Would you fall asleep during this ceremony?

polichik

After charting everything out to the best of my ability, I think it'll be 40 minutes from the seating of the relatives at the beginning until we walk out at the end. Here's what we've got going on:

Songs in the beginning when everybody sits down, bridal party enters, I enter, etc.
Introduction by Officiant
Reading #1
Reading #2 (both are short poems)
"Falling Slowly" (two minutes long)
Handfasting (will happen during part of song)
Officiant's Stuff and Bible reading
Vows
Reading #3 (another short poem)
"Seven-Fold Amen" sung by church choir
Recessional - All done.

WDYT? I'm not totally decided on it, so feel free to shoot stuff down if need be.

cmhershey

40 minutes isn't too bad.  The fact that you have 'Falling Slowly' in your ceremony makes its all the more better!

polichik

CM, I'm so excited for the song I have two friends who sing professionally who are going to perform it!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

What do you do during the music? Is it live music or recorded? (Other than the handfasting.) If you guys just stand there during a CD playing, I would think it was slow and maybe awkward. If you have a singer, it would be lovely.

Edit: okay, then. :-)

GreenPepperBurger

I looooove "Falling Slowly."

polichik

Mery, it's all performed by my two friends I'm so grateful to them! My guy friend is playing guitar as well.

sarah0725

That all sounds great to me!

shellydiane820

Looks okay to me.

cengle

I think it sounds fine. 
I've been to much, MUCH longer weddings and managed to stay awake

hz80408

sounds similar to what we're planning...and agreed w/PPs, LOVE Falling Slowly!!

baystateapple

No, I think it sounds beautiful.

But FI and I are having a full Catholic Mass, so I'm not the best person to ask!

Kati0105

I could handle looking at your hotness for 40 minutes

smokeybailey

Poli, are your girls wearing heels?  Standing for 40 minutes in a pair of heels may not be the most comfortable.  Do they get to sit at any point?

Also, to be honest, I think that reading 3 might be a bit much and what are you going to do while the choir is singing?  Will you be standing or is that your recessional?

To me after the vows are done and the bride is kissed, we are dismissed.  So the other items after that seem a little extraneous.  But I am very much in the minority on this, I can see.

Pirata13

That's fine!  We're having a full Catholic mass that will be 40-45 minutes tops so I think it's a good time frame!

polichik

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_would-fall-asleep-during-this-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cdc5bd77-74c0-4338-8614-553339327a9bPost:7bc377a6-ea78-41e0-b6ce-c7a30ae29922">Re: Would you fall asleep during this ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]I could handle looking at your hotness for 40 minutes ;)
Posted by Kati0105[/QUOTE]
Awwww yay! :) hehe

Smokey, I see what you mean about the third reading. Maybe I could put it a little sooner...

And the WP will sit down during "Falling Slowly." For the choir song at the end, we're thinking about doing the laying-on of hands, where each person puts their hand on the back of the perrson sitting in front of them, all the way up to where we are, so it's like everyone is connected to us at the end. It's sort of hippy-dippy, which is very me, but we'll see if we end up doing it :)

tenofcups4me

I guess it depends on what you're used to. That seems deadly long to me, but I'm accustomed to either secular or reform Jewish ceremonies, both of which tend to be about 15-20 minutes long.

To me, the purpose of the ceremony is to get married and I don't care for what I think of as "fluff"--readings, songs, sermons. But again, that's just personal taste and I know other people think those aspects are important or meaningful.

smokeybailey

You are not of this generation are you, my flower child?

polichik

Oh, no. Apparently I'm an "old soul"

temerityjane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_would-fall-asleep-during-this-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cdc5bd77-74c0-4338-8614-553339327a9bPost:667acc31-4bcf-4475-bfd4-dac2078c5c68">Re: Would you fall asleep during this ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]For the choir song at the end, we're thinking about doing the laying-on of hands, where each person puts their hand on the back of the perrson sitting in front of them, all the way up to where we are, so it's like everyone is connected to us at the end. It's sort of hippy-dippy, which is very me, but we'll see if we end up doing it :)
Posted by polichik[/QUOTE]

Oh god I would have a stroke.

