FAQ's & ideas
For most of the couples we work with, this is the first time they are planning a wedding, and this naturally comes with a ton of questions. We have attempted to answer many of the most common inquiries below. If you cannot find the information that you are seeking, please feel free to reach out to us at letstiethknot@hotmail.com
IDEAS & HELP
Wedding Ideas
(and random "off the wall" thoughts that keep us awake at night)
It is our mission to eradicate dull and boring wedding ceremonies and to help you have the wedding ceremony of your dreams.
So how can we do that you may ask? Well....we like to think that "ideas 'R' us" and we have a plethora of unique ideas that can help your ceremony stand out in the memories of family and guests.
We love to exchange ideas with you and inspire your thoughts. We would like to help you find one or two small and unique touches to the ceremony that will make your guests say "that was different". It need not be whacky and off the wall (although if that is your desire - we are ALL IN), just a small touch like having the wedding party arranged in a different way, a different order of the procession, or changing up the order of the ceremony.
Let us share a sample idea to help inspire you;
Nearly EVERY wedding you have ever attended probably had the wedding party standing at the front with the couple....the bride's attendants beside her and the groom's attendants beside him. When you think about it, there should not even be bride's attendants and groom's attendants....your friends and family are standing up for you AS A COUPLE....there are no "sides" in this deal!
If you think this way, the door opens up for all manner of interesting and unique ways that the wedding party can be placed at the front of the venue with you. Another different idea is to have them sit during the ceremony - placing more focus on the couple.
If little unique touches like this seem like a good idea to you, then Let's Tie The Knot can certainly help you incorporate these ideas for a unique and memorable ceremony that will Iive in memories for a long time.
Over hundreds of weddings that we have conducted, we have had the great fortune of meeting and working with some amazing wedding professionals who can also help enhance your wedding day. You can find a link to our favourite vendors on the following page (click here)
What happens during a ceremony?
Many couples have this question but they’re embarrassed to ask it: What actually happens during a wedding ceremony? What does a sample wedding ceremony look like? Sure, we all know about the vows, the rings and there’s a kiss in there somewhere. But what is the usual order of events? What else happens while the couple is up there?
The true answer to the question is - ANYTHING you want!
Most of what you have seen during a wedding ceremony is based on tradition as opposed to legal requirements. There are only 2 legal statements that must be made and at some point you must sign a marriage license....THAT'S IT!
A wedding ceremony is more than just legal requirements though, and infusing your story and your wishes into the ceremony can make it special, unique and memorable.
To give you an idea of what is traditional, we’re going to walk you through a sample wedding ceremony.
We believe you should do your wedding your way. So remember: this is just a sample ceremony! You don’t have to include all of these parts of the ceremony and you don’t have to do them in this order.
A few of these ceremony elements are required to make your wedding legal, but you can get creative with almost everything else. Just ask us! We'll help bring your dream ceremony to life and make sure it’s a ceremony that represents who you are while honouring your values.
Sample Ceremony
Here’s a sample wedding ceremony. Be sure to scroll down to learn more:
Casual announcements by Officiant
(reminder to stand when bride enters, turn off cell phones, etc.)
Processional of wedding party and couple
Address by Officiant
Sharing the couple's story
Readings or quotes (if selected)
The Vows
Declaration of Intent (the "I Do's")
The Rings
Signing of License (if included)
Conclusion
Pronouncement
The Kiss
Presentation of Couple
The Recessional
Procession
The processional is when the wedding party, Bride & Groom, and any participants enter the ceremony venue (usually walking up the aisle).
It’s your wedding so you should do things your way! The processional order is completely up to you and who walks where, when and with whom should be 100% your call. There is no right or wrong way to do a processional – there’s only your way. Here are a few creative options that might work better for you:
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Moms, Grammas and even fun, creative guys make for excellent "flower girls"
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think "Men in Black" security for ring bearers
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Check out the video in this section for a unique and fun way for the Wedding party to enter
To get an idea for a unique Processional format, check out Jenn & Drew's video
Welcome, and Address
Welcome, be seated, thank you for being here, WHY we are here....as well as a few words about love and marriage.
Sharing your story
This is where we will really personalize the ceremony and share a bit of your story and your memories.
Including your love story is such a brilliant way to ensure that your ceremony is unique and interesting. Believe it or not, although some of your friends and family may be all too well aware of how you met and may even have been a witness to the very moment, there will be many who only have a vague idea of how you got together. How many people really know how you met, what did on your first date, or what the proposal was like? So sharing an actual story of your experiences, is a really fun way to bring some personal background into the ceremony and to share with everyone the ‘real’ story of how you got to this point together.
We will ask you to complete and share with us a short form consisting of a few questions about your time together as a couple. you will be asked to some memories and some fun thoughts. From this information, we will personalize your wedding script to reflect your story as a couple.
Readings, Quotes
Many couples like to use quotes or readings in their wedding ceremony. Short lines about love and marriage are great additions to a ceremony. They can be inserted into your vows, printed on your programs or read aloud. Inviting a drear friend or family member to do a reading is a wonderful way to include those special people in your ceremony.
Quotes can come from almost anywhere. You can include a quote from a famous love poem, lyrics from a song or your favourite movie or TV show. There’s no wrong way to use a quote.
