Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions — The Knot Community

Flower girl(s) on a sailboat?

TaraKeeley — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:37:18 +0000

We're getting married in January on a sailboat in Costa Rica... it's a small wedding, fewer than 40 people, on a 70-foot sailboat. I really want to involve my fiance's niece, because she means a lot to me and she's been very supportive of our relationship from the start ("Tio, she's the best thing that ever happened to you!" hahaha). When we got engaged she mentioned wanting to be the flower girl, but I'm not sure how to pull that off with no aisle for her to walk down. How do we do this on a sailboat? She'll be 10 years old and she's brilliant and bilingual (as is our ceremony!), so I was thinking of having her read something, maybe...? But she said she wants flowers, so flower's she's getting! I just need to figure out the details of that. Advice? There's another niece who will be 7, and obviously I want to involve her, too, because I can't leave one out... but this one doesn't really speak :o)

What do you think?

Classic Car ceremony idea...

liljiggy — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:13:18 +0000

so I just got engaged and I had an idea of like a classic car ceremony. Have a few classic cars on site. Thought it might be a good idea seeing as my fiance and I go to car shows alot and love cars haha, that and my Dad has an old 57 chevy. Anyone ever seen this idea before or have suggestions??

Officiant related question

cnf2013 — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:43:53 +0000

My FI's cousin is ordained and is going to officiate our ceremony. However, we're getting married in New York and he lives and works in Alabama. I know we need to get a NY state marriage license, but does it matter that he's ordained in a different state then the one we're getting married in? And what do we do with the license afterwards? Will we be responsible for getting it notarized and how exactly do we go about doing that? I'm unsure about what to even do with the license after we sign it, since we'll be going off to take pictures and he'll be both in pictures with us, then heading off to the reception.

Hi Ladies! New here, wanted to say hi and....

mamahines85 — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:59:48 +0000

Introduce myself and run a ceremony idea by you guys. :) I'm Sarah and I'm engaged, with no date yet and we are sure it will be about 2 years before we can afford to have our wedding. :) We've been together for 3 years now and we have an 8 month daughter together who will be my precious lil flower girl. (FYI, I'm a rotten speller, tend to ramble pointlessly and try my best to be honest, blunt and kind.)

Ok, so we are 'that couple'. He is a rough around the edges construction worker and I am a hippy, beach bum, stay at home mom and am full of random spontaneousness!

I've been stuck on a beach wedding for as long as I can remember, but now I'm having other, equally awesome ideas!!! What do you think of a wedding at the FL Aquarium? Exchanging vows in front of a huge tropical fish tank? My other ideas are of course, a classic sunset beach wedding, the aquarium, and the odd idea that is totally different that those two is a Disney wedding in front of the castle at night time when it's all lit up! A true fairy tale wedding! Opinions?

Elope vs. Dream Wedding HELP!!!!!

desi72091 — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:11:32 +0000

My Boyfriend (we aren't engaged just yet) wants us to go elope instead of having a huge wedding with our families and I want to have my dream wedding that i feel like I have been planning my entire life. He did try and conpromise and agree to a small wedding with my mom, sister and two brothers and his mom and dad on a tropical beach somewhere. Because He isnt that close with most of his family and he said if I have my wedding I want all he wants at the wedding is his mom and dad so it would be all my family and friends I don't know if I should go with having like a small thing with just my mom and close family and his mom and dad or do the whole big dream wedding. HELP!!!

Morning Wedding

Miranda2911 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:20:10 +0000

Hello all,
What do you see as the benefits and drawbacks of having a morning wedding? (Ceremony at 9:30, breakfast at 10:30, alone and intimate with hubby by 1:30pm)
Has anyone done a morning wedding? What was your experience?
(This is also posted on the Offbeat Bride board.)

Ceremony advice- Buffalo, NY

Kadelsb9 — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:23:49 +0000

My parents raised me Catholic but I no longer associate with that church. I would consider myself a spiritual person, but do not attend or belong to a church. My FH was raied Christian, but is no longer religious. My parents offered to pay for our wedding without us asking, and we've booked a beautiful reception site with their help. Our problem is that my parents want us to get married in the Church, and we do not. They are very old-fashioned and difficult to negotiate with... Any advice, or location ideas that will be flexible in their ceremony (ie music, non-biblical readings)?

I need a brown aisle runner....

Rick&Tara — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:07:31 +0000

Does anyone know anywhere online that sells brown aisle runners? All I can seem to find is white and ivory.

Alternative to bubbles or bird seed??

faith.joel — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:22:37 +0000

I'm looking for an alternative to bubbles or bird seed as we leave the ceremony! I would love to release live butterflies, but that's a little more expensive than I would like. Any suggestions??

