Rev. Dawn’s Guide to Planning Your Wedding/Handfasting
© 2008, Rev. Dawn Earthsong.

Planning Your Wedding:

So, you’ve decided to move forward with a ceremony of commitment. This may be the hardest decision you’ve had to make, but hold on, there are more decisions to be made. What about the details of the ceremony? What needs to be considered? Below, are some ideas to get you started. Take your time and really think about what you’d like to have in your wedding. Some of these questions will be easier to answer than others. This is your day. Make it as special as you want.

Special Considerations:
Do we want our wedding to be legally binding?
Do we want to elope or have a ceremony?
If Pagan, will we want the ceremony to be subtle because of guest considerations? Or do we want to express that side of ourselves?

Time:
On what day do we want to get married?
Is there a certain day or time of year that we want to have the ceremony?
What time of day do we want our wedding?

Location:
In what city, area, etc., do we want to have the wedding?
In what specific place do we want to have the wedding?
Do we want the wedding outdoors or inside?
If outside, what shelter is available in case of inclement weather?

Guest:
How large of a group of guests do we want to have at our wedding?
Is there a limit to how many the location can hold?
Who are the guests we definitely want to invite?
What other guests would we like to invite?
Who are the guests we definitely do not want to be there?
Will we send out invitations?
What form will the invitations take? Email? Handmade? Professional?

Officiant and Wedding Party:
Who do we want to perform the wedding?
Who do we want to have in what roles in the wedding?
Do we want music at the wedding, and if so, by whom?
Do we want readings at the wedding, and if so, by whom?
Do we want our wedding photographed, audio taped, video taped, and if so, by whom?

The Ceremony:
What ideas do we have for our wedding ceremony design and decor?
How long of a wedding ceremony do we want to have?
Do we want the wedding to be a pagan ritual, a subtle ritual, a spiritual ritual, or a more traditional style ceremony?
How formal do we want our wedding to be: informal, somewhat formal, very formal?
How elaborate do we want our wedding to be: simple, moderate, complex?
Do we want guests seated or standing, and in what configuration during the wedding?
What other wedding-related activities, if any, are we planning?
Do we want to have our hands joined together as part of the ceremony?
Do we want to jump the broom, sword, sword/broom?
Do we want to exchange vows?
Do we want to write our own vows, or use pre-written vows?
Do we want to exchange rings?
What other customs do we want as part of our ceremony?
Do we want an altar?
What special objects do we want on the wedding altar?
What is the color theme for our wedding?
What form of clothing and colors do we plan to wear?
What flowers, if any, do we plan to wear and/or carry?
What do we plan to have as decorations?
Who will be responsible for the financial aspects of the wedding?

Rehearsal:
Do we want to have a rehearsal?
When do we want it be?
Where do we want it to be?
Will we have a rehearsal dinner?
Where will the rehearsal dinner be?

Reception:
Do we want a reception, and if so, when and where?
What kind of food do we want? Buffet, casual, formal?
Who will cook the food? Family, friends, caterer?
Will there be music at the reception?
Will we have a receiving line?
Who will be in the receiving line?
What customs do we want to incorporate into the reception? First dance, etc.

Contents © 2008 by Rev. Dawn Earthsong. All rights reserved worldwide.