Welcome to the

CEREMONY

PLANNING GUIDE

Welcome to the fun part, your ceremony!

Here is a few of the ideas, conversation starters and options I’ve shared on my Instagram page. Clients only have access to the full guide and resources. This guide is to be used in conjunction with the CEREMONY PLANNING QUESTIONNAIRE within the client portal (where the quotes, contracts and questionnaires live). The questionnaire is much more in depth with pointed questions.

I make no assumptions to what you want to include or not include in your ceremony, and everything (other than the legal requirements) are up for discussion.

Are you considering a first look?

The magic of a first look knows no limits.

The anticipation is electric.

Your heart races with excitement.

You turn around, your eyes widen, smile broadens, and your heart is now bursting with love.

Then, a sense of calm rolls over you, and you're ready for the big dance, your ceremony.

HOW DOES A FIRST LOOK WORK?

The couple get ready separately, then prior to the ceremony they surprise each other with a great reveal. This can be a quiet, beautiful moment to see each other for the first time on their wedding day. It could be at your getting ready location, family home, ceremony location or somewhere special to you.

If you don’t want to see each other, but are still nervous, you could do a first touch where you hold hands around a corner and speak to each other. Both parties can then split and meet each other at the ceremony space later.

These ideas can help with the nerves and excitement. Options also include reading different vows to the ceremony, the same vows as the ceremony, funny vows or exchanging a small gift (funny, sentimental or sweet).

Photo: @rexvil.photography

Phone logistics

We’ll chat about your phone preferences for your ceremony during our planning meeting. Options include:

  • 100% unplugged ceremony

  • Unplugged ceremony - except 30 second paparazzi allotment for guests when you are at the altar.

  • Phones ok, just not in the aisle

  • Phones are ok whenever - let’s get social.

  • No social media until after the couple has posted a photo.

  • Throw phones in a blender or closest pool if they are sighted

  • Or you let me know your preferences, ideas or particular shoutouts.

Be blunt - I’m here to help.

Please note: the photo attached is the paparazzi 30 seconds after the newlyweds have arrived at the ceremony space and not the first kiss.

Photo: @rexvil.photography

Wedding party - yes or no?

There’s no rules around wedding parties and your wedding day.

Here’s a few options:

Party for two. No wedding party. Just the couple at the altar and they spend all day together. This is becoming more popular and it’s beautiful.

Party of two with a hype crew. Couple has some friends get ready with them, travel to your venue and then they are off the hook to just cruise during your wedding. Just the couple at the altar and for photos.

Wedding party sits with guests. You nominate a wedding party but they get to sit and relax throughout the ceremony. They could do an entrance, or no entrance, still be part of photos, give speeches or any other type of inclusion, they just chill during the ceremony.

No wedding party entrances. They just meet you at the altar.

Odd wedding party numbers. You don’t have to have the same number of wedding party members on each side nor do they have to be the same gender.

Mismatched coloured suits, dresses, pant suits, kilts, bow ties, flowers etc are a real vibe.

It’s not essential that your wedding party attend a rehearsal, I’m there on the day to guide them.

Photo: @ljamesphotography

How are you arriving at the altar?

In other words, how are we beginning your ceremony?

I’ll go into much more detail within the full guide but here’s a stack of options, you let me know what works for you or if you want to do something a little different.

  • Enter together

  • The great reveal

  • Turn and reveal

  • The rockstar

  • Meet you halfway

  • No formal entrance (There is no obligation to include an aisle entrance)

  • Wedding VIP’s

  • Pet’s

  • Wedding party entrances

  • Other (flowers, beer, fireball, music, kids etc)

Photo: @travisandbennyweddings

The pause

How it works: You just need to PAUSE at the top of the aisle.

The pause has many benefits, here’s a few: it provides you the chance to slow down, grab your breath, smile your best smile and get a good look at your lover at the other end of the aisle. The anticipation is great for some emotion to bubble up and also gives your photo/ video team the chance to grab some shots from multiple angles and readjust their position if needed.

From this pause there are a few options to consider:

You enter solo and your lover leaves the altar and meets you at the top of the aisle, you then walk to the altar together.

