A wedding is defined as the social event at which the ceremony or contract of marriage is performed. This definition is very short. The actual ceremony also is relatively short – they typically range from 10 to 45 minutes. The consequences, as we know, are permanent.  But it is the planning – the build-up to the ceremony – that can seem to take forever.

 Once the glow of the engagement passes, though, reality sets in.  The 30 minutes or so of wedding ceremony, in fact, takes a lot of planning.  In part, this is because the wedding is often perceived by the bride as her last chance for a fairytale ending, a perfect party, or a last grasp of real magic – before heading off into the sunset with pair of smelly socks (his) and future filled with an indeterminate quantity of diapers. The wedding therefore must be perfect.

And so the couple decides that the wedding ceremony will showcase their sophistication, good looks, intelligence, worldliness, romance, their benevolence towards their friends and family, and their hopes for the future. And, oh yes, their commitment.

There are lots of guides on wedding planning – long and short, good and bad. We offer only a few suggestions, based on our own experiences in performing weddings for couples from diverse backgrounds, beliefs and situations, and of course, our own wedding (nearly 10 years ago).

Click here to inquire about Jeff Petersen's availability for your wedding ceremony!