A Heavenly Voice

Without a doubt, one of the best things about our wedding ceremony was the inclusion of family members and friends, either as bridesmaids, groomsmen or readers. Perhaps most special of all was having both our psalm and recessional sung by Gianna, one of my best friends, who traveled all the way from Germany to share the day with us.

Though she only met the pianist once briefly before the wedding, Gianna confidently took to the podium without a whole lot of direction, but with years of experience as a cantor backing her up. As for me? It was all I could do to keep from crying as her gorgeous voice filled the church.

Thank you, Gianna, for your love and friendship, on our wedding day and always. Did relatives or friends add any special touches to your ceremony?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography & Damien Smith Photography; Video Credit: Max MacIver Videography) 

You Must Remember This…

…a kiss is just a kiss. Maybe it’s because Stephen and I are dressing up in 1940s Casablanca-inspired Halloween costumes this year, but I’ve been thinking a lot about our all-time favorite movie lately.

Though we both truly love Casablanca, and watched it together during one of our very first dates, it surprisingly didn't play any part in our wedding celebration. Yes, we did briefly consider planning a 1940s-themed reception, but our “California romance” idea ultimately won out in the end. And while “As Time Goes By” also made it onto our shortlist of first dance options, the faster and more upbeat “Fly Me to the Moon” ended up taking the cake.

But a kiss? Now that, we did share.

What’s your favorite romantic movie of all time?

(Photo Credit: Alex Neumann Photography; Video Credit: Max MacIver Videography)

Down The Aisle: A Bride's Most Surreal Moment

Walking down the aisle was by far my most emotional and surreal part of the entire wedding day. Not usually accustomed to being in front of a crowd, I’ll admit I was a bit jittery, while at the same time, I truly struggled not to dissolve into tears.

Plus, since the wedding party’s processional started while I was still in the restroom, which caused me to rush a bit, things became even more of a blur than they would have been otherwise. But that’s what photos and video footage are for, right?

I just love these shots, which at once capture all of the joy and emotion I felt as I left the bride’s room, rounded the corner, joined my parents at the foot of the aisle, and finally saw Stephen, plus all of our friends and family members, waiting especially for me.

Our bird's-eye video clip also allows me to see everything from a different perspective, plus hear my entire Sound of Music processional, which I can't clearly remember. And yes, it even catches my dad accidentally stepping on my gown at the very end, right after I said "I love you" to both he and my mom. Lucikly, it didn't tear!

LESSON LEARNED: Though it will surely be hard, try to consciously take in every moment of your walk down the aisle. My memories are hazy, but there are things I can definitely recall, such as seeing Stephen, as well as the smiling faces of our guests. This much-anticipated moment will likely fill you with an entire flood of emotions, and will be over in just a few quick flashes of the camera.

What was your walk down the aisle like, or what are your plans for this special moment?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography; Video Credit: Max MacIver Videography) 

Down The Aisle: It’s (Wedding) Party Time

I’ve said it once and I’ll say a million times over. Our wedding party really came through for us on the wedding day, as they have in standing by us our entire lives. Though most of them are not Catholic and received only cursory instructions during the rehearsal, on the whole, they did a fabulous job remembering just what to do throughout the ceremony, including during the processional.

Since we took the unconventional step of having Stephen walk down the aisle escorted by his parents, followed by his best man, the start of our processional was a bit different than what you might be familiar with during a typical Christian ceremony. It's also different from the newly updated Catholic processional, where the bride and groom walk down the aisle together.

Check out our video clip, which was primarily shot from the church’s balcony. If my sister, the last one down the aisle, seems to be rushing a bit, it’s because the processional started while she and I were still in the restroom, making us both feel a bit rushed!





What will your processional be like?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography; Video Credit: Max MacIver Videography)

Ceremony Snapshots

Like any bride, I just love our traditional ceremony photos, which include all the classic shots of the vows, the exchange of rings, and of course, the big kiss. But just as much, I love the creative, non-traditional images our photographer captured, which reveal tons of great behind-the-scenes action, plus unique perspectives of all that went on, both before and after we were pronounced husband and wife.

Our video footage is on its way, and I can’t wait to share with you more details about the ceremony, which was short and sweet, but also incredibly sincere and heartfelt. Until then, I’ll keep the recaps coming with this fun batch of stills.

Stephen and best man Brian gave an enthusiastic thumbs up just as the ceremony was about the begin.

As our final bridesmaid and groomsman made their way down the aisle, my dad stood hidden behind a column, awaiting the moment when he and my mom would escort me.

