After months of planning, your day has finally arrived! In order to ensure things run smoothly, here are some invaluable tips to keep in mind.
How to avoid fainting!
There are three things you can do to reduce the likelihood of you or your bridal party fainting on your big day.
Eat - A wedding day is a day of celebration which should include good food! Remember to eat prior to your ceremony to keep your blood sugar in line.
Drink - Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate - ideally, hydration should include water!
Be Married (or Merry) - It’s important to keep moving during your ceremony.
We recommend bending your knees and wiggling your toes to keep the blood flowing and to keep you standing!
How to keep your wedding party and yourself comfortable during your ceremony!
Outdoor summer weddings are notoriously hot!
Hydrating helps. Having a “security blanket” in the form of a handkerchief for the groom and the groomsmen can be a life saver should you begin to profusely sweat! This same handkerchief can double as a handy device for wiping tears should “dust get in your eyes!”
The groom should always have two handkerchiefs in his pants pocket - one for himself and one for his bride. Please remember, her face is a “no touchy zone” during the ceremony so simply hand her the second handkerchief should she begin to cry.
For the bridesmaids we recommend hiding a makeup sponge in their bouquets. If they begin to cry, this can be used without smudging their makeup.
Don’t skip the rehearsal!
There’s something to be said for feeling confident with the flow of your ceremony prior to it actually taking place. A rehearsal is intended to iron out the wrinkles and prepare you and your wedding party for your big day.
Knowing when and how to begin your processional, where and how to stand during the ceremony, who to hand your bouquet to, how to do a ring exchange so it looks professional and great on photos, how to navigate to and from your signing table, how to ensure your kiss is photo-worthy are all things we assist you with during your rehearsal.
Suit Etiquette 101
Let’s face it, not every man out there regularly wears suits. In fact, your wedding day may be the first time ever for you and your groomsmen. Let’s ensure you all look the part, and feel great as you stand together during the ceremony.
Which buttons do I button?
With two button jackets, button the top button and never button the bottom button!
With three button jackets, follow the “sometimes, always, never” rule.
This simply means, if you feel like it you can sometimes button the top button,
always button the middle one and never button the bottom one.
As a reminder, make sure you have a handkerchief in your pants pocket should you sweat or need to dry your eyes.
Signing your Licence
A stand-up cocktail table or wine barrel are almost always easier to navigate around for your licence signing than a sit down table. They also make pretty good “bouquet holders” during the ceremony allowing your maid of honour to make adjustments to your wedding dress without having to juggle multiple bouquets.
How to include your guests in your ceremony
Your best friends and family are all present to celebrate the love you share for each other. Why not include some elements in your ceremony to honour their presence?
Ring Warming
During a ring warming, your rings which we recommend stay in a box or bag, are passed around to your guests. Each guest holds the rings, takes a moment to pray, bless or put some positive energy into the rings. Ideally, the rings make it back to the front in time for your ring exchange!
Community Vows
After you’ve exchanged your vows, it can be fun to include your guests by performing community vows. Your officiant invites everyone present to respond, enthusiastically with the words, “We do!” to a few questions. This not only indicates their agreement but also gives them a moment to reflect on why they are at your wedding - not just for the drinks and dancing, but because they want to see you go the distance as a married couple!