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10 Things to Know About Planning a Wedding Ceremony – Melbourne Celebrant Julie

Home » 10 Things to Know About Planning a Wedding Ceremony – Melbourne Celebrant Julie

 

You’re getting married, and planning your wedding ceremony is one of the most exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking) parts of preparing for your big day. This is the moment when you and your partner declare your love in front of your nearest and dearest, so it should be personal, fun, engaging, meaningful, and—above all—enjoyable! As a celebrant who’s married over 1000 couples, I know how important it is to nail the ceremony – it’s the first event on your wedding day with all your guests involved, so you want a fabulous vibe created for the rest of your celebrations. If planning makes your head spin faster than a bouquet toss, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Here are ten key things to know that will help you create a ceremony that’s as magical as your love story and runs smoothly from start to finish.

  1. Choose the Right Venue and Consider the Weather (Have a Plan B!)

Your ceremony venue sets the stage for the entire day, so choose a location that reflects your style and vision. Will it be at the location of the reception or somewhere else?

    • Outdoor weddings: Gorgeous and scenic, but consider the season—summer heatwaves and unexpected rain and wind are real party poopers. Each season brings its beauty but also specific challenges. Some of the most beautiful outdoor weddings are on a perfect winter’s day, and, as Guns and Roses put it, there can be plenty of ‘November Rain’!
    • Summer and Autumn: Outdoor venues are most popular during these seasons, but they may also bring heat, humidity, and strong sun. Consider shaded areas, fans, water stations, and the potential need for sunscreen.
    • Winter and Spring: Cooler and winter weddings can be magical with a cozy outdoor setting. However, rain or cold temperatures may require heaters, blankets, umbrellas, or an indoor alternative.
    • Indoor venues: No weather worries, but check for good lighting, acoustics, and enough space for your guests to sit comfortably AND your wedding party and celebrant. Sometimes, it’s extremely tight.
  1. Find a Celebrant Who is Right For You

Your celebrant is the glue that holds your ceremony and the start of your celebrations together, so find someone who gets you. We are so pivotal in creating an incredible start to your day.

    • Vibe Match: Look for a celebrant who represents and aligns with you; whether fun, light-hearted, more serious, or somewhere in between. Will they engage the guests and make you feel comfortable?
    • Google Reviews: Are they nailing this celebrant gig?
    • Vibe Check: Meet via a video call or in person. Make sure they understand your vision and personality. And do they suit you? A celebrant will personalise the ceremony to suit you both, from short and sweet to epic and elongated.
    • Processes— what resources are they providing you? Do they help with vows? What’s involved legally? Do they tell your love story? How do they gather information from you? The more personal, the better!
  1. Stage Management and Logistics – Uber Important

Do we celebrants arrive 5 minutes before the ceremony, talk for 20 minutes and leave? NO! Stage management may seem like a technical consideration, but it’s crucial for keeping the ceremony organised and seamless. This aspect includes arranging the procession, positioning everyone in the right places, and ensuring that key players like the wedding party, venue, children, parents, others involved, and musicians are in sync. It’s just as important as the delivery of the ceremony-everyone knows what they’re doing and when.

    • Entrances and Exits: The walk down the aisle is a big moment, so make it count! Decide who’s walking with whom—traditional or unique, the choice is yours. Pick a song that makes your heart swell, whether classic, contemporary, or completely unexpected (we see you, Star Wars theme song!).
    • Seating Layout: Consider whether you want a traditional setup with rows of seats or something more modern, such as a circular or semi-circle arrangement, which can feel more intimate with a smaller crowd.
    • Positioning of the Celebrant and Couple: Decide where you, your partner, and the celebrant will stand. Ensure everyone can be seen clearly and that you’re positioned to catch the best photo lighting. A celebrant like me will be out of the photographs most of the time.

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  1. Styling and Decor Choices

The styling of your ceremony sets the mood and serves as the visual backdrop for exchanging your vows. Consider elements that reflect both your personality and your love story while coordinating with the season and location.

    • Colour Palette and Flowers: Your choice of colours can evoke moods, from romantic pastels to bold jewel tones. Choose flowers that complement the season and setting. Seasonal blooms tend to be more affordable and sustainable.
    • The Arbour or Ceremony Space: A well-decorated ceremony space is the focal point. Consider whether you want a traditional floral arch, a simple draped fabric arch, barrels, florals only, or a more modern geometric structure. But ensure that you don’t spend thousands of dollars on styling, which is all covered by a wedding party of 10 people!
    • Aisle Decor: To create a beautiful pathway, consider decorating the aisle with petals, candles, or floral arrangements. Remember, less is often more, especially in outdoor settings where nature can serve as decor.
    • Chairs and Seating: You can play with different chair styles, such as rustic wooden chairs for a vineyard setting, elegant, upholstered chairs for a ballroom, or even picnic-style seating for a casual outdoor wedding.
  1. Consider Comfort for Guests

Guest comfort is paramount; small details can make a big difference in how your loved ones experience your ceremony. This includes not arriving 45 minutes late!