The videographer’s camera captured all the action from the church balcony.

The Sound of Music filled the church during my processional.

“Reflections” of our ceremony, plus a bird’s-eye view…

Just married!

It wouldn’t do to leave all of our papers lying around for the church to clean up. Thanks for lending a hand, Meg!

Guests greet the newlyweds!

Do you love behind-the-scenes and unique shots just as much as traditional photos?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography)

Ceremony Design & Décor

Even though our ceremony wasn’t without a couple mishaps -- the processional starting while I was in the restroom and the priest skipping over my sister’s reading -- it was still beautiful, both in the words we spoke and the décor that filled the church.

Here, a quick glimpse into Saint Paschal Baylon, decorated in our signature “less is more” style.

Our DIY tissue packets were a hit with guests and incredibly easy to make. A couple months before the wedding, we picked up a box of tissue packets and placed an order for custom business cards, each featuring a different shot of us on the front and back. Once they arrived, we taped one photo to each pack, alternating as we went.

Then, to display them on the big day, we selected a basket at Michaels and tied plastic dollar-store grape bunches to each side. Fun and simple! Plus, our coordinator expertly thought to place the leftovers in the women's restroom during the reception.

A custom blowup of our favorite engagement photo, courtesy of Damien Smith Photography, greeted guests from a cloth-draped easel at the entrance to the aisle. Our coordinator later moved the photo to the reception site to display throughout the evening, as well.

Stephen's mother and sister created beautiful handmade pew bows that lined the aisle and added just a touch of decoration in a church with strict regulations.

Photographer Alex captured our DIY programs as they sat atop the welcome table.

Elegant and romantic floral arrangements, crafted by the talented Lei-Ann at Happy Flowers, dressed up each side of the altar. These were also repurposed to beautifully decorate our gift table at the reception site.

What are your plans for ceremony décor? Do you plan to reuse certain items during the reception?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library & Alex Neumann Photography)

Practice Makes Perfect? (Part Two)

In my last post, I described the way our church’s coordinator assured me that even though the priest skipped out on the rehearsal, he knew what to do, and would closely follow the outline she created. Well, guess what? He didn’t. At the end of our ceremony, the priest skipped entirely over the Irish wedding blessing my sister was supposed to read, prompting the musician to instead start the recessional song.

And since Kellie had been poised to head to the podium, she was unable to hand me my bouquet as I made my exit. Plus, instead of introducing us by our names, as we’d requested, he introduced us as just “the newest couple in the world.” The hurried rehearsal also left the wedding party a bit confused, and they forgot to stand beside us as we said our vows.

After the ceremony, our guests kept raving about what a beautiful ceremony we’d just had. And I agreed with them wholeheartedly. The mishaps went over the heads of everyone but us, and definitely weren’t serious. The church’s director? She even came up to me and said, “Everything went perfectly!” In the moment, I was way too happy and excited to correct her.

But looking back, I can’t help but feel disappointed that the wedding blessing I’d been so enthusiastic about, which honored our shared heritage, wasn’t part of the ceremony, and that my sister didn’t get to participate as a reader.

Practice makes perfect? I guess, but only if the practice is done perfectly, or at least done well.

LESSON LEARNED: If at all possible, insist that everyone with a part in your ceremony, however large or small their roles may be, comes to the rehearsal. This includes the officiant and musicians, who were absent at ours. If you can, also ask the coordinator to lead you through a practice run of the entire ceremony itself, rather than just the processional or just the readings. This will help prevent a lot of confusion at the worst possible moments. And what if things still go wrong? Just smile and roll with it. At that point, there’s nothing that can be done, and trust me, you will be far too happy to care, at least at the time!

What special readings or personalized elements will you add to the ceremony?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography)

The Ceremony Begins…But, Uh-Oh, Where’s The Bride?!

Our wedding day was perfect. Not flawless, and not without a few mishaps here and there. But in the end, it was perfect for us simply because it was our wedding day.

However, to kick off the recaps, I’d like to first shine a spotlight on the biggest thing that went wrong. Why? Well, first to tell all of you yet-to-be-married girls that no matter how much you plan and prepare, something (hopefully small) will most likely go wrong on your wedding day. And secondly, because I hope you’ll realize that when it does, it will definitely not ruin the day or take away from the happiness you feel. Unless, of course, you let it.

From on early in my engagement, I’ve shared numerous tales about how strict the Catholic Church can be. And on my wedding day, I learned just how far they’re willing to take that.

