The Ceremony Checklist

Admittedly, one of my favorite aspects of helping a couple plan their wedding is to help them plan the details of their ceremony.  I’m not sure if this comes from my religious background or the fact that I love the actual moment when the couple declares their love for each other in front of family and friends.

Here is my checklist for a couple’s ceremony:
1. Invest in some premarital counseling.  Whether you’ve been together 6 months or 6 years, it never hurts to work with a trained professional to discuss your hopes, dreams, fears, values, beliefs, etc as individuals and as a couple.  This counseling works on strengthening your relationship and constructively preparing for future challenges and conflicts that will inevitably come up in your marriage.
2. Choose a location and officiant that represents you as a couple.  This could mean your church, synagogue, temple, or non-religious setting.  Get to know your ceremony location because this is the place where you will begin your married life together.  Get to know your priest, rabbi, judge or other officiant because this person will set the tone for your ceremony and can also be a part of your support group throughout your marriage.
3. Sit down together and discuss the readings and music that you want at your ceremony.  Your music and reading choices will set the tone of your wedding and reveal aspects of your relationship.  Again, make these decisions together, because after all, this is your wedding day.  You will also want to make sure that the people you choose to read, sing or play instruments are comfortable to do so in a public setting.

It’s important to remember that your ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day.  Yes, the reception is fun, exciting, and a celebration of your love; but the ceremony is where you begin your married life together.

Your extraordinary event specialist in Chicago,
Nicole