A Timeless Wedding...Continued from page 1

• Bride
• Groom
• Matron of Honor
• Best Man
• Maid of Honor
• Groomsmen
• Bridesmaids
• Flower Girl
• Ring Bearer
• Servers
• Ushers
• Keeper of Brides’ Book
• Others:
  • Minister(s)
  • Wedding Coordinator
  • Wedding Director
  • Organist
  • Pianist
  • Singer(s)
  • Audio
  • Photographer
  • Videographer
• Colors
  • Bridesmaids: dress, bouquet
  • Groomsmen: suit, tie

SPECIAL SEATING

Bride’s Side

• Grandparents
• Parents
• Extended Family

Groom’s Side

• Grandparents
• Parents
• Extended Family

REHEARSAL - Date/time
Dinner - Place/time

1. Welcome and Prayer

2. Turn over to Director

3. Review usher seating assignments

4. Begin with placement of complete wedding party at the altar, main floor and upper level, if needed; practice recessional first, then procession and ceremony.

PRE-CEREMONY

The Bride, Groom, and all parties should arrive two hours before the wedding to allow time for dressing, receiving flowers, preparing marriage licenses, etc. (Ladies dress in bridal quite ? downstairs; men dress in a Sunday School Room ? downstairs.)

Prelude music should begin 20 minutes before the wedding.

Seating: Ushers seat people as they arrive. Ask guests, “Bride or Groom.” Bride’s side is on left; Groom’s side is on right, as you face altar. Usher extends left arm. Grandmothers are seated 15 minutes before the wedding. Groom’s mother is seated 1st, then Bride’s mother.

Lighting of Candles: Ushers light all candles except Unity candles; then light mother’s candles on the way down the center aisle. Late guests may seat themselves.

Parents’ Lighting of Unity Candles: The groom’s parents go down aisle ? wait at foot of steps. The bride’s parents go down aisle and meet groom’s parents at the foot of steps.

Simultaneously, groom’s father lights candle that groom’s mother is holding. And ? Bride’s father lights candle that bride’s mother is holding.

Fathers stay at foot of stairs while mothers walk up and light right and left unity candles. Mothers come back downstairs and together with the fathers, blow out candles in hands. All return to seats except father of bride; he goes back down aisle to escort bride. Minister, Best Man, Groom, and Groomsmen await.

Procession: Music: e.g., “Canon in D Major” begins softly ? Minister turns on lapel mike and enters from right side, followed by the Groom (about 5 steps behind), Best Man, then other groomsmen (unless escorting bridesmaids down the aisle). All take position at base of steps.