Guest Seating

Guest Seating

Here at Weddings Simply Unique, LLC our brides ask lots of questions about how certain wedding traditions came into being. We are happy to share the source for many of the unique and time-honored customs all of us have come to know. A recent bride asked us why her parents/family/friends were to sit on one side of the church and the groom’s family/friends sit on the other. She asked us “Does it matter?” The answer is that while the seating “rules” are generally followed, many couples choose to provide balance to the church seating arrangements rather than adhere to the guidelines that have been in use for a very long time.

Here’s the history of that tradition. Brides can decide if they wish to maintain it. In ancient times, brides were often abducted or stolen or sold. To marry for love and by mutual consent is a relatively contemporary idea.  When warring tribes decided that they would no longer battle, peace was generally arranged through intermarriage. That act made them family and they would not/could not fight and cause bloodshed.  Members of both tribes would attend the marriage to witness the joining, but they maintained a little distance between groups so that a fatal interruption to the ceremony could be avoided.

Now when the bride’s family sits peacefully on the left hand side of the church and the groom’s on the right, you know the origin of the tradition.

Vera Fernandes, Owner, CWS

Weddings Simply Unique, LLC

203-583-6702

wedplanlady@me.com

Member Weddings Beautiful Worldwide.

Ceremony Ideas

Once you have secured the site for your ceremony and have met with the officiant and/or his representatives you should have a good idea about ceremony requirements and guidelines. Working within those guidelines, you should be able to add your own personal touches with the goal of creating a beautiful setting that helps to create the mood for your ceremony to come. As guests arrive, the setting – candles, lights, flowers and music can create an impressive atmosphere. Instruct ushers to make friendly small talk with guests as they arrive and as they are escorted to their seats. This will help to put guest at ease. If yours is a small wedding, ushers can present a single flower to female guests along with a note from you welcoming them to the wedding. This welcome flower can also be presented with the programs. Consider having ceremony hosts greet guests at the entrance doors. Choose one from each family who is likel to recognize many of the guests as they arrive. Choose host couples to welcome your guests. Your parents may be mingling with guests at this point or may be needed with the wedding party. Guests hosts can welcome people in their name. If you have music playing as guests arrive and are seated, change that music – tempo or volume or both so that special music plays as the parents of the bride and groom are seated. More and more couples are choosing to have a card or note from them along with a single flower or small wrapped gift waiting in the pews for the parents as they are seated. Consider having a special song played as the groom and his best man take their places. As the processional begins, the music should break between the ceremony and the reception to allow for travel time. Arrange for a pre-cocktail hour at your reception site so that guests arriving early for the reception have a place to gather. You may wish to serve champagne or have a coffee bar set up. Stop in so we can discuss even more ceremony ideas that will make this most important day uniquely yours.