Ceremony and officiants

He called me names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before - was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!
- Queen Victoria

On that most joyous of days, how will you express your love for one another? Whether it begins with a walk down a church aisle on your father’s arm, a ride to City Hall, a stunning entrance into a lush garden, or a descent down your own staircase, the marriage ceremony will unite you and the person you love. Regardless of the setting you choose, the event is a universal rite that signifies the beginning of a new life together.

sharing emotions

This is usually the easiest decision you’ll make: whether your ceremony is a religious or civil service. And it is this that results in the basic format for your wedding ceremony. What makes the ceremony unique, however, arises from the sentiments and emotions you choose to share with each other and your guests. Working with your clergy or commissioner to write part or all of your ceremony is one way to express your feelings. Personalized vows come from the heart, and your own words can reaffirm what is so meaningful to you. As you prepare your vows, be sure to consult first with the officiant performing your service to determine which, if any, passages may be mandatory.

You may want to have printed wedding programs that include important elements of your ceremony. As a keepsake as well as a guide, they can enhance the wedding for your guests by allowing them to follow the service more closely. Print them on seeded paper if you want to be kind to the environment, and they’ll also show your guests how your love will grow.

The music you select for your wedding will set the tone for your ceremony from the prelude through the final joyous recessional. Whether you’re planning to be married in a majestic church, at home or in a more unique setting like a barefoot wedding on the beach, choose music that is appropriate to your wedding environment.

The grandeur of a trumpet flourish, the classic dignity of a church organ, the charming simplicity of a soloist or string quartet, the theme song from your favourite romantic movie; whatever you choose, remember that they will surround you and your guests with the sounds you love. You may want to stay with the traditional -- Lohengrin’s “Bridal Chorus” and Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” -- or something lighter or more intimate. Your organist or a musical friend or family member can give you some suggestions, but be sure to clear your final choices with the officiant who will perform the ceremony.

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