The wedding ceremony - music, poem readings, and more

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No part of planning compares in scale to organising the wedding ceremony and reception. These areas tend to cause the bride and groom a fair amount of stress, and getting all the details right can be a very daunting process.

The wedding ceremony is the crux of the whole event. Understanding the various components to the ceremony is sometimes confusing, but our information aims to take some of the mystery out of this area. We include suggestions on how to write your vows, and detail the important elements such as the kiss, poem readings, music, and how to incorporate cultural elements. The location of the ceremony is often a wedding chapel, and you can read about things to take in to consideration — particularly styles of chapel, the size and its location.

Weddings resemble theatre in so many ways, and not least when you are putting the cast list together. Your wedding party can be anything from three or four people up to five hundred! Knowing who the key players are is the first step to handing out these roles of honour, from the Father of the bride (the easiest role to cast!) to the littlest Flower Girl. Remember that you need to allocate the speeches to the people in your wedding party…our guide on what is usually said in a speech also outlines some alternative options.

There are so many elements that need to come together to make the reception complete, so read on for some particularly pertinent articles relating to the key areas. What happens at a reception? You would be surprised at how important it is to keep a strict order of events from the photos to the first dance. If you are struggling for ideas for a reception, we ponder some possibilities, including ambience, theme and entertainment.

The overall success of a wedding usually lies in the smallest details, and getting everything right is always the bride's preoccupation - some might even say obsession!

Centerpieces are one of the most important elements of the decoration, and you can opt for traditional flowers, or some more individual ideas. The article on centrepieces also gives ideas for doing them on a budget.

The wedding cake can cost a fortune, so you should ask yourself a number of questions before you choose one - what size, flavour, style and decoration? Likewise, the flowers add so much to a wedding, and considerations include colour, matching bridesmaid bouquets and groomsmen buttonholes, reception displays, centrepieces and even the symbolism of different kinds of flower.

Last but not least, music sets the tone for the entire event, and what you select for both the ceremony and reception will make your wedding the party you desire - from the classical opera ceremony to the wedding singer in a live band.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - The Wedding Ceremony