Words from the Bible have truly stood the test of time. In a world where the pace of life seems to get quicker every day, Bible verses offer a gentle reminder of the virtues that bind us together — love, kindness, and the importance of faith.
Including a Bible reading in your wedding service is a beautiful and traditional way to express how you feel about your new spouse. It’s also a great way to ensure your wedding ceremony is rooted in your Christian beliefs and sets the stage for a marriage built on a foundation of faith and love.
But, with 3,145 verses in the Old Testament and 7,957 verses in the New Testament, it can be tricky knowing which wedding verse to pick. Read on for our 25 favourite wedding verses in the Bible, as well as some top tips on how to include a Bible reading in your special day.
The most important thing about choosing a reading from the Bible is that it resonates with you, your partner, and your unique love story. The timeless nature of Bible verses means they can apply to lots of different situations or stages of life. The most important things to consider are:
Is it relevant to your relationship?
Does it suit the tone of your wedding?
Can you connect with the verse or use it as a source of inspiration?
Is it inclusive of those present?
If the answer to all or most of these questions is yes, then you’ve picked a good Bible verse for your wedding!
How to include a Bible reading in your wedding ceremony
There are multiple ways to work a Bible reading into your wedding ceremony. These include:
As a wedding reading
If you prefer a longer wedding verse or Bible story, you can use this as a wedding reading. Choosing a longer reading allows you to dive into the meaning of the text and emphasise the values included as a key part of your service.
As wedding vows
You can either incorporate a longer Bible verse into your vows or use shorter vows to draw emphasis to certain promises. For example, you could use Corinthians 16:14: “Do everything in love,” to highlight how you will do everything in love during your marriage.
For guest readings
If you’d like your guests to make readings during the ceremony, asking them to pick their favourite Bible verse is a great way to include them in your service. It not only removes the stress from picking a wedding reading, but it will help you get to know them a little better. After all, their favourite Bible verse will tell you a lot about their character, values, and how they practise their faith.
If the guest you ask to make a reading isn’t religious, ask them to read a Bible verse that resonates with you or your partner. This way, you can still incorporate the wisdom of scripture into your ceremony and remove the burden of choice from your guest.
During wedding speeches
Wedding speeches are a great chance to incorporate Bible verses into your wedding ceremony, especially if your service isn’t religious. You could either try using whole Bible verses in place of a speech or incorporating a few lines of your favourite verses for a touch of spiritual significance.
In thank you cards
You could also incorporate a few Bible verses into your wedding thank you cards. This is a great way to keep the spirituality of your big day alive, even after the ceremony has concluded. Try using 1 Thessalonians 3:12 to express your gratitude, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.”
5 short Bible readings for a wedding
Romans 12:10: Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.
Romans 13:8: Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Ephesians 4:32: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Song of Solomon 8:7: Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.
Ephesians 5:25: For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her…
5 unique Bible readings for a wedding
The First Letter of Saint John 4:7-12: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love…
Song of Solomon 8:6-7: Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame…
Song of Solomon 6:3: I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. My beloved speaks and says to me: Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land…
Psalms 92:12-15: The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Isaiah 62:4-5: People will not call you Deserted anymore. They will no longer name your land Empty. Instead, you will be called One the Lord Delights In. Your land will be named Married One. That’s because the Lord will take delight in you. And your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so your Builder will marry you. As a groom is happy with his bride, so your God will be full of joy over you.
5 beautiful Bible readings about love and marriage
Genesis 2:18–22: Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”…So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
Genesis 2:24: Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Ephesians 5:25-29: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church…
Matthew 19:4-6: “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-5: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
5 Old Testament readings for a wedding
Proverbs 30:18-19: There are three things that amaze me—no, four things that I don’t understand: how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.
Ruth 1:16-17: Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.
Proverbs 31:10-13: When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize. She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
Song of Songs 2:8-10: Hark! my lover—here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come!”
Book of Sirach 26:1-4: Blessed the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days; A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life. A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the Lord; Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face.
5 New Testament readings for a wedding
Colossians 3:14: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians 5:2a: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the Church in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of his Body.
Book of Revelation 19:1: “Alleluia! The Lord has established his reign, our God, the almighty. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready. She was allowed to wear a bright, clean linen garment.” Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” The word of the Lord.
John 15:9-10: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
John 2:1-11: On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Weaving Bible verses into your readings, speeches, or thank you cards is a great way to inject some spirituality into your wedding ceremony. Whether you’re planning on a church service or a more secular celebration, these verses can add a sacred touch that resonates with the essence of love, family, and commitment.
Bible verses can be used on their own or peppered throughout your wedding reading or speech. The best Bible verses will be those that resonate with you as a couple, or that represent your hopes and dreams for your married life.
So, whether you’re deeply religious or have a more casual relationship with spirituality, there’s always space for a Bible quote on your wedding day. If you’re looking for a shorter quote than the readings above, check out our post on 110 inspiring love quotes, which includes 10 short Bible quotes. Otherwise, see our post on wedding speech ideas, which contains inspiration for every type of wedding speech.
Planning your wedding is one of the most exciting and thrilling times of your life. You’ll get to choose from so many different things that all come together to form the most perfect wedding day so you and your partner can celebrate your marriage in style surrounded by your family and friends.
But, while it might be a fun and rewarding process, planning a wedding isn’t exactly quick or simple – mainly because there are so many things to remember. If just one thing is forgotten, delayed or booked a little too late, it can throw everything else off. And trust us, the last thing you want when planning your big day is for you not to secure your first-choice florist or venue.
That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to let you know exactly when you need to start planning every part of your wedding, from the huge to the tiny. That way, you’ll have everything covered so you can keep your stress levels to a minimum and not worry about what you might have forgotten.
In this post, we’ve outlined the ultimate wedding planning checklist. We’ll go into detail about what to think about and when, so you can make sure everything’s in place at exactly the right time. That leaves you to get on with the one most important thing – have the wedding of your dreams and get married to the love of your life.
As we’ve already highlighted, planning a wedding involves thinking and making a decision about every single thing to do with your big day. From the shoes you’ll wear to the colour of the napkins at the wedding breakfast, you’ll have hundreds – if not thousands – of decisions to make. Most of these will fall under the following categories:
Wedding budget
Guest list
Venue
Officiants
Vendors
Attire
Stationery
Decor
Ceremony
Catering
Reception
Rings
Marriage license
Guest accommodation
Gifts and favours
Hair and beauty
Timeline
Honeymoon
See what we mean? That’s already a fairly long list, and it doesn’t even begin to cover the subcategories that fall under each. For example, under vendors you have florists, transportation, entertainers, musicians, photographers, cakemakers, wedding planner and more.
Ideally, you should start planning your wedding as soon as possible. But, we understand that, in reality, this can be a difficult question to answer. It all depends on how far into the future you’d like your wedding to be.
If you’re not looking to get married on a specific date or in any kind of rush to tie the knot, you might not need to dive into the wedding planning deep end. Instead, you might only need to take off your socks and dip your does into the wedding-planning pool. You can start to think about themes, dates and venues at a leisurely pace without worrying too much about whether or not you should throw down a deposit and secure something before someone else does.
On the other hand, if you want to get married relatively quickly – like within a year or less – then you definitely should slip on that bathing costume and dive right into the deep end. Such a short timeframe means you risk not getting your venues and vendors of choice, which risks you not having your dream wedding.
So, putting the tenuous swimming-related metaphors to one side, simply put, we recommend you get things in motion as soon as you can.
The decision about whether or not to hire a wedding planner can be a difficult one. On the one hand, wedding planners can take a lot of the more difficult and lengthy planning-related tasks off your hands, leaving you to do fun stuff like making decisions and spending money.
On the other hand, they’re not exactly cheap. The average cost of a wedding planner is £1,891, which is around 10% of the average overall wedding budget. When you’re spending as much money on a wedding as you are, it can be a rather large chunk of change that many couples can’t afford to spare. However, a good wedding planner will know where to get the best deals, who to speak to and what to say – so in the end, they might save you as much or if not more than their fee. It’s a difficult decision that only you can make, which you should make based on your budget, excitement and free time.
Putting together your own wedding checklist can be a challenge. As we’ve already mentioned, there are so many things to think about that it can be easy for one or two to be overlooked.
Thankfully, there are tools in place that mean you don’t need to plan your own checklist – you can use our wedding checklist tool right here at Bridebook. It’s a fast, easy and comprehensive tool that includes everything you need to think about, which you can check off as and when it’s taken care of. It’s also available in the handy Bridebook app, so you can take it with you as you visit venues and sample cakes. It definitely beats having to do mountains of research and put together a complicated spreadsheet.
Wedding planning checklist: quick reference guide
A lot of planning goes into creating the perfect wedding – below is a quick reference guide to make sure you tick off everything you need. Be sure to save and print out our step-by-step infographics for whenever you might need them.
You can also use Bridebook’s comprehensive and easy-to-use wedding checklist tool to organise your month-by-month to-dos straight from your mobile.
Wedding Planning Checklist : 2 years to 7 months before
2 years before your wedding
Work out your budget
Speak to your parents to ask about helping pay for your wedding
Think about your date
Book any popular venues and vendors
Insure your engagement ring
Hire a wedding planner (if you want one)
Invest in wedding insurance
18 months before your wedding
Choose your wedding venue
Organise an engagement photoshoot
Throw an engagement party
Create your guest list
Make a call on the theme, style, formality and colour scheme
Choose your wedding caterer
Send out you save-the-dates
12 months before your wedding
Hire the rest of your vendors
11 months before your wedding
Organise your guests’ accommodation
10 months before your wedding
Get serious about wedding dress shopping
Design your wedding website
9 months before your wedding
Buy your wedding dress
8 months before your wedding
Create a gift register
Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses
Meet with local florists to talk flowers
Make a start on DIY decorations
7 months before your wedding
Book the venue for your rehearsal dinner
Start suit shopping/browsing
Put in your order for things you want to hire
Hire an officiant, registrar or celebrant
Meet with local cakemakers
Design your wedding invitations
Wedding Planning Checklist : 6 months to 1 month before
6 months before your wedding
Finalise your wedding menu
Hire your hair and makeup artist
5 months before your wedding
Book additional transportation if necessary
Print and send your invitations
Book your honeymoon
Consider premarital counselling
4 months before your wedding
Buy your wedding rings
Choose the right shoes
Work out the groomsmen, page boy and flower girl’s attire
Plan your stag do/hen party
3 months before your wedding
Do your hair and makeup trial
Plan your wedding favours
Choose your hymns and/or readings
Finalise rehearsal dinner plans
2 months before your wedding
Write your wedding vows
Go to your first dress fitting
Choose your wedding accessories
Buy gifts for your wedding party
Finalise the details with your florist
Choose your wedding music
Make sure you have all the decor and stationery
1 month before your wedding
Finish your wedding favours
Pay your final invoices
Create your seating plan
Create your name cards
Chase any outstanding RSVPs
Meet with your wedding planner to go through everything
Wedding Planning Checklist : the final two weeks
2 weeks before your wedding
Have your final wedding dress fitting
Wear your wedding shoes to break them in
Double-check your wedding checklist
Print any final items of stationery or decor
Enjoy your stag do/hen party
Finalise your plan B
1 week before your wedding
Finish writing your vows
Share your itinerary with your wedding party
Pack for your honeymoon
3 days before your wedding
Take a little time for yourself
Practise reciting your vows
Enjoy a spa session
Get your nails done
Pay a visit to the barber
2 days before your wedding
Get your things together
Clean your wedding rings
Write your partner a special note
1 day before your wedding
Collect anything you’re hiring
Take key items to the venue (if possible)
Have an early night
Wedding planning checklist: all the details
If you’re about to start your wedding planning journey, or you’re neck deep in it already and worried you’re going to miss something, don’t worry – our complete wedding planning checklist below includes every single thing you need to think about.
So, follow our step-by-step journey so you know exactly what to do and when, and nothing gets missed, ignored, forgotten or overlooked. Or, use our handy wedding checklist tool every step of the way while planning your big day.
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 2 years before
Work out your budget
Before getting too excited about planning your wedding – and especially before throwing down money for a deposit anywhere – you need to work out your budget. Look at your own savings, your income and what you might be able to save over the coming months and years. Weddings are expensive – the average amount couples spend on their wedding in the UK is £19,184. You don’t want to start your married life in debt, so make sure you don’t overstretch yourself.
Use our intuitive budget tool to help understand the sort of money you’ll have to play with. Many couples also ask for help paying for their wedding, which you might want to include during your initial planning. Once you know your budget, you’ll then have a better idea about what kind of venues and vendors you can consider – that’s when the real fun begins.
Don’t forget, if your budget’s looking a little smaller than you’d like, there are plenty of ways you can save money. Read our ultimate guide to saving money on your wedding for a little inspiration.
Speak to your parents to ask about helping pay for your wedding
Our 2023 Wedding Report found that a third of engaged couples ask their parents for financial help when planning a wedding. If this is you, and you’re asking for a little help to pay for things for your big day, you’re not alone. But, you’ll need to broach the subject with your parents sooner rather than later so you can gauge exactly how much you’ll have to spend.
The topic of money can be a difficult one to raise, especially when it comes to asking for help. For some guidance on how you can discuss finances with your parents, read our dedicated post on how to ask your parents for help paying for your wedding.
Think about your date
From the moment you got engaged, you’ve probably had to answer the same question from all angles: have you set a date yet? Without setting a date, it can be hard to plan everything else, so it should be one of the very first things you consider. Is there a specific date you want to get married on, such as the anniversary of your first date, or a Saturday during the summer when there’s a higher chance of guests being free? Not to mention some good weather. Once you’ve chosen your ideal date, you can start to think about everything else.
Book any popular venues and vendors
If you’re blessed with the gift of time and have a couple of years until your wedding, it’s important not to get too blasé. Many affordable and popular venues can get booked up two or more years in advance, especially if you want to get married on a Saturday. So, it can’t hurt to start browsing and visiting venues to get a head start on other couples. The worst thing you can do is delay making a booking for the venue, only for it to be snapped up by someone else. Believe us when we say that really does sting.
The same applies to other wedding vendors who have great reputations or reasonable rates. They’ll soon run out of availability, so if there’s someone you know you just have to have for your wedding, book them as soon as you’ve confirmed your date.
Insure your engagement ring
After the proposal, one of the first things you should do is insure the engagement ring. You’re not likely to lose or damage it, but imagine what if? Your home insurance policy may cover your engagement ring, but even if it does there’s likely to be a limit on the value. Check with your insurer if your ring is covered, and if not make sure you take out an adequate policy as soon as possible.
Hire a wedding planner (if you want one)
If you’re thinking about hiring a wedding planner to help make your dream wedding a reality, you should do this before you make a single booking. That’s because wedding planners are relatively pricey (they cost an average of £1,891) and you want to get the most value from them you can. Plus, with so many connections, years of experience and plenty of skill, a great wedding planner can save you some serious cash along the way.
Invest in wedding insurance
Once you’ve set the date for your wedding, if it’s within the next two years then make sure you secure wedding insurance. Because you’re dropping so much money on your wedding, why risk losing it all should something unexpected happen? It’s unlikely, of course, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Just don’t jump the gun on this – most wedding insurance providers only offer policies valid for 24 months.
18 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 18 months before
Choose your wedding venue
If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to get a wiggle on and secure your venue. If you have your sights set on a particular venue, pay your deposit as soon as you can, because there are likely to be other couples (as well as those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, or even corporate parties) looking for exactly the same type of event space. If you have your budget worked out and a date agreed, find the perfect venue and get your name on the booking sheet. The venue is probably going to be the single biggest expense at your wedding, so once you have that you’re in a great position to build everything else around it.
Once you’ve secured your venue, you can start dropping a few hints about a date, too!
Organise an engagement photoshoot
To mark such a momentous moment in your lives, why not take part in an engagement photography session so you can hold on to those memories forever? This is also a great way to get used to being in front of a camera if it’s not really your thing. If you speak to your chosen photographer about packages, you also might be able to bag a bargain and have them shoot photos at your wedding for a discounted rate.
Throw an engagement party
Engagement parties are a great way to celebrate your engagement and get everyone excited about your future wedding. Ideally, you should throw your engagement party between two and four months after you get engaged, because any longer and it risks being too close to the wedding itself. You don’t have to throw an engagement party (it is another expense after all), but it can be a lot of fun before you get busy with wedding planning.
Once you know your budget and venue, you can start to create your guest list, as they’ll both determine how many guests you can invite. If you have a large budget and venue, you might be in a position to invite 150 guests or more. If you have a smaller budget and venue, you might have room for 75 guests or fewer, which means you might have to be a little less frivolous with the +1s. This means making some hard decisions and complex family-focused negotiations, which hopefully won’t result in too many guest list-related arguments.
One important thing to note here is that if you do decide to throw an engagement party, anyone who gets an invite to that will probably expect an invite to the wedding itself. So, if you don’t want someone in particular to be there on the big day, don’t ask them to be there to celebrate your engagement.
Make a call on the theme, style, formality and colour scheme
Since the moment you got engaged, you’ve probably started following wedding influencers on social media, flicking through wedding magazines, reading blogs, browsing Etsy and Pinterest and everything else you can think of for wedding inspiration. Now it’s time to make the call and decide the theme, style, formality and colour scheme of your wedding so you can hire the appropriate vendors and decorations, and plan your stationery.
Choose your wedding caterer
While, of course, your guests will attend your wedding to watch you and your partner get married, they’ll also secretly be excited about all the food and drink they’ll get to enjoy too. Choosing a wedding caterer can be a tough decision, but it’s also a lot of fun, and allows you the chance to try some amazing foods while nodding thoughtfully.
And the best thing about wedding catering is that the possibilities are limitless. Whether you want a fancy three-course meal, a huge buffet spread, or a lineup of international food trucks, you can go with whatever fits your theme and preference (and budget, of course).
Send out your save-the-dates
After figuring out your theme, you’re finally in a position to start work on your wedding stationery. As part of this, you can design (or brief a designer you might choose to hire) your save-the-dates. These could be cards, magnets, keyrings, tiny jigsaws, stickers… anything you can think of. It just reminds your guests to keep that date free ahead of sending out the formal invitations. The sooner you can get your save-the-dates out the better, especially if your wedding’s taking place during the summer months, in the middle of the school holidays or on a Saturday, all of which can quickly fill up.
12 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 12 months before
Hire the rest of your vendors
Remember how tough it was to decide on the right venue? Right, well now multiply that process by five, because you have a bunch more big decisions to make. This includes sorting your music and/or entertainment, and hiring a videographer and photographer if you didn’t buy a package when you had engagement photos taken.
These kinds of vendors, especially if they come with a good reputation, are likely to be booked up if you leave it too close to your wedding, so if there’s someone you have in mind we’d recommend securing them early before it’s too late.
If your wedding’s taking part at different venues, don’t forget to book transportation, too. And with such a wide variety of options available, from a horse and carriage to a stretch limousine, it might be a tough decision.
11 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 11 months before
Organise your guests’ accommodation
If you’re getting married somewhere that offers on-site accommodation, like a hotel, you’ll want to make sure your guests have easy access to a room (and ideally offer a preferential rate). Speak to the venue about blocking out rooms, which also helps prevent the venue from having too many unfamiliar faces staying and feeling a little less exclusive. If it’s a smaller hotel, they may automatically block out every room for you, but it’s worth checking with them to make sure.
10 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 10 months before
Get serious about wedding dress shopping
What you wear on your wedding day is going to play on your mind right up until the morning of your wedding when you put everything on (and realise all that preparation paid off). So, you’ve probably been looking into what you’re going to wear waaay before now. But, now’s the time to get serious. Try to go for a proper dress fitting so you can find the style of dress that suits your tastes, budget and figure perfectly. Then, it’s up to you whether you choose a dress from that store, look elsewhere, or wait to grab a bargain (there are plenty of thrifty ways to save money on a wedding dress out there).
Finding your wedding dress can be a bit of a mission, but with your wedding squad in tow, you can have a lot of fun at the same time.
Design your wedding website
A wedding website is a useful resource to which you can direct you guests to give them information about your wedding. You probably don’t want to overload your invitations with huge paragraphs or unwieldy maps detailing the location of the venue – instead, a wedding website can do that for you. It’s also a great way to create an interactive gift register.
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 9 months before
Buy your wedding dress
It’s time to pull the trigger on a dress, especially if it’s bespoke or has a complex or intricate design. Bespoke, handmade dresses can take up to six months to make, so get in there with plenty of time so you’re not spending the final few weeks ahead of your wedding sweating about whether or not it’ll be ready on time.
8 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 8 months before
Create a gift register
You might not ask for or expect your guests to give you a wedding gift, but it’s likely that many of them will want to give you something to mark such a special occasion. So, to make sure you get things you want and will use (and to avoid guests doubling up on gifts), a gift register is recommended. This is especially important if you and your other half already live together and you have a lot of the homely stuff wedding guests like to give.
You can publish a gift register if you have a wedding website, or put one together using a dedicated service. View our list of the top nine wedding gift list ideas for a little inspiration.
Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses
Now that you have your dress chosen, you can start planning what the bridal party will wear to complement you. Not only should their outfits tie closely to your own attire, they should also link to your chosen theme and colour scheme.
Before you head out dress shopping, make sure your bridesmaids know if they’re expected to pay for their own dresses. Whether or not you choose to do this is down to you and your circumstances. For more information on this, read our article on what your bridesmaids should and shouldn’t pay for.
Meet with local florists to talk wedding flowers
Your wedding is probably going to be when you spend the most amount of money on flowers at any one time. For that reason, you’ll want to meet with a few local florists to see what they can do for you. Choose a florist who understands the vision you have for your wedding, but also allow them to use their experience, expertise and creativity to create beautiful, show-stopping flower arrangements.
Once you’ve found a florist you connect with that fits within your budget, pay a deposit to secure them for your big day. For more tips, read our post on how to choose a wedding florist.
Make a start on DIY decorations
One of the simplest ways to save money on your wedding is by hand-making a lot of your decorations yourself. This includes DIY invites, table numbers, place cards, bunting, signage, table centrepieces, paper flowers, and guestbook. With so much to do when planning a wedding, you might not have much time to spare, so save yourself unnecessary worry by starting early. There’s a ton of inspiration available online, and blogs and YouTube tutorials can help you with crafting techniques if you’re not sure where to start.
7 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 7 months before
Book the venue for your rehearsal dinner
In the UK, it’s not common for there to be a rehearsal dinner before the wedding – after all, it’s yet another thing to pay for and organise. However, they are starting to become more popular, so if it’s something you’re keen to include, you’ll want to book something with plenty of time to spare so you secure a venue big enough for your entire guest list.
Start suit shopping/browsing
It’s time to start the search for the ideal suit or tuxedo, so take the time to try on a variety of different outfits and combinations until you find something that you’re comfortable with, complements the dresses, fits with the colour scheme and is within your budget. It’s a challenging balancing act, which is why you shouldn’t leave it too late.
