Ceremony/Readings?

G2SoccerTaz · January 2012

So our officiant said to put together a line up of what we would like for the ceremony.

Howeve,r I keep running into a few issues. Where would the readings fit the best into the flow? (We decided to do a reading in order to involve my FSIL) I do not know if we should put the reading/s right after before the officiant says his spill (we are letting to have like 5-10 minutes to share his insight to marriage and give us advice) or should we do it between the vow and the exchange of the rings or between the ring exhcange and the unity ceremony?

Also would it look weird if she did two at two different times during the ceremony.

The next question is what kind of readings are you all doing? I found some songs that I would like read and maybe some scripture but not totally sure.

HarperBargo · January 2012

I'm not much help. We have been having a hard time coming up with readdings, too!

chelseakopperud · January 2012

Here is our tentative ceremony:

Parents and Grandmothers Processional- Hallelujah

Bridesmaids Processional: Only Hope

Bride Processional: Canon in D

Solo- Tracy Todd- Revelation Song

Opening Prayer- Pastor Peter

Scripture Reading- ___ -Diane ___

Message- Pastor Peter

Exchange of Rings and Vows

Communion and Sand Ceremony- Soloist Tracy Todd- How Beautiful

Declaration of Marriage

Introduction of Couple

Recessional- All You Need is Love

I think having the reading before the message from the pastor is the "normal" way to do it, but as long as your pastor is flexible yuo can do it however you want! I think having her read 2 readings and 2 different times will be great, or you could ask a second person to be a reader. We will be doign a scripture reading, but we havent decided on it yet. We will have a scripture theme to our ceremony, so the message from the pastor will tie into it.

kelsey+brandon · January 2012

When I get home tonight I'll look at where some of our friends had their readings and get back to you!

G2SoccerTaz · January 2012

Thanks Chelsea. Just seeing what you are doing helps. I have not even thought of songs or anything like that either. Thanks for reminding me of looking at music too

kelsey+brandon · January 2012

So I had completely forgotten that I did a rough mock up of our ceremony order.

Here it is:

Ceremony at 5:00

Prelude

Chiming of the hour

Processional:

-Seating of the Grandparents and parents (one song -

TBD)

-Bride's grandfather and step grandmother

-Bride's grandmother

-Groom's parents

-Brides mother - escorted by brother - followed by her

BF

-Minister and groom enter (song TBD)

-Groomsmen walk down aisle

-Bridesmaids walk down aisle

-Doors close and Pachelbel's Canon begins

-Guests stand/doors reopen

-Bride enters

Opening:

-Minister signals for all guests to be seated

-Greeting

-Declaration of Intention

-The Response of family and friends

-Mom and Dad give me away

Ceremony:

-Bride and groom step forward

-Music - haven't decided whether it'll be a hymn that everyone sings or a musical solo

-Reading from the bible - groom's sister

-Scripture lesson

-Exchange of vows

-Exchange of rings

-Playing of the bagpipes (?) - FI has to figure this out

-Hand ceremony

-Closing

-Declaration of marriage and first kiss

Introduction of newlyweds

Recessional to A Midsummer Night's Dream Wedding March

G2SoccerTaz · January 2012

Kelsey - yours is very detailed. are you having the bridesmaid and groomsmen walking down at the same time or the groomsmen and then the bridesmaids?

The bagpipes would sound amazing. I hope he is able to figure that out.

I feel so far behind because this is the first time I have even sat down to figure this out.

What helped you guys in deciding to do the hand ceremony? (just curious)

kimiandgary · January 2012

I see you are incorporating bagpipes, so maybe our reading will work. We chose a Celtic Wedding Blessing to be read by my very Irish aunt.

I think you reading placement above is a good spot. Between vows and the exchange of rings would be a little awkward.

kelsey+brandon · January 2012

That's what happens when you're OCD! haha We're having the groomsmen walk down and then the bridesmaids by themselves.

I hope it works out with the bagpipers too, but I have so much on my plate right now that it's something that I really need FI to figure out. He's great with wedding stuff, so I'm sure he'll be on top of it. Especially since he really wants it.

