Planning: Aspects of the Perfect Ceremony

Written by Rebecca Stewart, Visionary weddings

Your ceremony is the official part of your wedding day, being that it is the only part of your entire day regulated by law. The remainder of your wedding day is built on tradition, custom and dreams. Therefore, planning the ceremony is the most important and structured component of the day, if you are having trouble with your decorating or reception ideas, the ceremony is a great platform as it really is the beginning of not only your day, but your lives together in an official capacity.

Celebrants

Selecting a Celebrant is an integral part of the day, and as with many elements cannot always be dictated by budget. Your Celebrant should be somebody that you both feel comfortable with, the right celebrant for you will feel like an old friend and will make you feel at ease immediately. You will spend a lot of time with them and they will assist with the regulated components of your ceremony and will often help you to discover elements of what make you both unique. Celebrants, much like decorating are a unique and individual choice, as such, it is important to ‘interview’ as many as are available on your date and in your chosen area to ensure that you will both be happy when the big day arrives.

Transport

Most often, transport is one of the first items to be arranged along with the venue, and is usually based on aesthetic choice rather than the particular service provider. It is important to hire transportation provided by a reputable company as they are essentially responsible for getting you to your ceremony. With so many providers available the choices are endless, usually limited only by availability and budget.

Location

When selecting a location for your ceremony it is important to make a list of points to think about specific to your guests and elements of your wedding. As with most wedding planning activities it is a great idea to do this before short listing to give you a clear and concise idea of things to consider so as not to be swayed by a venue coordinator or the beauty of a location without thinking through the many scenarios and possibilities. Some items to consider for your list:

Weather permitting – what if it rains or is too hot?
Access for elderly or disabled guests
Time or seasonal restrictions
Flexibility with decorating
Permits that may be required
Will there be anybody on hand if you require assistance on the day?

The Coordinator

Often overlooked until after the fact, a Wedding coordinator is dedicated to ensuring that your day runs exactly as you wish, they will keep everything on track and on schedule for you so that all you need to do is enjoy your day. Your Wedding coordinator plans and runs weddings as a profession and understands the elements of a perfect wedding, most importantly they know the things that can go wrong and are there to ensure that these instances are avoided. You know that both you and your groom will arrive on time and that your ceremony will progress exactly as you dream it – that extra isn’t cost, its confidence and assurance that on your wedding day you can be a Bride - not a decorator, chauffer, usher, make-up artist or whatever else may be thrown in your path.

Visionary weddings works with and recommends the highest quality celebrants, transport, venues and even offers individual planning services.