Put in your order for things you want to hire
Hiring things for your wedding is a brilliant way to save money. With so many items available to hire, you should start browsing and making bookings so it’s one less thing to worry about. Things you could consider hiring for your wedding include:
Dress
Suits
Chairs
Marquee
Tableware
Decor
Lighting
Photobooth
Hire an officiant, registrar or celebrant
If you’re having a religious wedding, the head of your place of worship will often officiate your wedding. However, if you’re having a traditional wedding ceremony, you’ll have a lot more flexibility about who takes on this role.
If you’ve chosen to hire a celebrant to add further personalisation to your ceremony, you’ll want to speak with several to find one you click with. You’ll meet with your chosen celebrant a couple of times ahead of your wedding as they ask you questions and really get to know you. That way, they can make your ceremony as custom and personal as possible.
If you have a particularly confident friend or family member whom you’d love to include in your wedding, you could even ask them to be your celebrant. A celebrant can’t legally marry you, so it’s worth bearing in mind that you will also need a registrar to make sure everything goes by the book.
Meet with local cakemakers
By now you’ll have a picture of your perfect wedding cake in your mind. You might prefer a towering and elegant three-tiered cake or an eye-catching novelty cake. You could even go with a Colin the Caterpillar if that’s how you roll (get it?). Whatever type of cake you want to go with, research local cake makers who make wedding cakes of a similar style. Arrange to meet a couple so you can talk through your vision and taste a few samples (bonus!). Once you’ve found your perfect match, pay your deposit and let them know when and where they need to deliver it (unless you choose to collect it to save a little money).
Design your wedding invitations
With everything coming together, you can start to design your official invitations. Whether you’re designing these yourself or hiring a professional to do them for you, make sure they fit your style and theme, and include everything related to the who, what, where and when of your wedding. You’ll also need to let recipients know how to RSVP (and by when), whether it’s returning a postcard to you, using your wedding website, or contacting you via an email address. If you’re offering a choice of food options, make sure to make this clear as well.
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 6 months before
Finalise your wedding menu
Speak to your caterers about your final menu choices, which might mean squeezing in one last tasting session. Remember to offer options for vegetarians and vegans, as well as those with allergies or intolerances. This includes choosing the food for the breakfast, evening buffet, canapés, wine, fizz and desserts.
Hire your hair and makeup artist
With just six months to go before your wedding, you’ll need to start thinking about hair and makeup. If you’d like a professional to do if for you, which we recommend if it suits your budget, then book them for your wedding and a trial session if possible with about six months to go.
5 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 5 months before
Book additional transportation if necessary
If your wedding takes place across various venues, you may choose to put on transportation for your guests to help with the overall logistics of the day. It also prevents guests from stressing about where to go and when, and whether or not they’ll find a parking space. Coach hire is simple to arrange, and if it’s something you’re organising make sure to note it in your invitations so guests know exactly what’s happening on the day.
Print and send your invitations
With your food choices set in stone, you can finish your invitations. You may choose to print these so they look perfectly uniform, write them by hand for that personal touch, or hire a calligrapher for an elegant and professional finish.
Once you have your invites and you’re happy, you can get them in the post. Just be prepared to lick a lot of envelopes (or invest in a good glue stick)!
Book your honeymoon
For many couples, a honeymoon is a non-negotiable. Not only is it a great way for the two of you to spend time alone and celebrate your marriage, but you’ll also need a break after a couple of busy years planning your wedding.
If your budget allows, book your honeymoon at least five months before your wedding. However, if you’re looking to go somewhere popular during peak travel season, you may want to do it sooner. The only thing is, if you book it too early and end up with unexpected wedding expenses, you don’t want to be faced with the disappointment of scaling back your honeymoon, or worse, cancelling it altogether. Booking with around five months to go before your wedding should give you a good idea as to how much budget you have to dedicate towards your well-deserved break.
Consider premarital counselling
This isn’t for everyone, but counselling doesn’t have to be limited to couples who are struggling. Counselling helps you communicate and prevents issues from developing. Marriage is a big change and counselling can help you with this transition. If it’s not something you feel is needed, then don’t feel pressured to, but if you are considering premarital counselling then you’ll want to start it with several months to go.
4 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 4 months before
Buy your wedding rings
If you and your partner have chosen to exchange and wear wedding rings, now’s the time to get your ring fingers measured and choose your perfect wedding bands. The rings may need to be resized, so it’s important not to leave it too late. There are also a lot of different styles, designs and metals to choose from, which can fit a wide variety of budgets.
Choose the right shoes
From walking down the aisle at the ceremony to dancing the night away at the reception, you’ll spend a large portion of your wedding day on your feet. Finding shoes that are both stylish and comfortable is vital to avoid blisters and aching feet.
Work out the groomsmen, page boy and flower girl’s attire
There are just a few outfits left to decide now, so coordinate what the groomsmen, page boy and flower girl (if you’re having them) will wear so they fit the style and colour scheme of your wedding.
Plan your stag do/hen party
Before your big day, the two of you might be keen on having a stag and/or hen night so you can have a bit of fun before settling into married life. This could be anything from a night out to a weekend away. The grander your plans are, the longer it’ll take to plan (and pay for), so bear this in mind. Talk to your best man and/maid of honour to discuss options and make bookings where necessary.
3 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 3 months before
Do your hair and makeup trial
If you’re hiring a professional hair and makeup artist, it’s worth doing a trial session (you could even include your gal pals if they’re doing your bridesmaids’ hair and makeup too). That way, you can nail the look you want ahead of time so it’s not a case of trial and error on the morning of the big day. This is your opportunity to discuss exactly what you’re going for so you can achieve that look as close as possible.
Plan your wedding favours
If you’re planning on giving favours to your guests as a token of appreciation for them being at your wedding, you should think about what you want to do and how you want to do it. If you’re having something bespoke created or going down the DIY route, these things take time.
Choose your hymns and/or readings
Speak to your officiant or celebrant about whether you’d like to have hymns or readings at your wedding ceremony. If you’d like a friend or family member to perform a reading, such as a poem or extract, you should approach them to let them know what you’d like them to do. You might also want to give them a copy of the reading ahead of time in case they’d like a few practice runs.
Finalise rehearsal dinner plans
If you’ve decided to go down the rehearsal dinner route, you’ll need to make sure everything’s ready. This includes the food, seating plan, attire and whether you’d like anyone to say a few words. Rehearsal dinners are far more relaxed than your actual wedding, but there’s still a loose structure that you may wish to stick to, which does require a little attention.
You may want to invite your officiant and celebrant to the rehearsal, so make sure they know about it in plenty of time if so.
You may also want to send formal invitations to the rehearsal dinner, or include these in your wedding invitations. Because they’re far more relaxed, a text message can also do the trick.
2 months before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 2 months before
Write your wedding vows
By now, you’ll have discussed with each other (as well as with your officiant and/or celebrant) whether you’re writing your own vows or using something a little more traditional. There’s no right or wrong answer to this – only what’s right for you.
If you’ve chosen to write your own vows, we implore you not to leave it too late – and especially don’t try to wing it on the day. Writing your own vows is a highly-personal and sometimes challenging task. Getting exactly how you feel in your head and heart down on paper can be more challenging than you might assume. With an early start you can make changes to them over time. Refine, tweak, cut, add. It’ll likely be a work in progress right up until the last moment.
Go to your first dress fitting
There’s only around eight weeks to go now, so things will start to feel very real. No more so will it hit you than when you go to your first dress fitting. This allows the seamstress to make changes and alterations to make sure your dress fits you perfectly on the big day.
Choose your wedding accessories
To complement your wedding attire, you’ll want to think about what accessories you’ll wear too. For the bride, this might be a clutch, bracelet, necklace, tiara and veil. You’ll also need to choose your wedding day underwear – especially a bra that fits comfortably and suits the style of your dress.
For the groom, you can wear a tie, pocket square, watch, cufflinks, socks and belt. These should all be co-ordinated to fit the style and colour scheme of your wedding.
Buy gifts for your wedding party
As a token of gratitude, you may want to give members of your wedding party a small gift to thank them for their love and support. It doesn’t need to be something big: some flowers or a bottle of wine is often more than enough (or a toy or game if they’re on the younger side). It’s common for couples to give a gift to the:
Groom’s mum
Bride’s mum
Groom’s dad
Bride’s dad
Maid of honour
Best man
Bridesmaids
Groomsmen
Flower girls
Page boy
Finalise the details with your florist
With just a couple of months to go, speak to your florist about the final details, including when and where to deliver and set up the flowers. If you have the budget, you might also want to arrange for mock-ups so you can see your design in person and make any tweaks. But, this does cost, so isn’t something many couples choose to do.
Choose your wedding music
Music plays a huge role in your wedding, from the music you walk down the aisle to, to the tunes you throw shapes to throughout the evening. Whether you’ve chosen to hire a DJ, band, harpist, solo musician or something else, you should make your final decisions and let the vendor know. The music you should think about includes:
Welcome music at the venue
Bride’s entrance music
Processional music
Music while you sign the register
Recessional music
Wedding breakfast music
Evening reception music/playlist
Check you have all the decor and stationery
Having already organised so many huge things for your wedding, it’s important that you don’t overlook the smaller things too. Everything from cake toppers to table numbers should be bought, rented, borrowed or dug out of the loft and kept safely together so you have everything ready to take to the venue. The key items to think about include:
Table numbers
Place names
Centrepieces
Guestbook
Cake stand
Cake topper
Welcome sign
Card or gift bag/box
Pillow for the page boy
Basket and petals for the flower girls
1 month before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 1 month before
Okay, time for the hard part. You paid your deposits more than a year ago, but now it’s time to pay those invoices in full (unless the agreements specified otherwise). Don’t assume every vendor is the same, as they’re all likely to have different payment terms. The last thing you want is to lose out on a vendor because you didn’t read their payment terms, so make sure you pay in full and on time. It’s going to suck paying out so much money around a similar time, but it’ll definitely be worth it when your wedding is everything you dreamed it would be.
Create your seating plan
By now, you should have (hopefully) 98% of your RSVPs through, so you’ll have a great idea as to who is and isn’t coming to your wedding. You also probably already have thoughts about who should sit with whom and where you’d like them to be. Get those thoughts down on paper and work out the seating plan so it’s ready for the final tweaks once your last couple of RSVPs come through. Then, it’s ready to be printed (or sent to a designer if you’re hiring someone to do it for you).
Create your name cards
Along with the seating plan, you can create a list of names to either send to the printers or a calligrapher, or you can make them yourselves. If you’re having a go at calligraphy, it’s a skill that can take years to master, but with plenty of practice and a few YouTube tutorials, you might be able to create some lovely name cards.
Chase any outstanding RSVPs
You more than likely asked your guests to RSVP to your invitations way before now, but unfortunately, there will still be a few stragglers who either forgot, weren’t sure whether they could make it, or their responses got lost in the post. A gentle reminder is usually enough to give potential guests a nudge to respond and get you a complete list of who can make it to your wedding.
Meet with your wedding planner to go through everything
If you’ve hired a wedding planner, now’s the time to meet with them again and go through everything to ensure your must-haves and nice-to-haves are all in place. If you’re lucky and your planning’s gone smoothly, there shouldn’t be any dramas, but don’t be surprised if there are one or two things to sort out.
If you don’t have a wedding planner, you might want to meet with the events coordinator at your venue to check everything. With the wedding now just a few weeks away, if nothing else, meeting with the venue team can help steady your nerves and reassure you that everything’s hunky dory.
2 weeks before your wedding
Have your final wedding dress fitting
It’s all starting to get very real now, so it’s time to get everything else finalised – starting with your dress. There might be one or two more very small alterations just to make sure your dress is perfect and you look as drop-dead gorgeous as possible.
If you can, ask your bridesmaids and maid of honour to go with you, not only for a bit of moral support and to share in your excitement, but also to learn how to bustle your dress if needed.
Wear your wedding shoes to break them in
Remember how we mentioned you’ll spend a lot of your wedding day on your feet so it’s important to have comfortable footwear? Well, part of that is breaking your shoes in. Wear them around the house for a couple of hours so they’re comfortable on the day, while avoiding the risk of scuffing or dirtying them before you’ve even had a chance to show them off.
Double-check your wedding checklist
Things are probably going well. You might feel super confident and like you’re on top of this whole wedding-planning malarkey. That’s great, but don’t get complacent – you still have time to sort things out if there’s something that’s
slipped your mind. Comb through your checklist, which is easy if you use a wedding checklist tool, to double-check that everything is exactly where it needs to be. If it’s not, then get a move on and sort it while there’s still time!
Print any final items of stationery or decor
Make sure any final items of stationery or decor are at the printers and that they’ll be delivered in plenty of time. This includes a welcome sign, place cards, personalised balloons and your seating plan.
Enjoy your stag do/hen party
If you and your partner are having a final blowout before the big day, make sure you push wedding planning out of your mind for just a little while to enjoy your stag do and/or hen night. Depending on what you have planned, it can be a good idea to have it a little earlier than this, but we recommend avoiding the week before and definitely the night before – the last thing you want on your wedding day is to nurse a hangover.
Finalise your plan B
Sometimes, things might not always go according to plan. If any part of your wedding day plans are risky or take part outside, make sure you know exactly what can and should happen should the worst outcome occur. Chances are you won’t need to rely on a contingency plan, but having one and not using it is way better than needing one and not having it.
1 week before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 1 week before
Finish writing your vows
If you made a start on writing your vows a couple of months ago, you should be almost there. It’s simply a case of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s so you can get something down that’s personal to you and your feelings. When you’re writing your vows, the officiant will usually want to see them beforehand to make sure they don’t include anything you’re not supposed to.
Share your itinerary with your wedding party
With a matter of days remaining, members of your wedding party will start to ask questions about what’s expected of them. Share a copy of the wedding day itinerary with them so they know where they need to be and when. That way, everyone’s on the same page and no one’s asking last-minute questions.
Pack for your honeymoon
If you’re jetting off on your honeymoon not long after your wedding day, do as much packing as you can before the wedding excitement gets too much and you end up forgetting important stuff you need with you on holiday, like sun cream or your passport.
3 days before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 3 days before
Take a little time for yourself
You have just days left of single life, so if you have the time (and annual leave) to spare, take a couple of days off to chill out and unwind. It’ll also be a good opportunity to finish off any last-minute bits you’ve been putting off.
If taking time away from work isn’t doable (which is possible if you have your honeymoon after the wedding) then at least speak to your boss and ask them to keep your workload light. Taking on stressful or time-consuming projects might cause a few pre-wedding headaches which you’ll want to do your best to avoid.
Practise reciting your vows
If you’ve written your own vows, once your officiant has given you the thumbs up, you should practise saying them out loud. This keeps things a lot more natural and loose, and helps you identify if there are some tongue-twisters or lines you’re likely to trip up on.
Enjoy a spa session
This one is definitely a nice-to-have rather than a must-have, but a trip to the spa for a massage and some relaxing treatments can do wonders to spoil the mind, body and soul before your big day. Not only will it help you feel good, but it can also do wonders for your skin and complexion.
Get your nails done
We beg you, don’t leave your nails until the day of the wedding. Book an appointment with your favourite manicurist for at least the day before and talk through what you’d like. If you’re wearing open-toed shoes, you might also want to have a pedicure done at the same time.
Pay a visit to the barber
The groom shouldn’t leave it too late to visit the barber, unless it’s to get a professional wet shave on the morning of the wedding. A haircut a few days before the wedding should be more than fine.
2 days before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 2 days before
Get your things together
With just 48 hours to go, it’s time to put together everything you’ll need for the ceremony, breakfast and evening reception. Pack them carefully into boxes or bags so you can take them to the venue the day before the wedding (if you can).
You should also pack an overnight bag that includes everything for the morning of the wedding (including your wedding attire, of course) as well as clothes for the following day if you’re spending your wedding night in a hotel. Don’t forget your toothbrush!
Clean your wedding rings
You’ll soon have your wedding rings on your fingers and they’ll never look quite as flawless ever again (though they’ll never be any less loved). So, crack out your jewellery-cleaning kit and make sure your rings are shiny and fingerprint free.
Write your partner a special note
How are you feeling about your impending wedding day? It’ll probably be a combination of excitement, adrenaline and nerves. It’s also highly likely that your partner’s feeling exactly the same as you are.
If you’re sticking to traditions, you won’t see your partner on the morning of the wedding, so they’ll no doubt wonder what’s going through your mind – and vice versa. Let them know how much they’re loved and help calm their nerves with a note that tells them exactly that. You don’t need to write them something long-winded – just a short note that lets them know how excited you are to see them at the other end of the aisle before you spend the rest of your lives together.
1 day before your wedding
Wedding Planning Checklist : what to do 1 day before
Collect anything you’re hiring
With just one day to go, it’s time to do those last-minute jobs – the first one being to collect anything you might be hiring, whether it’s a dress, a suit, decor or anything else. If it’s something big, like a marquee, you shouldn’t have to worry about it as the vendor will sort out delivery and set up/take down.
When collecting, make sure you’re 100% clear on the return agreement, so you’re not accidentally returning an item late (which can lead to hefty fees).
Take key items to the venue (if possible)
If your venue’s hosting an event the day before your wedding, this might not be possible, but if it is, you should be able to take items such as decor to the venue the day before so it’s one less thing to worry about. Speak to the venue’s events coordinator ahead of time to see what they can do.
Have an early night
Tomorrow’s going to be a BIG day, so give your partner a big kiss and a cuddle, then remind them about how much you’re going to miss them and how excited you are for the next day. With so much excitement (and a few nerves) it might be a challenge, but try to get an early night so you’re as fresh-faced as possible for the big day.
And that’s it, it’s time to get ready for your wedding and have the most incredible celebration of your life! All those many weeks and months of planning will finally come together and you’ll have a day filled with love and incredible memories. Just remember to enjoy it – it’ll go by as quick as a flash!
Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook
Are you getting ready to plan your own wedding? Sign up to Bridebook to access everything you need to plan your perfect day.
Your wedding ceremony is the heart and soul of your wedding day. It’s the moment you and the love of your life come together as one to exchange vows and make a commitment to spend the rest of your lives as one.
Traditional wedding ceremonies are filled with customs and traditions that make them some of the most quintessential ceremonies around. And they can be super customisable, which means you can make them as personal to you as you like.
But, with so much choice available, when it comes to planning your traditional wedding ceremony, where do you even begin? Where are they held, at what time, and how long are they? There are so many questions and options to choose from, it can be a challenge knowing what to think about first.
That’s why, in this guide, we’re going to take a deep dive into everything to do with traditional wedding ceremonies. Then, once you have all your questions answered, you can start planning your very own dream wedding ceremony. For more information, read our ultimate wedding ceremony guide, which goes into even more detail.
A traditional wedding ceremony is likely one of the images that materialise in your head when asked to think of a picturesque wedding. A beautiful venue, like a place of worship, a hotel or even a castle, decked out in stunning lights, decor and flowers. A happy couple stands at the front as their friends and family watch on (with a tear or two in their eyes). An officiant leads the ceremony, guiding the couple as they exchange vows and rings, and make a promise to love and cherish one another forever. Then, after sharing their first kiss as a married couple and signing their licence, the couple walks out hand in hand as guests shower them with confetti and a photographer snaps incredible pictures.
Not all traditional weddings are the same, but they usually follow a certain structure that’s recognisable to many people in the UK, US and beyond.
Across the UK, a wide variety of wonderful wedding ceremonies happen every single day, including Catholic ceremonies, Jewish ceremonies, Muslim ceremonies and Hindu ceremonies. One of the most popular types of ceremony in the UK is the traditional ceremony, with Bridebook’s 2023 Wedding Report finding that 85% of UK ceremonies took place in venues such as a hotel, barn, country house, or golf club, which suggests they hosted traditional ceremonies.
What type of couples usually choose a traditional wedding ceremony?
Traditional wedding ceremonies are suitable for all couples, regardless of background, culture or beliefs. However, they’re often favoured by couples with no strong religious beliefs or those who might have mixed religious beliefs. That being said, unless your religion states that you must get married in a place of worship or follow a certain structure (for example, Catholics must get married in a church) you’re free to have a traditional wedding ceremony at any venue if you wish.
A traditional wedding ceremony is officiated by a wedding officiant, celebrant, registrar or religious leader, depending on the type of ceremony you choose to have and your own preferences and beliefs.
A celebrant is a wonderful way to personalise your wedding ceremony by making it all about you. A celebrant takes the time to learn about you and your relationship to create an order and words that are extra special. However, a celebrant can’t legally marry you, so you’ll still need a registrar to make sure everything is by the book.
Where are traditional wedding ceremonies usually held?
The great thing about wedding ceremonies is the amount of personalisation available to you. If you’d like to get married in a place of worship, you can. Outside in a beautifully landscaped garden? Absolutely. At a medieval castle decorated with fairy lights and torches? Of course!
Our 2023 Wedding Report revealed that the most popular wedding venue chosen by couples last year was a hotel, with almost a quarter (24%) of all weddings taking place in one. This was followed by barns, country houses and event spaces. However, with UK wedding laws having been relaxed in 2020, couples can now choose to host a traditional wedding ceremony wherever they like – so let your imagination run wild.
Traditional wedding ceremonies usually last around 45 to 60 minutes. However, this all depends on the amount of personalisation you choose to include – the more you include, the longer it’ll be. A ceremony with readings, hymns and a celebrant will usually be far longer than one without, so if you’re keen to have a shorter ceremony this is something to bear in mind.
For more information, read our blog post on the length of wedding ceremonies to find out how long different types of ceremonies are.
When does a traditional wedding ceremony take place?
Typically, a traditional wedding ceremony will take place around lunchtime, often between 11am and 2pm. Any later than this and a wedding begins to stray into twilight wedding territory.
The words spoken at your wedding carry so much weight that it’s important to choose exactly the right ones. You can have a lot of fun researching and writing your own words, or you can choose traditional vows fed to you by the officiant.
While you can write your own vows to exchange at a traditional wedding, the declaration and contracting words must follow a set structure, as this is the legal part of your wedding ceremony. These words will usually be along these lines:
Declaratory words
“I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful reason why I [YOUR FULL NAME] may not be joined in matrimony to [YOUR PARTNER’S FULL NAME].”
Contracting words
“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, [YOUR FULL NAME], do take thee [YOUR PARTNER’S FULL NAME] to be my lawful wedded [WIFE/HUSBAND/SPOUSE/PARTNER IN MARRIAGE].”
Of course, there are also plenty of other words spoken at a wedding ceremony, either by the officiant or celebrant, or specially chosen guests. Depending on your preferences and beliefs, these could include:
The welcome
A speech from a celebrant
Readings (either from a religious text or poetry/lyrics)
Blessings
Prayers
The declaration of marriage
What traditions are there at a traditional wedding ceremony?
Many different weddings are steeped in traditions, which can take place before, during and after the day itself. As you might expect from the name, a traditional wedding ceremony also has heaps of traditions that have been around for hundreds of years. It’s up to you whether or not you include all of these in your own ceremony, you modernise them slightly, or remove them altogether.
Some of the most popular traditional wedding ceremony traditions include:
The processional, which traditionally begins with the bride’s mum and ends with the bride and her father. However, there are plenty of ways to modernise this, with many brides walked down the aisle by their mum, both parents, brother, a friend or even on their own.
