Help with everything!

ginnygrace84

I am basically trying to plan/organize/coordinate my wedding by myself, but am finding this much more difficult than expected.

I have only been to a few weddings and they were mostly very traditional church weddings. For family reasons, we are avoiding secular references as much as possible, which is also making ceremony planning much more difficult.

How do I put together a ceremony with very little religious reference in an art gallery that will last longer than just the 5-10 minutes it will take to have bridesmaids and myself walk in, and for us to say our vows? I'm completely clueless about what else should be involved.

Any help or suggestions at all would be extremely appreciated. Thanks so much in advance!!!

quotequeen

You could have some non-religious readings, like poems that are special to you and FI, or something like that.

danyl87

We are also doing less of the religious part of the ceremony, but are still doing the unity candle (which if you didn't want to do the candle, I've heard of the bride and groom placing single roses into a vase, also dumping sand into a vase).  Your minister can still fill the spaces with readings or poems  and there are many other things that you can do.  I've heard of people who have outdoor weddings planting trees...if you look some alternative wedding ceremony ideas up, I'm sure you'd find something.  You can still do the "normal" ceremony without refering to religion.  Best of luck!

trix1223

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_everything?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:121f8833-2905-4456-9316-ed14e492d28bPost:a598f77a-098d-43ff-970c-ef9d7edd5f7e">Help with everything!</a>:
[QUOTE]I am basically trying to plan/organize/coordinate my wedding by myself, but am finding this much more difficult than expected. I have only been to a few weddings and they were mostly very traditional church weddings. For family reasons, we are avoiding secular references as much as possible, which is also making ceremony planning much more difficult. How do I put together a ceremony with very little religious reference in an art gallery that will last longer than just the 5-10 minutes it will take to have bridesmaids and myself walk in, and for us to say our vows? I'm completely clueless about what else should be involved. Any help or suggestions at all would be extremely appreciated. Thanks so much in advance!!!
Posted by ginnygrace84[/QUOTE]

Okay wait, are you avoiding secular references?  Meaning you don't want sacred and you don't want non-sacred (secular) references? 

I'm going to assume that you don't want sacred references.  Okay as a starting point.  Most weddings are only 15-20 minutes long unless it's a Greek Orthodox ceremony or a full Catholic Nuptial Mass.

What I'd suggest is that you google non-religious wedding ceremonies.  There will be thousands of examples for you.  Then decide on your officiant, and if that person is experienced, he/she will also likely have several options for you.

You can have your statement of intent, a reading (poem, sonnet, essay, song lyrics, etc).  Then have your vows and another reading or perhaps a musical selection if you know someone who is musically talented (or hire a professional singer). 

Then the exchange of vows, and possibly a unity ceremony of some kind:  candle, sand, etc.  They don't have to be religious in nature.  The final declaration of marriage, your recessional, and a receiving line.

It's probably a 20 minute ceremony which you'll enjoy and so will your guests.  GL

ginnygrace84

Thanks so much! The list of items (declaration of marriage, etc) is really what I think I needed!