help! we want "our story" read during the cermony

bradleyashley · January 2013

here is our order of events. my questions about the events will be in { }
Ring bearer and flower girl enter {would like an adult with them, but do not know where to place her.. they're my children and im afraid they will fight.. lol..cant do wagon as we are having an outdoor wedding and will be walking on wood bark, cant have her hold their hand because they wont be able to carry pillow/basket.. help!!}
bridal party enter
Groom enter
bride enter
introduction with "our story" {who reads our story? friend or pastor.. maybe maid of honor or best man.. or someone close to us but not in the wedding party..help!!} {also, should he read that before we walk down, or after?} {would it be okay for me to walk to a country love song instead of the traditional "here comes the bride?"}
vows
unity ceremony {can't decide on sand or candles.. I have four children, my fiance has two.. all are going to be a part of the wedding party. including groomesmen/bridesmaids/flower girl/ring bearer.}
flower cermony- his kids will take my mom a dozen roses, my kids will take his mom a dozen roses-
declaration of marriage and kiss
recession-hugs/handshakes
guests will go one row at a time to indoor entrance to select table.

{should pictures be before wedding as guests are getting seated, or after?}
{would it be too much of a hassle to let them choose their own seats for the reception?}
{also, we have a playlist of country sonds we want played at our wedding.. when is a good time to play them? should we just have them softly played as we are all eating dinner.}
{we want to have soda and water bottles.. do you know of a cheaper option? no alcohol.

}

sorry, I have a lot of questions.. our wedding date is in a little over 4 months.. Im stressing and the ceremony is the only thing Im having problems with!

I am open to any kind of ideas, or options!

beardownbchs · January 2013

The flower girl and ring bearer are typically the last to come in before the bride.

What exactly do you mean by "our story"? If you're talking about the story of how you met and got to where you are, I'd skip it altogether. Every couple has a story. No offense intended, but yours is probably not special. The people who will actually care about your story (your mom) probably already know it and the rest of your guests will probably roll their eyes. I know I would. If you're writing your own vows, you could put a little something about your past and how you met, but I wouldn't have some other person read a script of how you met.

You can walk down the aisle to whatever you want to.

Seating arrangements depend on the formality of the wedding. If you're having a BBQ with picnic tables, sure - open seating is fine. I prefer assigned tables. This ensures everyone has a place to sit. No one has to save seats and no one will get separated from their group if there isn't enough open seats at one table. If you do do open seating, make sure to have AT LEAST 10% more seats than people so couples and parties don't have to separate.

I don't understand your picture question. Guests do not sit there and watch you take pictures. You either do a first look and take them before the ceremony, or you have a cocktail or hors d'oeurves hour for your guests while you take pictures.

Do you want to dance to these songs or just have them played? Because if you just want to hear them, yes, play them during dinner.

Jen4948 · January 2013

1) Can't answer the question of "who reads your story"-it depends on what your church permits. I have to admit I'm not a fan of having this read. But I don't see why you couldn't put it in a program instead.

2) Unless your church prohibits it, I don't see why you couldn't walk in to music other than "Here Comes The Bride" or whatever would normally be played.

3) I don't think you need both a "unity ceremony" and a "flower ceremony," because it seems to me that this is redundant. That's me though.

4) It's actually not a bad idea to take as many pictures as possible before the ceremony (especially if you're doing "the groom does not see the bride until the ceremony") and take only pictures that call for the two of you together and both families so as to minimize the time between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception.

5) I'm on Team Assign Tables here. I do think it's a hassle for guests to have to find their own seats, especially if there are guests who don't already know other guests in attendance. It brings up that old school cafeteria feeling when one can't be sure that they can find a seat with congenial company. Also, you don't want to split up SOs and spouses from each other.

6) If you want to allow for dancing during those songs, play them after dinner; otherwise it doesn't matter.

7) Soda and water bottles is probably as cheap as it gets. But expecting guests to BYOB or pay for any of the refreshment costs is a no-no. I know you didn't ask-I'm just indicating that etiquette-wise they are not options.

bradleyashley · January 2013

Thank you Both tremendously.

Jager1219 · January 2013

I'd go with sand over candles. Sounds like it's an outdoor ceremony and I can imagine that the candle could easily get blown out by the wind. Not to mention that sand is easier and safer for kids.

Dreamergirl8812 · January 2013

I've seen some cute wedding that have the couple's "story" printed nicely and placed on the guest book table or some other display. It kind of gives people something to do during cocktail hour or before the ceremony. But you wouldn't be forcing them to listen your story, which would annoy me.