Honoring deceased parent at ceremony

maryrickerson — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:14:48 +0000

Hi! I am looking for ideas on how to include/honor my Fiance's father who passed away 4 1/2 years ago in our ceremony . His mother is now remarried and as we live out of state we are not super close with her husband. I feel he should have a boutinniere as he is married to the MOG, but my fiance disagrees. I think I win in that argument due to etiquette! ;)
We planned to have an empty seat next to the MOG and I was going to put a flower from my bouquet on the seat in representation of my fiance's dad, but the MOG is uncomfortable with this. We are not having a religious ceremony. Any thoughts? I thought we would have a memorial candle at our reception just saying something like "In memory of those who are ever present in our hearts" which would be inclusive for everyone we've collectively lost, including my grandparents, but I feel like we should maybe do something more specific for his father, just not sure what and don't want to step on my FMIL's toes or make her new husband uncomfortable! HELP! :)

Aisle Runner or NoT!!

Rick&Tara — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:12:02 +0000

Does anyone have an opinion or experience with an aisle runner? I have heard they can be disasters but I think I really want one? It will be on a concrete surface and made of a good polyester fabric?? HELP ;) Thannk!

Soloist song

MissMegs2010 — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:11:25 +0000

I need some ideas for a second song for my soloist to sing. The first one that I have is "One Hand, One Heart".

Any idea are appreciated!

I need your opinions on the "walking down the aisle song"

villarose84 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:57:29 +0000

Our ceremony is going to be on a pier on the water and I will be walking down a long dock so more than likely I will be walking down the dock to a full 3-4 min. song. I'm trying to decide between "Marry Me" by Train and "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. Opinions please! Thanks!

Non-sappy Father-Daughter dance ideas - help!!

emmcginnis — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:59:59 +0000

My dad and I want to have a first dance song, but don't want it to be sappy..or weird.

He loves Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Eagles, etc - Classic(-ish) rock, and I think something upbeat with a good message would be fun. We're just trying to steer away from "Daddy's little girl" or "Brown eyed girl" sort of songs.

Any ideas would be super!!

Program help please

harjess — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:51:04 +0000

My bridal party and myself are walking to the same song I am just going down at a certain time. Should it say this or something else?

Bridal Party Processional..................You by Jesse PowellBride's Entrance...............................You by Jesse Powell

Church decor

hkb18 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:25:50 +0000

Does anyone have any good ideas for church pew decorations? I am trying to figure out what to do because I am not allowed to use any tape or anything to hang anything on the pews. ideas?

Flower Girl Drama

Aubree4581 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:06:56 +0000

Need opinions... I have 2 flower girls 1 is my 6 yr old daughter, and 1 is my best friends 5 yr old daughter. Our girls are best friends, and having my friends daughter was my daughters idea. I am a fan of things looking pretty uniform, but my family feels I am taking away from my daughter, and need to find a way to make her stand out, My daughter is from a previous relationship, and we fully intend to involve her in the vows portion of the ceremony. I understand that it is my day, but I have always been the girl who trys to make everyone happy. I just dont know what to do.

My second flower girl issue is....my church does not allow the girls to toss petals, does anyone have any cute ideas?? before I just go with a simple bouquet for them.

Has anyone planted a tree instead of a unity candle or sand?

sgjc2012 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:46:08 +0000

Hello,

The candle and sand aren't really appealing to my FI and I so to keep with the theme of an outdoor wedding in TN we thought we would plant a tree instead. Since we are going to be at a cabin we can't actually plant a tree there. (not our property). So we would consider a planting a house plant that we could watch grow over the years. Has anyone does this? or does anyone have any long living house plants they could suggest? Or even sample wording if they did this before...

Thanks!

Vows - Second Draft

boaznruth — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:20:24 +0000

This is the second draft of my vows for a beach wedding in June. Thoughts? As we begin this new chapter in our lives, I promise to continue to be your home in this world, a safe place for you to seek shelter in. I promise to come to you first to share good news and seek comfort. I promise to help you enjoy the small moments in life as well as the big, whether it is by a roaring fire or candlelight. I promise to accept you for the man that you are and to support you as you become the man that you will be. I promise to follow you, faithfully, through any journey you lead us through and to grow closer to you as we grow older, by your side. I bind my life and all that I am to you today, proud to be your wife, and happy to be yours. (We're kind of a traditional couple.)

Ceremony Site-SE Michigan

aemelvin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:42:57 +0000

I need some help locating a great outdoor/indoor ceremony site in southeast michigain, preferably in our near Oakland County as our reception site is in West Bloomfield. We are open to unique ideas, just need to find a spot to tie the knot!!

Ceremony Music/Musicians/Songs

BMSawa — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:35:35 +0000

2 things.

FIrst, how did you decide what type of music to have played at the ceremony - ie, string ensemble, DJ, live music with DJ, organist/pianist? I have all of these options I could take but I can't decide on which. All are pretty much equal in price.

Second, ever heard of any bride walking down the aisle to the same song as the bridesmaids? ie - I want to have Canon in D played for the girls and I would also like to walk down to it, as well. If I choose to have this song played for both, how would you transition from the end of the BMs to before I walk down since there won't be the end of song to have everyone stand? Or would that not even be necessary?

Inexpensive Vases?

stantone29 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:04:39 +0000

So I've decided to create my own centerpieces (am I crazy?) and I'm despretely looking for inexpensive vases. I'm looking for tall (about 12-16") cylinder vases that about about 4" wide. I am going to need about 20 of them. Anyone know of any good websites I could buy/rent these at a reasonable price?? Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Thanks girls!! Good luck planning!

