When to start planning... the ceremony ??

Hi Natasha,
I would say have the planned penciled out at least by May and make any changes as you go along for the big day.
It is better that everyone who is involved is on notice sooner rather than later and is prepared with enough time before the big day.

Ha ha thanks, it is still in the works .. but I want it to be funny and enjoyable to read !

Love this! Now that's a program I'm willing to read

Oh Gosh I havn't even thought that far :s

Aw that will be so special! I'm sure there won't be a dry eye!

our officant is doing something similar and telling "our story" .. we arent having a religious ceremony ... just the certain things you need to make it a marriage ceremony by law and then the rest is however we want it ... including my fh special vows to my son

We didn't do any readings but instead our officiant told "our story" of how we met which turned out really nicely. Some of guests probably didn't know the whole story so it was fun to relive it with everyone. We also did an activity called the "Passing of the Rings" or "Ring Blessing." We passed around the pillow with the rings on it and each guest got a moment to hold them and pass on happy thoughts and good intentions to us. Our officiant said "When the rings make their way all the way around, come back to me, and then onto each of their fingers, they will contain, in their precious metal, that which is more precious than any metal or diamond, that which is actually priceless: your love, blessings, and pledge of support for this marriage." We had never heard of it before and it was one of our favourite parts of the ceremony! Our guests are still commenting on how special it was!

I'm not planning to meet with my officiant until a few months before our wedding. We are not having a religious ceremony so maybe that is why I don't think I need to plan so far in advance. She sent me a sample ceremony and I don't love it, so I'm changing lots of things and I figure we can easily email back and forth to make sure she is ok with the changes I have made. I'd like to meet with her at least once before she gets really busy with wedding season, though, because I know she does a lot of weddings.

no problem, our wedding is very fun and open so we wanted our programs to feel that way

We are not doing programs since our ceremony will be short 15-20 minutes tops... I would love some ideas for poems and readings... So far what I've come across is hokey and overly sentimental.

Omg your programs are so pretty and fun! I wasnt sure what was supposed to go on them but now I have a better idea. thanks for posting!

Thanks for all your input, I greatly appreciate all the advice any of you ladies have to offer it sure does help!... I am trying so hard to get ahead of the game .. its tough working full time being a mom full time having a house to run lol and planning a wedding on top ... its alot so anything i can get out of the way I am hoping to do ! plus I am in a wedding in 2018 .... so its a little crazy !

I just wanted to share this is what I have so far for my programs .. I am designing and creating them myself ! it has been fun.. I wanted to make them something fun and enjoyable for everyone to read and follow along... they will be double sided and on a thick card stock so they can also act as a fan since i am getting married outside in August !

Our Program ( Rough Draft Side 1)

Our Program ( Rough Draft Side 2)

Fair enough! Then I'm sorry I don't have more to offer you

Exactly how we feel too!...and I don't want another keepsake to display and move around all the time (I am terrible at being sentimental about that stuff).

I'll try to remember to sent some poems from my list! It has been a happy job to search them all out!

I think in my programs I am just leaving things open like it stating "a reading" or "a poem" i wont be putting the title in anyways .. its more of less for the flow of things ...

We arent doing a unity thing, I think they are nice, and have enjoyed seeing other people do them, but I have seen to many done and we just want to stay away from it .. not really our thing either.. as for poems... no I have nothing thought of yet.. so I am open to any suggestions

I let our officiant deal with the flow and timing (short and sweet), and we won't be having readings, so my ceremony will not really need anything locked in until much later.

You could always just have a program template ready and waiting and then just tweek it as you decide on readings and timing. I personally wouldn't want to lock into anything this early out. That way if you come across a poem you like in the next like 6 months you won't feel like you can't add it or switch one to it because you've already got the programs printed. I get the want to have it all done, I'm the same way! But you may want the flexibility of not locking things in too early. I personally have templates on the go for everything and change them up as I change my mind, that way I feel proactvie, but the design and overall look is already decided on

Programs do complicate things...I don't really need them, I'm just going to tell the 10 people attending the plan the night before

Are you adding in any unity sort of ceremony or other neat/ unique aspect? We aren't, it's not our style, but I think some of those are so cute when people do them.

Have you found any poems you like? I have a little list at home I can share later if you want some.

Yeah ours is not a religious ceremony so I think picking poetry and such will be the hard part, I really want to get our ceremony completed because I am having programs done so the sooner I can hammer out our ceremony and complete it then I will be able to get my programs complete !

We have booked our officiant to handle the legal bits, and he provided us a template to use to re-write the ceremony. (we just have to leave the legally required parts in). Having you officiant booked and ready to help is a big checkmark off the list!

My FBIL is actually leading the ceremony, which will be very short- about 10- 15 minutes.

I would suggest getting on the planning sooner rather than later, I know religious ceremonies have more restrictions if that applies!

My hardest part is choosing poetry that we both like, and making a ceremony that suits us. Next we will have to decide the timing....there is no procession, as we have no bridal party, and it is a standing only ceremony. So just pick music, and decide from what dorection and when my dad walks me in.

Yeah I am thinking I may need to get my butt moving on this .. as i am August too .. and it is going to come up fast !

Hi Natasha,I started planning the ceremony ASAP. We just started planning ours as we had to meet our priests to know what we can and cannot do. We received a booklet with readings and music information to confirm for our next meeting in Februrary, as our wedding is in August. Wishing you all the best!