“Goin’ to the Chapel” And Yes, They’re Getting Married!

By Sandra M. Monahan, MBC™, Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant®The marriage ceremony is the main event of the wedding day. It sets the tone for the festivities, which is why location is important—whether in a chapel, church, synagogue, tent, park, hotel ballroom, intimate restaurant, or other venue significant to the couple. However, there are general guidelines that should, and in many instances, must be followed. Armed with a little information, savvy wedding professionals will be on top of the process with some basic knowledge and be able to respect venue requirements while fulfilling their bride and groom’s wishes.Pre-planning is a necessity for religious weddingsCeremonies in religious churches or synagogues may have very specific pre-marital and wedding-day requirements for the bride and groom, bridal party, and family. It’s imperative the couple contact their church of choice well in advance of the wedding date. Some religions require at least six months of pre-marital instructions before clergy will consider the request.The planner or consultant may take on a supportive role by securing contact names and locations of the requested church for his or her clients, especially those from out of state searching for a church where they can be married. Quite often, the priest, minister, rabbi, etc. will approve and plan only with the engaged couple. The traditions of many religions can be complicated and specific dogma should be handled with respect by the couple, their family, and planner. Etiquette should always be followed by whoever is contacting the church or clergy for planning purposes.Non-denominational ceremonies and unique locationsCouples who choose to be married outside of a specific religion or church may choose a non-denominational ceremony in a unique location. An even more active planning role becomes essential for this type of ceremony. The consultant may find it challenging finding a venue and non-denominational officiant, celebrant, or minister to conduct the service. Venues for ceremonies today are vast and can take place in just about any location, providing the officiant will travel to and conduct the rite of passage in the chosen venue.Quality planning for a non-denominational ceremony at an unusual location requires more attention to detail due to logistics and venue capabilities. Whatever the location, it’s the goal of the planner to make this part of the day one of the most memorable and meaningful. Planners should make suggestions to the bride and groom to start the process. What about a ceremony on the merry-go-round in an amusement park? Great atmosphere and fun for the guests, but most important is its underlying meaning to the couple. Tented ceremonies at historical sites, museums of the creative arts, lobbies of professional buildings, greenhouses, wineries, barns, private homes, and just about any place you can think of are being used as ceremony sites for today’s bride and groom. Keep a list of officiants and celebrants in your area Many officiants and celebrants can be found on wedding-related websites. Planners need working knowledge of non-denominational ministers in their surrounding area. Just like any other wedding professional, officiants fill their schedules for weeks, sometimes a year, in advance.Finding an officiant is a unique opportunity for planners The specific style of ceremony varies greatly—from traditional scripts with basic structure, to those officiated by Life-Cycle Celebrants™ who offer personalized custom-written ceremonies. The consultant’s interview process with the couple, and keen insight into their personality, are the keys to finding the officiant who will best suit the clients’ needs. Just like any of the other vendors used for the wedding day, the officiant, celebrant, or minister should have a comfortable relationship with the bride and groom. Who better to steer a couple toward an officiant than their planner or consultant? As you guide your bride and groom on the journey of their wedding day, and to the ceremony location of their choice, strive to make it a unique and creative experience. Even if they aren’t going to the chapel, it’s still their marriage ceremony of love and an important rite of passage in their lives.[nggallery id=6]