There I was, waiting in the bride’s room at the church with my bridesmaids and parents, feeling more nervous than I had expected to feel. Maybe it was simply nerves, or perhaps the Jamba Juice smoothie I drank the hour before didn’t agree with me. Either way, as the start-time approached, I started to feel slightly sick to my stomach. With my sister’s help, I was able to retreat to the restroom and take a couple minutes to gather my composure. Thankfully, I started to feel better.

But then, all of a sudden, there was a frantic knock at the door. It was my mom, and I could hardly believe my ears as she cried out, “They’ve all gone down the aisle!” What?! Without so much as asking me or even checking to see if I was still waiting in the bride’s room, the church’s coordinator had started the processional at 3:30 p.m. on the button! Moving as fast as anyone probably ever has in a wedding gown, I flew from the bathroom with Kellie right ahead of me.

Cari, our own day-of coordinator, appeared to feel terrible about what the church’s director had done. Kellie snatched up her bouquet and headed straight down the aisle. Luckily, she was walking most of the way by herself, with the best man meeting her close to the altar, so no one else had been left without a partner.

At this point, things began to blur together in my mind. I vaguely recall that on the church’s TV screen, I could see Stephen and all of our friends assembled up at the altar. I remember Cari and my mom asking whether I was OK. I can recollect my mom and dad taking their places at either side of the archway marking the start of the aisle, where I would a couple seconds later join them.

In these frantic moments, things could have gone horribly wrong. But in the end, they didn’t. Looking back, I’m thankful Kellie and I hadn’t gone into the bathroom even just a minute later, because when talking with Stephen after the ceremony, he told me that neither he nor the guests had any inkling that we almost missed our cue and were completely caught off guard. The slight pause before Kellie went down the aisle added a dramatic effect, he said, and I somehow appeared right at the appropriate moment, also after a few seconds of added suspense.

And now, a couple weeks later, this is by far the most utterly silly but entertaining story we have from the day. Who knows? Maybe 50 years from now, when all the sweet wedding tales have been worn out and the photo albums get old, this funny, ridiculous snippet will be the one that survives. Only time will tell…

LESSON LEARNED: Though it should be common sense to any coordinator, I’d recommend telling whoever is in charge at your venue to check in with you before starting the wedding ceremony. And if you’re marrying in a church or at another venue where there’s a coordinator you didn’t hire yourself, be sure he or she gets the message, since these individuals often ignore or go over the heads of any other planners who might be present.

If you’re already married, what are the biggest “oops” moments that popped up during your wedding day? If not, what are you most concerned might go wrong? What would you have done in my situation?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library)

DIY Program Inspiration

It’s time to check the final DIY off the list, because our programs are ready to go!

We started with a few pages of text and graphics, two packs of ivory resume paper, extra printer ink, and an extra-long stapler for binding. What we got? The packets below, which match the simple, classy and clean look of our invites and the rest of the stationary items we’ve created. Best of all, they tie in our grape motif, favorite quotes, and a couple nods to our Irish heritage.

Here, a closer look at all the pieces, although they do look much better in person. Enjoy!

The cover features our signature grape symbol and a favorite Ella Fitzgerald quote. To create the grape graphic, which we’re displaying on most of our stationary, we bought a stamp at Paper Source, made a good imprint on a sheet of paper, and then scanned the design into the computer. We’re saving time by not having to individually stamp each item, and the image looks great each time. Plus, we can even resize it!

The second page includes our welcome message, complete with a tribute to the memory of Stephen’s grandparents, plus a quick rundown of the church’s rules.

The next page displays a list of our wedding party members and church ceremony participants.

Spread out across two pages is the outline of our wedding liturgy. Though we considered printing the words to all of the readings, songs and prayers, we decided in the end that it would make the program too long and cumbersome.

Rounding out the last two pages of the program are The Irish Wedding Blessing, which will be read during the ceremony, plus a Celtic Marriage Promise that reflects our culture. Though not a part of the ceremony, the Celtic Marriage Promise and trinity symbol came in handy at the last minute when we realized we had an extra blank page to fill!

Are you designing your own programs, or will you go the pro route? How much detail will yours include?

(Photo Credits: Stephen Walrath)

One Angry Volcano = A Big Silver Lining

I’ve done my best to stay upbeat and positive while planning our wedding, not letting the occasional snags and bumps in the road get me down. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my moments of anger and frustration. Hey, as much as I enjoy wedding planning, I’m still human!

