Planning & Design News - Ceremony and Traditions

how to have a friend officiate your wedding friend officiant

Wedding receptions have seen an influx of creativity and personalization in the past couple of decades, and ceremonies have seen a personal touch as well. Some do this by writing their own vows or incorporating a unique unity ritual, while others – especially those without a religious affiliation or in interfaith relationships – choo... More »

8 Ways to Honor Your Mom at the Wedding

Discover touching ways to honor your mother during the wedding ceremony.

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Generally speaking, mothers help their daughters plan for their wedding, but then when it comes to the big day, the fathers get all the attention. Dads walk the bride down the aisle and help open up the reception with the father-daughter dance. While highlighting a father’s relationship with his daughter is a lovely tradition, it hardly fe... More »

How to Organize the Bridal Party Processional

You'll need to figure out what order everyone will be standing in.

in what order should your bridal party stand during the wedding ceremony processional photos and mor

While lots of thought goes into the planning of a wedding reception, the ceremony can be tricky to figure out as well. After all, it’s the most important part of your big day – when you actually get married. One of the toughest parts can be figuring out what order your bridal party should walk in and stand beside you. This decis... More »

16 Amazing Chuppahs from Real Wedding Ceremonies

Be inspired by these incredible Jewish ceremony structures from real weddings.

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When it comes to the ceremony décor of your wedding, the pièce de résistance will likely be the altar – after all, that is where you and your future spouse will recite your vows and become married. For couples exchanging vows in a Jewish ceremony, the service will take place under a chuppah. The chuppah is a weddin... More »

How to Fix Minor Mistakes at Your Wedding Ceremony

Or even avoid them all together!

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You wedding is supposed to be perfect and the best day ever, but the reality is that even if it feels that way after the fact, almost everyone has had something go wrong at their nuptials. It’s just usually something minor enough that they get swept up in the magic of the event, or they were able to roll with the mishap and turn it into a ... More »

Adorable Flower Girl & Ring Bearer Outfit Ideas

Be inspired by the kids' attire from these real weddings.

the cutest flower girls and ring bearers at real weddings

If you're choosing to partake in the tradition of having children attendants – more specifically, flower girls and ring bearers – at your wedding ceremony, you have one more thing to think about while planning your nuptials: what they'll wear. Flower girls typically don dresses in the white or ivory color family, while ring bearers w... More »

Your Guide to Having Two Wedding Ceremonies

If you're from different religious backgrounds or have faraway families; here's how exchange vows twice!

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As more and more couples now come from different parts of the country, the world, or cultural backgrounds, a new trend has emerged: having two weddings. Destination weddings at a midpoint between two faraway families can be a solution for those who desire an intimate ceremony. For sweethearts with different cultural or religious backgrounds, but... More »

How to Plan an Interfaith Wedding

Learn how to come together for your vow exchange.

Tips for planning an interfaith wedding ceremony how to bring two cultures religions together

It’s a beautiful thing when love can transcend cultural divisions, but it’s no secret that it can make planning a wedding more difficult. When two people who follow (or were simply raised in) different religions decide to put that aside and get married, it’s important that the ceremony is true to both belief systems. Putting to... More »

What Should Be Included in a Secular Ceremony?

Sometimes you might want to make the vow exchange a little longer.

what to include in your secular wedding ceremony to make it last longer

For the vast majority of religious people, planning a wedding ceremony is relatively simple because there are certain traditions that must be adhered to. There may be different passages to choose from in regards to readings, but the options are generally limited. If you and your future spouse do not practice any particular faith – or none ... More »

13 Beautiful Décor Ideas for a Church Wedding

Having your wedding at a church doesn't mean you have to eliminate décor.

Heavenly decor for church weddings house of worship sanctuary church wedding ideas

If you've decided to have your wedding ceremony at a church, you'll be faced with two options: decorate minimally to accentuate the ornate design of the sanctuary, or work with your wedding designer to add complementary décor to the space. If you decide the latter, discuss the rules regarding decorations with church administrators... More »

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What You Need to Do to Have a Friend Officiate

Here's what you need to know if you're having a loved one perform your ceremony.