Let’s talk about the 7 wedding ceremony mistakes that couples should avoid! You spend so much time, effort, and money planning your wedding day. The whole purpose of a wedding is to get you married so let’s make sure that the actual ceremony goes seamlessly!
1. Not having a backup plan for bad weather.
If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, make sure you have a plan B in case it rains. Set up a collection of umbrellas or rent a large marquee to protect your guests from the elements. Talk with your venue and photographer to get their opinions on a rain plan as well!
2. Forgetting to test the sound system.
You don’t want your vows to be drowned out by feedback from the microphone! Make sure to test the sound system before the ceremony so that everyone can hear clearly. Also, be sure that your ceremony location isn’t near a loud highway, water feature, or fan. The focus should be on your and your spouse, not background noise.
3. Not cueing the music properly.
The music is an important part of setting the mood for your ceremony, so make sure it starts playing at the right moment. Have someone cue the musicians or DJ so that they start playing at the right time. A wedding planner or coordinator is great at cueing the music and ensuring you have your main character moment.
4. Forgetting to rehearse with your officiant.
Make sure to rehearse with your officiant beforehand so that everything runs smoothly on the day of. A great time to do this is during your rehearsal dinner! Don’t forget to rehearse your vows if you’re writing personal ones. You’ll be emotional the day of and practicing your vows can help calm some of those nerves.
5. Leaving your guests stranded after the ceremony.
Once the ceremony is over, it’s important to make sure your guests know where to go next. Give them clear instructions on where the reception will be taking place or provide transportation if it’s not within walking distance. An easy way to do this is to have the officiant make an announcement after you are married so that it’s fresh in your guests minds on where to go.
6. Not reminding your officiant to step out of the way during your first kiss.
You’ll want a photo of your first kiss as a married couple so be sure to remind your officiant to give plenty of space before announcing you as a married couple. That way their head isn’t right behind your kiss. Another pro tip with this is to have your first kiss and then have a second kiss! Typically the officiant has moved away by that time, if they forgot to move initially.
7. Not verbally reminding your guests to put away their phones and cameras.
If you’re doing an unplugged ceremony, have your officiant make a verbal announcement right before the ceremony starts to please put away all phones and cameras at the request of the couple. If guests know that YOU are asking for this they will likely respect it more. Most people don’t see or don’t pay attention to the unplugged sign so an announcement can really help you get those phone-free photos you’re craving.
Remember, almost all wedding days have something that doesn’t go perfectly right and that’s ok! However, with a little prep you can help to ensure that you have a wedding day that is seamless and you can look back on it happily!
If you have any questions about handling a rain plan or talking to your officiant about the first kiss, reach out to me! I’m happy to help out!
-Liz