The exchanging of rings, which are traditionally bands of precious metal. Many modern couples choose to forgo rings and pick from unique ring alternatives.
Wedding attire, especially a white dress worn by the bride.
The bride wearing a veil, however, according to Dressarte Paris only 25% of modern brides wear a veil.
The confetti shot is a staple of many wedding albums.
What is the order at a traditional wedding ceremony?
This infographic illustrates the traditional wedding ceremony order
Every traditional wedding ceremony will generally follow the same kind of order, with slight variations based on beliefs and personal preferences. For more information, read our post on the ultimate wedding ceremony order, but the order will usually look a little bit like this:
1. The processional
The big moment – the start of your wedding ceremony! This is when everyone walks down the aisle as your family and friends sit on either side and watch (while trying not to well up). The traditional order of the processional is:
Bride’s mum
Groom’s parents
Bride’s grandparents
Groom’s grandparents
Groom
Officiant
Bridesmaids
Maid of honour
Best man
Ring bearer or page boy
Flower girl
The bride and her father
Remember, the processional isn’t set in stone so you can make as many changes as you like. This is especially important if you’re an LGBTQ+ couple or simply aren’t interested in traditions.
2. The welcome
Once everyone has taken their seats and you and your partner are standing at the front, the officiant or celebrant will welcome everyone. If you have a celebrant, this is when they’ll begin their speech and talk about the two of you and your journey together up to this point.
3. A song or reading
Depending on your beliefs or preferences, the welcome may follow a hymn or reading. A hymn can be sung by everyone in attendance, a religious reading can be performed by the officiant, and a reading of poetry or lyrics can be done by a guest of your choosing.
4. Marriage ceremony
Finally, the most important part of your ceremony begins. This is when the two of you will exchange your vows and declaratory and contracting words. It’s at this stage when you’ll get to speak the two most memorable words of any wedding ceremony: I do!
5. Exchanging of the rings
Following the vows you’ll place your rings on each other’s fingers, which the best man traditionally holds on to for you. You’ll do this while the officiant prompts you to say a few more words about what the rings symbolise.
6. Declaration of marriage and first kiss
Here it is, you are now pronounced a married couple! All those months of planning were worth it to hear those wonderful words. The officiant will also invite you to share your first kiss as a married couple as your guests clap and cheer.
7. An optional song, reading or prayer
At this point, you might be keen to head off and celebrate, but you might also choose to include a second hymn or reading, or if it’s a religious ceremony, you may want a prayer.
8. The signing of the register
Next up is the legal bit, when you sign the marriage register in the company of two witnesses. Don’t worry, this doesn’t take long and your guests will be more than happy to wait.
9. The end of the ceremony
The officiant will thank everyone for coming and invite them to celebrate with you at the breakfast or reception.
10. The recessional
Music plays as you leave the venue as a happily married couple. Once outside, your photographer will work with everyone to create a fantastic confetti shot.
Then, you’ll take part in the customary photo session (so long as you chose to hire a photographer) and then make your way to the venue for your breakfast and/or evening reception – after all, you’ve got a lot of celebrating to do!
Planning a traditional wedding ceremony is something that comes with so many choices and variables that there’s plenty to consider. From the theme to the music and what to wear and who to include, you need to think about everything.
So, when planning your perfect wedding ceremony, consider the following things so nothing gets forgotten. For more information, read our guide on how to plan a wedding ceremony:
Think about the overall vision you want for your wedding ceremony, including themes and traditions you might want to uphold.
Once you know what you want from your ceremony, research to discover the types of venues, celebrants and officiants, florists and more that are out there and could help you achieve that vision. Visit, meet and speak with them before making any kind of booking.
Create your ideal wedding ceremony order and discuss this with your chosen officiant. Talk to them about what you’d like to include.
Think about your vows and whether you’d like to go with traditional vows or write your own. There’s no right choice, just whatever you’d prefer to go with.
Coordinate your attire to make sure you and your wedding party complement each other.
Discuss with chosen family and friends how you’d like to involve them in the ceremony, whether it’s being a bridesmaid, best man or performing a reading.
Make sure everything you’ve chosen will be legally binding – you don’t want any unwelcome surprises as the big day approaches.
Talk to each other every step of the way to make sure you’re both on the same page and have everything you want to be included.
Usually, the couple will plan their own wedding ceremony. However, it’s common for many couples to ask for help and advice from friends and family along the way, especially if you’re looking for recommendations.
It’s also common for couples to hire a wedding planner, who can do either a full or part planning service. It takes some of the time-consuming, challenging and stressful jobs off your plate, so you can just get on with enjoying the wedding planning process. Just be aware that the average cost of a wedding planner is £1,891. That being said, they can also save you a lot of money by securing discounts along the way, so can sometimes pay for themselves in the long term.
What happens after a traditional wedding ceremony is down to you. So, whether you want to head off for a three-course wedding breakfast with your guests, start partying with an evening reception, or simply whisk straight off on your honeymoon, you can.
Plan your wedding ceremony with Bridebook
Ready to plan your own traditional wedding ceremony? Sign up to Bridebook to get access to everything you need to plan your perfect wedding ceremony.
Listen, we get it — traditional religious readings and speeches aren’t for everyone. Your wedding is a reflection of your unique love story, and if you’re looking to break away from convention and infuse your ceremony with a touch of personal flair, you’re not alone.
Having a poetry reading as part of your wedding ceremony is a creative and artistic way to express your feelings of love and happiness on your big day. Whether you choose a classic piece that has stood the test of time or a contemporary gem that speaks to your unique connection, a well-chosen poem can really elevate your ceremony.
However, you’ll need a poem that fits the vibe of your wedding. We’ve compiled a collection of our 15 favourite wedding poems. So, whether you’re looking for something short, romantic, non-religious, modern, or rhyming, we’ve got you covered. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a simple quote about love, check out our dedicated post featuring 110 inspiring love quotes for your wedding day.
What makes a good love poem?
A good love poem is anything that touches the hearts of you and your partner and reflects your personal love story. It can be long or short, rhyming or not rhyming, and even have a joke in there if you’d like! The most important thing is that it means something to you and your partner.
Love poems are the perfect alternative to wedding vows, readings, or even speeches if you’re stuck for words. They’re also a great way to gain inspiration, structure your vows or speech, or simply make your wedding day more artistic and poetic.
How can I incorporate poems about love in my speech or message?
There are a few ways you can incorporate poems about love into your wedding speech or message:
Instead of a speech or vows. If the cat’s got your tongue or you’re feeling the wedding day nerves, using a love poem in place of your own vows or speech can be a great way to calm your nerves. Love poems are expertly written and many have stood the test of time, making them the perfect addition to your special day.
As inspiration. If you love the way a poem makes you feel, but aren’t crazy about the words, consider using it to inspire your wedding vows or speech. For example, instead of, “I will love you in a unique and tender way,” you could try, “I truly believe there isn’t a love as unique or tender as ours.”
Use a few lines of the love poem. Try peppering your vows or speech with a few lines from your favourite poem. You could even quote your favourite part of the poem. For example, “Pablo Nerunda says, ‘I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride’. That’s especially true of James and I. Our love isn’t over the top or fluffy — it’s safe and secure. Uncomplicated.”
When Dumbo’s ears are small, and happily ever after isn’t true,
Even then, I won’t stop loving you.
3. Be My Homer – CJ Munn
Be my Homer
I wanna be your Marge.
If I’m your Norfolk Broads
Will you be my barge?
Let’s please be Tom and Barbara,
I will show you The Good Life.
Even though we’re not yet married
I would love to be your wife.
I’ve the passion Lily Munster
has for her dear Herman.
I would love you if you were ginger,
I would love you if you were German.
Like Mr and Mrs Huxtable,
We’d smooch even when we’re wrinkly.
I’ll even consider ironing your shirts,
But I hope you like them crinkly.
Like Mr and Mrs Incredible
I’m flexible and you’re tough.
But if you promise to be my true love
That will always be enough.
Like Bonny and that Clyde guy
without all the dying.
Like Gwyneth and that Coldplay man
without all the crying.
My partner in crime, the love of my life.
Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook
If you’re looking for something more engaging than a simple wedding speech, love poetry is the perfect fit. A great wedding poem can take the place of a wedding speech, vows, or even reading. However, you can also use them as inspiration for your speech or vows, or quote them directly if you’d prefer. In the realm of wedding poetry, there are no limits.
In the realm of wedding poetry, there are no limits. You can find long poems or short ones, romantic or funny, religious or not — the possibilities are endless. You can choose verses that resonate with your shared sense of humour, tug at the heartstrings, or celebrate your unique journey together. Try to pick something that’s relevant to you as a couple and your love story.
So, whatever kind of wedding you’re planning, there will be a wedding poem for you. Read our posts on crafting a funny wedding speech or wedding speech ideas to learn how to effortlessly incorporate a love poem into your vows or speeches!
Your big day is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of love, happiness, and two families joining together. As a result, you’ll want every detail to be a reflection of the special journey that brought you to this moment. From the choice of venue to the wedding invitations, every aspect of your wedding day should be a reflection of you.
That means you won’t want a wedding invitation like everybody else. Although traditional wedding invitations are elegant and professional, there’s no reason fun wedding invitations can’t be equally beautiful! In this post, we give you 10 unique wedding invitation ideas that will make your big day unique and memorable. We include some vendors you can work with, what materials you may need, and how you can DIY these invitations. Let’s get started!
You know those scratch-off lottery tickets you can buy? Think of that, as a wedding invitation.
Scratch-off wedding invitations are a fun and interactive way to invite your guests to your big day. Your guests can scratch off metallic shapes to unveil the time, date, and location of your big day. This novel approach to wedding invitations adds an element of playfulness and sets the tone for your big day.
What you’ll need
A printer or calligraphy ink
Design software if digitally designing
Scratch-off stickers. You can get a bag of 50 for around £1
Cardstock
Cutting tools
Sealant spray
Envelopes
Method
Step 1. The first step is to design your invitation. You can either do this by hand using ink and rulers, or on a computer using design software. When creating a scratch-off design, you’ll need to set your invitation out in a specific way. The time, date, and place of your wedding will need to be separate on the design. This way, you can place scratch-off stickers over the information once printed out.
Step 2. If working with a computer, you’ll need to print your design onto cardstock. If hand-designing your invites, you’ll need to cut them out of a larger piece of paper.
Step 3. Apply the scratch-off stickers over the crucial information. Check the instructions for your stickers to check if you need sealant spray. If not, you can place the invite in an envelope and send it off. If you do need sealant, be sure to let the sealant dry properly before placing the invite in an envelope. Otherwise, the sealant may stick to the envelope, and your guests will struggle to open it!
A storybook invitation is perfect for a forest, castle, or other whimsical-themed wedding. A storybook invitation will be a little more expensive to produce, but it’s a beautiful way to tell your love story and invite your guests to the happiest day of your life.
A storybook invitation is set out like a book. It will usually have a more durable cover and thicker, high-quality pages to enhance its appeal. It should have little illustrations throughout, and the information should be written as a story to support the whimsy.
This invitation style will likely be kept as a keepsake for years to come, so be sure to pick durable materials and choose elements that will stand the test of time.
What you’ll need
Because of the nature of these invitations, it’s best to employ the help of a professional stationer. We recommend:
Any of these specialist wedding invitation stationers will be able to help you with your design. However, there are still some steps you’ll need to take.
Method
Step 1. You’ll need to write the wording for your wedding invitations. Work with your designer to find out how many pages you’ll need to fill. If you’re struggling with that to write, try something like this:
“Once upon a time, there was a [handsome prince/beautiful princess/magical imp]. They decided they would go on a walk in the Forest of [how you met your significant other. For example, the Forest of Blind Dates]. Unfortunately, they got lost. They were very frightened, alone in the woods. They continued to walk in the forest when they came across a clearing. And there they saw [the king/the queen/a mysterious time traveller], the most beautiful person they’d ever seen. It was love at first sight. They agreed they would be married at once, and everyone in the [kingdom/queendom/magical land] was invited.”
Feel free to mix up this story to include special moments in your relationship. Try including inside jokes from your hen do/stag party, when you were dating, or other sweet anecdotes to help your guests feel more involved with your story.
The final page of your story should include all the details of your fairytale wedding. Be sure to include the time, date, place, and dress code as a minimum.
Step 2. Work closely with your designer to fit your story onto the pages of your invite. They may recommend that you have some illustrations made to enhance the fairytale feel. If you’re creative or artistic, you can create these illustrations yourself.
Step 3. Select a font that complements the fairy tale theme and enhances the readability of your story. A script or calligraphy-style font can add a touch of elegance and add to the whimsy of the invite.
Step 4. Once you have finalised your invitations and received the finished pieces, pack them into large envelopes (potentially the ones with bubble wrap) and post them to your guests.
Passport invitations or boarding passes are perfect for a destination wedding, for couples who met on holiday, or for those with a love of travelling. They’re easy to DIY with the help of a little technology and creativity.
What you’ll need
A printer
Cardstock
Cutting tools
Envelopes
Method
Step 1. Design your passport or boarding pass using digital design software. You can either create your own design or try searching any of the below vendors for a template which you can then customise:
Vintage postcards are similar to creating your own boarding pass or passport. All you’ll need is a digital template or inspiration piece, and you’re good to go!
Try creating a vintage postcard based on where you met your partner, a place that holds special significance, or where you’re getting married. Bonus points if this location has a special historical significance of vintage flair. For example, a sweet café in Paris.
What you’ll need
A printer
Cardstock
Cutting tools
Envelopes
Method
Step 1. Design your postcard using digital design software. You might want to use an actual vintage postcard or digitally edit a new postcard to look vintage.
Step 2. Print out your design and trim using cutting tools. Fill in details like the names of guests on the back.
Step 3. Place your invite in an envelope and send it to your guests.
QR codes are a modern and increasingly popular way to share your wedding invitation.
This will require quite a bit of background work before you can send a QR code in the post. For example, you’ll need to create a wedding website with information about the time, date, and location of your wedding. However, this can be handy as you can store all your wedding information in one place for guests to access.
What you’ll need
A wedding website
A QR code generator
Design software
A printer
Cardstock
Envelopes
Method
Step 1. Your first step will be to create a wedding website. This will act as the landing page for your QR code and include all the essential information about your big day. You can have a professional help you with this, but it’s also easy to create a simple website using online guides. You will need to consider:
Which host you will use. There are a range of website hosts you can use, and they vary in price. Some are free like WordPress, whereas websites like Squarespace are a little pricier but come with beautiful, easy-to-customise templates.
The design of your site. It’s recommended that your website’s design matches your wedding’s theme. The level of design will depend largely on your skill level, but you can employ a professional to help you with this.
Your essential wedding website pages. You should include the following pages: Home, Key Details, RSVP, Travel Plans, Gift Registry, Gallery. You could also include additional pages that add a personal touch and enhance the overall experience for your guests. For example, Our Story, Dress Code, Social Media Hashtags, Countdown, Song Requests, and even Fun Facts.
Lots of website hosts will allow you to create a QR code that links to your website. You’ll need a QR creation tool if they don’t.
Step 2. Find an online QR creation tool, like Adobe’s free QR code generator. This image will link back to your website, where guests can find all the information they need about your big day. Once you’ve created your QR code, download it as an image file ready for printing.
Step 3. Use design software to create an invitation that centres your QR code. You can put this in an envelope and send it to your guests as you would a paper-based wedding invitation. It’s traditional but with a modern twist.
Hand-painted wedding invitations offer a personalised and artistic touch. Plus, they’re easier to create than you might think!
What you’ll need
Cardstock
Watercolour paint
A paint palette or an old saucer
Brushes
Calligraphy ink
Envelopes
Method
Step 1. Put a small blob of the paint colours you’d like on your palette. Be sure to keep them far apart so they don’t mix and get muddy. Add water to the paint until they become translucent.
Step 2. Apply the paint to your cardstock in unusual shapes and patterns. Don’t worry about it being too perfect –- it’s supposed to look abstract! Wait for the first layer to fully dry before adding a second. Build up the layers until the invitation is bright enough. If you prefer a more delicate, pastel look, only use one or two layers of paint.
Step 3. Allow the paint to fully dry before writing your wedding details over the top. Once the ink from the information has dried, pop your invitations in an envelope and send them to your guests.
Remember the fortune teller origami games you made at school? You might have also called them whirly birds or cootie catchers? Have you considered making them into a wedding invitation? They’re a fun and unique way to engage your guests and add a playful touch to your wedding invitation.
What you’ll need
Design software
A printer
Specialist printer paper
Envelopes
Method
Step 1. You might benefit from making a draft fortune teller, marking each section, and then unfolding it so you can know exactly what information to put where. This way, the information will sit in the right place when the fortune teller is all folded up.
Step 2. Begin creating different sections of the fortune teller in your design software. Clearly label each section with the information it will contain, such as date, time, venue, and RSVP details.
Step 3. Print a draft of the fortune teller and fold it up to check the layout. This step ensures that when your guests fold the fortune teller, the information will be presented in the correct order.
Step 4. Print the fortune tellers on high-quality printer paper or cardstock. Consider using slightly thicker paper to ensure durability.
Step 5. Pop the fortune tellers in the envelopes and send them to your guests.
Did you know you can print your wedding invitation onto a fridge magnet? Magnetic invitations are a practical and memorable way to ensure your guests don’t miss your wedding details every time they reach for a snack. They’re great for the busy (or disorganised!) people in your life, and work particularly well for save the dates.
What you’ll need
Look for printing companies or specialised vendors that offer magnetic printing services. Check their reviews, portfolio, and the types of materials they use to ensure quality. We’ve got plenty of suppliers right here on Bridebook who offer fridge magnet style wedding invites. For example:
You’ll need to work closely with a vendor to design your magnetic wedding invitations. You can work together on your designs, font, colours, and more. Ask them to create one on the first run. This way, you can quality-check the item and make sure everything has come out the way you expected. Once they’re all approved, you can create a larger batch and send them out to your guests.
Printing your invitation onto a puzzle and asking guests to put it together adds a fun and interactive element to sending your wedding invitations. You should make it fairly easy to solve. Think 20 pieces or less. It would be a bit embarrassing if no one could solve the puzzle so no one showed up!
What you’ll need
As with the magnetic invites, you’ll need to work with specialist vendors to help you create your puzzle invitation. These vendors typically specialise in unique and creative invitation designs, and will have specialist equipment to help you achieve your creative wedding invite. These will include custom printing, die-cutting, and intricate paper engineering.
Method
You’ll need to work closely with them to design the size, shape, and complexity of the puzzle pieces. Discuss your vision for the overall aesthetic, theme, and colour scheme to ensure that the final product is exactly what you’d hoped for.
Message-in-a-bottle invitations are great for beach bums, sailing couples, or anyone with a sense of adventure. These invitations are designed, printed off, rolled up, and placed in a bottle. We won’t go as far as to say guests should go looking for them on a beach! However, it might be an idea to hand-deliver these precious parcels instead of sending them in the post.
To enhance the experience, try incorporating beach sand, tiny seashells, or even a subtle maritime fragrance within the bottle. This provides a multisensory experience for your guests as they unseal and read the message.
What you’ll need
Glass bottles
Candle wax
Corks
Cardstock
Any additional elements like seashells or beach sand
Method
Step 1. Start by picking your glass bottles. While you can of course purchase matching glass bottles, it adds to the rustic appeal if they’re all different. Try collecting them as time goes on or visiting a second-hand shop or charity shop to see if they have unique and eclectic options.
Pro tip: Use nail varnish remover and a cotton ball to remove any sticker or label residue.
Step 2. Design and print the invitation messages on durable cardstock. Consider adding a touch of creativity to the message to align with the adventurous theme. At this point, you should add any seashells, sand, or other elements you’re considering using. Roll each message tightly, making sure they fit easily into the chosen bottles.
Step 3. Cork every bottle and seal it with some melted candle wax. This step seals the bottle and adds a rustic, nautical aesthetic to your invitations.
Step 4. While posting the invitations is an option, the true charm of a message-in-a-bottle experience is heightened when delivered by hand. Plus, this way, there’s no risk of the bottle breaking during delivery.
The bottom line on creative and inspiring wedding invitations
Although they take a little more effort, creative and inspiring wedding invitations set the tone for your big day and can be a memorable keepsake for your special guests.
There are a number of options for unique and unusual wedding cards, and each one is just as beautiful as they are fun. Ultimately, it’s up to you and your partner which one will suit your wedding best. Our top tips are to look for inspiration online, work with a trusted vendor, and not be afraid of redesigning or reworking if something goes wrong.
If you’re feeling crafty and want to tackle your own wedding invitations, we’ve collated a brilliant guide to how to make DIY wedding invitations. We also have a great roster of professional stationers who are ready to help you craft your wedding vision.
Between save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, and thank-you cards, the cost of professionally printed wedding stationery certainly adds up. Although hiring a professional to create these important keepsakes is a fantastic hassle-free option, there’s something to be said for the warmth and cost-effectiveness of DIY wedding stationery.
Making your own wedding stationery is a great way to not only save money but also add a personal touch to your big day. It’s an opportunity to let your creativity shine, craft bespoke keepsakes, and leave a lasting impression on your guests from the moment they receive their invitation.
So, if you’re looking to add a touch of uniqueness and a dash of your own personality to your wedding stationery, keep reading! This post explores the benefits of making your own wedding stationery, gives a step-by-step guide to DIY wedding invites, and highlights some wedding invitation etiquette to consider.
The benefits of making your own wedding stationery
There are several benefits to making your own wedding stationery. These include:
Budget-friendly. Professional printing services can be very expensive, and the cost-saving benefits of making your own wedding invitations can’t be underestimated. Plus, anything you save in wedding invitations can go towards other aspects of your big day!
A personal touch. Professionally printed wedding invitations are professional and beautiful. However, there’s nothing like the handmade beauty of a DIY wedding invite. This personal touch means your wedding invitations are 100% original and tailored to match your colour scheme and decor.
Quality control. When you make your own stationery, you have full control over the quality. You can choose the type of paper, font, printing method, and ensure that every detail meets your standards. This level of control guarantees a finished product that’s exactly as you envisioned.
Easy to make last-minute changes. DIY stationery gives you the flexibility to make last-minute changes to your design. For example, you might have a sudden inspiration for a different accent colour or decide to include a special quote or song lyric that resonates with you and your partner.
A bonding experience. Making your own wedding stationery can be a fun bonding experience with your soon-to-be spouse, maid of honour, or other members of your wedding party.
Making your own wedding invitations isn’t difficult. It just takes a little bit of time, effort, and forward planning. Try following our eight steps to design, create, and send your dream, budget-friendly wedding invitations.
Making your own wedding invitations isn’t difficult. It just takes a little bit of time, effort, and forward planning. Try following our 11 steps to design, create, and send your dream, budget-friendly wedding invitations.
1. Find your style
The first step of wedding invite DIY is to gather inspiration and find your personal style. Most people like to match their invitations to the theme of their wedding. For example, neutral and elegant, dark and bold, bright and colourful, or pastel and cutesy.
