Tell me about your ceremony...

drewmw

We have monthly meetings with our officient, and at our next one, he wants to start talking about the ceremony. I don't really have many ideas... I just want it to be all about love, and something that our guests will remember. We aren't religious... I guess don't really know where to start (FI feels the same way).

So tell me about your ceremony, maybe it will get some ideas flowing for me

midgedenver

We're going with minimalism. We're both non-practicing Catholics, but wanted a Catholic ceremony for our mothers. We're having a full mass and we picked out readings that were more about love than the religion. We did the same thing with our musicians; they had a lot of choices and we went with those that weren't all about God and religion. We're not doing a unity candle of sand. Just the basics. We're minimalists at heart. When entering, we're having the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk together as well as when exiting. No flowers for the flower girl; she has a pomander instead. And when we exit the chapel, our guests will blow bubbles!

Hilraythebride

My FI and I are having a Catholic wedding including mass.  I am not Catholic but he is and after our EE weekend I realized how important it is for any Cathoolic to have their wedding in the church.

We are having a FG and RB, she is going to throw lavender colored petals (fake) and the florist offered to throw in some petals for free!!  3 GM and 2 BM.  The GM will act as ushers and if we do an aisle runner (not sure yet kind of worried about tripping!!) they will be the ones to un-roll it before the FG and I walk down.  We have had a few meetings with the priest in which he gave us a book of readings and their meaning to choose from.  We are also going to meet with the organist next month to pick songs.  Since it is an OOT wedding we have to go on weekends when possible.

We are doing a unity canle but mainly because my Aunt to be mentioned that her and her husband had a large untiy candle at their ceremony that has marks from 0 all the way to 50.  The idea is to light it each year on our anniversary.  Im not one for the unity candle thing but I thought this was really nice.

daria24

We are having a pretty simple, nontraditional civil ceremony. No wedding party. FI will walk in escorted by his parents, I will follow with my parents. 

The officiant will having an opening greeting, followed by two readings-my selection is from Pride & Prejudice, Fi is TBD. Then vows, exchanging the rings, kiss the bride, and we're out.

We may add some sort of unity ceremony (not candles, salt, or sand though) or a hand fasting since FI's family is Irish. 

Zimsgirl

Ours is a traditional Catholic ceremony with no mass. FI's not Catholic so you don't do mass and I didn't want mass. Having a mass takes away from the fact that it's a wedding.

melntaitt

Our ceremony is more romantic and focuses on us making a promise to be with each other through thick and thin. That's the part that's important to us and that's what we will focus on...

kelsey+brandon

The basic elements of our ceremony are: Sermon/message Vows and exchange of rings Hand ceremony Reading by FSIL Hymn on bagpipes Hymn that everyone sings

doeie04

Ours will be quick. WP will walk in, guys escorting girls. Our ceremony will be about 15 minutes and then we walk out, probably greet people at the door before the reception and then the party starts!

PS~ How do the parents come in? I have my mom and her boyfriend, my stepmom and my dad (who will walk with me) and FIs parents. How does that part go? And grandparents? Should they already be seated?

FrancesGrace630

For the beginning of our processional, we are having the grandmothers seated then the mothers. Then the pastor will walk in from the side followed by FI and all the groomsmen. The bridesmaids will start their processional down the aisle, then I will follow with my dad. The pastor will say a prayer, then my dad will take over since he is the one marrying us.

We aren't doing a unity candle or anything like that, but we are exchanging purity rings that our parents gave us when we were each 16, and we are also signing the marriage license as part of the ceremony. During the signing of the license, one of our friends will sing a song, then we will be pronounced man and wife, kiss, and have the recessional.

kristin183

We are not very religious either. Our officiate asked me the same thing and I was like just simple. Our officiate is one of FI's best friends so I am sure he will come up with something to say about us.