Computer glitches and printing problems? It’s Stephen to the rescue, because I have no patience for those types of hang-ups. Stress eating? Some days, it’s really hard to just walk away from the cookie jar. And the one thing that's had me most worried, aside from my gown not being ready on time? Our ceremony music.

You see, my bridesmaid and cantor Gianna lives in Germany, and will only arrive for the wedding a week ahead of time. Our church’s music director won't be available for the rehearsal, and won't have time to meet with Gianna in the week prior to the wedding. His suggestion? Meeting with her about 45 minutes before the ceremony begins to discuss the songs, which verses will be sung, which key they will be sung in, and so on.

Now, while both of them are experienced musicians, with Gianna having sung in church for many years, I was seriously stunned upon hearing this plan. With all the hectic goings-on of the wedding day, from photo sessions to last minute preparations, would the two of them really be able to make it through a practice session with less than an hour to go? I had my doubts, but finally decided there was nothing more I could do about it. If things went wrong, I was simply out of luck.

Enter the volcano in Iceland, which stranded thousands and made travel to Europe a nightmare for weeks. One of those wayward travelers? Gianna, who was out in California visiting her family when the erruption occurred. Maybe, just maybe, I thought, she and our music director could meet during the extra days she would be stuck. I sent Gianna an email about it, and guess what? She had already gone ahead and scheduled a meeting on her own!

Way to go, girl! The two of them met, ran through all the songs, and even reviewed copies of our program and processional/recessional outline. All I can say is, what a relief! That is, for us, anyway, because I’m sure tons of other poor travelers would completely disagree!

Is there a certain part of the wedding you’re worried about that just doesn’t seem to be coming together? Did you ever think something wouldn’t work out the way you'd hoped, but then in the end, it did?

(Photo & Graphic Credits: USA Today & Google Images)

Helpful Catholic Wedding Tips

As a long-distance bride who’s only able to meet with our presiding clergy four times tops before the wedding day, I’ve been grateful for the great advice and suggestions online at Catholic Wedding Help.

If you’re getting started planning a Catholic ceremony and have questions about readings, music, the processional, or even how to best word your programs, be sure to give this site a look. The Q&A format in many sections is easy to follow, as is the info about differences between a wedding with or without a full mass.

Here, a few of the best tips I’ve picked up so far:

· If you plan to marry in the Catholic Church, be sure to start tracking down copies of the certificates confirming your baptism, communion and confirmation six months in advance. You’ll likely need to contact the churches where these sacraments were performed and arrange to have the copies forwarded to your officiant. Be sure to allow plenty of time.

· The Church often frowns upon “theatrical” wedding music like “Here Comes the Bride” or “The Wedding March.” The preferred Catholic processional is also different than at a Protestant wedding, with the bride and groom entering the church together. Many Catholic churches will agree to the “classic” processional if that’s what the couple prefers, but be sure to talk with your clergy before making decisions about these aspects.

· The Church requires marriage preparation classes for all couples, and often has additional requirements for second marriages. Your clergy or the website for your local diocese should offer lots of information.

· Since Catholic wedding celebrations usually encourage a lot of guest participation, consider fully printing the words to the various prayers, readings and songs in your program. That way, even if your guests aren’t Catholic, they can at least follow along with what’s happening.

Are you planning a Catholic wedding? Have you come across any great resources or planning advice, no matter what your cultural background?

(Photo Credits: Catholic Wedding Help)

The Luck of the Irish: A Blessing & Wedding Day Surprise

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Since Stephen and I share an Irish Catholic background, what better day to fill you in about how we’ll honor our heritage at the wedding?

First, just prior to the conclusion of the ceremony, Kellie, my sister and maid of honor, will read the following Irish Wedding Blessing. I love the sincerity and beauty of the language, and am thrilled to share it with guests during our celebration.

Irish Wedding Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon the fields.

May the light of friendship guide your paths together.

May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home.

May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips,

A twinkle from your eye.

And when eternity beckons,

At the end of a life heaped with love,

May the good Lord embrace you with the arms that have nurtured you the whole length of your joy-filled days.

May the gracious God hold you both in the palm of his hands.

And, today, may the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts.

Amen.

And the surprise? Well, that’s a wedding day secret for my bicoastal groom, but I’ll let you in on it right here! Isn’t it a fun touch? Now, to find a baker who can create a Guinness-themed groom’s cake!

How will you honor your heritage at the wedding? Any fun Saint Patrick’s Day plans?

(Graphic Credit: Google Images)

Here Comes the Bride?

