The Madison Organization
Formally Austins Corner
Tips & Tricks from
10 Things No One Tells You About the Wedding Day
No matter how many weddings you've attended before, or how many times you've been a bridesmaid, there are some things you just don't find out about until your wedding day.
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Ten minutes before the ceremony is the most nerve-racking part.
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The ceremony is the best part.
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You'll definitely cry.
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Your face will hurt from smiling so much.
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You'll be amazed by the love and support of your family and friends.
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You'll want a little alone time.
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You might be a little exhausted.
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It won't all go as planned.
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The most magical moment will be when you least expect it.
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You'll feel different.
Your Complete Ceremony Site Checklist
Seven steps to ensure every ceremony detail is accounted for.
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Find and Book Your Site
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Rent Ceremony Essentials
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Prepare the Actual Ceremony
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Meet With Your Officiant Again
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Finalize the Ceremony
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Gather Ceremony Extras
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Write Your Vows
How to Make Your Wedding Look Like You Thought of Everything
Between venue tours and cake tastings, it's easy to forget about the little things when wedding planning, but don't stress—we're about to walk you through them. You might need a little lighting love, a creative guest book idea, or a really awesome exit strategy. Whatever boxes you have to check off, get inspired by our tips and tricks for some of the most looked-over planning details. They won't go unnoticed by your guests, we promise.
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Make sure elderly guests are seated near the front and guests in wheelchairs or on crutches have access to an end seat.
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The first four or five rows may be reserved for immediate and extended family.
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Immediate family members are seated just before the ceremony begins.
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If you have step-relatives, make sure the ushers know who they are.
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If parents are divorced, seat the parent who primarily raised the bride or groom in the front row with their partner, and seats the other parent and their partner in the third row. Alternatively, birth parents may sit beside each other in the first row, or they may share the front row with stepparents.
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The bride's mother is always seated last and the groom's mother is seated just before her. The seating of the bride's mother usually signals the ceremony is about to begin.
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Brothers of the couple usually seat their mothers.
What’s the Deal With Ushers?
Unless you’re having a super intimate ceremony, we recommend having about one usher to seat every 50 guests. While wedding ceremony ushers are often male relatives or wedding party members, you can definitely designate both male and female friends to this task. It’s nice to know there are people in charge of passing out programs, getting people to their seats as seamlessly as possible, and keeping an eye out for sensitive seating issues (like keeping your two feuding uncles apart).
If you’re going the traditional route, have ushers escort female guests to their seats. The usher should offer his right arm to the woman and lead her down the aisle to her seat, while her date or partner follows. (With a group of women, the usher might offer his arm to the oldest woman.) But these days, especially for a more relaxed ceremony, it's fine for ushers to simply greet guests at the door and lead them to their seats, saying, "Please follow me."