■Where & When?
There are some points to consider when planning the venue and date of the wedding ceremony. Do you want to be married in the eyes of God? Is the marriage based on religious grounds? You may consider a civil ceremony, perhaps followed by a blessing, if you have no religious beliefs.
If you are planning a church wedding, you’d better firstly check availability (and their willingness to marry you) as soon as possible. You should also check availability if you’re planning a summer and/or Saturday ceremonies—and book early. If you plan a mid-week ceremony, you are most likely to book the venue of your choice and be closer to your original date. Of course there is a disadvantage with a mid-week ceremony, guests may have to organize days off work and therefore it is likely less people will be able to attend.
■Church Service
When setting your budget, don’t forget that church will charge for the service, the choir, the organist, and so on. You need to discuss your arrangements with the vicar/priest who will happily assist with your choice of readings, hymns and orders of service. The church will usually suggest a rehearsal (or two) a couple of weeks before the big day. They will also advise you on the maximum number of guests that can attend the ceremony.
Traditionally, the two families are seated either side of the aisle. This might date back to the time where the bride herself would be a peace offering in an attempt to unite two tribes. Often someone would show their disapproval, so the two tribes were separated to avoid possible conflict.
A Catholic church ceremony is sometimes performed two parts. The first part is the main marriage ceremony—a religious uniting of husband and wife, including hymns, readings, prayer and legal and civil responsibilities. The second part usually takes place when both the bride and groom are practicing Catholics. This involves the partaking of Holy Communion. The Catholic church does not usually charge for the priest’s time. However, an envelope containing a small donation is often given to the priest after service. The flowers used to decorate church are also left as a token of thanks.