However, if you’re not yet sure what theme you want, try flicking through wedding magazines, checking out dreamy Instagram posts, pinning on Pinterest boards, or visiting art galleries. Take photos of anything that catches your eye and collate them into a physical or digital mood board. Are there any common themes, colours, or styles? If so, these might be the clues to your wedding invitation style, and you can use these as your inspiration when crafting your wedding invites.
2. Calculate your budget
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that low cost means no cost. There will still be expenses you need to budget for when making your DIY wedding invitations. For example:
Paper. Consider the thickness of your paper and the type of paper you’d like. For example, you might opt for heavyweight cardstock if you want a luxury look and feel. On the other hand, recycled or coloured paper is great for a shabby-chic or rustic look.
Ink. Higher-quality ink is understandably more expensive than its budget-friendly counterparts. In addition, printer ink is usually cheaper than calligraphy ink or specialty glitter ink. While it may seem like a small detail, the choice of ink can significantly impact the overall aesthetic of your DIY wedding invitations.
Envelopes. Think of envelopes as the gift wrapping of your wedding invitations. Custom-designed or coloured invitations will be more expensive than their standard counterparts. Embellishments like wax seals, custom printing, or personalised stickers will increase the cost.
Postage. Postage costs will be pretty standard no matter where they’re sent from. However, you can save money by ensuring your invitations fall within standard size and weight guidelines to avoid extra fees. You can also hand-deliver invitations to save on postage costs.
Embellishments like ribbon, glitter, bows, dried flowers, or appliqués. Again, the quality of these materials is usually reflected in their cost.
Crafting tools. Crafting tools might include small things like glue, scissors, or precision knives. However, they might also include larger items like printers, computer software, or larger paper cutters. These large tools can save a lot of time if you have a lot of invitations to craft, but the upfront cost can significantly increase your budget. If possible, consider renting these tools or hiring professional vendors for one-off use, for example, a one-off printed stencil which you can then use for many hand-crafted invitations.
It’s also a good idea to keep a small budget aside for any unexpected costs or last-minute changes that might creep up during the design process. Setting a small extra budget aside will help you be prepared in case of any bumps in the road.
Pro tip: If you’re not a fan of number-crunching, don’t worry – our handybudget tool will do all the hard work for you!
3. Consider using technology or professionals
If you’re not very crafty, you can speed up wedding invitation DIY by using technology or professional wedding vendors. For example, you could download a wedding invite template, print it off on cardstock, and hand-finish it with dried flowers, ink, and ribbon. You can find a range of print-on-demand wedding templates with the following great suppliers:
On the other hand, if you’re looking to speed up the writing process, you could print, cut, and decorate your own wedding invitations, before handing them over to a professional calligrapher for a touch of elegance. This way, you get the best of both worlds —the efficiency of technology, your own personal touches, and the beautiful finish of a skilled calligrapher.
The key takeaway here is that making your own wedding stationery is a flexible and customisable process. If hands-on crafting isn’t your forte, technology and professional vendors are there to lend a helping hand.
4. Pick your theme and colours
The next step is to pick your theme and colours. Most couples match their invitation colours to the colours of their wedding. This will give guests a sneak peek at what they can expect and keep a consistent theme across all the wedding stationery.
However, some people prefer their wedding invites to be in a contrasting colour or style to their wedding theme. This can make your wedding invites more striking and memorable.
Ultimately, the choice between matching or contrasting invitations comes down to your personal preferences and the message you want to convey to your guests.
5. Consider the fit
The secret to getting professional-looking wedding invitations is to ensure they’re properly centred in the middle of your paper and there’s an even border all around the document.
Start by ensuring your design sits right in the middle of your chosen paper. Centring not only enhances the visual appeal but also gives a sense of balance and professionalism. Use a combination of precise measurements, guides, and printer settings to ensure your corners and borders are aligned, and make sure your printer settings are calibrated for accurate results. Pay attention to factors like paper size, weight, and orientation to avoid any unexpected surprises.
Be aware that your printer might not always play ball: we recommend cutting your invitations with an extra-wide border. You can then trim them down to the exact size after printing for a flawless finish.
6. Gather your supplies
You should then gather your wedding invitation supplies. Although you can collect them as you go, it makes more sense to take a proactive approach and collect all the materials you need before you start your wedding invite DIY. This way, you can settle down and focus all your attention on making your beautiful invites.
7. Make a first draft
Now for the fun part — it’s time to get started! It’s a good idea to make a first draft of your invitations to make sure you’re happy with the layout and colour scheme, and to make sure there’s enough room for all the written information.
Creating a first draft allows you to fine-tune your wedding invitations and ensure they communicate all the essential information. Take your time at this stage to make sure your invite is exactly how you’ve envisioned. Once you’re satisfied with the draft, you can start crafting the rest of your invitations!
You don’t have to go completely DIY when making your first draft. There are plenty of downloadable wedding invitation templates you can find online, which you can customise and then print out at home for a fraction of the price.
Many professional stationers also offer bespoke, DIY options. For example:
Print Glorious Print –Print Glorious Print is an online customisable wedding invitation company. You can tailor pre-designed templates to build the perfect design for your wedding invites.
Amore Invitations –Amore Invitations specialise in creating and designing elegant handmade wedding stationery and greetings cards. This includes templates you can edit and print at home (with digital downloads starting from as low as £1!).
Pure Invitation –Pure Invitation offers bespoke DIY and handmade invitations and on-the-day stationery, in countless colour combinations. Choose to DIY using their easy assembly kits or let them do the assembly for you.
Chic wedding designs co –Chic wedding designs co work with leading artists, illustrators, calligraphers and brands to offer a highly curated and unique collection of designs. These can be personalised by you online and sent digitally.
Danielle Hamilton –Danielle Hamilton provides fully editable DIY wedding stationery. You can download them as a digital file (in PNG, JPG, or PDF), and then take to your local printer or print at home to save thousands!
8. Assemble your wedding invites
Once you’ve perfected your first draft, you can start making your invitations. We recommend blocking out a day and doing them in one sitting. Although it might seem like a lot of work, the relief that will come from completing your wedding invitations in one day will be well worth the effort.
If you have a lot of invites to DIY or you aren’t very crafty, we recommend enlisting the help of your soon-to-be spouse, parent, or someone else from the wedding party. Having an extra pair of hands and a fresh perspective can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Plus, it can be a fun experience that creates happy wedding planning memories.
9. Post your invites
Once completed, it’s time to pack your invitations into envelopes and post them to your guests. Be sure to include an RSVP card so your guests can respond to your invitations.
Double-check any addresses before you post your wedding invitations. There would be nothing worse than putting all that effort in for the invitation to go to the wrong place!
10. Track your RSVPs
Try to keep track of your RSVPs as they come in. Although this may seem like a task you can put off, keeping a record of your RSVPs as you receive them will save you a lot of time and stress as your wedding day approaches.
Pro tip: Use Bridebook’sGuest List tool to effortlessly manage all your wedding guests and invites. Here you can add the date you sent their invitation, the date you received their RSVP, any important information like dietary requirements, and even their contact details.
11. Celebrate!
The final step is to celebrate! Finishing making your own wedding stationery is no small task, and you deserve a glass of bubbles or a nice cup of tea once it’s all over.
Wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding date, allowing your guests ample time to RSVP and make necessary arrangements. If you’re having a destination wedding or a wedding during a busy season, consider sending them even earlier.
Include a dress code
If you have a specific dress code for your wedding, mention it on the invitation. Common dress codes include “black tie,” “formal,” “semi-formal,” or “casual.” However, you can also ask people to dress in specific colours, or even to completely avoid specific colours. For example,
“We would appreciate it if our guests dressed in pastel shades to maintain the tea-party aesthetic. Please avoid dark colours like black or navy blue. And, of course, please don’t wear white.”
Address the cards properly
Although it may sound simple, addressing your cards to the proper people can prevent any miscommunications or mix-ups regarding who is invited to the wedding. For example, if you’re having a child-free wedding, but you address your wedding invitations “To The Smith Family,” there may be some miscommunication regarding which members of the family are invited on the day. However, if you specify, “To Jane and John Smith only,” there will be no confusion.
Include an RSVP card
Including RSVP cards is a practical way to facilitate the RSVP process. To be extra proactive, pre-address the RSVP slips and include a stamp in the envelope.
Making your own wedding stationery is a fun and creative way to infuse a personal touch into your wedding day. Although professional wedding invitations are beautiful and convenient, crafting your own invitations will allow you to design an invitation that’s as unique as your big day, not to mention affordable. Although it might seem daunting, crafting your own wedding invitations is easier than you might think. All you need is a little forward planning, a dash of creativity, and plenty of time.
So, if you’re considering DIY wedding invitations, take the plunge with confidence and enthusiasm. Enjoy the process of turning your ideas into special keepsakes for your family and guests, and remember that every detail you add and colour you choose becomes a part of your love story.
Your wedding ceremony is the culmination of months of planning, where your friends and loved ones gather to celebrate the love between you and your partner. It’s a beautiful and romantic time when you start a new chapter of your life with your soulmate.
Did you know that the length of a wedding ceremony can vary depending on a number of factors? Everything from your religion to your personal preferences can have a huge effect on how long your wedding ceremony will be.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at how long wedding ceremonies are, including the different reasons for longer and shorter ceremonies, and the length of different types of ceremonies across the UK.
Because there are so many different types of wedding ceremonies in the UK with so many different variables, it’s hard to put an exact figure on how long a wedding ceremony lasts. Some religious ceremonies can last an hour or more, while non-religious ceremonies, like registry office weddings, might only last 10 minutes.
What factors can impact the length of a wedding ceremony?
The length of a wedding ceremony is determined by many factors, from the number of traditions you want to include to your budget. Every wedding has to follow some of the same steps to ensure the marriage is legal, and unless you’re having a religious ceremony that follows a set structure, you’re free to personalise it however you like.
Below are some of the factors that can impact the length of a wedding ceremony:
Your religion and beliefs – Because there can be several traditions and rituals in religious wedding ceremonies that have to be included, they can sometimes be among the longest.
Your culture – Many cultures have traditions that are important, for example, there are many black wedding traditions that couples like to include to honour their heritage.
Your officiant or celebrant – Some officiants will want to engage your guests more than others, especially at a religious ceremony. Similarly, if you’ve hired a celebrant, their job is to add personalisation to your ceremony, which also means it’ll be on the longer side.
Your budget – If you’re working with a smaller budget, you’re more likely to have a shorter ceremony as it means fewer personalisations.
Your venue – Sometimes your chosen venue might have restrictions or limitations that mean you can’t include all of the personalisations you might like, or some aspects have to be shortened. This is especially true if you’re getting married outside and the weather isn’t on your side.
Your preferences – At the end of the day, your wedding ceremony is all about you, so include (or remove) whatever you like to make sure it’s perfect.
Your guests – The more guests you have, the longer your ceremony might take, especially if you have a large wedding party.
The type of wedding – Some ceremonies are naturally longer than others, for example, a traditional wedding ceremony is around three or four times longer than a registry office wedding.
Your wedding ceremony will be one of the most memorable times of your life. And yet it’ll be over in what feels like a flash! So why are wedding ceremonies often so short? Here are just a few reasons:
They’re a legal process – Some legal processes can be drawn out and laborious… but thankfully, getting married isn’t one of them. There are surprisingly few legal steps to take, which are mainly making declaratory and contracting vows and signing the register. Religious ceremonies take a little longer as you’re not only making a promise to each other (and your loved ones), but also to God.
They’re emotionally charged – Weddings are super emotional, with parents, grandparents and others crying lots of happy tears. Now just imagine how draining it would be if the ceremony went on for a long time!
They follow traditions – Throughout history, wedding ceremonies haven’t really changed all that much, and still include many of the same traditions and structures as they have for hundreds of years. Though you probably didn’t see as many photographers around at medieval weddings, so a few things might have changed a tad.
They suit your guests – Sitting still for a long time can be tough, especially for younger guests. Shorter ceremonies mean there’s little risk of some guests getting fidgety. Plus, the shorter a ceremony is, the quicker you can get to celebrating with your loved ones!
How long are different types of wedding ceremonies?
From traditional wedding ceremonies to Hindu wedding ceremonies, no two are ever exactly alike. Some might last a few minutes, while others could go on for well over an hour. Below, we’ll take a look at a variety of different wedding ceremonies and let you know approximately how long they last.
How long is a traditional wedding ceremony?
A traditional wedding ceremony is usually between 45 and 60 minutes, but this can vary slightly depending on your personal preferences. For example, if you choose to include readings or hymns, it will push your ceremony closer to 60 minutes.
Traditional ceremonies are among the most popular types of ceremonies in the UK. They can take place in a wide variety of venues, are highly customisable and couples of many faiths can have one. They include a lot of the most recognisable parts of a UK wedding ceremony, including the processional, the declaration, the first kiss and the signing of the register.
How long is a registry office wedding ceremony?
A registry office wedding is one of the shortest ceremonies you can have, with most taking around 10 to 15 minutes. They don’t include any references to religion and quickly get to the legal process without a lot of the pageantry that comes with traditional ceremonies.
Usually, after the officiant welcomes you and your guests, you’ll go straight to the vows. If you’ve chosen to have one, this may follow a reading before the rings are exchanged and you go on to sign the register.
How long is a Catholic wedding ceremony?
When you have a Catholic wedding, which always takes place in a church and is officiated by a priest, it often includes a communion and full mass. When it does, a ceremony will take around an hour, but if it doesn’t it’ll take around 45 minutes.
A Catholic wedding not only focuses on your commitment to each other, but also on the commitment you’re making to God, which is why it’s often longer than a traditional wedding ceremony.
How long is a Jewish wedding ceremony?
A Jewish wedding ceremony will often last around 30 to 45 minutes. The ceremony usually includes a lot of Jewish wedding ceremony traditions, such as the breaking of the glass and the circling of the fire.
How long is a Muslim wedding ceremony?
A Muslim wedding ceremony, known as a Nikah, typically lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. However, this doesn’t include the toble, which takes place before the ceremony itself. There are several traditions, such as the Nikah-Namah and Savaqah, which are included in most Muslim wedding traditions.
How long is a Hindu wedding ceremony?
A Hindu wedding ceremony, much like the overall celebrations, is one the longest around. Because there are so many traditions, a ceremony will usually take around 90 minutes. Some of the traditions include the milni, kanyadaan and jaimala exchange.
Following the ceremony, the celebrations and festivities can go on for days – sometimes for as long as five!
How long is a non-denominational wedding ceremony?
Most non-denominational weddings last between 30 and 45 minutes, but they can be longer or shorter. The great thing about a non-denominational wedding is that it’s super personalised, so can be as long or short as you want it to be.
Plan your perfect wedding with Bridebook
Now that you know how long many of the UK’s most popular wedding ceremonies last, you can start planning your own big day and make it as personal to you as you like. Sign up to Bridebook for all the handy tools, information and resources you need to plan the wedding of your dreams.
Your wedding ceremony is the biggest and most important moment of your entire wedding day. It’s the culmination of months or even years of planning, and you’ll be running on excitement and adrenaline as you tie the knot with the love of your life, as your family and friends gather to watch.
But what exactly happens at a wedding ceremony? Are they all the same? How do you know what to say and when, and how can you make sure it goes ahead perfectly?
Thankfully, throughout the ceremony, there are professionals to guide you through the process. That doesn’t mean you can’t find out how your ceremony might go down even before you’ve secured a date. So, in this post, we’re going to take a deep dive into different wedding ceremony orders, including those from various cultures, beliefs and religions commonly found across the UK.
No, not all wedding ceremonies follow the same order. Many ceremonies will contain a lot of the same elements, but they might be in a different order, be longer or shorter, or have different references to religions and traditions.
One of the only things that have to follow the same basic rules at every wedding ceremony in the UK are the declaratory words and contracting words – but even then, there may be some small differences.
Some of the things that can influence a wedding ceremony’s order of events include:
Cultural and religious traditions – For example, ceremonies at a place of worship will likely include references to God and have hymns, prayers and readings from religious texts.
The type of wedding – The type of wedding will play a huge part. For example, a traditional wedding will almost always have a longer order than a registry office wedding.
The celebrant – A celebrant brings a huge amount of personalisation to a wedding ceremony, telling stories to engage you and your guests. This means a ceremony with a celebrant tends to be longer than one without.
Your budget – If you have a smaller budget, you can opt for a shorter ceremony which means you’re likely to pay less than if you had a longer ceremony.
The venue – Certain venues may have limitations, or if you’re getting married outside it could influence the order – especially if it threatens to rain.
Personal preferences – Apart from the legal bit, you have complete control over what you include in your ceremony (especially if it’s a non-religious ceremony). So, if you’d like readings, songs and poetry, you can. Or, if you’d like a short ceremony, this is absolutely fine too.
The size of your wedding party – If you’re having a small and more intimate wedding, you may not want to include certain aspects of a traditional wedding, such as the processional or confetti shot.
The length of a wedding ceremony can differ massively. A traditional wedding ceremony will last around 45 minutes, while a religious ceremony will be around an hour or more. However, a registry office wedding ceremony is comparatively much shorter, and will usually last around 10 or 15 minutes.
The order at a wedding ceremony is the sequence in which everything happens, from the moment it begins to the moment it ends and you’re legally declared a married couple. As we’ve already highlighted, the order of service at a wedding differs depending on a lot of different factors, from religious beliefs to personal preferences. Below, we’ll take a look at different wedding ceremony orders across a variety of religions and cultures found throughout the UK.
This infographic illustrates the traditional wedding ceremony order
A traditional wedding ceremony is one of the most popular ways for couples to tie the knot in the UK. A traditional ceremony will last around 45 to 60 minutes, depending on your personal preferences and what you’d like to be included, such as readings.
Here’s the order of events at a traditional wedding ceremony in the UK:
1. The processional
This is the moment when your excitement will be at its highest and your wedding ceremony begins. After your guests are seated and settled, the music you’ve chosen will play and the processional will start. The traditional order is:
Bride’s mum
Groom’s parents
Bride’s grandparents
Groom’s grandparents
Groom
Officiant
Bridesmaids
Maid of honour
Best man
Ring bearer or page boy
Flower girl
The bride and her father
Of course, this all depends on the size of your wedding and your own circumstances and preferences. This might be the traditional order, but even at a traditional wedding, you don’t need to stick to it. If you’re an LGBTQ+ couple, you may even choose to walk down the aisle together. Do whatever feels right and what makes the two of you happy on your big day.
2. The welcome
At the end of the procession, your family and friends will take their seats as you and your bridesmaids and groomsmen join you at the front (or altar if you’re having a church wedding ceremony). The officiant will then welcome everyone and thank them for being there on your special day. If you’ve hired a celebrant, they’ll introduce you using stories and humour and add an extra level of personalisation that draws everyone in.
3. A song or reading
Before the marriage ceremony commences, you may have chosen to have a song or reading. These are very common at religious ceremonies, but also something you can include in a non-religious or multi-faith ceremony. You could include your favourite hymn, or ask a loved one to do a reading that means something to you, such as a poem, song lyrics or an extract from a book or play.
4. Marriage ceremony
Next, the part you’ve been waiting for. The officiant will address you to tell you about the commitment you’re making to each other and how important the vows you’re about to exchange are. They’ll ask your guests whether anyone knows of any reason why you may not be married… and you’ll probably hold your breath, even though you know you don’t have anything to worry about!
Then it’s time for the two of you to exchange vows. Many couples choose to repeat short sentences fed to them by the officiant, but you may also want to write your own vows. There’s no right answer or choice here – it’s up to you and what you feel comfortable and happy with.
After the vows, you’ll get to say I do as you and your partner lock eyes. It’s at this stage when your loved ones will be well and truly crying with happiness.
5. Exchanging of the rings
It’s time for the two of you to exchange rings (or another symbolic exchange if you’ve chosen ring alternatives). If you have a best man, they may have been holding on to these for you, which they’ll hand to the officiant. You’ll then exchange some more words, this time about how the rings symbolise your love, as you slip them on each other’s fingers.
6. Declaration of marriage and first kiss
Next, the officiant will say the words you’ve been waiting for so long to hear: By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife (or a variation of this for LGBTQ+ couples). They’ll also invite you to share your first kiss, and you’ll happily oblige as your friends and family celebrate and your photographer snaps some fantastic photos.
7. An optional song, reading or prayer
With a religious ceremony, there may be another song, reading or prayer here. This is something you may also want to include in a non-religious ceremony, and is a great way to involve another family member or friend in your ceremony.
8. The signing of the register
For your marriage to be legal, you and your new spouse will have to sign a marriage register in the company of two witnesses. This should only take around 10 minutes and music will play as your guests happily wait for you.
9. The end of the ceremony
Once you’ve signed the register, the officiant will thank your guests for attending and announce that you’d like them to join you at the breakfast or reception to celebrate.
10. The recessional
Music will play as the two of you leave the venue hand in hand, as a newly married couple. Outside, your guests will have lined up (under instruction from your photographer) so they can throw confetti over you as your photographer takes some wonderful pictures for your wedding album.
11. The photographs
Before heading on to the breakfast, your photographer will take a series of photographs with your family and friends, as well as plenty with just the two of you. These will be in and around the venue, and maybe elsewhere if you’ve asked for something specific.
12. On to the breakfast or reception
After the photographs, you and your new spouse will then make your way to the venue for your wedding breakfast or reception and an evening of celebrating with your loved ones.
Because the ceremony is so much shorter and can’t contain religious elements, there are far fewer elements than there are in a traditional ceremony. An example registry office wedding ceremony will follow an order similar to this:
1. Pre-ceremony meeting
Before the ceremony officially begins, you’ll meet with the registrar (either separately or together) just to check that all the details are correct. Once confirmed, the ceremony can begin.
2. The processional
Because registry office weddings are more intimate, the wedding party will be smaller than at a traditional wedding. However, you can still have bridesmaids, groomsmen, a page boy and flower girl if you like.
You can also choose the music you’d like to play, but it can’t be a hymn or religious piece of music.
3. The welcome
Once you’re both at the front and your guests are seated, the registrar welcomes everyone to the ceremony.
4. The legal declaration and contracting vows
The registrar will run through the words each of you has to repeat as part of the declaration and vows, which you can choose ahead of the ceremony.
5. The readings
If you choose to include readings, such as a poem or lyrics from a song, they’ll usually come after the vows. Like the music, they also can’t have any religious elements.
6. The exchanging of the rings
The registrar will then ask for the rings (which your best man may be holding on to) and you’ll give them to one another while saying personal vows. These can be fed to you by the registrar or you can write your own non-religious vows.
7. The declaration of marriage and first kiss
Now, the registrar will declare you married and invite you to share your first kiss as a married couple.
8. The signing of the register
The two of you, as well as your witnesses, will sign the register so your marriage is legally binding. You can also choose the music to play while your guests wait.
9. The photographs
The two of you can pose for photographs with your certificate, which may be family or friends or an official photographer if you choose to hire one.
10. The recessional
The registrar will end the ceremony and announce that you’d like your guests to join you if you’re moving on to a venue for a breakfast or reception. As you exit, you can have another piece of music of your choosing playing.