And don't be stressed that you haven't planned this before!! We definitely have plenty of time left to think about the details.

I was sold on the hand ceremony and so was FI after the first time we read it. It really just spoke to me and gives me goosebumps everytime I read it. Do you know what the words are? I'd be happy to post them!

G2SoccerTaz · January 2012

No I don't know what the words are. I have heard of people doing it but never the details. I would appreciate it.

kelsey+brandon · January 2012

"Kelsey if you would face Brandon and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost hopes and dreams.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb.

These are the hands that look so big and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your child for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief overwhelms you.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes; eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

Brandon if you would now hold Kelsey’s hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, and they are holding yours on your wedding day, as she promises to love you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child; that together you have created a new life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love,
soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving. They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down you dreams. Together as a team, everything you hope for can be realized."

Minister prays:

Dear Father, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love.

Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May Kelsey and Brandon see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide.

We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you now and forever. Amen."

G2SoccerTaz · January 2012

That is really good. I like the words. They are sooo true. Now I have something else to think about.

Thanks for posting them Kelsey

Shanee18 · January 2012

Thank you Kelsey. I love all these details. I was putting this task on the back burner, but I will definitely copy all of your awesomeness into a word document so I have somewhere to start when it comes to our ceremony!

KrisKenny · January 2012

I love the hand ceremony, but I know FI won't have it

I will be going over the ceremony tonight with my Pastor via phone conversation. We are trying to keep the ceremony short and sweet. Trying for 30 minutes tops!

kelsey+brandon · January 2012

Happy to help!

melfacto · January 2012

Not sure what we are doing yet, as its a roman catholic church and we have a full mass I know we won't have too much options but I do know we will have two readings but will be told when they take place...

I would think it would be fine to do one either before the exchange of vows/rings or/and after before your unity ceremony...

daria24 · January 2012

We are having a civil, secular ceremony with two readings (one that I chose, 1 of FI's choosing). I'm doing a reading from Pride and Prejudice and FI has no idea what he is choosing, but it will probably be song lyrics since poetry isn't his style.

Bejohnson5 · January 2012

Here is the order of our ceremony. I plan on it only lasting about 20-30 minutes max.

Processional

Greeting/Introduction

Statement of Intentions

Readings

Edmund O'Neill- "Marriage Joins Two People In the Circle of its Love"

Wilfred Arian Peterson- "The Art of a Good Marriage"

Exchanging of Vows

Exchanging of Rings

Unity Sand Ceremony

Declaration of Marriage

Presentation of Couple

Recessional

Zimsgirl26 · January 2012

I'm doing a Catholic wedding and the order is all mapped out. They give you readings and you pick what ones. We'll have 3 and like you we asked FI's sister to do a reading bc I definitely wasn't making her a bridesmaid

kipnus · January 2012

We're having a Lutheran wedding (we are both non-denominational, but we liked the Lutheran church and the pastor, who has Spanish as a first language just like FI), so I think there is a set order for things, but we don't know it. The pastor is unfortunately really bad at replying to e-mails. I may try calling him, but I hate talking on the phone! :P It's tough planning a wedding from a distance.

Shelly527IN · January 2012

I found this (by Laura Hendricks I believe) in a newspaper when I was in college 15 years ago and cut it out and kept it. It's on our unity candle and I'm going to have it read at our wedding along with a verse from the Bible.

Shelly527IN · January 2012

Maybe this will show up better

BTW, I LOVE the hand ceremony! I will have to talk to FI about it and our pastor. I've never heard of it before.

G2SoccerTaz · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_ceremonyreadings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:b18fcda0-7ffb-4267-b2d6-91ab547c0729Post:7bc55967-2612-4881-b71d-cb001028264d">Re: Ceremony/Readings?</a>:
[QUOTE]I found this (by Laura Hendricks I believe) in a newspaper when I was in college 15 years ago and cut it out and kept it. It's on our unity candle and I'm going to have it read at our wedding along with a verse from the Bible.
Posted by Shelly527IN[/QUOTE]

I really like that. It is kind of along the lines of 1 Corinthians 13. We might just use that too.

Thanks for sharing everyone.

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