Ceremony

Choice of ceremony location, music, vows, and the participation of people you hold dear are all important considerations. In the midst of your flurry of wedding preparations, be sure to devote time to planning the meaningful ceremony that will live on in your hearts for years to come.

Location

Officiant

Music

Vows

Location

The site you choose for your ceremony will depend upon several considerations, some of which are the number of guests, religious affiliation, climate, and geography. Many couples choose to hold their ceremony and reception at the same location. This cuts down on the total cost of the celebration (both in dollars and in environmental impact) by minimizing duplications in facility rentals and decorations, as well as the costs of additional transportation to move from ceremony to reception. If you do decide upon separate locations for ceremony and reception, consider offering mass transportation services such as van, bus, or horse-drawn carriage between them to minimize fuel consumption. Geographically, having your wedding at a location convenient to the largest number of your guests will also help keep the environmental costs of travel to a minimum.

Whether you decide upon an outdoor or indoor location for your ceremony, there are several options available to you. Be sure to reserve your desired spot as early as you can to avoid disappointment.

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Outdoor Ceremonies
Taking your vows in an outdoor setting will reflect your love of nature and will also serve as a reminder of the beauty that must be preserved by environmentally responsible actions. Parks, zoos, nature preserves, and private gardens are all lovely settings for wedding ceremonies. While an open-air wedding may seem simple, there are actually several logistical considerations that you will need to think about if you choose this option.

One of the most perplexing aspects of planning an outdoor wedding is the unpredictability of weather. In a climate such as the Pacific Northwest, rain can happen at any time of the year. Other areas of the country may be subject to the searing intensity of the sun’s rays. Either of these forces of nature can bring discomfort and possible health concerns to the wedding party and guests. If no adjacent shelters are available at your chosen location, consider renting a tent or providing umbrellas to shield participants from the elements.

Many public sites will require reservations and permits as well as usage fees. Be sure to check with the appropriate local, state, or federal entity that manages the site. There may also be usage restrictions such as bans on alcohol consumption or fire regulations including the lighting of candles. It will also be important to know if there are restrooms (or if you will need to arrange for portables) and if ample parking is available.

For an outdoor ceremony site, just about everything will need to be brought in. Remember the important carry-in, carry-out rule. Arrange for helpers to transport seating, decorations, and anything else needed into the site, as well as carry them out afterward - along with any resulting trash and recycling.

Indoor Ceremonies
An outdoor ceremony may not be practical for you. A very personal indoor ceremony location is the home of friends or family, or your own. Of course this venue is dependent upon the number of guests and the capacity of the home. A private home makes the transition from ceremony to reception smooth and relaxed, and is ideal for couples who desire a level of intimacy that may be difficult to achieve elsewhere.

For those who wish to take their vows within the context of their religious affiliation, a ceremony at a church, synagogue, or mosque will be appropriate. Besides the opportunity for a formal religious wedding ceremony, most of these will also have a fellowship hall with reasonable usage fees and perhaps even a service group to facilitate the reception.

Another idea for an indoor ceremony is your local museum. Many museums have meeting rooms or open areas available for wedding ceremonies, and may even provide the opportunity for guests to explore the museum. Check out the USA Museums Database for museums in your area. Many communities have beautiful historic buildings and recreation halls available for rental. Contact your local city, county or local government for possible venues.

You may wish to consider having both your ceremony and reception in a hotel meeting or convention room. Be sure it’s a hotel with a commitment to green friendly practices, such as members of the Green Hotels Association.

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Officiant

If your ceremony will be at a church, temple, or mosque, the wedding officiant will most likely need to be a member of the clergy. Call the office of the house of worship to inquire about coordinating a date when both the building and the officiant will be available.

There are also officiants who perform non-religious wedding ceremonies. Laws vary from state to state, but these may be retired judges, justices of the peace, or someone who has been ordained by a recognized religious organization. Check local wedding web sites or do an online search to find officiants in your area.