11. More photographs and the confetti shot
If you’ve hired a photographer, they’ll work with your guests to set up the perfect confetti shot. We recommend you speak to the venue ahead of time to make sure they’re happy with you using confetti (as there can sometimes be restrictions on this).
The photographer will then direct you and your guests so you can have photos taken for your wedding album.
12. On to the breakfast or reception
If you’ve chosen to have a breakfast or reception after the ceremony, you’ll make your way to the event to spend time celebrating your marriage with your loved ones.
This infographic illustrates a Catholic wedding ceremony order
A Catholic wedding ceremony is a highly religious ceremony, because the Church believes that marriage is not only a promise between a couple, but also to God. As a result, all Catholic wedding ceremonies take place in a church.
The order is similar to that of a traditional wedding ceremony, but with several noticeable differences. Below is what you might see as part of a Catholic wedding ceremony order, which doesn’t allow for as many personalisations as a traditional ceremony.
1. The processional
The processional begins with the priest first walking down the aisle to the altar, followed by the wedding party which follows the same order as a traditional ceremony, which is:
Bride’s mum
Groom’s parents
Bride’s grandparents
Groom’s grandparents
Groom
Officiant
Bridesmaids
Maid of honour
Best man
Ring bearer or page boy
Flower girl
The bride and her father
2. The entrance rites
The priest will welcome guests and begin with a prayer and rites. Because at least one side of the family has to be Catholic in order for the church to allow the ceremony to take place within the church, guests are expected to take part. A Catholic wedding isn’t always celebrated with a Mass, but they often are, especially if both families are Catholic.
3. The readings
Ahead of the ceremony, some of your guests will be asked to read passages from the Bible; one from the Old Testament and another from the New Testament. One of these readings will be about marriage, and your guests will repeat the Responsorial Psalm.
4. The gospel
Your guests will stand and the priest will read a passage from either Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, which will most likely be linked to love or marriage.
5. The homily
The priest will give a speech or sermon known as a homily, which explains the meaning behind the gospel and how it relates to the commitment you’re about to make to each other.
6. The vows
Next, you will recite or read your vows, otherwise known as a rite of marriage. These are set vows and you can’t add any personalisations. However, instead, you may ask the priest to read the vows so you can respond with I do.
7. The ring ceremony
The priest will ask the best man (or whoever else is holding them) for the rings, which they will bless with a prayer and holy water. The priest will then ask you to recite some words as each of you place the rings on each other’s fingers.
8. The offertory
Ahead of the ceremony, you will have asked several guests to offer gifts during the ceremony, which they will do now. Meanwhile, your other guests will be given the opportunity to offer a monetary donation. The priest brings forward and blesses the bread and wine, known as the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
9. The Lord’s Prayer
The congregation will recite the Lord’s Prayer.
10. The sign of peace
The priest will encourage all guests to greet each other with a handshake as a way to symbolise neighbourly love.
11. Holy Communion
Like at Mass, guests will gather at the altar to be offered bread and wine, which signifies the body and blood of Jesus. It symbolises a new covenant that God gives to His followers.
12. The first kiss
The priest will encourage you to share your first kiss as a married couple. If the bride is wearing a veil, the groom will lift it first.
13. The nuptial blessing
The priest will bless your guests with a prayer, which will end with the line go in peace, which guests will respond to by saying thanks be to God.
14. The recessional
The wedding party will walk back down the aisle in reverse order and leave the church for the confetti shot and photographs. Then, everyone will make their way to the next venue for the wedding breakfast and reception.
This infographic illustrates a Jewish wedding ceremony order
A Jewish wedding ceremony will usually take place in a synagogue, which is the name of a Jewish place of worship. The bride’s family will sit on the right-hand side, while the groom’s family sit on the left. A Jewish wedding ceremony will follow an order similar to the below:
1. The ketubah
Before the ceremony begins, the two of you will sign the marriage contract, known as the ketubah.
2. The bedeken
The bedeken is the name given to the ritual where the groom veils the bride before the ceremony, so he can see her face and know who he’s marrying.
3. The processional
The rabbi will begin a Jewish wedding ceremony by walking down the aisle followed by the rest of the wedding party in the following order:
Bride’s grandparents
Groom’s grandparents
Groomsmen
Best man
The groom and both parents
Bridesmaids
Maid of honour
Ring bearer
Flower girl
The bride and both parents
4. The vows
You will stand together under the chuppah, a canopy supported by four poles at the front, which symbolises the new home being created, and you’ll recite your vows.
5. The hakafot
Traditionally, the bride walks around the groom seven times, which is a gesture that symbolises protection. Many modern Jewish weddings will switch this up slightly, with the bride and groom each circling one another.
6. The exchanging of the rings
The ketubah which was signed before the ceremony is read aloud as the groom gives the bride her ring. There may also be a prayer which is traditionally in Hebrew, but in modern Jewish weddings, it may be recited in English.
7. The seven blessings
The seven blessings, also known as Sheva Brachot, are chanted by the rabbi or another guest of your choosing. This may also be in Hebrew or English. The bride then gives the groom his ring.
8. The breaking of the glass
A glass is placed on the floor beneath a cloth or napkin, and the groom stamps on it to break it. This symbolises the fragility of marriage, and how it has to be looked after so it doesn’t break. This is usually followed by a reading from Psalms.
9. Mazel tov
Guests are then invited to shout mazel tov! which is Hebrew for congratulations.
10. The recessional
The wedding party leaves the synagogue, as guests clap and cheer, in the following order:
This infographic illustrates a Muslim wedding ceremony order
A Muslim wedding ceremony, otherwise known as a Nikah, usually takes place in a mosque, a Muslim place of worship. Guests are asked to remove their shoes before entering the mosque, and men and women often sit separately during the ceremony. The mosque prayer leader, known as an Imam, will usually be the officiant.
The ceremony itself is usually fairly short, and will be completed within around 30 minutes. It will usually follow an order similar to the below:
1. The toble
Before the ceremony, the groom will speak to the bride’s parents to ask their permission to marry their daughter, which is known as the toble. Once the groom has permission, everyone will say a prayer called Surah Fatiha.
2. The mehr
The mehr is a gift, a little bit like a traditional dowry, given to the bride by the groom. The engagement ring may be considered the mehr, but it could also include other gifts or money.
3. The consent
Without seeing each other, the bride and groom need to give their consent. To do this, they must say qubool hai three times to the officiant.
4. The Nikah-Namah
The Nikah-Namah is the name of the Muslim marriage contract that the two of you will sign. Beforehand, it’s read aloud in Arabic by the officiant so everyone can hear.
5. The readings
The officiant will read verses from the Quran as part of a short sermon, at which point you will officially become married.
6. Savaqah
The final part of the ceremony is known as Savaqah, which is when gifts are given to those in need. In the case of a wedding ceremony, money is thrown at the bride.
Following the ceremony, you are joined by your guests to celebrate your marriage at the reception, which is usually at a different venue, such as a hotel. This begins with the zaffe, which is when the bride’s father walks her to the groom accompanied by music.
This infographic illustrates a Hindu wedding ceremony order
Hindu wedding ceremonies are among the longest in the world, often lasting many days as you’re joined by your guests to mark the occasion. A Hindu wedding ceremony isn’t legally binding in the UK, so beforehand you need to marry at a registry office, and then have the religious ceremony and celebrations afterwards. The ceremony is usually officiated by a Brahmin priest.
Before the day of the ceremony will also be Mehndi, which is when the bride’s family organises for the couple to come together so they can paint delicate henna designs on their hands and feet. This is similar to Haldi, when older female members of the family make a paste from turmeric and paint it onto the bride and groom to symbolise cleansing.
The actual Hindu ceremony itself will last around 90 minutes, and the order will follow something similar to the below:
1. The baraat
The baraat is the name given to the groom’s arrival, which he will traditionally do while riding a white horse, but in many modern Hindu weddings, the groom may prefer to ride in a car, like a sports car or convertible.
2. The milni
The milni is a meeting between the groom and the bride’s parents and friends. He may be presented with a gift known as a shagun, which is supposed to bring him good luck.
3. The bride enters
The bride walks down the aisle being escorted by male family members. Traditionally it might be her brothers or uncles, but more brides are choosing to be accompanied by their fathers. The bride joins the groom, his parents, the bride’s mother and the priest at the front.
4. Kanyadaan
This is when the bride’s father gives away his daughter, which is a long-standing Hindu tradition. In kanyadaan, the bride’s father takes her right hand and places it in the groom’s right hand. He then asks him to treat her as his equal.
5. The jaimala exchange
The two of you exchange jaimala, which are garlands made from fresh flowers. It symbolises you accepting each other into your lives. The priest will then say a prayer in Sanskrit.
6. Havan
A sacred fire is lit to invite the deity Agni, the fire God, to rid you of darkness and bring you eternal light and knowledge. The bride gives an offering called homam, which can be rice and flowers.
7. Mangal Fera
Next, the groom leads the bride around the first three times, followed by the bride leading once. Each pass, known as a fera, represents one of life’s goals:
Dharma (morality)
Artha (prosperity)
Kama (positive energy)
Moksha (liberation)
As you complete the feras, the priest chants holy Mantras. Following this, you might race to take your seats, with tradition dictating that whoever sits first will be the head of the household. So you best make sure you wear some decent running shoes!
8. Saptapadi
To symbolise friendship, which is an important foundation for any Hindu marriage, you will take seven steps together, which may be around the holy fire. With each step you make a vow, and once all seven steps are complete you are officially married.
9. Sindhoor and Mangal Sutra
The groom puts sindhoor, an orange or red powder, in the bride’s hair. The groom then gives the bride a gold necklace, which is a symbol of love and respect, which, traditionally, she would only remove if her husband were to die.
10. The final blessings
The ceremony comes to an end as elders recite prayers and readings, and your guests offer their congratulations. Traditionally this is married women, who whisper good wishes into the bride’s right ear.
11. Talambralu
Talambralu is the end of the ceremony and is a happiness ritual, when you both bless one another by throwing rice, turmeric and saffron, which symbolises wealth and prosperity for your life ahead.
12. Ashirwad
To thank your guests for coming, you bow your heads to them as they offer blessings and well-wishes to you. Guests will also throw rice and flowers at you in celebration.
Following the ceremony, there’s likely to be several days of celebrating and festivities, with food, drink, music and games.
This infographic illustrates a non-denominational wedding ceremony order
A non-denominational wedding ceremony is generally a ceremony that doesn’t have a specific religious connection, and is relatively similar to a traditional wedding. It offers the couple the chance to have a personalised wedding and includes different traditions and rituals that aren’t tied to a specific religion.
Below is an example of what a non-denominational wedding ceremony order might look like:
1. The processional
The wedding party walks down the aisle, usually in the following order:
The officiant (anyone who has been ordained)
The groom
Best man
Groomsmen
Bridesmaids
Maid of honour
Ring bearer
Flower girl
The bride (with one or both parents)
Alternatively, the groom may want to stand at the altar before the processional starts, having entered from the side.
2. The welcome
The officiant welcomes everyone to the ceremony and will speak about you and the significance of marriage.
3. The readings
This is when a guest of your choosing will perform a reading, which might be a poem, song lyrics or a quote from a play or book. At a non-denominational wedding, readings can be from religious texts as well.
4. The unity candle
To symbolise unity, the pair of you lights a candle as the officiant gives a short sermon about commitment.
5. The unifying ritual
At this point in a non-denominational wedding ceremony, you will take part in a ritual that symbolises the two of you uniting as one. Because non-denominational ceremonies are so customisable, this could be religious or not. Popular unifying rituals include:
Releasing a lantern
Handfasting
Pouring sand
Circling
Jumping the broom
Planting a tree
Pouring tea or wine
6. The exchanging of vows
Next, you’ll exchange your vows, which you may have written yourselves (to either read or memorise) or have them fed to you by the officiant. You may also choose to say I do, one of the most exciting things to say over the whole wedding. Again, this is something you’re in control of, so do whatever makes you happy.
7. The exchanging of rings
You’ll then place wedding rings on each other’s fingers while reciting or repeating lines given to you by the officiant. If you’ve chosen not to wear rings, you may exchange another item of significance.
8. The declaration of marriage and first kiss
The officiant will declare you as married and invite you to share your first kiss in front of cheering family and friends.
9. The recessional
Finally, you walk back down the aisle, followed by the wedding party (in the opposite order to how everyone entered during the processional). Then it’s outside for the confetti shot and photographs before heading off to celebrate at your wedding breakfast and/or reception.
Plan your perfect wedding with Bridebook
Now that you know the order of many common wedding ceremonies in the UK, you can start planning your own big day. Sign up to Bridebook to discover all the tools, information and resources you need to make planning fun and simple.
So, it’s all over. All the months of planning, fitting, and crafting have come to an end. You’ve had your photographs back, your honeymoon was a dream, and you’ve made memories to last a lifetime. It can’t all be finished, surely?
Good news — it doesn’t have to be! There are still lovely wedding thank you cards to send. Wedding thank you cards are a great way to express your thanks and re-live the magic of your special day. But here’s the tricky part — who gets one?
In this post, we explore who you should send a thank you note to, whether you should send one to someone who didn’t attend the wedding, and look at some wedding card etiquette. Ready to start? Let’s jump in!
A wedding thank you card is a card given by the happy couple to their guests after the big day. It can be used to express gratitude for a wedding gift, for a cash gift, for their efforts in wedding planning, or simply for their attendance at the wedding.
Wedding thank you cards aren’t only a polite gesture but also a way to show how much the couple values the presence and contributions of their guests. These cards may include a personal message, a photo from the wedding, or other special touches to make the thank you more personal and memorable.
You should send wedding thank you cards to the following people:
Your wedding party members
Your wedding party members are anyone who played a significant role in your wedding day. For example, the maid of honour, best man, bridesmaids, and groomsmen. You should thank them for their efforts in wedding planning, their unwavering support, and the countless memorable moments they created throughout the journey.
If you’re stuck on what to say, try the following example:
We are so grateful to you for being part of our special day. We know how much work it’s been, and can’t thank you for standing by our side and supporting us on our special day. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Your parents
Your parents will no doubt have also played a big part in your wedding planning. If you’re lucky, they may have also paid a portion of the bill! It’s good manners to send them a card to acknowledge their efforts and support. Try using the following example:
Thank you so much for all your help in wedding planning and for all your guidance throughout our relationship. We couldn’t be more grateful for all your support.
We couldn’t have asked for better parents, and your love and support have meant the world to us, especially on our big day. Your involvement in our wedding planning and your generous contributions are much appreciated. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Wedding suppliers
It’s also nice to send a card to your wedding suppliers and wedding organisers. They hardly ever get thank you cards, and you couldn’t have put the big day together without them! Keep it short and sweet, but let them know how much you appreciate their professionalism and hard work on the big day. For example:
We wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your hard work on our wedding day. Your expertise and dedication made our day run seamlessly, and we couldn’t have asked for better support.
Thank you so much for all your hard work on our special day. Our wedding was a dream come true, and your contribution played a significant part in that. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
People who bought a gift from your registry
It’s good manners to thank the people who bought a gift from your registry. Be sure to thank them specifically for the gift, and include a short anecdote about what you’ve done with the gift. For example:
Thank you so much for the beautiful vase. We’ve popped it on the coffee table where we can see it every day!
Thank you for the gorgeous soft towels. I’m looking forward to my next bath so I can snuggle up in their fluff!
People who gave you money
Money is always appreciated when you’re starting out as newlyweds, and those generous souls who gifted you with cash deserve a special mention in your thank you cards. Let them know how grateful you are for their gift and what you intend to put the money towards. For example:
We were blown away by your generosity in our wedding card. Thank you so much. We’ll be putting the money towards our honeymoon. We’ll be sure to send you lots of pictures!
Thank you for the generous gift on the big day. We’ll be putting it towards our house deposit so we can have a fresh start as a married couple.
People who gave you an unfamiliar wedding gift
Buying gifts that weren’t on the registry is becoming more and more common. Although unexpected, these gifts can add an extra layer of excitement to the gift-opening experience.
Make a special effort to thank those who went ‘off-book’ for their creativity and consideration when buying your gift. Don’t mention that you weren’t expecting it. Instead, just thank them for their generosity. For example:
Thank you so much for your beautiful wedding gift. We don’t have an air fryer, and we’ve heard a lot about them, so we’re really excited to try it out!
Thank you so much for the beautiful painting you made us. We’re so grateful you took so much time to make us this gift, and we know it’ll look beautiful in the living room!
People who shared in a group wedding gift
Shared wedding gifts are a great way to keep down the cost of large or extravagant gifts. When thanking someone for a shared wedding gift, you should acknowledge the part they played in selecting the gift and the effort that clearly went into organising its purchase. For example:
I was blown away when I opened the beautiful gift from you, Jamie, and Sophie. I can’t believe you all took the time to get together and buy this beautiful statue for us. Thank you so much for your efforts; we really appreciate it!
People who got you a gift you don’t love or will exchange
If someone has given you a gift that isn’t to your taste or that you might exchange, the best advice is to handle it with kindness and understanding. After all, gift-giving is all about spreading love and joy, and sometimes, personal tastes can be as unique as the gifts themselves.
So, first and foremost, take a moment to appreciate the thought and effort behind the gift. Remember — it’s the thought that counts. There’s no need to tell them it isn’t to your taste, or you’ll likely return it for credit. Instead, wholeheartedly share your plans for the gift. Emphasise where you’ll put it in the house or how it brightens up a room. If there’s nothing nice you can say about the item, explain that you’d never heard of that designer before, or playfully explain you’ve found a new favourite shop.
Either way, keep the card positive and focus on the connection and kindness behind the gift. For example:
Thank you so much for the fruit bowl. It’s such an unusual colour and really brightens up the living room!
We really appreciate how thoughtful you’ve been in picking those wine glasses. I was just saying to [spouse’s name] that we need to try and visit that shop more! Thank you for introducing us to our new favourite.
People who couldn’t attend but sent a gift
Guests can’t plan for last-minute emergencies, and those who didn’t attend the wedding but still sent a gift should also be recognised for their efforts. If you’re stuck on what to say, try:
We’re so sorry you weren’t able to be with us on our special day, but of course, we understand! We just wanted to send a note to say thank you for your beautiful gift, and that we hope all is well with you.
People who travelled to see you
People come from far and wide to attend weddings. However, special thanks should be given to anyone who travelled a great distance to attend your wedding or who came from abroad. For example:
We are so honoured that you travelled all the way from California to come to our little wedding. It was such a beautiful day, made all the more special with your attendance. I can’t thank you enough for the effort you made. Thank you again.
We are so grateful to you and Auntie for travelling all the way from Glasgow. It sounded like it was quite a tricky journey, so we can’t thank you enough for coming all that way.
People whom you don’t know well
It takes a lot of courage to attend a wedding where you don’t know many people, and anyone who made the effort to attend your wedding in spite of this should be thanked. If you’re stuck on what to say, try:
Thank you so much for coming to the big day. I really appreciate you coming and representing my school friends!
Thank you for your presence on our special day. It was made all the more special for you being there.
Anyone else with a significant role in your wedding
You should also send a card to anyone else who played a significant role in your wedding. This includes family and friends who went above and beyond to help make your day special.
While it may not be traditional, expressing your appreciation for their contributions is a lovely way to round off the wedding planning process. A short but heartfelt note, acknowledging their unique role and the joy they brought to your celebration, is the perfect way to say, ‘Thank you for being a part of our love story.’
Should I send a card to someone who didn’t attend the wedding?
It’s polite to still send a wedding card to anyone who:
Couldn’t attend the wedding, but still sent a gift
Couldn’t attend the wedding, but still gave you money
Couldn’t attend the wedding due to ill health, but would have otherwise
Couldn’t attend the wedding due to a bereavement, but would have otherwise
Sending a wedding card to someone unable to attend the wedding for these reasons is a kind and considerate gesture. It demonstrates your gratitude for their well-wishes, support, and understanding of their situation.
Be sure to send your thank you card within a week or two of your wedding. This will not only ensure your big day is fresh in your guests’ minds, but also make sure you don’t forget who sent what gift or any details about the big day!
Handwrite your cards
Wherever possible, you should handwrite your cards. Although this will take a little more time than typing them, the personal touch and effort put into each note are what make them truly special.
Include both parties
Be sure to address the cards to all the people who attended the wedding. By the same token, be sure to sign the cards off from both yourself and your new spouse. It’s a lovely way to show that you’re grateful for their support and love, both individually and as a united front, in this new chapter of your life together.
Keep it positive
Keep the content of your wedding card light and positive. Focus on expressing your gratitude, sharing cherished moments from your wedding day, or mentioning how their presence added to the joy and love in the atmosphere. Avoid discussing any issues from the big day or telling them you don’t like their gift!
Can you send email thank you cards?
You can absolutely send email thank you cards if it’s easier. However, hand-written is always best. They show that you’ve taken the time and effort to craft a unique message for each recipient, making your appreciation more meaningful.
Wedding thank you cards are a thoughtful and kind way to wrap up your wedding celebrations. Think of them as the final farewell or curtain down. Although they may seem small, these little notes carry immeasurable weight in gratitude. They’re not just a formality — your wedding thank you cards are the cherry on the cake of your special day.
Wedding thank you cards should be sent in good time and should be handwritten. Send a wedding thank you note to anyone who played a significant role in your wedding day, anyone who sent a gift or money, and anyone who would have attended but experienced a personal emergency. If you’re on the fence about whether you should send someone a wedding thank you card or not, our advice is just to send one. Remember — you’ll never regret being a kind person.
If you’re looking for wedding thank you card writing tips, check out our post on what to write in a wedding thank you card. It has great advice on card writing etiquette and some handy wedding card examples to use as inspiration!
When planning your perfect wedding day, you might not be sure where to start. You might know what your ideal ceremony, venue, food, cake and everything else looks like, but one of the biggest questions you may have is how exactly they all fit together.
Organising a wedding is a little bit like putting a jigsaw together, only you don’t have instructions so you have to do it the best you can. One of the key parts of this is creating a wedding day timeline so everyone knows where they have to be, what time they have to be there and what’s going to happen once they’re there.
In this post, we’re going to explore what the best wedding day timeline might look like, including what order everything happens throughout the typical wedding day, how long each part usually takes and the most popular time couples choose to have the ceremony.
No, not all weddings follow the same timeline. However, every wedding you go to will generally follow a timeline that is at the very least reminiscent of every other wedding you might have been to. Whether you choose to have a traditional wedding, religious wedding, registry office wedding, destination wedding or something else entirely, there will always be some similarities – especially at the ceremony itself, which has to follow certain legal processes.
Some of the major factors that can influence a wedding day timeline include:
Cultural and religious traditions – For example, many Indian weddings span over several days and there are a lot of black wedding traditions that also go beyond the big day.
The type of wedding – A traditional wedding will often last from late morning through until late at night, while a destination wedding might only last a couple of hours.
The time of the ceremony – Traditionally, couples get married around lunchtime, but twilight weddings are quickly becoming more popular and start much later in the day.