But basically everyone walks in; Officiate welcomes everyone... FI and I read the vows we both wrote for each other. Pronounce you Husband and Wife.. Kiss and on to the party!  I wanted it real simple and quick

courtneyclare103

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_tell-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:dfa49fe8-9109-4264-8852-2b048a4cb552Post:f8b8644a-83f7-4423-8697-5e001a808a64">Re: Tell me about your ceremony...</a>:
[QUOTE]Ours is a traditional Catholic ceremony with no mass. FI's not Catholic so you don't do mass and I didn't want mass. Having a mass takes away from the fact that it's a wedding.
Posted by Zimsgirl[/QUOTE]


Pretty much the only difference between Mass and non-Mass is that if there's Mass, there's communion. The Mass is being said in your honor, you're at the altar the whole time, and everyone there is there to celebrate your marriage--I hardly think anything is "taking away" from you.

I mean, it's perfectly fine to have a Catholic ceremony outside of Mass, but that last statement is a bit extreme. It's also ok to have a Mass even if one person isn't Catholic. FI is not Catholic but is comfortable with and agreed to a Mass because it was really important to me.

goodine11

My wedding will be a traditional Seventh Day Adventist wedding. However, it will be symbolic because, it is easier having a destination wedding. 

I think it willl be a romantic Beach wedding. 

Sermonette (very short sermon)

Uncle will sing

Exchange of rings

Sand Ceremony

Zimsgirl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_tell-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:dfa49fe8-9109-4264-8852-2b048a4cb552Post:f2d7b57a-546c-47ec-b89f-8dcd19daed7f">Re: Tell me about your ceremony...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tell me about your ceremony... : Pretty much the only difference between Mass and non-Mass is that if there's Mass, there's communion. The Mass is being said in your honor, you're at the altar the whole time, and everyone there is there to celebrate your marriage--I hardly think anything is "taking away" from you. I mean, it's perfectly fine to have a Catholic ceremony outside of Mass, but that last statement is a bit extreme. It's also ok to have a Mass even if one person isn't Catholic. FI is not Catholic but is comfortable with and agreed to a Mass because it was really important to me.
Posted by courtneyclare103[/QUOTE]
I went to a wedding this past summer that had a mass and I really didn't like it. I really thought it took away from the wedding. I did NOT like it at all. A lot of people I've talked to feel that way as well. Also to your comment about doing a mass with a non catholic in the couple, our church says no. It varies by church. I'm glad ours doesn't because we don't want it. 

courtneyclare103

I know each church varies, but I was responding to your "my FI isn't Catholic so you don't do Mass" comment. It was very general--it made it sound like it was a universal policy.

Also, I still don't understand why you feel it takes away from it being a wedding. It's fine to feel that way, but you haven't explained why you feel that way other than saying you don't like it. I'm not trying to be snarky or start a debate, I'm just generally curious and you haven't really explained your opinion.

khafner2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_tell-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:dfa49fe8-9109-4264-8852-2b048a4cb552Post:f2d7b57a-546c-47ec-b89f-8dcd19daed7f">Re: Tell me about your ceremony...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tell me about your ceremony... : Pretty much the only difference between Mass and non-Mass is that if there's Mass, there's communion. The Mass is being said in your honor, you're at the altar the whole time, and everyone there is there to celebrate your marriage--I hardly think anything is "taking away" from you. I mean, it's perfectly fine to have a Catholic ceremony outside of Mass, but that last statement is a bit extreme.<strong> It's also ok to have a Mass even if one person isn't Catholic. </strong>FI is not Catholic but is comfortable with and agreed to a Mass because it was really important to me.
Posted by courtneyclare103[/QUOTE]

I agree, I am not catholic yet and will be having a full mass.  I am currently taking RCIA classes and FI was born and raised in the church (he attended catholic school his entire life) so it is important to his faith.  We decided since this will be our only wedding we are incorporating every aspect into our ceremony.  He is hispanic so we will have traditional ceremonies too (ie: the lazo, arras, etc).

2012FutureMrsB

FI and I are Christians and attend a Protestant church. The ceremony will probably be about 30 minutes long, including (not necessarily in this order):
 
Processional:
Seating of MOG and bride's grandma
GM will walk with BM
flower girl/ring bearer
Bride escorted by both parents (our pastor will start things off, then my dad will take the stage and officiate)

a mini-sermon by my dad (as the officiant) about love/Godly marriage
vows
exchange of rings
unity candle
song by my mom

Recessional