Wedding Ranunculus

Lets face it, non one would opt for a Vegas Theme Wedding if they were a stick in the mud. At the same time, very few of us want to turn it into a “Leaving Las Vegas” free-for-all. While what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there and you do want to celebrate the flash and glitz of the City, you also want to strike a balance that lets your guests appreciate your good fortune and enjoy themselves. The easiest way to do this is to inject Vegas into your wedding instead of immersing your wedding with Vegas.

If the entire theme of your wedding, including all events is to be Vegas laden, you might want to consider playing card invitations or Lucky in Love favors. You also can give guests Mini Slot Machine gumball dispensers or Card Suit Key Chains. Each event can focus on a particular aspect of Vegas and can accentuate something that you enjoy about the place.

Keeping the balance, however, can pose a challenge. You do not, for instance, want the Vegas theme to dominate the ceremony, something that should be fun, but also should not be something you will wonder about years later. Being picked up by an Elvis impersonator to drive you to the reception, for instance, provides a nice balance; having Elvis officiate the ceremony, for most people, might be a little over the top.

Another idea is to have any speakers incorporate a Vegas theme. This can include mentioning how both the Bride and Groom have “hit the jackpot” or how one or the other met and fell in love with a “Royal Flush.” Your vows can also incorporate a Vegas theme in the same light, but remember, these likely will be one of the most profound sentences you will ever utter, so keep it serious enough that you will always treasure each other’s creativity.

Balancing the fun of Vegas with the seriousness of the ceremony and day requires a bit of creativity. Striking that balance is critical to making sure everyone realizes the special and serious quality of the day. Part of that also includes making sure your partner is full-on board with the idea and also that his idea of a Vegas theme matches your own so neither person is surprised; Vegas means different things to different people. With thought, however, you can merge fun with solemnity in a seamless manner that has them talking for years.

Every couple dreams of having a one-of-a-kind wedding. Whether you’re having a religious or non-denominational ceremony, the program is one vital element that you should plan carefully. Not only will it give a coherent structure to the flow of the wedding rites, it is also your chance to bring out your uniqueness as a couple and make you stand out from other brides and grooms who have ever stood face to face on the altar.

Here are some basic elements of a wedding ceremony program to guide you:

Processional

The processional marks the beginning of the wedding ceremony. This is when the wedding party walks down the aisle toward their seats, accompanied by stirring wedding music. In some religious denominations, there is a fixed order of the processional. If you’re having a non-sectarian wedding, you can organize the processional to your own design. Typically, the groom and the best man would be standing near the altar while the wedding party marches in. The highlight and finale would of course be the bride walking down the aisle toward her groom.

Readings

Once everybody is seated, the officiant would begin by addressing everyone. In traditional weddings, we usually hear the line, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of (groom and bride’s names),” or a variation of this. Readings from the Scriptures would also follow, particularly verses about love and family. If you’re on the non-religious route, you may pick out readings from poetry or love quotations from a favorite book or movie instead.

Exchange of vows

The wedding vows are probably the most significant part of the ceremony. This is when the couple exchange heartfelt words to express their commitment to each other as husband and wife, until death do they part. In religious weddings, the couple cannot deviate too much from the wordings of the traditional vows. But in non-traditional settings, couples can write their own vows. In this case, you can personalize your vows through funny anecdotes, or even express them through a song.

Unity symbols

Aside from the typical exchange of wedding rings as a symbol of the bride and groom’s union, you can also incorporate any of the following into your program: lighting of a unity candle, water ceremony, wine ceremony, sand ceremony, rose ceremony and so on.

Blessing or declaration

Towards the end of the ceremony, the officiant would bestow his blessing to officially declare the sanction of the marriage. This is the part where we usually hear the words, “By the power vested on me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The kiss

The most awaited and sweetest part of the ceremony is when the couple would share their first kiss as husband and wife. In traditional weddings, the officiant would tell the groom, “You may now kiss the bride.” Otherwise, modern couples would kiss spontaneously after the officiant’s blessing or declaration of their marriage.

Remember that the ceremony is the very core of the whole wedding event, so be involved in its planning to make your wedding truly significant and heartfelt.