Wichita Wedding Blog

Wedding Rehearsal Considerations

1/7/2020

To Rehearse or Not Rehearse.
Here are the answers to that question.

Not every wedding requires a wedding rehearsal.
If you are planning on a casual and relaxed ceremony, then a rehearsal isn't really necessary.

A good rule of thumb is...if you are having no more than one or two wedding attendants each, with one flower girl and perhaps a ring bearer, and you have decided on a simple ceremony...it's likely that you'll not need a rehearsal and you'll be able to manage it on your own with a few tips from your Wedding Minister.

That said...if you plan on having more attendants than mentioned above... a wedding rehearsal will be necessary to insure everything goes smoothly and beautifully during your ceremony.
If you aren't sure...always speak with your Wedding Officiant...he/she will be able to help you with that decision and offer available insight and advice.

A wedding rehearsal is based on the degree of ceremony formality.

The benefits of having a wedding rehearsal, aside from the obvious...it's a time to help you and your wedding party get comfortable with the timing and order of the ceremony proceedings before the big day.
Keep the rehearsal dinner to follow a casual, lighthearted affair, giving everyone a chance to catch their breath and get antiquated.

Wedding rehearsals are typically one hour and you'll need every moment of it to cover all the details and ceremony choreography. To void overtime charges from your wedding officiant, it's a good practice to avoid drinking prior to the rehearsal.

Being alert and attentive during the rehearsal helps everyone involved in the ceremony to feel less nervous on the day of the ceremony. In most cases, two walk-throughs is recommended to insure everyone is comfortable and confident with the ceremony proceedings. Everyone will know where to be and when. Also, the rehearsal is a good time to hand out lists of duties to the attendants of the ceremony.

During the rehearsal your officiant will go over many details.
Such as where to stand and what to do during the ceremony, where and how to enter and exit and how to pose for the best presentation of your ceremony.

Part of the rehearsal will address ( the processional ) entering and ( the recessional ) exiting, it's is a mixture of timing and graceful art form. Like learning to dance well, it's about the steps, timing and execution that makes a beautiful presentation.
If you plan on having live musicians for the ceremony, they should attend the rehearsal too, so you and your attendants will be able to recognize the musical cues throughout the ceremony.

Your Officiant / Minister will always insist on personally conducting rehearsal and arranging the ceremony proceedings from Processional to Recessional.

TIP: At times, inexperienced Wedding Planners may offer, as part of their services, to conduct the wedding rehearsal and conduct the ceremony proceedings.
** An experienced and professional planner will not. **
To clear the confusion...the purpose and function of a Wedding Planner is to coordinate all things to do with preparation prior to the ceremony and after the ceremony, not the rehearsal or ceremony proceedings itself.
When in question, always ask your Officiant for clarification on such matters.

There are never any two wedding ceremonies alike.

Just as there are no two couples alike, there are no two weddings alike.
There are always variations depending on the venue selection, available amenities, indoor vs.outdoor ceremonies, the time of year, the time of year, the level of formality and of course the personal style of the To Be Wed Couple...just to name a few. There are many factors the Officiant will take into account when contemplating the presentation of your wedding ceremony.
However, to give you a little insight as to how a wedding rehearsal and ceremony might be conducted, here's a basic sample to consider.

The standard processional line is formed in order of appearance, which will be:

Bridesmaids
Maid of honor
Ring bearer and flower girl
Bride and father

The timing of each person’s entrance and the pace of the walk will be determined during the rehearsal. Timing is usually established by the distance between each person, and also by the music. Timing is especially important if you want to make the most of ceremony photo opportunities during the processional.

TIP ** The one of the many benefits of selecting an experienced and skilled Wedding Officiant is they will be able to anticipate and adjust effortlessly to any unforeseen seen factors that may arise in the moment without skipping a beat.

When the bride enters the room, she should walk on her father’s / escort's right, or on the right side. When she arrives at the altar, her father / escort will give her hand to the groom. The officiant will address the father / escort, "Who gives this woman." During the rehearsal, we will go into much more detail and teach you what to say and do. The maid of honor will move forward to take the bride's flowers and return to her position.

Vows that require a response from the bride and groom will be cued and guided by the wedding officiant-- that way neither the bride nor the groom will miss their cue during the ceremony. Going through these cues will definitely calm all the participants down a little on the day of the wedding, All can confidently enter the room, take their places, and execute their responsibilities with ease and grace.

