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I'm Getting Married!... Now What?
You've just proposed marriage or been propsed to, you're wearing an incredible ring and you've announced your engagment to your loved ones..... now what? Well, here begins a very exciting time of planning for you you both!
For some of you this proposal might have come as complete surprise and for others it might be the final stage to what could have been months of discussion and planning. Now that you’ve made the biggest decision - to get married, there are just a few more smaller decisions that need to be discussed and decided upon before your wedding day can be realised.
Let's break it down into these smaller categories: Why? Who? What? Where? When? How?
Why?
Why are you getting married?
Have a think about it. What does it meant to you? How will your lives change by being married? What are you and your partner's expectations of what your married life will look like? Have you considered a pre-marriage education program to make sure you're both on the same page? This information will help you when it comes time to write those all important personal vows.
Why are you getting married?
Have a think about it. What does it meant to you? How will your lives change by being married? What are you and your partner's expectations of what your married life will look like? Have you considered a pre-marriage education program to make sure you're both on the same page? This information will help you when it comes time to write those all important personal vows.
Who?
Who is going to be your marriage celebrant?
(only the most important decision that you'll make throughout the whole getting married process - no pressure)
There are a number of reasons why couples choose their marriage celebrant - personality, suitability, availability, price and value for money. Make sure you choose someone who you feel comfortable with and who you feel sure will deliver the style of ceremony that you want. Your chosen celebrant can help you to fill in all the necessary paperwork, such as the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). This is an important form that needs to be completed and given to your celebrant no later than one full month and no earlier than 18 months before your ceremony. They can also design a ceremony that is personalised, meaningful and memorable.
Photo Credit:Highlight Magazine
This is one of our TCN Celebrants - Susie Roberts @ http://celebrantsusieroberts.com.au who is based in Clarence Valley in NSW celebrating the marriage of Felicity and Faiz.
Who else would you like to be involved in the ceremony?
Are there children that you’d like to include? Do you want to have a bridal party where you choose bridesmaids and best men, flower girls and page boys or perhaps you don't want to have any attendants at all. You might prefer to have just you and your partner and your two witnesses? Do you want your father or a family member to give you away? What about asking Aunty Sarah to write one of her special poems? Are there other friends or family with special talents that you'd like to include? Do you have a friend who could play live music as you walk into your ceremony?
Are there children that you’d like to include? Do you want to have a bridal party where you choose bridesmaids and best men, flower girls and page boys or perhaps you don't want to have any attendants at all. You might prefer to have just you and your partner and your two witnesses? Do you want your father or a family member to give you away? What about asking Aunty Sarah to write one of her special poems? Are there other friends or family with special talents that you'd like to include? Do you have a friend who could play live music as you walk into your ceremony?
What other professionals will you be hiring?
Photographer, videographer, florist, wedding stylist, car hire, hair and make up, dress maker, tailor, DJ, musician or band, caterer, cake maker, marquee hire, stationery printing.... just to start you off.
Photo credit: Shell Brown - Meant For You - Marriage Celebrant
What?
What type of ceremony would you like to have?
There are plenty of styles and traditions, rituals and readings to choose from. What type of ceremony is going to fit your style? The size of your wedding reception will also depend on your budget. There are plenty of ways to make your day beautiful on any budget.
What are you going to wear?
This is a fairly big decision because some people have dreamed of wearing a particular style of dress or outfit on their wedding day. This is a totally personal decision to make - so no need for suggestions from me, except to say that it is important to be comfortable in what your’e wearing. Consider the weather, the temperature, the terrain and remember, you’re going to be in it for a quite a few hours and you’ll probably want to be able to dance!
Where?
Where will you hold this magnificent occasion?
Have you always wanted a garden wedding? Perhaps a ceremony on the beach? Maybe you’d prefer a smaller ceremony so you can elope to Fiji? Will you hold the ceremony and the reception in the same place? How many people will you need to cater for? Do you want a big venue or something more intimate?
When?
When is this ceremony going to take place?
Are you summer people or do you prefer the cosying up next a log fire? Does where you live become a factor? Morning or afternoon? Do you need to work around time off work? When is your favourite civil celebrant available? What date is your chosen reception venue available? You might need to book a fair way in advance for the more sought after people and places.
How?
How will it all come together?
Speak with your TCN Civil Celebrant - the person you choose will be a fount of knowledge and will more than likely have been to a few marriage ceremonies before - tap into that resource.
Do you need to hire a Wedding Planner or a 'Day-of Coordinator'? Delegate jobs where you can and try not to micro-manage those who are offering their help. Run through the day step by step to try an anticipate where you might need to make some changes ie: the ceremony location has steps and Granddad is in a wheelchair... have a running sheet for the day and give a copy to those who might need it ie: your celebrant, MC, reception coordinator, photographer, caterer, Dj or musician.
Do you need to hire a Wedding Planner or a 'Day-of Coordinator'? Delegate jobs where you can and try not to micro-manage those who are offering their help. Run through the day step by step to try an anticipate where you might need to make some changes ie: the ceremony location has steps and Granddad is in a wheelchair... have a running sheet for the day and give a copy to those who might need it ie: your celebrant, MC, reception coordinator, photographer, caterer, Dj or musician.
The most important thing is to have fun with your planning. Delegate to those who are offering to help and if things don’t go to plan, go back to the beginning... to the “Why” section and remember why you’re getting married in the first place.
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Comments 1
Have Plan A and Plan B. Some people over plan, over think things and that can be as bad as not planning. This is a great article, it sets out what needs thinking about. Marriage, relationship, commitment. It is very important to realise a marriage is the coming together of two families. Something I failed to realise the significance of and it plagued me
for many years. Girls, listen to your mother.