Ceremony Assistance

There are so many ways to personalize your ceremony that we cannot possibly provide them all here. What each family needs and what each bride has envisioned is different. There’s hardly a “traditional” way to shape your ceremony anymore. That said, we will provide you with a general idea of how to get started in compiling your ceremony order, and you can make any personalizations you feel are necessary.

Music Starts

OFFICIANT TAKES POSITION

GRANDPARENTS

GROOM’S PARENTS

BRIDE’S PARENTS

Song Change

BRIDAL PARTY

RING BEARER

FLOWER GIRL

Song Change

BRIDE

Notes:

You’ll notice the groom is not listed! The groom can walk down with the officiant at the beginning, by himself directly afterward, with his parents, or alone directly after the bride’s parents

Rule of thumb for family: bride’s grandparents, then groom’s parents, then groom’s parents, then bride’s parents

If parents are separated or remarried, have them walk in whichever order is most comfortable to you. You may choose to have parents’ significant others already seated or walk with their spouse.

If the bride’s parents are married, then the father of the bride may walk the mother of the bride, and then loop back to retrieve and walk the bride down the aisle. The mother of the bride may also be walked by an usher or a groomsman. The mother of the bride may also choose to walk alone!

Groomsmen may all walk in at once following the officiant and/or the groom, then bridesmaids walk separately down the aisle. Or, they can walk as couples directly following family.

When ordering your bridal party, the first ones to walk down the aisle are typically those that will stand farthest out from you. They will fan in, ending with Maid of Honor and the Best Man.

You do not “need” ushers. Groomsman can walk family down the aisle, and either take their spot or loop back to join their paired bridesmaid. If you do dedicate anyone as an usher, it is a good idea to have a job for them to do if guests are not formally being ushered in… i.e. hand out programs, direct guests down the stairs and to the ceremony location ot seat themselves, walk grandparents or parents, or close and reopen the door for the bride to walk down the aisle.

Helpful hints for your OFFICIANT:

At the beginning of the ceremony, make sure the officiant is directly in the center. The rest of your wedding party will place themselves based off of their position. Have them make any announcements you wish regarding cell phone use or taking pictures during the ceremony.

After the bride has walked down the aisle, the officiant should tell guests to “please be seated.” Consider any other cues they may need to give you during the ceremony: cues for when vows will occur, when it is time to exchange rings, and when it is time for your first kiss! Have them step off to the side prior to your first kiss. Think about how you would like to be introduced before walking back down the aisle.

After the ceremony, they may direct guests to your cocktail hour.

Have your officiant consider the best way to keep their reading material ahead of time. They may also need to hold a microphone, vows, rings, etc. That is a lot to consider!

Find a few sample scripts here. Consider anything you wish to add to the ceremony: personal vows, unity ceremony, or readings.

Helpful hints for your ceremony:

Unity candles are allowed inside the building, for the ceremony only.

Please indicate if there is a desired number of chairs for the first row, so we can adequately seat your immediate family.

If you live in Missouri, you will acquire your marriage license at any Missouri courthouse within 30 days of your ceremony. The license will ask the ceremony’s location. Silver Oaks Chateau is located in Franklin County.

Real petals are always preferred. They are required outside when being tossed by flower girls or lining your aisle. Artificial petals may be utilized indoors.