When you envision the bride walking down the aisle at a Christian wedding, you can surely hear the familiar notes of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)” playing out in your head. When I imagined my wedding day, I automatically saw myself walking to this melody, too.

But after hearing and reading that “Here Comes the Bride” is a “theatrical” piece that many Catholic churches frown upon, I armed myself with plenty of unique and different options, though all traditional church songs, before meeting with our officiating priest and rehearsal director over the holidays.

Well, to my complete and utter surprise, our particular church is not only fine with songs like “Here Comes the Bride” and the well-known “Wedding March” recessional by Mendelssohn, but also with plenty of other non-traditional tunes, as well. So, without further ado, here are our picks, which I’m absolutely thrilled about!

Wedding Party Processional 

I love this march, “Trumpet Voluntary in D Major,” especially when played on the organ, which we’ll have available at our church.

Bride’s Processional

After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to walk down the aisle to a revised version of the wedding processional from The Sound of Music, one of my favorite classic plays and movies. I can’t wait to walk to this melody, which we’ll shorten and tweak so that the song doesn’t launch into the “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” portion.

Recessional

We’ll ask my bridesmaid Gianna, who will be our cantor throughout the ceremony, to sing a couple verses of  “The Lord of the Dance” as we make our joyful walk back down the aisle together.

Which song will you be walking down the aisle to, and how will your ceremony music mesh with or break away from the conventional wedding “norms” in your faith or culture?

Guest’s View: What Makes a Wedding Memorable?

Over the past year, my close friend and groomsman Sam has been a guest at three very different weddings, including a huge celebration with a 500-person guest list. What, I recently asked him, were his favorite aspects, and what can a bride and groom do to ensure an enjoyable experience for their guests?

What I most love about his list is how simple it is. As a bride, I often find myself getting caught up in the smallest details in my desire to truly “wow” our guests. But Sam reminded me that sometimes, it’s the simple things that are truly the most special and memorable. Here, he shares his suggestions for giving family and friends a good time.

• A ceremony that isn't too long. Don't get me wrong. I love weddings. But the actual ceremony should be no longer than one hour. Anything more makes guests tired, including me. About 45 minutes is ideal.

• Good coordination on and before the big day. This really entails everything from giving good directions on how to get to the wedding site, to letting us know what types of gifts we should give, to clearly indicating where we should sit at the reception. All this is very helpful and just makes things go smoothly.

• Open seating at the ceremony. I understand that certain family members and friends like to sit with people they know, but I think it's too restrictive to have the groom's guests sit on one side while the bride's family and friends sit on the other. Let's all mingle! What if I feel like sitting on the left side of the aisle and not the right, or vice versa? I certainly won't fight over it, but I think I should be able to sit anywhere.

• Good food. It's definitely understandable that wedding budgets will vary. So, if the food isn't that great, I won't have a fit. I won't complain. It really wouldn't be a big deal. After all, I'm at the wedding to celebrate the couple's wonderful marriage. But boy, when there is good food, it just makes the wedding even better! Everybody likes good food, right? Also, I appreciate it when weddings have vegetarian menus, and when there are food items that people aren't generally allergic to. It lets me know the couple cares.

• Fun entertainment and dancing. I definitely understand if entertainment can't be provided because of financial constraints. But if it’s possible, even something simple like classical music playing in the background is good. And do you know what’s even better? Seeing the couple dance. What a joy it brings to my heart when I see a happy man and woman in their new life together dancing! There are few human experiences more enjoyable than this.

• Making sure the program is accurate. I don't expect perfection, but I do think it’s confusing when certain parts of the wedding are skipped over or things aren’t done in order.

• Infusing culture and heritage. My friend interwove his Chinese roots throughout his wedding celebration, giving it a highly personalized feel. For example, he included a traditional Chinese tea ceremony before the wedding, and his fiancée wore a red dress to that gathering. The reception featured Chinese themes, too.

• Non-traditional music. At my brother’s wedding, “At Last” by Etta James played full-blast as the processional. It was awesome and unexpected.

• Creative favors. At one friend’s wedding, the couple gave guests a small Christian booklet called In Our Joy. It was a kind, selfless act that reflected their character.

What about you? How will you make your wedding especially fun and memorable for guests?

(Photo Credits: Loveliness Wedding Galleria)

The Bride: A Singular Sensation?

My desire for my parents to walk me down the aisle has never had anything to do with my wanting them to “give me away” or “hand me off.” As an independent woman, I have lived on my own, supporting myself financially, for years. My decision to marry Stephen is also mine alone, and I would have actually found it very odd if he had gone to either of my parents to request “permission” before proposing to me.