    • Let Guests Know: Depending on the season, let guests know if it’s an outdoor wedding and they need to bring a jacket or umbrella. Is it on the beach so be prepared for bare feet? Are instructions needed for parking or traffic?
    • Provide Clear Signage: No one wants to wander aimlessly to find the ceremony.
    • Shade and Shelter: If your ceremony is outside, ensure adequate shade for guests, especially when the sun is strongest. A marquee or umbrella can provide shade but check with your venue about options and restrictions.
    • Refreshments and Comfort: Offering water, small fans, blankets (cue Dandenong Ranges weddings!) or parasols can make guests feel comfortable, especially for outdoor ceremonies.
  1. Timing and Coordination

The time of day you have your ceremony and vendor coordination are key in setting the right mood and ensuring a seamless experience. Ensure it’s not too late in the afternoon and you’ve let your vendors know the plan and timing.

    • Travel Time Between Locations: Ensure you factor in traffic to your ceremony location (Friday school pick-up time is hideous!). And, if you’re hiring one car, ensure enough time for those two or more drop-offs.
    • Golden Hour Magic: If you want beautiful, naturally lit photos in Spring and Winter, plan your ceremony around golden hour, shortly before sunset. Photographers love this time for its warm, flattering lighting. You can sneak out from your reception in warmer seasons to capture these.
    • Managing Vendors and Timing Pre-wedding: Work with your vendors, including the venue, photographers, musicians, celebrant, and florists, to create a natural timeline for the pre-, during and post-ceremony.
    • Leave Managing the Day to your Vendors: Don’t micromanage on the day. Look good, feel good, and leave the rest to the suppliers you have chosen. All the hard work is done, so simply enjoy your day.
  1. Decide on an Unplugged or Phone Happy Ceremony

Phones in the air or fully present guests? The choice is yours! There are many different opinions about this – the only one that matters on your wedding day is yours.

    • An Unplugged Ceremony: Guests put their phones away and stay in the moment—plus, there are no accidental photobombs. You can have a sign to remind guests and also get your celebrant to make the announcement.
    • Photos Allowed: If you’re happy for guests to snap away, give them a hashtag so you can easily find all the photos later.
    • Wedding Party Photo at the Start: For 16 years, I have allowed my couples to let everyone take a photo at the start of the ceremony – 30 seconds, snap away, and then the phones go away, if they choose to.
  1. Make it Personal – Make Your Ceremony YOURS.

Your ceremony should be a true reflection of your relationship, not just a box to tick.

    • Your Ceremony: Want it short and sharp before heading to the celebrations? Do it. Want something more epic? Go for it. When choosing aspects of your ceremony, make it reflect you.
    • Your Vows: If you’re comfortable with it, try crafting your vows. I give my couples lots of resources to help. Nothing tugs at the heartstrings like genuine, heartfelt words. Be authentic and keep it real.
    • Other Aspects: The choice of music, attire, ceremony aspects, who’s involved, etc., are all flexible and should be what you want and envisage.
    • Choose What Feels Right For You: Don’t feel pressured to stick to tradition—ditch anything that doesn’t resonate with you as a couple.
  1. Involve Your Loved Ones – Only if You Want!

A wedding ceremony isn’t just about you two—it’s also about celebrating with the people who love you. Whether that means everyone absorbs the ceremony from their seats or they are involved in some manner, that’s up to you.

    • Readings or Rituals: Ask a friend or family member to do a reading, sing a song, light candles, include a cultural element or even deliver part of the ceremony.
    • Honour Loved Ones: Acknowledge those who can’t be there with a special mention, a reserved seat, a photo or a small tribute.
    • Guest Support: Don’t want to be given away traditionally? Get all your guests to support your guests with a ‘We Do’.
    • Get Creative: Maybe a surprise flash mob, hidden rings or rock-paper-scissors for who goes first in the vows? There are many ideas out there.
  1. Enjoy the Moment!

When the day finally arrives, take a deep breath and savour every second. It goes so quickly!

    • Relax (as much as you can!): Trust your celebrant and vendors—they’ve got this!
    • Things Can Go Wrong: Don’t stress about tiny hiccups—no one will notice if the flower girl goes rogue or your vows come out a little wobbly.
    • Feel the Love: Most importantly, look into your partner’s eyes, feel the love, and remember—this is the beginning of your next great adventure together.

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There you have it!

Your wedding ceremony is the heart and the important part of your wedding day (and the rest of your life!), so make it fun, heartfelt, and uniquely YOU. Whether you’re going for grand and glamorous or intimate and informal, these tips will help ensure everything runs smoothly. Every detail—from the venue and weather considerations to the celebrant, decor, and timeline—plays a role in creating a memorable experience. So, take a deep breath, embrace the planning process, and get excited—because this is the moment where your forever begins!

If you’re looking for a fabulous celebrant, with lots of advice and pizzaz, to marry you in the Yarra Valley, Melbourne and surrounding areas, contact me, Melbourne Celebrant Julie.

Images by Art by I

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