In many states, a wedding ceremony may be legally performed by someone ordained over the Internet by an online church. This means that it may be possible for a friend or relative to perform the ceremony. If this is an option you would like to investigate, be sure to check with the local government where the ceremony will take place to make sure that the marriage will be legal.

If your ceremony will be a same-sex wedding, which unfortunately may not be currently recognized as a legal marriage, many officiants are available to perform commitment celebration ceremonies. Search the Gay Directory Project for officiants in your area.

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Music

Music is a beautiful means of expressing emotion and setting a mood. Your choice of music should be your personal stamp on the ceremony. It can reflect not only your love, but also your personal style and connection to nature and the environment.

Music also helps to keep things moving. Most wedding ceremonies include a processional to bring attention to your grand entrance. You may wish to also include a prelude, played for about 20 minutes before the ceremony as guests arrive; an interlude, perhaps a vocal solo or instrumental piece at an important moment during the ceremony; a recessional played as everyone files out; and a postlude of livelier music to serve as a transition to the cocktail hour or reception.

Live music is an elegant touch if your budget allows for it, or if you have talented friends or family who would enjoy being part of your ceremony. The natural sounds of acoustic instruments or carefully chosen vocal pieces fit well within the atmosphere of a green wedding.

Recorded music may also be used effectively, played at the appropriate times by a reliable friend or by a hired DJ. You can create your own mix or purchase CDs – just be sure to create a playlist with very clear instructions on when each piece is to be played.

For either recorded or live music, the Musicians United to Sustain the Environment are a good choice. M.U.S.E. is a non-profit organization using music to raise funds for important environmental projects.

 Be sure to check into the following important details before making final music plans:

• If a sound system is required, make sure there is one in place at your selected location. Also inquire about availability and location of electrical outlets.
• Confirm all details in writing with professional musicians – exact date and time musicians arrive, who supplies music stands and chairs, musicians’ attire, music playlist, rates, cancellation policy, etc.
• Make sure that the type of music you want to use is okay with your officiant and a your ceremony location. Secular songs are not allowed in some religious settings.
• For an outdoor wedding, provide covering such as a tent or awning for musicians and/or equipment in case of rain.
• Check with park managers for possible noise restrictions in outside locations.

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Vows

Wedding vows are the promises that the bride and groom or commitment celebrants make to each other. The most touching and heartfelt vows are written by the couple themselves. Personally crafted vows express their reasons for making the commitment to spend their lives together and may also convey their commitment to planet.

If you would like some help getting started, do an online search for wedding vow examples or look into the wealth of books available on the topic. You may choose to takes bits and pieces from several or personalize a vow that you find particularly meaningful. Your wedding officiant can also provide guidance in crafting your vows, as well as advise you of anything that must be included in them.

A beautiful touch may be to incorporate lines of poetry that express your love for one another. Spend some time in the poetry section of your library, or take a look at the comprehensive list of poetry in the public domain at Infoplease Poetry Collections. The Academy of American Poets has listings of Poems for Every Occasion, including weddings, love, and passion. Here you’ll find such romantic classics as Emily Dickinson’s It’s All I Have to Give Today, Christopher Marlowe’s The Passionate Shepherd to His Love, and Elizabeth Barret Browning’s How Do I Love Thee. You might also consider using song lyrics that symbolize your feelings for one another and that may express your love for the planet as well.

If your spiritual beliefs are important to you, you may want to incorporate Bible verses or other religious quotations into your vows. You may have personal favorites, or your cleric can help you identify appropriate verses.

Other quotations may also hold deep meaning or relevance to the feelings and beliefs that you express in your vows. For help in finding an appropriate quotation, take a look at Quoteworld.org. You might also try a keyword or subject search on The Quotations Page or QuotationReference.com.

Once you have written your vows, practice saying them a few times before the ceremony. This will help them come to you more easily and help take away any nervousness you may experience on your wedding day. Keep in mind, though, that it’s perfectly fine (even endearing!) to stumble a bit over your vows if you are nervous. After all, it’s not a performance – it’s a statement of what is in each of your hearts on your very special day. Even if the words don’t come out exactly right, the feelings will be right on!

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