactly the reading is. (I tried to google it but al I came up with is a bunch of poems or verses) That doesn't really help to explain what it does or when it happens.

I understand that I or someone picks someone to read the reading....which has apparently been picked for me. But I was unaware that there was even supposed to be a reading.

I've never been to a wedding. Could someone please explain to me what exactly a reading is, the purpose of it, when it happens (or where it can happen, if there can be more than one)....and any other helpful things. Because I've tried asking but it's like one of those secrets that evryone seems to know and I'm supposed to somehow find out....somehow.

Please, help me understand.

Much crying during ceremony??

adfoster77 — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 02:28:39 +0000

Hey,

I am normally quite emotional, and the thought of being up in front of everyone that matters to me, and bawling my eyes out just worries me. How much did you all cry/ or anticipate crying during your ceremony?

Kites in Wedding Ceremony?

theclovers — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:20:03 +0000

Hello,
I have a while before my wedding and I would love some new ideas for the ceremony. I want to do something festive that will be rememberd. However, Im alittle concerned that my ideas are alittle silly. Is it weird to have ribbons or (white) spinner kites on poles during the walk down the aisle? They would be entering before the wedding party. I feel like ive heard others doing the same but I cant find it online. What do you think? If this is a silly idea, do you have any other ideas?

Bridal Party Processional Idea

FANCIFULDECOR — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:23:18 +0000

I need a simple but unique entrance for my bridal party???

parent as ceremony officiant?

meghraff — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:45:14 +0000

Is anyone planning on or had one of their parents serve as their ceremony officiant? How did it work out? My fiance would like to have his mother who is a licensed officiant perform our ceremony. I worry that this would make my mother feel left out since my father is walking me down the aisle. Any thoughts or suggestions?

BENEFITS PROBLEM

dcamma — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:58:10 +0000

I am disabled and have been with my partner for eight years. I was wondering if anyone else had come up with this situation or if there are any ideas for a solution....
We WANT to get married but if we do, by LAW I will lose my health benefits.
Should we have a ceremony and just not file the paperwork?
Get engaged and never married?

Basically, is there a way to get married without it being official? And is that wrong to decieve the people that we would have at our 'wedding' (or would it be more ethical to call it something else)???

ANYONE PLEASE post your thoughts on this. We are planning on doing SOMETHING September 2013 but we don't even know where to start because of this ordeal.
Thanks in advance,
Danielle

Recessional?

ujocdeelovely — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 03:05:24 +0000

Hi Ladies!

I know I have some time but I've been looking into music for our ceremony. I think I have everything covered except for Recessional. I was looking through previous posts and saw that someone was using "Ever Ever After" by Carrie Underwood and fell in love with the idea! I let FI listen to it and he laughed and thought I was nuts for wanting to use a Disney themed song LOL! Any ideas on what songs to use? I don't want to be too traditional. For Prelude I was considering using instrumental versions of some popular songs by Alicia Keys and Goo Goo Dolls. I attached what I have so far.

Prelude- No One-Alicia Keys-Piano, Goo Goo Dolls-Iris-Piano, Life House-You and Me-Instrumental. Also considering this mix from the movie Enchanted http://youtu.be/LgQixVsvSrQ

Mothers/BMs processional: Butterfly Waltz, by Brian Crain

Me and dad: Canon in D-harpist

Unity Candle music: Sound of an Angel-violin-http://youtu.be/NguIpRFLM4M

Recessional: ?