The formality – Less formal weddings will usually have a more relaxed structure as they’re often far more intimate.
The size of your guest list – The larger your guest list is, the more likely you’ll need to allow extra time for arrivals, transport, seating, photos and more.
The time of year – Believe it or not, the season your wedding takes place in can also have an effect, especially during the winter when you might need to account for icy or snowy conditions.
The location of your venues – The location of your venues (if your ceremony and breakfast/reception venue aren’t at the same place), specifically if they’re far apart from each other, can potentially slow things down.
Personal preferences – Finally, your own personal preferences can dictate your wedding day timeline. At the end of the day, it’s your big day, so do whatever makes you happy.
What time does a wedding ceremony usually take place?
In the UK, the majority of wedding ceremonies start between 11am and 2pm. However, depending on the type of wedding you have, this can vary. For example, many religious wedding ceremonies start in the late morning, while ceremonies at registry offices tend to start in the afternoon. Of course, if you’ve chosen to have a twilight wedding, it will start much later in the day, often as it starts to get dark, which can be at different times depending on the season you’re getting married in.
Generally, the longest part of your wedding day will be the evening reception, which will last around four or five hours (though this can be longer if you’ve invited a few party animals). This is usually a couple of hours longer than the next longest part of your big day, which is the wedding breakfast. The breakfast can last around two to three hours, including time for the speeches.
Believe it or not, despite months (or even years) of planning, the shortest part of a couple’s wedding day is often the ceremony itself. The ceremony takes approximately 45 minutes from the moment the procession starts, though it can sometimes be longer, such as with a religious ceremony where there might be hymns and readings.
A registry office wedding or civil ceremony can be as short as 10 minutes, but longer if you want to include extras like readings, or if you’ve hired a celebrant.
To give you an idea as to how long various parts of your wedding day will take, you can use the below times as an approximation when planning your big day.
Getting ready (including hair, makeup and getting dressed) – Approximately two hours. This may take longer if the artist you’ve hired is also doing the bridesmaids’ hair and makeup.
Pre-wedding photos (bridal party and groomsmen) – 30 to 45 minutes.
Ceremony – 45 to 60 minutes, but this can vary depending on whether it’s a religious ceremony or you have specific personal preferences. Registry office weddings can be as short and sweet as 10 minutes.
Photographs – Around one hour, but it can depend on the size of your wedding party and whether you have to travel to a specific location to take photos.
Reception drinks – Approximately an hour, which may start while you and your new spouse are having photos taken. It gives time for everyone to have a drink and unwind before the breakfast. You might want to add 10 or 15 minutes if you’re having a receiving line to welcome guests to the reception venue.
Wedding breakfast – Around two to two and a half hours, depending on the type of food you’re serving and the number of courses. This may be shorter if you have a great catering and serving team.
Speeches – This varies depending on who’s giving a speech, but there are usually at least three speeches; the father of the bride, the groom and the best man. Allow 10 minutes per speaker, so around 30 minutes in total, though this might be longer if others wish to say a few words as well.
Cutting of the cake – 5 to 10 minutes, but most of that is the time taken getting everyone together and allowing people to take photographs.
Evening reception – Once evening guests arrive, usually between 7pm and 8pm, the evening reception will go on for the rest of the night, which depends on you, your guests and the venue. The evening reception will usually last at least four hours and will often include food, such as a buffet, as well as drinks and music (and some dancing, of course).
What does a wedding timeline look like?
If you’re struggling to visualise what your wedding day timeline might look like when all of the elements come together, check out our handy quick reference infographic below. This provides a breakdown of the various parts of your wedding and their corresponding approximate times.
Follow this general timeline when planning your big day
Depending on the type of wedding you have, wedding timelines can have a few key differences. Below are some examples of how you might expect a wedding day to look based on some of the most popular types of weddings couples go for.
Example traditional wedding day timeline
As we highlighted above, traditional wedding ceremonies commonly start between 11am and 2pm. The below example of a traditional wedding day timeline is what your day might look like if your ceremony were to start at midday.
7am – Your alarm goes off and it’s time for a shower (speak to your hairstylist beforehand about whether or not you should wash your hair that morning or not).
7.30am – Breakfast. Don’t skip this step because you’ve got a long day ahead of you. You might want your bridesmaids/groomsmen to join you and start the celebrations early with a crafty Buck’s Fizz or mimosa.
8am – If you’ve hired a photographer, they’ll arrive to capture everyone getting ready. Your hair and makeup artist(s) will likely arrive around the same time.
8.15am – Hair and makeup starts on the bridal party (if they’re doing it for them).
9am – The flowers and bouquets are delivered and the vendors you’ve hired will arrive at the venue to start setting everything up.
9.30am – The bride’s hair and makeup start.
10.30am – The bride gets dressed. At the same time, the groom will head to the venue to begin greeting guests.
11am – Bridal party photos and the wedding transport arrives (if you need it).
11.30am – The bride sets off for the venue as your final guests arrive.
11.45am – Your guests are asked to take their seats.
11.55am – The bride arrives at the venue and everyone takes their place. The photographer will take some last-minute photos of the bride and whoever she is walking down the aisle with.
12pm – The ceremony starts.
12.45pm – The ceremony ends and the couple leaves the venue with the photographer for photographs, also joined by friends and family.
1pm – Guests head to the breakfast and reception venue (if elsewhere). Canapés and a welcome drink may be served.
1.30pm – The couple arrives at the venue.
1.45pm – Everyone takes a seat for the wedding breakfast.
2pm – The starters and main courses are served.
3.15pm – The wait staff start pouring flutes of fizz for the speeches.
8am to 10.30am – A leisurely morning, ensuring you have a good breakfast. If you have a small budget, this is a great time to visit a hairstylist and make-up artist, as going to them rather than them coming to you keeps costs down.
11am – Get ready with family and friends close by.
12.30pm – Set off for the registry office.
12.50pm – Arrive at the registry office and your guests take their seats. If you’ve hired a photographer they will begin taking photos.
1pm – The ceremony begins.
1.15pm – The ceremony ends.
1.30pm – A short photography session outside the registry office with the couple and friends and family.
2.15pm – A meal at a local restaurant or hotel, including the speeches.
6pm – The wedding party moves on to a different local venue, such as a pub or hotel, to host a party for wider family and friends. This will include the cutting of the cake, the first dance and a buffet. However, this all depends on your budget and preferences.
A twilight wedding starts much later in the day, which means there’s not as much time as with a traditional wedding. However, many of the same things are still included, just condensed, which makes it great for getting married on a budget.
8am to 2pm – A leisurely morning and lunchtime spent with family and friends. You may take the time to relax (a morning spa session with the rest of the bridal party goes down a treat) or visit your local beauty stylist to save money on hair and makeup.
3pm – You start to get ready as vendors arrive at the venue to prepare. If you’ve hired a professional stylist and photographer, they’ll also arrive around this time.
4.30pm – The groom arrives at the venue to welcome guests.
5pm – The bride gets dressed.
5.30pm – The bride leaves for the venue.
5.45pm – Guests take their seats.
5.55pm – The bride arrives at the venue and everyone gets into position.
6pm – The ceremony begins.
6.45pm – The ceremony ends.
7pm – The couple and their guests take photographs to take advantage of the setting sun.
8pm – Depending on what you’ve decided to do, the wedding breakfast or evening reception and buffet will begin. This will also include the speeches, cutting of the cake and first dance.
11.45pm – The couple leaves the venue.
12pm – The reception finishes and your guests leave the venue.
Plan your perfect wedding with Bridebook
Now that you know some rough timelines that wedding days often follow, you can start planning your own big day exactly as you like it. Sign up to Bridebook to get access to all the tools, information and resources you need so you can plan your perfect wedding.
Your wedding day will be filled with love, excitement and magic. Months or even years of planning will finally become reality as your family and friends gather to spend time with you as you and your partner come together as one. The entire day will be a whirlwind of emotions, but at no point will your emotions be quite as high as they are during your wedding ceremony – the moment when you and your partner exchange vows and tell the world about your commitment to one another.
With such an important moment not just on your wedding day, but potentially your entire life, you likely have a ton of questions bouncing around in your mind. What’s the traditional order? How do you give your loved ones a role in your wedding? How do you find the perfect venue, words to say, decorations, celebrant and more?
Yes, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to your wedding ceremony, but that doesn’t mean it has to be scary or overwhelming. All it takes is a little bit of research to make sure everything is checked off.
That’s where we come in. In this guide, we’re going to explore everything you need to know about a wedding ceremony, from the planning right up to the moment you’re stood at the altar and beyond. Then, to help with planning your very own wedding, sign up to Bridebook for all the resources and tools you could need to make it as simple as possible.
The wedding ceremony is the heart and soul of your wedding day. It’s the big moment you’ve been waiting for since the day you got engaged and promised to spend your life loving and caring for your partner. The wedding ceremony is the culmination of a long and chaotic wedding planning journey and is the moment the two of you start your marriage both from a spiritual and legal point of view.
It’s often what many couples consider to be the most nerve-wracking part of a wedding. It’s the one part you want to go perfectly, as you stand in front of your family and friends and exchange vows with the love of your life. Thankfully, with a little preparation and by choosing the right professionals and vendors, your wedding ceremony can be exactly like it is inside your head.
The morning of your wedding will be fast-paced and whizz past before you even realise it’s time to make your way to the venue. The excitement will build and you might feel jittery, but it’ll soon be time to start your wedding ceremony.
As you get ready and make your way to the venue, your guests will have slowly been arriving. Depending on what you’ve chosen, they might enjoy some welcome drinks and a few canapés while getting swept up in the excitement. Then, once it’s time, they’ll be shown to their seats by the ushers and the ceremony can start.
And it should look a little something like this:
1. The processional
The traditional order for walking into the venue and either taking their seats or standing at the altar is:
Bride’s mum
Groom’s parents
Bride’s grandparents
Groom’s grandparents
Groom
Officiant
Bridesmaids
Maid of honour
Best man
Ring bearer or page boy
Flower girl
The bride and her father
You’re likely to have music playing at the venue to welcome guests as they find their seats. This, of course, will change as the wedding is about to begin and the bride walks down the aisle. Depending on your preferences, the music might be prerecorded or played live by a musician. The music then fades out as the two of you meet.
With modern and same-sex weddings, new traditions are forming that are variations of the traditional processional in the UK. Both partners may choose to walk down the aisle together, or neither may want to do it like this. The best thing about your wedding is that it’s yours, so you’re free to arrive however you feel comfortable.
2. The welcome
Once the two of you are stood at the front, the officiant (or celebrant if you choose to have one) will welcome everyone to your big day. You may ask them to give a specific greeting, and they may use some humour if this is something you’re happy to include. If your wedding ceremony is religious, the welcome may have a set structure. This will introduce your guests to the day and help you feel at ease.
3. A song or reading
If you’re having a religious ceremony, following the welcome there would traditionally be a hymn. Even if you’re not religious, this is still something you can include, but it isn’t common. Instead, you might ask a friend or loved one to do a reading, which might be a poem, an extract from a story or play, or even lyrics from a song that’s personal to you and represents your journey as a couple.
4. The marriage ceremony
The officiant will remind the couple of their obligations to one another with the charge. This is when they explain what it means to be married and what the couple must do to ensure they’re upheld. This includes their responsibilities and the meaning of the vows they’re about to exchange.
Next, the officiant will ask a question that’s been the catalyst for many dramatic moments in rom-coms: Does anyone know of any reason in law why the couple should not be married? This, of course, is usually met with silence, much to the relief of the couple.
You and your partner will then exchange vows, which the officiant will run through with you slowly (so you don’t have to remember an entire Shakespearean soliloquy). If you’ve chosen to write your own vows, you will have given these to the officiant beforehand to make sure they comply with the relevant rules. Just remember there are specific words you have to say to make sure your marriage is legal.
It’s during this stage when the two of you will say another famous wedding ceremony staple, the I dos. Thankfully, this is one of the most exciting parts, as well as being one of the easiest to remember!
5. The exchanging of the rings
If the two of you have chosen to wear wedding rings, this is when you’ll exchange them. If you don’t want to exchange rings, you will have spoken to your officiant beforehand to discuss an alternative (for some inspiration, read our post on ring alternatives).
If you are exchanging rings, it’s usually the best man’s job to hold on to these, or they could be brought to you by a young ring bearer if someone in your family or friend circle would suit the role. When the officiant asks for them, the best man will hand them over. The two of you, under the direction of the officiant, will then place the rings on each other’s ring fingers while reciting a phrase also guided by the officiant.
6. The declaration of marriage and first kiss
Phew, the scary part is over! Now, the officiant will say the words that proclaim the two of you are bound by marriage, saying something such as: By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife (or a variation of this for LGBTQ+ couples).
Then, the officiant will encourage the two of you to kiss and you’ll have your first embrace as a happily married couple as all your friends and family applaud and cheer. There might also be one or two tears, too.
7. An additional song, reading or prayer
If you’re having a religious ceremony, this is when there’s an opportunity for a reading from scripture, a hymn or a prayer. Even in non-religious ceremonies, you may ask another loved one to perform another reading.
8. The signing of the register
The officiant will then invite you and your new spouse to sign the marriage license, which will also need to be signed by two witnesses whom you will have asked ahead of the big day (make sure you don’t spring this surprise on anyone that morning).
This usually takes around ten minutes and music will play to entertain your guests as they wait for you to finish.
9. The end of your service
After the two of you and your witnesses are done signing the register, the officiant will thank everyone for attending and invite them, on your behalf, to celebrate at your chosen venue where the breakfast and reception will take place.
10. The recessional
The two of you will now leave the venue accompanied by music as you make your way out. As you step outside, your guests will be waiting to shower you with confetti as your photographer snaps some fantastic photographs.
11. The photographs
You’ll then be joined by loved ones as your wedding photographer guides you all through the official photography process. There will also be many photos taken of just the two of you in and around the venue.
12. On to the breakfast and/or reception
Depending on whether your breakfast and reception are happening elsewhere, you may hop into your wedding transport to be whisked off to your next venue. If your ceremony and reception are taking place in the same venue, you’ll then either move on to another room or step out while the venue staff make changes to get ready for your breakfast. Then, all you have to do is enjoy yourself!
Wedding ceremony traditional order cheat sheet
If all of the above was a lot to take in, don’t panic! We’ve created a handy quick reference sheet sheet to illustrate the traditional wedding ceremony order, which you can save or event print out to return to whenever you need.
This infographic illustrates the traditional wedding ceremony order
While the traditional ceremony order is often followed for weddings in the UK, this can differ depending on the type of ceremony you have, your religious beliefs, the size of your wedding or simply your own preferences. For example, a Jewish wedding ceremony can be different from a Hindu ceremony or a non-denominational wedding ceremony. Every wedding, regardless of culture or background, will follow a recognisable structure to ensure the marriage is legal. But, the order might vary to some degree.
When planning your wedding, you’ll spend a lot of time and effort thinking about the venue, food, entertainment, favours and your cake, but it’s just as important to dedicate time to planning the ceremony itself, too.
So, here’s everything you should think about to make sure you plan your perfect wedding ceremony.
Understanding the budget for your wedding ceremony
Your wedding budget will likely include everything you need to have the wedding of your dreams. When putting your budget together, you should think beyond the breakfast and reception – which are the biggest expenses you’ll face – and ensure you also have enough to dedicate towards the ceremony itself. After all, it’s the main event!
You can use our wedding budget tool to work out exactly what you need so you can have the perfect venue, decorations, music, celebrant and more that will come together to become the wedding you’ve always dreamed about. Prioritise the must-haves and separate them from the nice-to-haves. With the average UK wedding costing £19,184, it’s important to be realistic when understanding your budget.
Choose the perfect venue for your wedding ceremony
When the time comes to choose your wedding venue, you’ll have a lot to think about. What type of venue suits your budget? Do you want a venue where you can have the ceremony, breakfast and reception all in one location? Do you want to get married in a church or place of worship?
When choosing the venue for your ceremony, there are plenty of options out there, so consider the following to ensure you have everything you need from your ceremony venue.
Make sure you discuss what you want from your venue with your partner. The ceremony may just be an hour of your overall day, but it’s something that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives, so you want it to be something worth remembering.
Don’t be tempted to go over budget, even if it’s a stunning venue. If you overspend on one thing, you’ll have to compromise on something else.
Think about the space and whether it will comfortably fit all the guests you’d like to invite.
Pay close attention to the lighting. This includes whether it allows a lot of natural light in, and if not, is there room for additional lighting?
Try to visit your favourite venues more than once to make sure you get that feeling, so you know you’ve found the one.
Decorating your ceremony venue is more than just about the flowers. You might have a welcome sign, a seating plan, bunting, chair sashes, lighting, pew ends, aisle decor and more.
Make sure the decor you choose fits the overall theme of your wedding, but also ties into the natural aesthetic and beauty of your venue. If you’ve chosen a venue with a lot of natural beauty, such as a country house or place of worship, you might not need to enhance it by much. But if you’re getting married in a hotel or golf club, a little extra decor might just help bring your theme out a little bit more.
Choose your officiants and celebrants
If you’re having a religious ceremony, then it’s possible that your wedding will be officiated by a senior member of your local place of worship. If not, and you’re having a non-religious or multi-faith ceremony, then you may wish to choose your officiants and celebrants, as well as the registrar who will ensure your marriage is legal.
A celebrant is a great way to bring character and charm to your ceremony. You’ll meet with a celebrant a couple of times before the big day so they can create a highly personalised ceremony order and the words the two of you will share. We’d recommend speaking to a few celebrants to find one that fits with your exact vision.
This is possibly something you’ve been thinking about forever, but now’s the time to set in stone how you’d like your friends and family to be involved in your wedding ceremony. This includes choosing a best man and maid of honour if you’re having one, as well as bridesmaids, ushers, page boy, ring bearer and flower girl.
Traditionally, the father of the bride gives his daughter away after walking her down the aisle, but in many modern weddings, couples might flip this, so that both parents walk the bride down the aisle, just the bride’s mum, or you and your partner might choose to walk down the aisle together.
Whoever you ask to play a role in your wedding, just make sure you’re understanding and accommodating, and show your appreciation to everyone involved.
Choose the perfect seating plan
Traditionally, the seating plan at the wedding ceremony is relatively straightforward: the groom’s family and friends sit on one side of the aisle and the bride’s family and friends sit on the other. However, this all depends on whether the two of you have a relatively equal number of guests each. If not, the seating plan at the ceremony can feel a little lopsided.
Much like the seating plan at the breakfast, you can seat your guests wherever you like, with maybe the exception of parents, grandparents, kids and other close relatives. Or, you can let them choose. Whatever works for you.
Choose your wedding vows
When it comes to your vows, you have two options: either use traditional vows (which might be determined by your faith if you have a religious wedding) or write your own. Writing your own might sound scary, but it’s something many couples opt for with modern weddings. It helps personalise your wedding and tell your partner – in front of your family and friends – exactly how you feel about them.
Discuss with your partner whether you’re brave enough to write your own vows, or if you’d prefer to go with something a little more traditional. It’s a super emotional thing to do, and some people can struggle to express how they feel using words.
For many couples, hiring a photographer (and even a videographer) is a major non-negotiable. It’s the best way to capture your wedding so you can look back on it forever.
When you hire a photographer for your wedding, you can choose to hire them just for the ceremony, which also includes the family shots straight afterwards, or a package that includes the ceremony, the breakfast and the evening reception (and maybe even an engagement photoshoot as well). They’ll even capture the exciting build-up to the wedding as you get ready with your loved ones.
Decide what wedding ceremony traditions you might like to uphold
When it comes to weddings, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of traditions. Some of them go back hundreds of years but are still included in weddings to this day.
For example, many brides like to include something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue as part of their wedding outfit. It’s also common for couples not to see each other on the morning of the wedding until their eyes meet as the wedding ceremony begins.
When it comes to the music you have at your wedding ceremony, you actually have a wider choice available to you (depending on your budget) than you might realise. There’s a huge choice of music to suit a range of tastes, preferences, budgets, traditions and styles. When it comes to your music, think about the following:
Do you want live music or pre-recorded?
What kind of music do you want to play as your guests take their seats?
What mood do you want to set?
Do you want to be traditional or have something a little more modern?
What music do you want during the procession?
What music do you want as you walk down the aisle?
What music do you want to play as your sign the register?
What music would you like to walk out of the ceremony to?
See what we mean? Music plays a key role throughout your wedding day, from the moment you arrive at the ceremony to the moment you leave the reception at the end of the night. Take your time and think about the music you want at your ceremony, including the mood it sets and the meaning behind it.
Decide if you want any readings
Whether you have a religious ceremony or not, you may choose to have readings at your wedding. Readings are a great way to include loved ones in your ceremony who might otherwise not have a role, and help add a touch of personalisation and style. A reading can be anything, from a poem to your favourite song lyrics. They can also be a verse or two from a religious text. Whoever does them and whatever they read, just make sure they’re in keeping with the tone, theme and style of your wedding. For example, a funny reading might not work if you’re going for a more traditional vibe.
Have a plan B (especially if your wedding ceremony is taking place outside)
Since the law in the UK changed in 2022 to allow for weddings to take place outside, couples have seized the opportunity to get married in a wider variety of venues and locations. From gardens and parks to castles and manors, there are now a lot more places you and your love can exchange vows.
The only downside is, the weather in the UK doesn’t always behave itself. Yes, your wedding might be booked during July when there’s every chance we’re in the midst of a heatwave, but it’s never guaranteed. In the event the heavens open or there are 75mph winds, make sure you discuss a backup plan with your chosen venue just in case.
Decide if you want a rehearsal
Few would argue that the ceremony is the single biggest and most important aspect of your wedding day. If something doesn’t quite go to plan at the breakfast or reception, there’s so much going on that it doesn’t really matter if there’s a minor hiccup or two. However, at the ceremony, when all eyes are on you, you probably want everything to be perfect.
That’s why many couples choose to have a rehearsal. In the US, wedding rehearsals are fairly common, but in the UK, unless you’re having a religious ceremony, they’re far less so. But, if you have the budget available, a rehearsal is never a bad thing to have to ensure everyone knows exactly what they’re doing on the big day.
What do you need to remember for the morning of the wedding?
During your last few hours of single life, there will likely be a million and one thoughts whirling around your mind. Everything from worrying about your outfit fitting just right to whether or not the flowers will turn up on time will bounce around your head. Even tiny, insignificant things will feel huge as the excitement and nerves build. That’s why it can be easy to forget key things during the build-up to the ceremony. With that in mind, here are just a few things you should remember on the morning of the wedding:
Remember to pack some wedding day essentials you might need throughout the ceremony, such as lip balm, tissues (definitely tissues), deodorant and your phone. You can keep these in your pocket, a clutch or leave them with someone you trust so you don’t have to worry about carting things around all day.
Make sure you eat a decent breakfast. Your wedding day is a long one, and after getting ready, the ceremony, the photos and welcoming everyone to the breakfast, it’ll be two or three o’clock before you even know it – and your stomach will be growling. A good breakfast will keep you fuelled so you don’t need to keep thinking about what time you get to sit down for your first meal as a married couple.