Feel free to contact us for unique and fun wedding quotes.
The Vows
Wedding vows are for many people, the favourite part of the ceremony. It’s when you get to tell your love story. It’s when you get to decide what your marriage looks like. It’s the promises you are making to your partner for a lifetime.
And while we love when couples write their own wedding vows (in fact, we love it so much we offer a step-by-step guide to help couples write their own), we know that isn’t for everyone. And that’s okay!
You don't have to write your own vows. A quick Google search will provide you with an endless list of sample vows - just ready to be plagiarized and used by couples on their special day.
You don't even have to recite ANYTHING in front of family and guests. Perhaps you prefer to keep this intimate part of your wedding more private, and if so a private exchange of vows may be for you.
Declaration of Intent
Most commonly known as the "I Do's", they are often confused with the Vows. The Declaration of Intent may be customized and changed to best suit your wishes.
A traditional expression would be;
(Name) do you take (Name) to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband? Do you promise to love and cherish her/him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her/him, for so long as you both shall live?
Remember that we are all about eradicating dull and boring wedding ceremonies, so we offer our couples SEVERAL options for declaring their commitment. You don’t have to go with the standard, but if the traditional declaration suits you, we’re all for it!
As we plan and script your wedding ceremony, we will explore options to ensure that the declaration you make on your wedding day precisely expresses your feelings.
Ring Exchange
Place the ring on each other's finger and do a brief "repeat after me".
The ring vows are the words that you express as you place the ring on your partner's finger. As with most other parts of the ceremony, these words can be written to best reflect your feelings and promises and we can help you explore different ideas.
A symbol of eternal love, the humble wedding ring has been about for years, older than any of us and still as important as ever. While the design of weddings rings is becoming more modern in many cases, the tradition and symbolism of the ring is as strong today as it’s ever been.
The wedding ring is an emblem of love through time, a symbol of devotion and an agreement between two parties to love and cherish one another for the rest of their days. Wedding rings are, of course, circular in shape and this in itself carries a symbolic meaning for the couple getting married.
A circle has no beginning or end and is therefore a symbol of infinity. It is endless, eternal, just the way love should be. For many the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. This is because the vein in this finger was believed to lead directly to the wearer's heart.
Conclusion
The Conclusion of the ceremony is not really the end....kinda weird in a way. The Conclusion serves to "wrap up" what has been said and promised. The officiant will say a few words about the commitment you have made to each other and find interesting ways in which to wish you the best (on behalf of all present) for your future together.
We have many different ways to conclude the ceremony and will be happy to explore ideas with you.
Signing the Marriage License
This may come as a surprise, but Manitoba marriage law does not mandate that you sign the marriage license during the ceremony. In fact Canada is only one of 2 countries in the word where signing the license is traditionally included in the ceremony.
It can be signed before, during or after the ceremony. In fact, it can be signed at ANY time, but the date that it is signed is the official wedding date.
We have many creative ideas for ways in which you can make the license signing unique and a great "photo opportunity".
The options for alternative times to sign the license are endless and here are just a couple ideas;
*(note….the couple and their witnesses as well as the officiant MUST all sign the license)
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If you are not having your “first look” at the ceremony, gather together just before the ceremony to sign the license in private – just make sure the photographer is there
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Sign the license in private immediately after your exit from the ceremony. This gives you a brief while to savour the moment and perhaps have a glass of bubbly to celebrate
Another little-known fact is that your witnesses do not need to be 18 years of age or older. They just have to be old enough to understand the significance of what they are doing. Witnesses can also be family members (including children).
If you wish to break from tradition, consider changing the time and place you sign the marriage license. We are more than happy to exchange ideas to add creativity to this step in the wedding.
Pronouncement & Kiss
If you’ve ever been to a wedding or seen one in the movies, you’ve heard a pronouncement. The typical pronouncement goes like this, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!” It’s when the officiant announces the marriage and sets the stage for the big smooch.
Did you know there’s more than one way to pronounce a couple (MANY more in fact)? If you’re looking for something less traditional or more formal, there are options. If you want something more feminist or more inclusive, there are options. If you’re looking for something unique that speaks to you as a couple, then you’re in the right place.
Presentation
Just prior to the Recessional when you leave the ceremony, we present you to your guests for the first time as a married couple.
The traditional wording for the presentation would be to introduce Mr. & Mrs. (surname). This obviously does not work for everyone....you may not be planning a change of surname....you may not even be a Mr. & Mrs, so we can create a presentation that works for you and your relationship.
You may choose a descriptive that best suits you. Popular choices include "husband & wife", newlywed partners...the choices are endless.
Recessional
WE MADE IT!
After all the talking, vows, promises, etc have been finished, it's time for you to get out and get the party started!
The Recessional (how you and the wedding party walk out) can be a time for a joyous, happy and FUN celebration. You can join hands, walk arm in arm, go piggyback, skip, dance.....WHATEVER you want. Sometimes the best recessionals are spontaneous and pay homage to the way you are feeling in that once in a lifetime moment.
If you have a wedding party in your ceremony, we will want to have some ideas of ways for them to leave as well.
