Congratulations! You’ve selected your venue, and decided to host an on-site wedding ceremony. Now, there are a few more things you need to consider.
There are so many benefits to having an on-site wedding ceremony , most importantly being able to truly customize your ceremony.
Here are a few things you’ll want to consider when planning your on-site wedding ceremony.
Time Is still important, even though you are on site
Knowing the duration of your on-site wedding ceremony is important when coordinating with your venue. Most on-site wedding ceremonies are less than 30 minutes. If you know you’ll need more time, make sure to plan accordingly. Consider things like traffic to your venue and sunset, when planning your on-site ceremony time. Consider doing a first look so that all your photos are done before the ceremony begins. This allows you to be present at your cocktail hour with your guests.
Officiant
Selecting who will be officiating the on-site wedding ceremony is an important consideration. If you would like certain religious aspects to be incorporated, you may want to look at a Rabbi or Minister who can officiate the on-site wedding ceremony. Hiring a Justice of the Peace is another popular option. These individuals are professional wedding vendors who are licensed by the state to marry you. You get a wealth of knowledge, and most likely some tips and tricks from someone who has experience. The Justice of the Peace often meets with you and your beloved to personalize aspects of the ceremony. Your third option is to have a friend or family member get ordained and officiate your ceremony on-site. This is a deeply personal, and often quite fun way to start your lives together. Selecting someone who knows you both guarantees a ceremony that is uniquely you!
Music
Live music is a great addition to your on-site wedding ceremony. Occasional Brass and Strings is a company well versed in providing ceremony music. They can arrange for any instrument combination you can think of. Think of the overall tone you are going for. A harp or string quartet is certainly different from a brass quintet or trumpet fanfare. Looking for something to really WOW your guests? Ask your guests to assist with coordinating a flash mob!
If you are having a DJ for your reception, you often can pay an additional fee to have them handle the music for the ceremony. With a DJ, there is an endless selection of songs for you to choose. Choose from traditional wedding music to romantic pop songs, or even acoustic or piano versions of your favorite tunes. Take this opportunity to walk down the aisle to your favorite song!
You’ll need to select some background music for when guests enter, like a song for the wedding party processional, the main processional and, of course, recessional song, as you take your first walk as a married couple!
Lastly, make sure you have the right amount of microphones for your officiant and any readers as well!
The Ceremony Itself
Now is the time to really plan out how you’d like the on-site ceremony to be. Do you want sentimental and sweet, or something with a bit of a twist to have your guests laughing? Are there certain religious or cultural aspects that are important to include? Think about whether you want to include any readings. These can be religious, a meaningful poem or even a special song. Are there any special people in your lives that , that you’d like to include in your ceremony? A Reading is a great way to include them.
Programs are a nice touch if you’d like guests to follow along with the order of the ceremony, or if you want to introduce your wedding party. Another option is displaying one large sign as guests enter the ceremony location that gives them the low down.
If you’re having an unplugged ceremony or would like guests to sit wherever they like, additional signage may be needed to clearly communicate this to your guests.
Unity Ceremonies
If you’re blending families, or if either of you has a child who will be a part of your new family, having an aspect of the ceremony where you are saying vows to them is an important consideration. This can be done just with spoken vows or using a unity symbol such as pouring different color sand into one vase. A unity candle is another touching tradition.
The Order and Rehearsing when hosting an on-site ceremony
Once you have the on-site wedding ceremony planned, you’ll need to determine in what order your wedding is walking down the aisle. Do you want the wedding party walking down the aisle in pairs, or walking separately only to be joined during the recessional? Parents and Grandparents should also be considered for the processional;-and, don’t forget someone to escort them, if needed. Ask your venue to ensure the front row is reserved for your immediate family!
A rehearsal will be a great way to ensure that everyone knows what to expect on the day of the wedding. Just because you have booked an on-site ceremony and reception, doesn’t mean you can skip the planning. Your coordinator will review what time everyone needs to be in place, the order of the procession and recessional and location of each key player during the ceremony. Just a thought, if the officiant is a 1st timer, will they have enough experience to offer tips and tricks for ensuring a smooth-running event?
Hope for the Best but Plan for the Worst The benefits of hosting your ceremony on site
We all know how unpredictable New England weather is. At the Four Points by Sheraton Norwood, our outdoor Pavilion for the Tiffany Ballroom, and Garden Terrace for Zachariah’s, both get booked with a contingency plan for bad weather. It is important that you know what your backup is, and at what point the determination will be made if the ceremony needs to be moved inside. Knowing you have a backup plan will alleviate the stress of inclement weather on your wedding day.
Want to learn more about having an on-site ceremony and reception at the Tiffany Ballroom? We’d love to chat! 781-255-3159 tiffanyballroom@hobbsbrook.com