As well as getting ready for your big day, make sure you stick to some of your usual routines. Mainly, your skincare routine, because disrupting the status quo might upset your skin during a time when you might already be a little stressed. Don’t try something new at the last minute just in case your skin doesn’t like it.
From the moment you step out of your home or hotel room before the ceremony, you’ll probably be wearing a dress, suit or other type of outfit that might be a little tight in places or dig in here or there. So, until that time comes, wear the comfiest, snuggliest thing you can get your hands on.
Don’t leave anything to the last minute and give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Your guests and members of the wedding party will probably have a ton of questions for you about this and that, and allowing for enough time to get ready will prevent unnecessary stress.
Try to establish a calm atmosphere in and around where you’re getting ready, so keep chilled-out people close by and listen to some of your favourite music.
Your wedding ceremony will go by so fast that before you know it you’ll be sat eating the starter at your breakfast. Try to take everything in and enjoy every single moment.
What happens when the time comes to walk down the aisle?
As the moment arrives for your wedding ceremony to start, there’ll be so much excitement from your guests as they take their seats on either side of the aisle. There’ll also be a few nerves, mainly from yourself, but they’ll soon go when you see your partner and all feels right with the world. But what happens when the time comes to walk down the aisle and become a married couple?
Let’s say your ceremony begins at 12pm. One of the happy couple, usually the groom, will be at the venue to welcome guests who will have been filtering in for the last hour or so, and who will start to take their seats around 15 – 20 minutes before the ceremony starts. Your planner or someone at the venue will keep a lookout for the arrival of the bride to alert the rest of the team and guests that the ceremony is imminent.
Once everyone at the wedding is seated and the bridal party is ready in a room outside the ceremony room, everyone lines up. When it’s time for the processional to start, the music will change to the song you’ll have chosen ahead of time.
Depending on who is in the bridal party, the order will go a little like this:
Officiant
Bridesmaids
Maid of honour and best man
Ring bearer or page boy
Flower girl
The bride and her father or parents
As you meet your partner at the front, your loved ones watching on, the officiant will guide you and your guests through the ceremony. At a same-sex ceremony, it’s entirely up to you whether you follow a similar order to this, walk down the aisle together, or do something else entirely. It’s your wedding, so you’re free to do it however you like!
The vows you’ll have at your wedding will be determined both by your personal preferences and whether or not you’re having a religious ceremony. You may choose to write your own vows, but many couples still opt to use traditional vows.
Remember, a certain portion of your vows have to follow the legal process to ensure your marriage is binding, so while you’re free to personalise them, you do still need to follow the rules. The legal declaration and contracting words will usually be along these lines:
Declaratory words
“I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, [YOUR FULL NAME], may not be joined in matrimony to [YOUR PARTNER’S FULL NAME].”
Contracting words
“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, [YOUR FULL NAME], do take thee, (YOUR PARTNER’S FULL NAME) to be my lawful wedded [WIFE/HUSBAND/SPOUSE/PARTNER IN MARRIAGE]. I promise to care for you, to give you my love and friendship, and to respect you and cherish you throughout the rest of our lives together.”
How to get the perfect wedding ceremony shots for your wedding album
If you’ve hired a professional wedding photographer, they’ll spend a lot of time before, during and after your ceremony making sure you have wonderful photographs that you can hold on to forever. During the run-up to and during the ceremony, your photographer should take a lot of candid, natural photographs, meaning you’re free to get ready and enjoy your ceremony. That means it’s one less thing to worry about, so don’t look out for your photographer, and if you see them try to resist striking a pose unless they ask.
There may be a few mini photo sessions, such as the bride with her parents before the ceremony, but the main photo shoot will follow the ceremony, when the two of you will take plenty of pictures, as well as those involving your family and friends. One of the big ones is the traditional confetti shot, which involves you walking between two rows of guests as they shower you with colourful confetti. A skilled photographer will know exactly what to do to make sure everyone’s in the right position to get the best possible shots.
It may not be in your nature to pose for photographs but try to embrace the moment and enjoy it. To help calm the nerves that may come with your wedding photos, consider a wedding photographer package that includes an engagement photoshoot, which can make you feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
After the ceremony is over and you’ve signed the register, the two of you are declared as legally married. Phew! You can now enjoy the rest of your wedding day, starting with the obligatory photoshoot if you’ve hired a professional photographer.
Following the photos, what happens next depends on what you’ve chosen for the remainder of your big day. Traditionally, if your ceremony was around lunchtime, you and your guests will move on to the breakfast (which may or may not be at the same venue as the ceremony), which includes a meal and toasts. Then, during the afternoon and into the early evening, the venue may get ready for the evening reception, where there might be more food, drinks and dancing.
Traditional wedding ceremonies can be beautiful, whether intimate or grand. However, if you’re not particularly fond of the idea of following tradition, you can choose to do something completely different. That way, your wedding ceremony can be in keeping with what you have in mind for the rest of your big day and fit perfectly with your personalities. So, here are five alternate wedding ceremony ideas you might want to think about.
Twilight wedding ceremony: A twilight wedding is a wedding that takes place during the latter part of the day, so you can take advantage of the magic and beauty that comes once it starts to get dark. With a twilight wedding there are tons of opportunities to get creative with lighting.
Destination ceremony: Just think about how blissful it would be to get married on a white sandy beach, surrounded by acres of woodland or on a rooftop overlooking New York City. With a destination wedding, the world is literally your oyster.
Themed ceremony: With some carefully sourced and made props and decorations, you can put together an immersive, themed ceremony that’s personalised and unique. Steampunk, vintage, Hollywood premiere, botanical… there are so many themed ceremony ideas to choose from.
Adventurous ceremony: If you love the great outdoors, why not swap your suits and dresses for hiking gear, a wet suit or snow shoes and have a wedding ceremony somewhere adventurous?
Surprise ceremony: Give your guests a surprise they’ll never forget by inviting them to what they think is just an ordinary party. Except, suddenly the doors open and they’re invited to take a seat to watch you get married. Imagine how excited everyone would be!
Plan your big day with Bridebook
Sign up to Bridebook and you’ll get access to all the tools, information and resources you need to plan the wedding of your dreams.
The big day has been and gone. The vows have been read, the presents were opened, and the honeymoon has come to an end. However, there’s still a little more wedding joy to spread — the thank you cards!
Thank you cards are a great way to express your heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for all the love and support you received on your special day. You can use them to thank guests for wedding gifts, for their efforts in wedding planning, or even just for being part of your special day.
In this article, we cover what to write in a wedding thank you card, examples of wedding thank you card wording, and some top tips for writing wedding thank you messages.
A wedding thank you card is a card given by the newlyweds to their wedding guests. They’re usually given a few weeks after the wedding ceremony to thank the guests for attending, for any gifts they may have received, and to thank the wedding party for their support in organising the wedding.
Wedding thank you cards are a small but significant gesture to express gratitude to your close friends and family. They usually take a few hours to write but will leave a lasting impression on your guests. You don’t have to write wedding thank you cards. However, if you have time, they’re a lovely way to round off the big day and the months leading up to it.
While you don’t have to, it’s polite to still send a wedding card to anyone who:
Couldn’t attend the wedding, but sent a gift
Couldn’t attend the wedding, but gave you money
Couldn’t attend the wedding due to ill health, but would have otherwise
Couldn’t attend the wedding due to a bereavement, but would have otherwise
Sending a wedding card to someone who couldn’t attend the wedding for these reasons is a thoughtful and considerate gesture. It shows your appreciation for their wedding wishes, support, and understanding of their circumstances.
Wedding thank you cards don’t need to be long or detailed. All that matters is that you write from the heart. We recommend including:
A friendly greeting
Start with a friendly greeting. This can be something simple like:
Dear [Names]
To [Names]
But you could also try something a little more fun and creative:
To our favourite [your relationship to the guest or guests. For example, ‘To our favourite cousins’]
Dear [your surname] wedding survivors
Your choice of greeting sets the tone for your thank you card and can reflect your personality as a couple. So, feel free to be creative or stick to the classics, as long as it feels genuine to you.
A generic thank you message
You should then move on to thanking your guests for attending your wedding and giving you a gift (if they did).
The thank you message can be generic. For example:
Thank you so much for attending our big day
Thank you for making the effort to come to the wedding, and for your thoughtful gift
It’s important to thank guests properly if they give you a gift or money. Just be careful not to accidentally thank someone for a gift if they didn’t give one!
Top tip: As you’re opening your wedding presents, keep a list of who gave you each gift or if a card contained money or vouchers. This way, you can properly thank your guests in your cards.
A specific memory or acknowledgment
The next part of your wedding card should be personalised to the recipient of your card. It could be a special moment you shared on the wedding day, a personalised thank you for the gift they gave you, or even an anecdote from before the wedding.
For example, you could try something like:
It was lovely to have you at the wedding ceremony. Thank you especially for your help when my veil got caught on the chair!
Thank you so much for your generous gift. We’re really looking forward to using the new air fryer now that we’re back from our honeymoon.
I can’t thank you enough for all your support running up to the wedding day. It was a really stressful time and you were an absolute lifesaver.
A simple sign-off
Once you’ve finished the body of your card, you should sign off with a warm closing and your and your new spouse’s name. For example:
Again, thank you so much. Love, [Your names]
We really appreciate your support. Thanks again, [Your names]
Wedding thank you card message structure
Follow this general structure when composing your thank you message
We’re so grateful you came to celebrate our special day with us. We’ve known each other since school, so it wouldn’t have been the same without you. Plus, I can’t believe you travelled all the way from Scotland for us! I hope the drive back wasn’t too tiring.
Again, thank you. We really appreciate it. Love,
[Your names]
What to write in a thank you card to family
To [Names],
Thank you so much for coming to our special day and for bringing the little cousins along. It can’t be easy to look after three kids all day, but it meant the world to us for everyone to be there.
Thank you again for your lovely gift. The towels are beautiful, and we just love the light blue colour.
From,
[Your names]
What to write in a maid of honour’s thank you card
Dear [maid of honour’s name],
You’ve been my rock throughout this process. From the minute I told you I was engaged, you were right by my side and supported all my crazy ideas. Thank you for being the guardian of my special day. Your love and support mean everything to me.
Thank you again. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Love,
[Your name]
What to write in a bridesmaid’s thank you card
Dear [bridesmaid’s name],
You stood by my side as I took the biggest step of my life, and I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for all your help running up to the big day — I honestly couldn’t have done it without you.
With all my love,
[Your name]
What to write in a best man’s thank you card
Dear [best man‘s name],
Thank you for standing by my side on the most important day of my life, and for not telling anyone how much I cried. You’re my best friend, my partner in crime, and I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you again for the generous gift you left in the wedding card. It’ll go a long way towards the honeymoon, so thank you!
Hoping I can return the favour one day! From,
[Your name]
What to write in a groomsman’s thank you card
Dear [groomsman’s name],
What a night! Thank you so much for ushering the guests to their seats, for keeping my crazy auntie away from my uncle, and for all the free shots! It wouldn’t have been the same without you.
Handwritten cards have a personal touch that your guests are sure to appreciate. If your handwriting is difficult to read, simply take your time and write neatly.
Be timely
Send out your thank you cards within a few weeks of the wedding to show your appreciation. If you leave it any longer than this, you may struggle to remember specific details of the wedding or who gave you which gifts!
Enlist a helper
Writing thank you cards can take a few hours. However, if you have a helper, like your new spouse, you can get done in half the time.
Make a list
Keep a list of which cards you’ve written and sent and which ones you still need to complete. This will help you stay organised and on top of the task.
Knowing what to say in wedding thank you cards can be tricky. Plus, with so many people to thank, coming up with a personalised experience for each guest can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry — we’re here to help.
The easiest thing to do when writing a wedding card is to make it easy for yourself. Enlist a helper, personalise one or two lines to the guests’ experience, and keep a list of which cards you’ve sent and which you haven’t.
If you’re a guest looking for wedding card writing tips, check out our post on what to write in a wedding card. It includes top tips and a guide on writing etiquette, along with some great wedding card message examples.
Excitement for the new year is building, drinks are flowing freely and fireworks paint the night sky. Love is in the air and you and your partner couldn’t be happier together.
Sounds like a pretty ideal time for you to get down on one knee and ask them an important and monumental four-word question, don’t you think?
Asking your other half to marry you on New Year’s Eve is wonderfully symbolic, allowing you and your new fiance to tackle the new year as partners in crime. Not only that, but you’ll also have a brilliant time planning your wedding throughout the new year!
But, with your mind made up that you’re going to pop the question on New Year’s Eve, how should you go about it? What do you need to think about and what should you do during the build-up to the big night?
In this post, we’ll explore how to propose on New Year’s Eve, including why it’s such a great idea, what you should do to prepare and how you could tackle the night itself so your proposal goes down as perfectly as you imagined.
6 reasons why New Year’s Eve is a great day for a proposal
If you’re on the fence about proposing on New Year’s Eve and need a little convincing that it’s a great choice, then these six reasons should tip you in the right direction (that direction being down on one knee).
1. It has a huge symbolic meaning
New Year, new me is a popular saying and is all about making positive changes in your life. A new beginning can be perfectly represented by starting the year as an engaged couple and embarking on your journey towards marriage.
2. You’re already suited and booted
If you’re out for the evening, either at a party, a fireworks display or you’re enjoying a romantic meal, the two of you may already be dressed up nice and feeling good. That means you won’t raise any suspicions by booking somewhere nice and suggesting you and your partner should dress up and be extra fancy for the evening.
3. There are already fireworks set up and ready to go
After you’ve proposed and received your YES! you’ll be excited to celebrate into the night with your new fiance. The best thing about midnight on New Year’s Eve is that there are already plenty of fireworks displays set up around the country, whether they’re professional or private displays. So, take advantage of the impending fireworks and use them to enhance your proposal.
4. Share the moment with loved ones
New Year’s Eve is a popular time to spend time with loved ones, whether it’s family, friends or a combination of the two. If this is you, then ask your loved ones to lend a hand with the proposal. This could include spelling WILL YOU MARRY ME? out in sparklers and a timelapse camera, or making sure everyone’s ready to capture your amazing moment on film.
5. The drinks are on standby
What better way to celebrate your engagement than with a glass of bubbly? With a New Year’s Eve proposal, there’s a good chance there are already a few chilled bottles just waiting for the corks to pop.
6. It’s not as cliché as other days
It may be popular to get engaged on New Year’s Eve, but it’s by no means a cliché. That means you can enjoy getting down on one knee on a day that you’ll never forget, without it being as clichéd as the more traditionally romantic days of the year.
Yes, to make sure your New Year’s Eve proposal is every bit as magical as you could hope for, we recommend that you take a bit of time to plan exactly how you want to do it. There are a lot of moving parts around the end of the year, and unless you plan on being impulsive and proposing when the moment feels right, you’ll need to have all your ducks in a row first.
Because you’ve decided to propose on New Year’s Eve, you might also want to make sure you use this special time of year to your advantage. There might be parties, drinks, laughter, celebrations, fireworks, friends and family all at your disposal, so think about how you might want to include them in your big moment. There’s plenty going on over New Year’s, so think carefully about how you can fit all the puzzle pieces together to make sure you propose in the most memorable and romantic way possible.
What should you consider before proposing on New Year’s Eve?
We’ve already covered how memorable a New Year’s Eve proposal can be. But, before you get down on one knee and change you and your partner’s lives forever, there are a few things to consider.
Have you found an engagement ring your partner will love? Or, if you know they don’t want a ring, have you chosen an engagement ring alternative that’s personal to them?
Are you confident that your partner would love a New Year’s Eve proposal? It’s already a special time of year, so make sure you know that your partner is happy to share such a special date.
Have you already got New Year’s Eve plans and thought about how your dream proposal fits into that? If not, how will your partner feel if you try to change your plans?
Do you want to have a private and intimate proposal with just the two of you, or are you going to include your family and friends?
The New Year can already be a hectic and stressful time, so ensure your plans include time to relax and recharge after what is sure to be an emotionally charged moment.
If you’re planning on having a snowy proposal, just bear in mind that British weather is often unpredictable (and rather drizzly). Make sure you have a plan B in place to make sure your proposal isn’t rained off.
How to propose on New Year’s Eve: our foolproof step-by-step guide
New Year’s Eve is one of the most romantic and magical times of the year to ask your partner to marry you. As the seconds get closer to midnight and everyone gets ready to sing Auld Lang Syne, your proposal plan is about to come to fruition. So, to help you plan a New Year’s Eve proposal that gets you your YES, we’ve put together this guide.
Here are 10 steps you can follow so you have your New Year’s Eve YES and start the next year as one half of an engaged couple.
Step 1: Start planning in plenty of time
To make sure you have everything in place for the moment you get down on one knee, it’s important to start planning your proposal early. So, depending on how you’d like to pop the question, we’d recommend setting the wheels in motion in early December or November. Or, if you’d like to propose while on a trip, potentially even sooner.
As part of this, if you’re going to stick to traditions then you might want to talk to your partner’s parents to ask their permission. It might be a slightly outdated tradition these days, but many parents appreciate the gesture anyway. If you have a good relationship with them you’ll more than likely get a positive response and will make sure you continue building your relationship with your future in-laws.
Step 2: Choose your engagement ring (or alternative)
One of the most exciting parts of a proposal is when you finally surprise your partner by asking them the most incredible question. But, this can only work if you’re good at keeping secrets and don’t give the game away. That includes knowing who you can trust to keep it a secret as well, so only tell who you absolutely have to. If you propose around other people, half the fun is seeing their surprise reactions as well.
Step 4: Choose the ideal time
When it comes to proposing on New Year’s Eve, one of the hardest decisions you’ll make is at what time of day you should propose. Of course, you could propose in the morning or afternoon so you can share your amazing news throughout the day. But, most people who propose on New Year’s Eve wait until the evening, with many popping the question as the clocks strike midnight and the new year arrives. Of course, this all depends on your plans and where you’ll be at certain times throughout the day.
Step 5: Make sure you include elements of New Year’s Eve
Because you’re proposing on New Year’s Eve, make sure you make the most of it and include elements synonymous with such a special day. That could include champagne, fireworks, a party or using the countdown itself.
When it comes to proposing, do what you can to make it as unique and personal to you and your partner as possible. If you take an idea for a proposal, put your own spin on it or use what you know about your partner to make it as personal to them as you can.
Part of this includes thinking about what you’ll say once the moment to ask the question arrives. You might end up being so nervous you get tongue-tied, so it’s always worth thinking about what you want to say ahead of time. You might even want to write it down to help you get your thoughts out, then semi-commit them to memory.
Step 7: Make sure you have a plan B
As much as you might have planned your proposal, even the best-laid plans can go awry. So, if something happens that means your plans can’t go ahead, make sure you have a backup plan in place. That way, your New Year’s Eve engagement can still move forward so you can start the new year with a fiance. This step is extra important if your proposal idea counts on the weather behaving itself!
Step 8: Immortalise the moment
If your proposal plans mean you’re likely to be around people, why not give one or two of them (if you trust them not to give anything away) a heads-up so they can film your proposal and snap some pictures? Then you’ll have some wonderful memories and photos you can use when you announce your amazing news.
Step 9: Tell everyone
Thankfully, many of us still have a day or two off work after New Year’s Eve, so don’t always have to rush straight back to work. That means you can visit friends and family and tell them about how you’re now a happily engaged couple.
Step 10: Take some time to enjoy your new relationship status
After the chaos of Christmas and New Year’s, it’s important to take some time for just the two of you to bask in your newly engaged status. Enjoy your time together and celebrate. If you can, take a trip. Then, you can jump into the wild world of wedding planning with energy and enthusiasm!
The above guide should put you in a good place for nailing your New Year’s Eve proposal. But, to help steady those nerves and make sure everything goes exactly as you want it to, here are eight proposal tips to bear in mind.
Don’t just wing it – make sure you have a plan.
Try to theme your New Year’s Eve proposal around the big night itself so it’s not just something that could work on any other night of the year.
Make sure you talk to your partner so you fully understand that they’re happy to get engaged on a special day in the calendar like New Year’s Eve.
If you’re proposing at a party, use those around you to act as unofficial photographers and videographers so you can hold on to that moment forever.
Use the magic of New Year’s Eve to enhance your proposal, like fireworks and your Christmas decorations and lights.
The weather is unpredictable at the best of times, but doubly so on the last day of the year, so have a contingency plan if your proposal involves being outside.
If you’re planning a trip away, book it in plenty of time because hotels can soon fill up.
Spend the rest of your time off before heading back to work enjoying your new-found engaged status. Use the last couple of days before work resumes to tell friends and family the amazing news.
Get started on your wedding planning with Bridebook
When you start the New Year with your new fiance, it’ll soon be time to start planning your dream wedding. Sign up to Bridebook and access a wonderful range of tools and resources to make your wedding planning process fun and easy.
You and your partner are at a New Year’s Eve party. You’re riding the high at the end of a fantastic festive season and as the clock nears midnight you feel in your pocket to make sure the ring’s still there. You’ve had a couple of drinks to steady your nerves as the big moment approaches.
The countdown begins… 10… 9… 8…7…
You get the ring out of your pocket.
6… 5… 4… 3…
You get down on one knee. Your partner is shocked, people around you gasp as the countdown reaches zero and everyone exclaims HAPPY NEW YEAR, but as you and your partner lock eyes, it’s like the two of you are the only ones in the room.
Will you marry me?
Then as you get your YES, incredible fireworks paint the sky with a flurry of wonderful colours and sounds.
What a stunning way to ask the love of your life to marry you and kick off the new year in the most incredible way imaginable. But, a New Year’s Eve party proposal is just one of the ways you can ask them to spend the rest of their life with you. There are plenty more memorable ways to make this New Year’s Eve one you’ll remember forever.
In this post, we’ll explore the many ways you can ask your partner to marry you on New Year’s Eve, and why the last day of the year makes for the perfect day to pop the question to your partner.
Yes, New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular days for couples to get engaged. With the start of the new year just hours away, it’s already a magical time for a celebration, with people getting together, drinks flowing and fireworks lighting up the sky. For many, it makes for the perfect backdrop to ask one of the biggest questions of all.
Our annual Wedding Report found that in the UK, more than a quarter (26%) of all proposals happen in December, and 31st December is one of the top 10 dates for someone to get down on one knee. The good news is, while it is popular, it’s not seen as a cliché like other dates, such as Valentine’s Day or 29th February. So, if you want to pop the question this New Year’s Eve, we think you should go for it!
Whether or not you should propose on New Year’s Eve is a decision only you can make. But, if you’re considering it, then there’s nothing quite like a New Year’s Eve proposal.
The start of a new year is a chance for a new beginning. If you’re keen for that new beginning to include a fiance standing at your side, then there’s no better time for it.
It’s worth making sure that your partner would be comfortable sharing such a special moment with a date that’s already significant in many peoples’ lives. If you’ve made the decision to propose, you’ve probably had conversations about a proposal with your partner, so you should have a good idea about what they’d like from one. If that includes a New Year’s Eve proposal, then great!
