mywedding.com

The wedding ceremony is the cornerstone your day. After all, it’s the ceremony where you are actually married. Sometimes it seems this important event gets overlooked, as if it's just a stopping point on the way to the reception. Here are a few ideas to help your guests keep the focus on the most important part of your wedding day:

• Set the mood—Use candles, flowers, and lighting to create a warm, glowing atmosphere. This can help put your guests at ease and make them settle in quickly.
• Appoint ushers—Traditionally, ushers show people to their seats. This can be a great way to help guests feel like they know where they are supposed to go.
• A small token—Many couples are now presenting their guests with a small token of appreciation for attending the wedding ceremony. At some weddings you’ll find ushers handing out a single flower to all female guests. Another idea might be to hand out chocolates to all guests—just make sure they don’t have noisy wrappers!
• Pretty Programs—Along with handing out a small gift, programs are a great way to make guests feel like they know what is happening during your ceremony. They’ll be able to put faces with names and understand any wedding rituals they are unfamiliar with.
• Music is everything—Put someone in charge of changing the music to denote key moments. For instance, change the tempo or volume of the seating music when the parents of the Bride and Groom are being ushered to their seats. Also, change the song when the Groom and Best Man take their places.
• Receiving the love—Don’t forget to stand and greet each guest after the ceremony! Although this may not be your idea of fun, your guests will appreciate the opportunity to congratulate you in person at least once during the day.