Traditional procession?

vantilka — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:41:11 +0000

FI are debating. Should groomsmen escort the bridesmaids up the aisle before the ceremony, or stand up with the groom and do the recession with bridesmaids?

Vows in intimate canoe ceremony?

You&Me=Happy00 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:51:21 +0000

Ok. Ok. so maybe I shouldn't be in a 'wedding' forum... considering this is kind of like an elopement... but OH WELL. :P

Does anybody have any ideas on an intimate ceremony venue in Arizona?

Our last name is/(will be) Prescott so I thought it would be cute to do it in Prescott or Prescott Valley, AZ. (:

We want something kind of fun/adventurous & really LOVE the idea of getting married in a canoe over a peaceful lake.

Any lake/canoe/arizona ideas out there? Any tips are appreciated! THANKS!

Opinions on vows.

Kimmyznc — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:15:31 +0000

I have no idea what I'm doing and just started to put together a rough draft. Thoughts? Too long? Anything will be helpful. Thank you!

Tim, I stand before you today full of excitement, happiness and most of all, love.
8 years ago, I was a clueless, young girl who had no idea what it meant to truly love someone.
Through those years, you have showed me everything I will ever need to know.
I stand before you with the promise of forever.
I promise to always be a faithful, supportive wife who loves you unconditionally.
Should you be down, I promise to pick you up.
Should you be sick, I promise to never leave your side.
Should you be happy, I promise to share in that joy.
I promise to not only be your wife, but your very best friend.
I promise that someday, I’ll let you wear the pants.
Most of all, I promise that in this world, as long as I’m here, you will never be alone.
Today, in front of our friends and family, I happily accept you as my husband.
It’s about time.

Just a tiny backround... the last sentence, it is a huge joke with friends & family how long it has taken us to get hitched. That it all. Critique away...

This is my third draft and I shortened it. Please review and give me your opinion

Gails1962 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:48:21 +0000

Walter, as I stand here before you and our friends and family I come to you today not as a young, romantic girl, but as a woman of middle age. My love for you does not make me giddy or silly, rather it brings me deep comfort, as does knowing how much you love me. Though we have been through our ups and downs getting to know each other and learning to accept each other for all our faults I do know one thing for sure and this is, if I had to do it all over again in order to be standing here with you today I would do it over 100 times as I know standing here with you today is the best decision I have ever made in my life. And I am so happy that you asked me to share your life with you. It is so clear to me now that what we have is love in it's purest form and somehow I've been given the gift of knowing that in my lifetime. And I truly want to thank you for giving me that special gift. You have been the most loving, kind, patient man I have ever met. I can't imagine a better match for me, nor could I have dreamed one up. You see me and love me for who I am. You are everything I could ever ask for and more. I know that without a doubt, you are what I have been waiting for and now that we are together, I feel complete. I promise to strive to be for you what you are to me for the rest of our days. I am overjoyed to be your wife. I I'm so happy we've become each other's rock in life. I promise to always take care of you and to make you feel special. I promise to be there to lift your spirits in time of doubt. I promise to be the one to always tell you the truth. I vow to be the best and strongest woman for you. From this day forward, we're in it together, forever. You are the man of my dreams, Walter. I love you more than anything. I can not promise you that there wont be some more ups and downs as we continue to grow, but I will promise to always be by your side from this day forward no matter what life throws at us as I can not imagine now what life would be like without you and our now larger family. So, today, I stand before you vowing to love and respect you as my partner, confidant, and best friend until the end of my days. As I place this ring on your finger, wear it, think of me, and know that I love you.

Ceremony Decorations

kosantowski — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:10:18 +0000

Hi, our ceremony will be taking place in a church. Does anyone have any cheap decorating ideas. We don't want to spend a ton of money since we'll only be there about 45 minutes.

program wording

Stissy311 — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:02:30 +0000

Hi ladies :-)

looking for some ideas for program wording...what order...things like that...anyone want to share??

Getting married in Delaware...experience anyone?

emiliasuzanna — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:52:43 +0000

We are getting married in Delaware and would like for our friend who lives in North Carolina to officiate. He is going to get ordained online (probably through the Universal Life Church). Does anyone from Delaware have any experience with a similar situation - involving either an out of state officiant or an officiant ordained online (or ideally both)? Are there any special procedures that we/he needs to do prior to the ceremony? Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!

Final draft of vows. Thoughts?

ccostello03 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:50:28 +0000

Jason,

You were an unexpected surprise when you walked into my life. Since then you have continued to surprise me. I knew that I loved you when all I can think of was you when I was not with you. Moments spent without you were not the same as those moments that were spent with you. In your arms I have found comfort. In your smile, I have found happiness. In your eyes I found my home and in your heart I have found my love. I promise to support your dreams and endeavors. Even if those dreams include the Eagles winning the Superbowl. I promise never to give up on what challenges we may face together. I look forward to our new adventure that we’ll embark on and the mark that our love will leave behind when we grow old together. I love you and am honored to become your wife today.