The rehearsal dinner is a great time to hand out printed lists of duties for the attendants. They need to know what is expected of them, and when they are “on call.” Here are sample lists of the common duties for traditional attendants. Obviously, if the best man is a woman, she will not help the groom dress, so adjust the duties to accommodate your wedding party

The Best Man Duties...the team leader

The Best Man is seen as the team leader of all things to do with the men in the wedding party.
The Groomsmen are the team players...the offer support and assistance to the Groom and the wedding.

Help the groom dress
Get the clergy person fee in a plain envelope from the groom and deliver it to clergy person on the day of the wedding
Remind the groom of the marriage license, airline tickets, luggage, traveling clothes, etc..
Sign the marriage license as a witness
Keep the groom calm
Carry the ring in a coat pocket
Take the groom’s gloves during the ceremony, if he has any
Offer the first toast at the rehearsal dinner and the reception
Hide the going-away car
Help the bride and groom escape after the reception
Return the groom’s clothes to his house or the rental store

Maid or Matron of Honor Duties...the team leader

The Maid or Matron of Honor is seen as the team leader with all things to do with the women in the wedding party.
The Bride's Maids are the team players...the offer support and assistance to the Bride and the wedding.

Sign the marriage license as a witness
Help the bride dress prior to the ceremony, help the bride with her gloves, train, veil, flowers, etc. during the ceremony
Hold the groom’s wedding band until it is requested

Usher's Duties...the team players

Ushers are responsible for:

Lighting the aisle candelabra 15 minutes before the ceremony
Seating guests
Taking down pew ribbons as the pews are needed
Putting the aisle runner in position and removing it after the ceremony
Participating in the processional and recessional
Escorting the bride’s and groom’s parents out, then dismissing one aisle at a time after the ceremony
Dancing with the bride and bridesmaids
Bridesmaids
Help the bride with errands
Participate in the processional and recessional
Greet guests in the receiving line

As with any other rehearsal, all the participants should pay close attention to their directions. Working all the kinks out during the rehearsal will make your wedding ceremony proceed smoothly and beautifully.

When to Book the Wedding Officiant?

Weddings Under $300 in Wichita Kansas

9/5/2018

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Affordable Christmas Wedding Ideas. There's no place like home!

11/8/2014

I think Dorthy from the Wizard of OZ had it right when she said "There's no place like home", especially where home weddings are concerned.

All winter weddings have a certain cozy charm that simply can’t be matched or duplicated at any other time of year, especially if you've decided on having a home wedding.

Home weddings during the winter months are always comfortable, relaxed, loaded with fun and just exude love. There’s always such a special intimate excitement and a feeling of love in the air that is shared among family and friends that’s uniquely one of a kind. Gathering together in a home setting for your wedding is naturally so welcoming, joyful, and truly personal.

Affordable wedding options are more important than ever today. Home winter weddings are very gentle on the wedding budget purse strings and offer endless decorating options, limited only by your imagination.

Although home winter weddings are inexpensive, you’d never know it. Each home wedding that I have officiated has looked and felt delightfully lavish, whimsical and deliciously romantic even on the smallest of wedding budgets.

I have always marveled at and greatly enjoyed how each holiday wedding theme was lovingly weaved together by the hosting family members to create a very personal wedding experience for the bride and groom. These loving personal touches just can’t be fully expressed in any other venue outside of a home setting.

As a wedding minister, I always enjoy seeing the beauty and joy of family and friends coming together with such enthusiasm and creativity in honor of the wedding couple. Home winter weddings are alive with TLC and loaded with such wonderful personal expressions in such an unforgettable loving way.

The hosting families working along with the wedding couple’s visions have created some truly unique Ceremony Altars within the home venue. Fire places are often used for the marriage vows to take place. They are often decorated with an assortment of beautiful candles, crystals, favors and flowers matching the bride’s bouquet.

For the ceremony talented and crafty family members and friends have created hand made wedding arches of every imaginable style. Each one has always blended in so beautifully with the chosen wedding theme, you’d swear it came from a professional florist and cost a pretty penny. Some wedding arches have been designed with little personal wedding mementos and favors, which are then handed out to all who attend after the ceremony has concluded. How clever is that?!

What about food and drink? No worries there! Everyone seems to jump at the chance of creating their own specialty dishes and drinks for the wedding reception. I have seen some very impressive reception spreads that easily rival any catering company. There’s no lack of family favorites on the table. In my way of seeing things, nothing is better than home made!

However, if cooking isn’t where your talents lay there’s no need for concern. There’s every sort of catering one could possibly image and all available locally. Many catering companies offer services of setting everything up, serving and cleaning up afterwards.

Certainly a wonderful option to consider, and with all the money you’ll save on having your wedding at home, you’ll be able to easily afford this luxury if you choose to.

