Think of your wedding ceremony as a performance. Your friends and family (otherwise known as "the audience") take their places, the musicians begin to play and, if everything goes well, all those involved in the processional walk smoothly down the aisle to the altar. The music stops and the ceremony begins.
Notice that I said, "if everything goes well." Gathering together and organizing the group involved in the ceremony can be a challenge. But as long as you make sure their involvement is explained clearly and rehearsed, everything will flow together. I've had to round up groomsmen and convince them to stay in one place while I ran to find the bridesmaids to give them their cue. The bridesmaids may still be in various states of undress, so we agree upon a meeting time and place.
Back at the aforementioned place, I send one or two groomsmen to find the parents (or proxies) of the bride and groom if they, too, are to be part of the processional. I pinpoint the groom and call him over. Somehow, I also manage to talk to the musicians or DJ to confirm the musical cues. I also ask the groom to assign a runner. Note: this is a key role if the bride and groom have not seen each other and if the bride's room is not within viewing distance of the altar. You want to make sure the bride knows when she’s supposed to appear!
Once everyone is assembled in the spot where the processional begins, people line up in the order, and in the pairings in which they will be walking. Since I've worked with the bride and groom to choreograph this earlier, everyone knows where they’re meant to be and it goes smoothly. I remind everyone of the appropriate amount of time and space between each person or pair, as well as to walk normally and in time with the music. I make sure they know which way they will be facing when they take their places. Then we review the instructions for the recessional. The last bit is to make sure that runner has gone for the bride. The bride will often wish to make a grand entrance, but that does not mean having everyone wait for five minutes while she walks to the ceremony site.
The keys to having everything run smoothly are planning and preparation.
I Do adapts traditions and creates new options to help couples personalize their wedding ceremonies. by Sydney Barbara Metrick Buy The Book www.ChickenSoupCounseling.com
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