I mean, I get that it's totally you and your family and friends totally wouldn't bat an eye at it and it wouldn't even be a big deal but oh my god I would have a stroke.

Two strokes. One stroke when someone touched me and then one bigger, more huger stroke when I was supposed to touch some else. I would be having strokes all over the place. In the future, people would't say, "So, how about Poli's wedding, huh!" Instead, they'd be like, "Hey, did you hear Poli got married during StrokeFest 2k10?" That's how many strokes I would have. I would probably even foam a little. A lot. I would have a stroke, and then a bigger stroke, and then there would be foam from it. People would think it was part of the party. That's how much foam. And strokes.

mica178

People will be seated and the room will be air conditioned, right?  It should be fine.  I agree that 40 minutes would be a long time in heels, so could your wedding party sit for a chunk of the ceremony?  Are you going to be standing this whole time?  What's your shoe situation?

polichik

Ha, TJ! Yeah, I don't think we'll actually do it... I'm kind of odd, so it's probably not for everyone. Sure don't want any strokes! And the ceremony is outdoors, but it's in the shade and we'll have cold drinks and paper fans. I'm planning on wearing heels, but I'm going to test them out at another wedding in a few weeks. Good call on mentioning the time to the BMS.

Sing2phins

I adore Falling Slowly.  It's so gorgeous.  The melody kills me.

Kristin&eric

I am haveing  a greek orthodox ceremony they tend to be 45-60 mins long!!

Birdie1483

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_would-fall-asleep-during-this-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cdc5bd77-74c0-4338-8614-553339327a9bPost:2aac8421-b818-4f56-a73e-1827cf2d2551">Re: Would you fall asleep during this ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Would you fall asleep during this ceremony? : Oh god I would have a stroke. I mean, I get that it's totally you and your family and friends totally wouldn't bat an eye at it and it wouldn't even be a big deal but <strong>oh my god I would have a stroke. Two strokes. One stroke when someone touched me and then one bigger, more huger stroke when I was supposed to touch some else</strong>. I would be having strokes all over the place. In the future, people would't say, "So, how about Poli's wedding, huh!" Instead, they'd be like, "Hey, did you hear Poli got married during StrokeFest 2k10?" That's how many strokes I would have. I would probably even foam a little. A lot. I would have a stroke, and then a bigger stroke, and then there would be foam from it. People would think it was part of the party. That's how much foam. And strokes.
Posted by temerityjane[/QUOTE]

I litereally LOL'd at this right when the FI who doesn't understand TK walked in. This is totally how I would feel, but I have a personal bubble radius of 10 feet. I don't like sitting in the pew infront of people kneeling during Catholic ceremonies. :)

danieliza1127

I might cut out one reading to be honest. 

Also, one of my wedding pet peeves is when the couple uses a song for something like a unity candle or sand ceremony, or in your case hand fasting, and then just stand there for the rest of the song once their "unity" thing is done.  It's so awkward and weird.  So as long as that doesn't happen during your hand fasting, then that's good. 

polichik

Good call, Dani. I think we'll actually have everyone sit (we'll have chairs up at the front for FI, me, and the officiant) and just have it performed by itself. I was going to try to tie it in with the handfasting to save time, but it's such a gorgeous song and I hope it'll hold people's interest since it's live.... Does that sound like a bad idea?

danieliza1127

My point was more, try to drag out the hand ceremony so everyone isn't just sitting there listening to the song.  But the song is live?  That's better than a recording.  This is just my opinion though from attending a lot of weddings, I'm sure not everyone agrees with me.

smokeybailey

I just decided that I want Billy Joel to sing Piano Man at my wedding.

Wow.  Random.

temerityjane

Smokey, I had this weird idea a long time ago that I wanted Captain Jack to play on repeat during dinner.

We're obviously soul mates.

I MEAN JOEL MATES.

HAHAHAHAHAHHA.

SwedishChick2011

40 minutes start to finish isn't bad - most of the weddings I've been to are either Baptist or Catholic and can go an hour or longer...ugh

smokeybailey

I love me some piano singin'.  Especially Mr. Joel. 

If I was getting married any time soon, I would have a piano and singer during dinner playing the classic.