Your lover is turned around, as your pause they get the tap to turn around and you both sight each other for the first time.

Once you're ready you can continue as is with your accompanying VIP to meet your lover at the altar.

Your accompanying VIP continues in front to their seats leaving you standing proudly awaiting a solo walk to become a pair forever.

Your VIP returns to their seat, your lover leaves the altar and meets you at the top of the aisle, you then walk to the altar together.

Your pets, kids or both could join you at this point to continue on.

The options are endless and exciting!

Photo: @paulrowleyphotography

Ceremony positioning

Did you know that you don't have to face each other during the ceremony?

This idea has come about from church weddings and celebrants in the middle. I'll always position myself off to the side for the storytelling part of your ceremony and have started recommending that couples (if they're comfortable) face their guests.

Here's a few of the reasons the forward-facing position is so popular:

🎉 Front on photos

🎉 Your wedding party (if positioned beside you) can see your faces and not the back of your heads

🎉 Your VIP's (parents, grandparents, kids or dog) can see your face

🎉 Couples often don't face each other for any length of time

🎉 Newlyweds can be in a comfortable position and still chat with each other

🎉 Your celebrant can engage with both of you

🎉 At the reception you face forwards so why not at the ceremony?

Please note: I'll always give your videographer a heads up on positioning so they can set up in the best position.

You are of course welcome to face each other during the ceremony but just note that you don’t have to be in this position.

Photo: @rexvil.photography

The kiss

I'll 100% be out of the way for the kiss.

After your second tailored ring moment and as you exchange rings, I'll slide off to the side of your ceremony space then announce you as married, build the hype and hand it over to you for a just married pash.

I'm not behind you, not hiding behind an arbour, tree or wedding party member, not cheering in shot, not moving. I'm just not in any shots.

Photo: @wilsonandlewis

Ceremony exit

Here’s the fun part. You’re married it’s time to let that beautiful fluffy confetti fall your way!

Buy more than you think you need. Bio-degradable confetti is the way to go. Also, did I mention provide more than you need.

Big and fluttery confetti is the best.

I’ll let guests know pre ceremony and just before the exit to throw it up in the air (and not at your faces)

If you’ve provided rose petals or confetti in cones, I’ll ask that guests empty them into an open hand. You’ll get much better results and no stray cones in the air!

Build it up, pronounce you and all you need to do is walk, smile and keep that head up!

Confetti cannons are great in conjunction with confetti also.

I’ll either throw some confetti over your photographer’s shoulder or we’ll grab some guests at the back for a final splutter of fun.

You can go a kiss or dip in the middle of the aisle but practice before hand, it’s best not to spring it on the day.

Photo: @sebastian_paynter_photo

Ceremony music

What music do I need for our ceremony:

  • Pre ceremony playlist (1 hour)

  • Ceremony basic plan:

  • Wedding party A entrance - 1 song

  • Client A entrance - 1 song

  • Signing songs (2 - 3 if signing during ceremony)

  • Exit/ congratulations: 1 upbeat song

  • Post ceremony/ canapes playlist (3 hours)

  • Customisable options:

  • No music or entrance/s

  • Multiple songs for entrances

  • Wedding party B music

  • Client B - 1 song

  • Flower people/ pets songs

  • Live musician

Photo: @richard_dibben_photography

The ceremony planning guide + more.

I hope you’ve picked up a few ideas or these have created a few conversation starters with your partner.

Here are a few of the topics discussed in more detail in the full clients only guide:

  • Nerve calming

  • Group and family photos

  • What equipment do I use (plus the spare equipment provided)

  • What happens pre ceremony

  • Furry friends at your wedding

  • Ceremony aesthetics

  • Vows

  • Ring Exchange

  • Certificate signing options

  • Witnesses

  • Witness raffle

  • Music

  • What happens after our ceremony?

  • Plus much more.

My role as your celebrant is to guide you from start to confetti and ensure you feel prepared, in control and absolutely excited about having a great time. I’m here to feel like a friend reading your story and engaging with your guests. No boring ceremonies here!

Photo: @wilsonandlewis