extraordinary weddings

When planning your ceremony, be sure the place you decide to exchange your vows has meaning to you. Maybe you’ll be standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean, under a huppah at your childhood house of worship, or in a vineyard that makes your favorite wine. Don’t just a pick any spot, your ceremony is the most significant part of your wedding and deserves careful thought. After all, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

If you’re still deciding where you’ll be getting married, consider a couple of these pointers: First, the place where you exchange your vows should be the focal point of the ceremony area. Make sure you can be seen by all of your guests, it may me standing on an elevated platform or even arranging the seating in a non-traditional way rather than a straight aisle. A “U” configuration or even scattered seating for a garden setting may make more sense that a straight aisle. Seating in the round is also a wonderful alternative; you’ll be surrounded by the love and collective energy of the closest people in your life.

Secondly, the ceremony area doesn’t have to be decorated entirely with just expensive cut flowers. There are many ways to mix flowers with other elements that are just as interesting and beautiful (and often more cost-effective) than a typical arrangement in the urns provided by the venue, or the use of one type of flower in only one color. If flowers are part of your décor, they should be positioned properly so they don’t obstruct anyone’s view. And don’t use small flowers, from a distance they’ll disappear. Instead use big hearty flowers with large heads. You can embellish your ceremony area with seashells for a beach wedding or possibly vibrant green leaves and mosses for a garden wedding. And if you want to do something ethereal and romantic, use white blossoms and white organza billowing and blowing in the wind. For something unique, I love fashioning a hanging cross out of hundreds of crystals suspended on monofilament so the end result appears as a cross floating in thin air. This really looks spectacular at a sunset ceremony with the sun catching the crystals

Also, don’t forget to make sure you can be heard. Consider placing a wireless microphone in your bouquet or hiding one in the decorations. Even a stand up microphone can be decorated with garland and flowers. A quick sound check before the ceremony will insure the vows you make to one another and the sermon are clearly heard.

And, light is also a key component to the ceremony. Most people don’t realize how important lighting is until they’re looking at blurry photos of the “I now pronounce you man and wife” moment. Make sure there’s enough natural light so you’re well illuminated and can be seen by everyone; as an added bonus, hire a lighting company to insure proper illumination that highlights your best features. The sun might come in or the clouds might roll over, a wash of soft ambient light will last forever and go a long way.