Wedding Ceremony

The most important part of the wedding is the wedding ceremony. Everything else is just the icing on the wedding cake.

Wedding Ceremony Music

The wedding ceremony music should be appropriate for the wedding itself, but also reflect the personal tastes of the bride and groom. Generally, you will need to make the following choices for wedding ceremony music:

• Introductory (seating) Music
• Processional Music
• Bride's Music
• Recessional Music

Parts of the Wedding Ceremony

• The Procession

The procession usually begins with the mothers of the bride and groom seated in the front seats or pews, followed by the groom and minister or other clergy performing the wedding ceremony. The groomsmen may either follow or escort the bridesmaids. If unescorted, the bridesmaids are the next in the procession, followed by the ring bearer. The flower girl is next, and lastly, the bride in her beautiful gown enters with (typically) her father or stepfather walking her down the aisle.

• Readings, Prayers, and Worship

The first part of the ceremony generally has some sort of readings. For religious ceremonies, this generally involves readings from religious texts and prayers as well. Couples can sometimes choose special readings during this part of the ceremony.

• The Heart of the Wedding Ceremony: Exchanging of Vows

This is it! The most important part of the wedding ceremony, the exchanging of vows is when the couple declares their desire and commitment to be married to one another. Couples may have the choice of writing their own vows or choosing them from a list, and may memorize or repeat the vows. This is the most emotional and meaningful part of the ceremony for most brides.

• Exchanging of Rings

The exchanging of rings symbolizes the marital union. It serves as a tangible reminder of the commitment the couple is making in forging their union.

• The Pronouncement

The person performing the marriage ceremony will declare to the world that you are now officially Mr. and Mrs. It is at this point that the bride and groom are usually permitted to have their first kiss as a married couple.

• The Recession

The Recession usually follows the reverse order of the procession, with the bride and groom leading. In many instances the wedding party forms a line to greet the guests before photographs and departure