Ceremony Procedures
There can be some variation, however, the ceremony generally proceeds as follows:
1. All participants in the ceremony are asked to be at the church entry 15 minutes before the hour set for the wedding. The bride and the bridesmaids will gather in the choir room; the groom and the best man will meet in the clergy's study.
2. The procedure for the wedding proper is generally as follows: The wedding party meets in the vestibule just outside the sanctuary approximately five minutes before the hour set for the wedding, ready to take part.
A. The first solo.
B. The groom's grandparents are seated.
C. The bride's grandparents are seated.
D. The groom's parents are seated.
E. The bride's mother is seated.
F. The second solo.
G. If the white runner is to be laid along the aisle, this should be done by the ushers at this time.
H. The head usher signals the organist.
I . The ushers go down the aisle in pairs and take their places, the tallest going first.
J . The clergyman, the groom and the best man enter from the right and take their places facing toward the bride when the wedding march starts.
K. The bridal processional begins with the tallest bridesmaid going first.
L. As the bride enters the sanctuary, the mothers of the bride and groom stand. The guests will then automatically stand. The mothers and the guests should turn toward the aisle so that they can better see the bridal party as they come down the aisle.
M. When the bridal party reaches the front, the people may be seated.
N . The details of the ceremony itself can best be decided upon during the rehearsal.
After the ceremony:
0. Immediately after the bridal party returns to the back of the church, the ushers return to the front of the church to escort the parents of the bride and groom. The procedure for ushering them is: the usher offers his arm to the bride's mother while her father follows behind, and then similarly for the groom's mother and father. After having ushered the mothers out, the ushers return immediately to the front and indicate to the guests, pew by pew, that they may leave.
P. The receiving line should not be in the vestibule, but in the lobby or the fellowship hall. The order for those standing in line is determined by the bride, but a sensible order seems to be: (left to right) the bride's mother, the groom's father, his mother, the bride's, father, the bride, the groom, the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. It is optional whether or not the fathers or the ushers stand in the reception line.
Note: This Ceremony Schedule is used by a non denominational church. It is to be used for a guide only.
3. Following are some final suggestions and reminders:
A. Plan and follow through with the details of your wedding far enough ahead so you can really enjoy not only the preparations but the wedding itself.
B. Have as few social functions as possible the week before the wedding so you won't be too tired.
C. During the rehearsal, and especially during the wedding ceremony itself, try to be completely relaxed. There is nothing to memorize for the ceremony simply follow the directions given you by the clergyman. You will be more relaxed and less self-conscious during the ceremony if you think of the meaning of the words spoken both by yourself and the clergyman.
D. Remove the rings from their boxes before the wedding and have the best man keep the ring for the bride in his right coat pocket, and the maid of honor keep the ring for the groom on her thumb or middle finger.
E. The marriage license must be given to the clergyman before or at the rehearsal. He will fill it out and return it to the County Clerk after the ceremony.
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