The Wedding Cake is generally placed on a special table and surrounded with a mountain of wedding gifts, cards with festive accent decorations tying into the wedding theme.

Some families that own guest houses or cabins have offered them to the newly weds as a wedding gift for their honeymoon getaway. Beautifully decorated and fully stocked with all sorts of wonderful goodies, so the newly weds can hold up there for days on end.

No matter the time of year, Home Weddings are becoming a very popular choice for many To Be Wed Couples. So if you looking for some very affordable wedding magic, look close to home, that’s where you’ll find it.

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Quinceanera Ceremony Services South Central Kansas

8/21/2014

The Quinceanera Tradition celebrates the '15 year" of a young woman in the Hispanic culture. It is a time when a girl transitions from child into womanhood.
In the American culture, it is likened to a Sweet 16 Celebration or Coming Out Celebration. A pivotal time for many families and just cause for significant celebration. Many Hispanic families and girls look forward to celebrating their Quinceanera. This is a time when a young woman rededicates herself to Christ, and reflects on the new responsibilities and journey into womanhood. It is a time of giving thanks and recognition to all who are important in her life, and all who have supported and guided her up to this point. The Quinceanera is a beautiful landmark moment in a young lady's life, and in celebration of this transition, the family will present the Quinceanera Princess with an abundance of gifts and attention as she begins her journey into womanhood.
We are pleased to offer our services to you for the beautiful and cherished Quinceanera Celebration.
Click "Here" to make an appointment for an Online Tour and Visit with our Ministers.

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Quinceanera Program

Religious Ceremony:
Nowadays the idea to celebrate a young lady’s fifteenth birthday is to thank God for all of the blessings the family has received. Below is a list of items that are typically offered by the Quinceañera’s court during the ceremony:

Bible: It is recommended to have a Bible covered in either satin, lace, silk, taffeta, etc. It is the first object that is given to the young lady during the ceremony when the priest or pastor indicates it. He will talk about the importance of the word of God in the Quinceañera’s life.
Flower Bouquet: The flowers should be the same color as the Quinceañera’s dress. She will leave the bouquet at the altar as an offering and her parents will approach her when she is at the altar.
Tiara: It is the crown that the young lady wears to indicate that she is the princess, the daughter of God. The minister will talk about the crowns that are mentioned in the Bible.

Optional Items

Three Roses: One closed button, one half open, and one completely open. They represent her infancy, childhood, and current age respectively. Each flower should receive a special mention during the religious act, although this ritual can also be performed at the reception.
Perfume: A nice small decorated bottle. It represents the aroma, prayer, and veneration of God.
Umbrella: It should be the same color as the dress. It represents God’s protection.
Shoes: If possible, the flats should be white and the heels should match the color of the dress. The father or the guest of honor helps the young lady switch shoes. This tradition is celebrated in the church as well as the reception.
Watch: She has to wear it on her left wrist. It indicates the time dedicated to God and also serves as a reminder that God will arrive and that she has to be prepared. However, in other cultures the godparents give this gift to the Quinceañera during the feast.
Ring or Cross: Should have a diamond or a stone of her choice. The ring represents the infinite circle of God’s love and has to be worn on the right-hand annular (ring) finger. When the ring is given the Quinceañera may read a verse or sing a song about the promise made to God. The cross symbolizes faith in Christ.
Doll: Sometimes the doll is dressed as the Quinceañera and is given to a younger girl. It symbolizes the end of childhood. This is the last doll given during the celebration.
Candle: It must be an 18-inch candle and has to be decorated with ribbons and roses that match the dress. This candle represents the light given to the children by their parents. At this moment the mother walks with the candle towards the altar after the Quinceañera has offered the flower bouquet, then both parents meet the young lady at the altar where they light the candle and place it on a candlestick. Now the parents kneel down and pray for their daughter. The Quinceañera will pray and thank God for the new role she will assume. Finally, the Quinceañera thanks her parents and talks about the meaning of her celebration. The priest concludes the ceremony with the final blessing.

Wedding Rehearsal Considerations

To Rehearse or Not Rehearse.
Here are the answers to that question.

A wedding rehearsal is based on the degree of ceremony formality.

There are never any two wedding ceremonies alike.

The Best Man Duties...the team leader

Maid or Matron of Honor Duties...the team leader

Usher's Duties...the team players

When to Book the Wedding Officiant?

Weddings Under $300 in Wichita Kansas

Choose A Venue, Select a Ceremony, Save the Date ... Done!
It's Just That Easy!

Affordable Christmas Wedding Ideas. There's no place like home!

See Our Holiday Season
Christmas Time Elopements

Quinceanera Ceremony Services South Central Kansas

Quinceanera Program

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