Having said that, it’s also true that I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today without my parents’ support. Throughout my relationship with Stephen, my mom has always lent a willing ear and shared many caring thoughts, and in that way, she has played a direct role in our relationship. Asking my mom and dad to walk me down the aisle gives me an opportunity to honor them for having stood beside me, supporting me in good and bad times, throughout my life.

That’s why, for the most part, there has never been any question in my mind about having them by my side as I make the walk. A couple times, however, I have played over a few other scenarios in my mind. For example, the Catholic Church actually prefers that the bride and groom enter together, as a symbol of their partnership both before and after marriage. This has made me consider waking halfway down the aisle alone, with Stephen meeting me for the rest of the walk.

I do also love the symbolism of an independent bride confidently making her way toward the future she has chosen, with the focus of everyone, including her parents, on her. At the same time, I absolutely adore the symbolism of a bride who loves and acknowledges her parents for all they have given so that she could achieve her dreams and build the life of her choosing.

What do you think, and how do you plan to make the walk? Would you ever consider coming down the aisle by yourself?

(Photo Credits: Los Robles Greens & j.t.lowery)

Our Ceremony Venue: Second Thoughts & Second Looks

After Stephen and I decided to marry in the Catholic Church, it only made sense that we should begin our search at the church I attended as a child, which, by chance, had also undergone a beautiful remodeling. When we got the OK from the church’s clergy, we were thrilled. But in the months that followed, that thrill quickly gave way to pure and utter frustration with both the church’s clergy and staff.

Why? Well, our priest is relatively new, and for a while seemed to either not know the answers to our questions, or to want to do everything painstakingly by the book, such as pressuring us to have a full mass. Plus, no one seemed to fully grasp that we live on the opposite side of the country, and therefore don’t have the flexible meeting schedule the church is used to.

Also, while a Catholic wedding is relatively important to Stephen, he knew that I would also be happy with a beautiful outdoor ceremony that didn't include the Catholic religious aspects. I felt upset when I learned that the church won’t allow an aisle runner, and won’t allow scattered flower petals. What, I started to wonder, would this church allow?! For a while, we were ready to walk away from this venue entirely.

But after a couple fantastic meetings over the holidays, I’m happy to say that things have turned around, and we’re feeling tremendously better about the situation. Maybe it was the holiday cheer in the air, but when I met with him in December, the priest didn’t so much as bat an eyelash when I brought up the non-mass. Plus, he happily accepted our addition of an Irish wedding blessing, and didn’t even flinch when I suggested a non-traditional processional tune from The Sound of Music.

And when I walked about the church, going up to the altar and scoping out details, it really hit me. In just five months, I’m going to get married in that church! I’m going to walk down that very aisle to the altar, where Stephen and I will become husband and wife. I realized that my past frustration had caused me to overlook all of the positives about this location – the lovely marble flooring, the sunlight streaming beautifully through the stained glass windows, and the kindness and thoughtfulness of our rehearsal director.

I left feeling relived and happy, plus more excited than ever. Where are you having your ceremony? Have you ever had second thoughts about your choice?

(Photo Credits: Heather Warren & Saint Paschal Baylon Church)

Down the Aisle

You’ve probably dreamed about it a hundred times, playing it over and over in your mind – the magical moment you’ll walk down the aisle to the man you love before starting your lives together as husband and wife. I’ve imagined it countless times, too, but in my vision, the only thing that was never entirely clear was who would be walking down the aisle beside me.

As Stephen and I work out our ceremony details, we’ve toyed with different ideas for the processional, especially after learning the Catholic Church prefers that the bride and groom walk down the aisle together. In the Church’s view, this symbolizes the couple as being partners both before and after marriage, and is preferable to the bride’s being “given away” by her father. But while I like the reasoning behind our walking together, I just can’t shake the feeling that it loses a lot of the excitement associated with this special moment for the bride.

Ideally, we’d like Stephen to walk down the aisle first, escorted by his parents and best man. They would be followed by pairs of our bridesmaids and groomsmen, and then by my sister, who is also my maid of honor and will be walking down the aisle solo. I would then walk to the altar accompanied by my parents, who have stood by me through 26 years of the good, the bad and the ugly. Will our clergy go for the idea? We haven’t had a chance to ask yet, but for now, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

How do you plan to walk down the aisle? Accompanied by your parents? By just your mom or your dad? By another relative or friend? By yourself?

(Photo Credit: Los Robles Greens Golf Course)