Photo by Paradox Photography

If you think military precision takes the fun out of a wedding, you’d be wrong. The essence of a trouble-free day is everyone knowing where they’re supposed to be and what they’re supposed to be doing.

Photo by Howard Keith

The ushers should arrive about 40 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin.
The groom and best man should arrive about 15 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin.

The bridesmaids and attendants should arrive about five minutes before the ceremony is due to begin.

The bride’s mother should be the last to arrive before the bride – when she is shown to her seat that is a signal to the congregation that the wedding is about to start.
The bride and her father will be met on their arrival at the church by the vicar or priest, who will precede them down the aisle. As the congregation rises, the groom and best man take their places at the chancel steps.
The order of the bride’s procession is:
Priest
Bride on her father’s right arm
Attendants

Photo by Three Acorns

The order of service is variable and your vicar or priest will advise you. Often a hymn is sung after the bride’s procession, followed by readings and an address by the priest.
The marriage itself follows. The priest asks ‘Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?’ and the bride’s father silently gives his daughter’s right hand to the priest who passes it to the groom.

The bride’s father then takes his seat beside the bride’s mother.
The vows are made and the best man may either pass the ring(s) to the groom or they may be placed on the priest’s prayer book before he passes them to the groom.
The best man then returns to his seat.
After the ceremony, the priest leads the couple to the altar for prayers, possibly a hymn or psalm and a final blessing.
The priest then leads the couple to the vestry to sign the register and they are usually joined by their parents, the best man and the chief bridesmaid. The signing of the register must be witnessed by two adults and it is at this point that the bride raises her veil if she is wearing one.
While the wedding party is in the vestry, the choir may sing or the organist play a piece of music.
The bridal procession them leaves the church in the following order:
Bride and groom
Young attendants
Chief bridesmaid with the best man
Bride’s mother with the groom’s father
Groom’s mother with the bride’s father
If you are having bells, they will peal out at this point.

Photo by Boulters Inc

Guests are expected to arrive at the register office 15 minutes before the ceremony, when they will be shown to a waiting room.
The bridal party should arrive about 10 minutes before the ceremony is due to start and bride and groom will be invited into the register office first. There the registrar will explain the ceremony and the groom will pay the fees.
In a short ceremony, the couple call on the people present to witness their vows to each other, they may exchange rings – though this is not a legal requirement – and then they signs the register. They will need two witnesses, who also sign the register followed by the registrar.

You may have music and readings at your civil wedding, but they must be non-religious.
It’s normally more convenient to have your music recorded and it can be played before the ceremony and for the entrance of the bride, then during the signing of the register and as you leave the register office.
Readings must be given by a member of your wedding party.
Remember that the registrar’s part in the ceremony is confined purely to the legal requirements, so any additional vows you wish to make to each other must be spoken by yourselves alone.
Whatever you do, you must agree the whole content of the ceremony with the officiating registrar before the wedding.
The same applies for civil weddings at an approved venue though, because there is likely to be more space, it may be possible to have live music.

Setting by County Marquees

The formal receiving line at the reception should take the following order:
Bride’s parents
Groom’s parents
Bride and Groom
Chief Bridesmaid
Best Man
After the meal, the best man (or toastmaster, if you have one) introduces the speeches in the following order:

The bride’s father (or an old family friend) always speaks first, welcoming the guests to the reception and his new son-in-law to the family. He will complement the bride and often thanks her mother for their many happy years together. He ends by proposing the toast to the bride and groom

The groom replies to his father-in-law’s toast, thanking him and the bride’s mother for their daughter, for their welcome into the family and for the reception (the wording can be discreetly changed her is the newlyweds and/or the grooms’ parents have contributed to the expense). He thanks the guests for coming to celebrate the day and for the presents they have given. He thanks his best man and the bride’s attendants for the help they have given to the bride. He then proposes a toast to the bridesmaids.

Now girl power is more firmly established, it is not uncommon for the bride to say a few words and if she chooses to do so, she should speak after he rnew husband. This is a good opportunity for her to thank all the people who have helped her plan the big day, to thank her own parents for all their support and to thank the groom’s parents for welcoming her into their family.

Last of the speeches is always the best man, who replies to the groom’s toast to the bridesmaids, wishes the happy couple well, reads the cards and messages and announces the cutting of the cake.

Photo by Graham Wyles at Studiogo

Most weddings now include an evening dance or disco. Before it begins, the best man should make sure the bride and groom are ready to take the floor for the first dance, followed by the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, the best man and chief bridesmaid.

Photo by English Rose

The bride and groom should be the first to leave the reception. The best man announces their departure after they have changed into their going away clothes and, if the bride is going to throw her bouquet, she should do so just before she leaves for her honeymoon.