There’s also a potential stumbling block in the form of the cost of a proposal at that time of year. In the UK, the average cost of an engagement ring is £1,978, and with the costs of Christmas (as well as there being a long wait until January’s payday) these extra costs can be a dealbreaker. But, if you’ve saved for an engagement ring or you know your partner doesn’t want to wear one, then what’s stopping you?
For more information, read our guide to how to propose on New Year’s Eve so you can plan the most wonderful end-of-year proposal.
New Year’s Eve is a wonderful day to propose to your partner. Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider it if you’re still not quite sure it’s right for you:
New Year’s Eve is all about new beginnings, which can be beautifully realised with an engagement.
You’re likely to already be nicely dressed, which means asking your partner to get dressed up for a big night won’t be suspicious.
There will be plenty of fireworks at midnight.
It’s not a cliché like other romantic days of the year.
The drinks will be flowing.
You might be surrounded by loved ones who can share the moment with you.
Excited to pop the question to your partner and give them a New Year’s Eve the two of you will never forget? Below are 12 ideas for a magical New Year’s Eve proposal so you can get your YES and start the new year riding that engagement high.
1. Ask on a New Year’s Eve trip
While Christmas is often considered a holiday for spending time with family, New Year’s Eve can be whatever you want it to be. Just because Christmas is over it doesn’t mean you can’t have one more sneaky surprise up your sleeve in the form of a night or two away. That in itself is a wonderful way to welcome the new year, but throw in a proposal and you’ve got the makings of a night the two of you will treasure forever.
2. Use your Christmas tree
If you put up a Christmas tree and still have it up into the new year, why not include it in your proposal? After all, it’s beautiful and magical, so it would be a shame to waste it.
You could hide the engagement ring within the branches as a surprise New Year’s Eve gift, or rearrange the lights to spell out WILL YOU MARRY ME? You could even disguise the engagement ring as a Christmas decoration and have it hiding in plain sight throughout the whole festive period, right until the perfect moment in the last few hours of the year.
Or, finding one last gift below the tree is always guaranteed to shock and delight your partner.
For more Christmassy inspiration, read our post featuring 12 Christmas Day proposal ideas which share a lot of similarities with New Year’s Eve.
3. As the clock strikes midnight
A New Year’s countdown is always exciting as people eagerly await to bring in the New Year. It’s also a popular time for couples to tell each other how they feel and welcome in the new year with a kiss. Use this moment of romance to ask your partner to marry you and start the new year with the greatest feeling ever.
4. Create a photo album of the last year
Because it’s so easy to take digital photographs these days, the art of the physical photo album is fast becoming lost. But, why not put together an album featuring your memories over the past 12 months? Then, on the final page and secured there with delicate ribbon, a beautiful engagement ring.
Not only is it loving and thoughtful, but an engagement photo album is also poetic, as it means one of the first and last things you’ll do across your wedding journey is look through a photo album together.
5. Have a New Year’s Eve bash with loved ones
A New Year’s Eve party is a great way to celebrate with friends and family. Plus, if you ask your partner to marry you, it can quickly turn into an engagement party as the clock strikes midnight and you crack open a few bottles of fizz. If you give one or two party guests a heads up (just make sure they can keep a secret!) you’re also guaranteed to get the whole thing captured from multiple angles – perfect for announcing to wider family, friends and co-workers.
If you plan on proposing at a friend’s party, think about giving them a heads-up first. You don’t want to steal their thunder or interrupt something they had planned. Not that they’re likely to mind having this incredible moment at their party!
6. Recreate your first date
Since the two of you had your first date, you’ve more than likely looked back on that moment and thought about just how lucky you are to have come this far. To bookend this part of your relationship, why not recreate your very first date and retrace your steps? Then, the icing on the cake will be to get down on one knee and ask for their hand in marriage.
7. Crack out a customised bottle of champagne
There are many moments when a bottle of fizz always goes down a treat – and two of them just so happen to be during a New Year’s Eve celebration and the moment two people in love get engaged. So, why not use that to your advantage, and present your partner with a bottle of champagne that features a custom-printed label that simply says, WILL YOU MARRY ME? Then, once you’ve had your YES, crack that bad boy open and enjoy!
8. Share your New Year’s resolutions
Welcoming the new year is a time when many people make promises to themselves and others that they’ll make a change. You could find an intimate and warm setting, and ask your partner to share their resolutions with you. When it’s your turn to share your own, explain how you want to dedicate your life to making them happy – then, pop the question and wait for their response!
9. Find a rooftop location
Rooftop bars, locations and other venues offer stunning views over city skylines. This can be fabulous at any time of year, but on New Year’s Eve when the atmosphere’s electric and the sky is sprinkled with distant fireworks, it’s even better. It makes for a memorable place to pop the question.
10. Say it with snow
Okay, thanks to the unpredictability of British weather, this one might be a long shot. But, if the weather cooperates and there’s a flurry of last-minute snow, make the most of it and use it in your proposal.
There’s plenty you could do to have a wonderfully wintry proposal. You could build a snowman and hang the ring off the end of its carrot nose. You could write WILL YOU MARRY ME? in giant letters in the garden and casually ask your fiance to look out the window while you get down on one knee. Or, you could simply take a snowy walk to your favourite spot and propose surrounded by picture-perfect scenery.
11. Ask using a balloon
One thing that’s synonymous with celebrating is the good ol’ balloon, so using one to propose can make a huge statement. You might want to have a custom balloon made that asks your partner to be your partner in crime forever, or 15 balloons that feature one letter each lined up across the room to ask, WILL YOU MARRY ME? (don’t forget the question mark).
Another option is to tie the engagement ring to a piece of string hanging underneath the balloon. It’s cute and eye-catching, and the moment your partner spots the balloon they’ll know something special is about to happen.
12. Make the most of the fireworks
New Year’s Eve is a popular time for fireworks, so make the most of them by using them in your proposal. Once the clock strikes midnight, fireworks will light up the sky all around in a magical display of colour. This sounds like the perfect moment for a proposal to us.
Or, if you’re at a party and can rope in some guests to help, grab some sparklers and someone to take a timelapse photo, and spell out WILL YOU MARRY ME? Then, when your partner looks at the photo, they’ll see something that will make their jaw hit the floor.
Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook
After you get your New Year’s Eve YES and bring in the new year with your new fiance, you might want to dive right into planning your big day. Sign up to Bridebook and get access to everything you need to plan your perfect wedding.
With lights adorning the tree, flames gently crackling in the fireplace and the smell of cinnamon and sweet treats in the air, Christmas is without doubt a magical time of year. It’s also a time for generosity and giving, which is why so many people propose to their partners on Christmas Day.
But, how should you propose on Christmas Day to make sure it’s as romantic, intimate and memorable as possible? What do you need to think about to make sure your festive proposal is as perfect as it can be?
In this post, we’ll share all the tips and considerations to think about for a Christmas Day proposal, including everything you need to prepare and what you should do on the day so it all goes to plan and you get the best gift of all this Christmas – a fiance!
In the UK, Christmas Day is by far the most popular day to get engaged. Our UK Wedding Report uncovered that a quarter (26%) of couples get engaged in December, and out of all the couples who married in 2022, the top four most popular dates they got engaged was Christmas Day.
Christmas has the romance and magic of Valentine’s Day but with less cliché. It’s a time when kindness and generosity are everywhere, and people spend a lot of time with their loved ones. Christmas also has a lot of emotional significance and traditions surrounding it, which a proposal can heighten to a whole new level.
If you love the festive season and want to create lasting memories that make it an even more special and magical time of year, a Christmas Day proposal is a wonderful way to ask your partner to spend the rest of your lives together.
Yes, just like with any proposal, you should take time to plan your Christmas Day proposal to make sure it’s extra special. Of course, you might want to be impulsive and make the call about how and when you’ll do it on the day itself, but that comes with more risk.
Think about your partner’s preferences and what they might appreciate. Because you’ve chosen to do a Christmas proposal, you should consider taking advantage of this special day to make it extra memorable, so try to incorporate Christmas additions into your plans. If your proposal would go down in exactly the same way if you did it on any other day, then why do it on Christmas? Use the festivities to your advantage to make it memorable and magical.
What to think about before proposing on Christmas Day
As highlighted above, Christmas is already a time of year that many people love for a variety of reasons. When planning your Christmas Day proposal, think about the following points to ensure everything goes down even better than you’d hope for:
Have you picked the perfect ring or engagement ring alternative if your partner isn’t into jewellery or wearing rings?
Would your partner appreciate a Christmas Day proposal and be happy to share this incredible moment in their life with a day that’s already so special?
What will be the best time of day for your proposal? Will a morning proposal work before you see wider family, or sometime in the evening when it gets all cosy and warm?
Do you want to involve family and friends in your proposal or do you want to keep things intimate between the two of you?
Christmas can be a stressful time of year, so make sure your plans include downtime before you ask the question so you and your partner can savour the moment.
Don’t rely too heavily on the weather as part of your proposal plans. As incredible as it would be to propose on a snowy hilltop, the unpredictable weather in the UK means there might be rain or heavy winds instead. Have a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t play ball.
How to propose on Christmas Day: a step-by-step guide
As we’ve already covered, Christmas Day is a wonderful time to propose to your other half. But, to make sure everything goes as expected, it’s important to put a plan together. You don’t need to write things down, create a spreadsheet or sketch out a map – but you should make sure you’re on top of everything so nothing’s overlooked or forgotten.
Below are 10 steps to follow so you can have the most incredible Christmas Day engagement.
Step 1: Plan ahead
Start your Christmas Day proposal prep in plenty of time. If you decide just a few days ahead of Christmas that you want to ask your partner to marry you on Christmas morning, you might not have time to sort everything out. If possible, start to get things ready in early December, or even November if possible, just to account for any hiccups along the way.
If you’re the traditional type, you might also want to speak to your partner’s parents before you pop the question. Asking permission is an old tradition now, but one that many parents still appreciate nevertheless. You more than likely won’t get any type of resistance, but the gesture will go a long way towards solidifying your relationship with your future in-laws.
Step 2: Choose what you’re going to propose with
If you and your partner have talked about what they’d want from a proposal, they probably also told you about what they want from a ring (or even if they want a ring at all). If they want a ring, make sure you try to find out their ring size before you head to the jewellers.
Step 3: Try to keep it a surprise
You may well have had countless discussions with your partner about getting engaged, so they may have an idea about what’s to come. This will be especially true if you’ve specifically talked about getting engaged at Christmas. But, do what you can to keep everything as close to your chest as possible so your proposal can be a big, welcome surprise.
Step 4: Decide the right time to propose
Christmas is a busy time, so it’s important to nail down when you think the right time to propose would be. If you do it in the morning, you’ll then have the whole of Christmas Day as an engaged couple. If you do it at night, it’ll be cosy and romantic. You also need to think about whether or not you want a public or private proposal, and if you want friends or family to be there the moment you get down on one knee.
Step 5: Think about the location
You know your partner best; where do you think they’d love for you to pop the question? At home as you’re opening presents from beneath the tree? At the dinner table before you tuck into your delicious Christmas lunch? Or might it be outside on a wintry walk, or at a family member’s house? Because a lot of places are closed on Christmas Day you won’t have quite as much choice as the rest of the year, but try to choose somewhere that has plenty of festive charm and an emotional connection.
Step 6: Make it extra Christmassy
One of the best things about getting engaged at Christmas is how fabulous and magical everything looks, from our carefully decorated trees at home to towns and cities awash with lights and colour. Make sure you use the beauty and fun of Christmas so your proposal stands out.
You don’t want an ‘off-the-shelf’ idea when it comes to proposing. Use what you know about your soon-to-be fiance, such as what they love and want from a proposal, and use as much as you can to personalise how you ask them. For example, if they love to crochet, why not present the ring in a small, crocheted Christmas stocking? Or include your pet in the proposal by looping the ring around its collar?
Think about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. You might want to write down a few things you want to say and commit them to memory. Or, you could just say whatever feels right in at the moment. Whatever you do, make sure it’s personal, from the heart and true to yourself.
Step 8: Have a backup plan
As much as you’ve meticulously planned your Christmas Day proposal, there’s always the chance that something gets in the way. If that happens, make sure you have a plan B in place so you can still have your Christmas engagement. This is doubly important if you plan on proposing outside!
Step 9: Capture the moment
When the time comes for you to ask the biggest question you might ever ask someone, make sure you capture the moment so you can share it with your friends and family. Thankfully, smartphones have great cameras and microphones, so all it takes is for you to prop it somewhere discreet, hit record, and then wait for exactly the right moment to get down on one knee.
If you’re proposing in public or surrounded by loved ones, you could ask someone to record the moment or take pictures, which makes for a fantastic way to look back on your big moment.
Step 10: Share the news
One of the great things about getting engaged at Christmas is there’s a good chance that you’ve already organised to spend time with family and friends, so you have a ready-made opportunity to tell them your amazing news.
We’ve already covered how amazing it can be to get engaged at Christmas. If you’re planning to pop the question this festive season, below are 10 tips to consider so your engagement is magical and memorable.
Make sure you’re confident that your partner is happy to share their engagement day with something as widely celebrated as Christmas.
Consider a private, personal and intimate proposal to make it extra special and romantic.
Use the natural beauty of Christmas time to your advantage.
Include Christmas in your proposal somehow, such as by asking carollers to sing your partner’s favourite Christmas carol as you pop the question.
Don’t pin all your hopes on the weather behaving itself. The last time the UK had a widespread white Christmas was in 2010, so the chances of waking up to a blanket of snow are small.
Don’t propose at Christmas just because. Make sure it’s something both you and your partner want to happen.
Plan, plan, plan.
Plan a plan B.
Set your phone to record, ask a friend or family member to take photos, or even hire an official photographer to capture the moment (although this might be rather expensive, especially on Christmas Day).
Enjoy the Christmas period and bask in the feeling of having a fiance! Soon, you’ll be so deep in wedding planning that your engagement will feel like a distant memory.
Get started on your wedding planning with Bridebook
After you get your YES on Christmas Day and you’ve shared the news with your loved ones, when January arrives you’ll probably want to start planning your big day. Sign up to Bridebook and get access to everything you could need to plan your perfect wedding.
Love is in the air for your favourite co-worker, and you’ve been invited to the big day. Whether you’ve shared an office space for years or you’ve just begun to forge a professional bond, being invited to celebrate this momentous occasion cements your friendship and deepens the connection you share.
But what’s the etiquette when it comes to writing a wedding message to a colleague? Do you keep it light and fun like you would for a friend, or more formal in tone like you would for a family member? It can be tricky to strike a balance between fun and professional when writing to a work colleague.
But, don’t stress— we’re here to help! Read on to learn all about how to write a wedding card message for a colleague, including some example wedding quotes you could include, and top tips for writing wedding card wishes.
A wedding card message is a simple but effective way to convey your congratulations to the happy couple on their big day. You can also express your gratitude at having been invited, and share happy memories from the time you’ve known them.
It’s best to follow a simple format. For example, a simple introduction, a wedding congratulations message, and a polite sign-off. This way, your wedding card remains professional and respectful.
It’s best to keep it simple when writing a wedding card to a colleague. Try using the following format:
A simple greeting
Although you can end up becoming very close to your work colleagues, to avoid any awkwardness in the office, it’s best to keep wedding cards friendly but professional. As a result, a simple greeting is your best bet when writing a wedding card to a work colleague.
Try something short and sweet like:
To [COUPLE’S NAMES]
Dear [TITLES AND SURNAMES]
If you’re not sure what titles to use, we have a handy section on wedding card writing etiquette in our post on what to write in a wedding card.
Wedding wishes or congratulations
Your wedding wishes and congratulations can be a little more creative, but it’s still best to err on the side of caution and keep any messages respectful and kind. Feel free to add a personal touch to your wishes, share anecdotes, and express your genuine happiness for the couple.
If you’re stuck on what to write, try using:
What an incredible journey you’re both starting on. Thank you for inviting me to be part of your special day.
What a beautiful day you’ve both shared. I wish you a lifetime of love, health, and happiness together.
Or, if you’re feeling a little cheeky, you could try:
Thank you for the party of a lifetime. Monday is going to be such a comedown after this!
Congratulations on a beautiful day! May your love be as everlasting as the office coffee supply and your happiness as endless as a Friday afternoon.
A heartfelt sign-off
The last part of your wedding card should include a sign-off from you and your plus one (if you had one!)
As with your greeting, keep it simple. Try using the following sign-offs:
Thank you again for inviting me/us. From, [NAMES]
All the best, [NAMES]
Be mindful of tone
It’s best to keep a formal tone in a wedding card to a colleague. Even if you’re close with your colleague, you don’t want a bad joke or an informal message to offend them accidentally and make Monday awkward!
Instead, a message of sincere congratulations and best wishes is the safest and most considerate choice in a professional setting.
Wedding card message structure
Check out the infographic below to help guide your writing:
Follow this general structure when composing your message
If you’re struggling with what to say and what to write, you can’t go wrong with someone else’s words! Try using a wedding or love quote from a poem or song. The beauty of this method is that you can tailor the quote to the couple’s personal interests.
Try using the below examples to get you started:
Wedding quotes from songs
“All you need is love.” – The Beatles
“Two hearts in love need no words.” – Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
“Love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage.” – Frank Sinatra, “Love and Marriage”
“Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you (TWO!)” – The Beatles, “Because”
Wedding quotes from poems
“Love is an endless act of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.” – Maya Angelou
“Two souls with but a single thought; two hearts that beat as one.” – John Keats
“Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
“Love is most nearly itself when here and now cease to matter.” – T.S. Eliot
Wedding quotes from films
“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.” – The Notebook
“What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life… to strengthen each other… to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” – The Notebook
“When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” – When Harry Met Sally
“Love, it never dies. It never goes away, it never fades, so long as you hang on to it.” – Moulin Rouge
Wedding pop culture quotes
“To infinity and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
“We are all a little weird, and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” – Dr. Seuss
“True love stories never have endings.” – Richard Bach
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Mignon McLaughlin
It’s easy to tell when a card was written at the last minute, or worse in the car on the way there! Sit down a few days before the wedding with a cup of tea and write your wedding card.
Don’t overthink it
Remember the cup of tea we mentioned earlier? It couldn’t take longer to write your card than it takes to drink a tea. Don’t overthink what you’re writing in your card. Keep it short and speak from the heart.
Think about your relationship
Although some work colleagues start to feel like family, you may not always work together. You want to leave a positive impression on your work colleague by leaving a positive message in their wedding card. Don’t overstep the mark and try to be too friendly, or include unprofessional inside jokes. Instead, keep it simple, friendly, and chilled.
Say thank you
Congratulate your colleague on their special day and thank them for inviting you at the same time. It’s fast, efficient, and saves you from needing to send two cards!
A wedding card to a colleague is a great way to express your gratitude for having been invited, your warmth, and your best wishes for their special day. The tone should be more formal than in a card to a family member or friend. However, you could include a fun quote about love from their favourite song, film, or pop-culture moment if you’re feeling creative.
The best advice is to write the card a few days beforehand, not to overthink it, and to say thank you! However, if you’re still feeling stuck, check out our post on what to include in a wedding card. We have some handy wedding card examples and top tips on card writing.
A family member’s wedding is an extra special occasion. Not only are you there to celebrate your sister, brother, parent, or cousin’s big day, but you’re actually welcoming a new person into your extended family!
A wedding card is a great way to express your support, love, and wedding congratulations on this special day. Plus, you can express your gratitude for being invited, share any wedding wishes you have, and properly welcome your new family member to the fold.
If you’re unsure what to include when wedding card writing, we break it down for you below. We’ve included guidance on how to write a wedding card message, ideas of things to write in a wedding card, and top tips for wedding card writing.
A wedding card for a family member is a wedding card given to the newlyweds on their big day. It can be given in replacement of a gift or alongside a registry gift. There’s no need to give money in a wedding card. However, a token of £20-£30 is okay if the couple are comfortable accepting cash gifts.
The card should be more formal in tone than a wedding card to a friend. It should contain a formal greeting, a ‘congratulations on your wedding day’ message, and then a formal sign-off. However, if you have a close relationship with your family member, try including a happy memory from your childhood or an inside joke you share.
How to write a wedding card message for a family member
If you’re stuck with where to begin with writing your wedding card, try following our advice below.
A formal greeting
A wedding card to a family member will usually be more formal in tone than a wedding card to a friend. However, if you are close to your family member or have a more casual relationship, you can certainly add a more personal touch to your greeting.
A formal greeting might look like:
Dear [COUPLE’S NAMES]
To [COUPLE’S NAMES] on your special day
A congratulations message
Your congratulations message can be as simple as “Congratulations on your wedding day” or as heartfelt as “I’m so proud of you both for taking this next step in life.”
Either way, your congratulations message should be short, sweet, and to the point. Avoid any long declarations of pride or in-depth observations about the wedding day. Although these comments might come from a good place, the right time to share your thoughts isn’t in a wedding card.
Your pearls of wisdom
You should then move on to sharing some advice or guidance with the newlyweds. This could be your advice on love, friendship, compromise, or even the importance of communication. Remember, you don’t need to be married or have a wealth of experience to give advice. Instead, share your personal perspective on these important aspects of a successful marriage.
For example, you could try:
Love is not just a feeling — it’s a choice you make every day. Choose to love each other, even when the going gets tough.
Take the time to communicate with each other as you decompress from work. It can seem small, but taking 20 minutes to have a cup of tea and chat about your day will keep communication open and positive.
A friendly sign-off
Sign your card off with a friendly conclusion and your name. This can be simple, something like:
All my love, [YOUR NAME]
Thank you again for inviting me. From, [YOUR NAME]
Wedding card message structure
Check out the infographic below to help guide your writing:
Follow this general structure when composing your message
You don’t have to give a wedding card. However, it’s a nice gesture and is often better than showing up empty-handed. Cards can be given alone, with money, or with a gift depending on your personal choice and the couple’s preferences.
If you’re unsure what to include, a wedding quote, line from a reading, or poem about love is a great place to start. Check out our guide to wedding readings and love quotes to gain some inspiration.
Handwrite your message
Where possible, you should try to handwrite your message. Although a typed message keeps the card tidy, a handwritten message adds a personal touch. Taking the time to handwrite your message will add a feeling of intimacy and thoughtfulness.
Keep the tone light and friendly
Keep the tone of your wedding card light and friendly. If you’re offering advice or sharing an anecdote, make sure it’s warm, positive, and optimistic. Remember, the happy couple will likely look back on their wedding cards for years to come, so leave them with words that bring a smile to their face.
Be genuine
Your family members will know you through and through, so they’ll be able to tell if you aren’t being genuine. Let your authentic feelings shine through in your card with a positive and loving message.
A good tip is to write as if you were speaking. Think of what you’d say to them in person on their wedding day, and express that in your card.
The bottom line on a wedding card for a family member
A wedding card to a family member is a great but simple way to express your gratitude for being invited, to share happy wedding wishes, and to convey your love and support to the newlyweds.
Your wedding card doesn’t need to be extravagant or an over-the-top declaration of support to the couple. Instead, a wedding card is a happy keepsake that conveys your genuine care towards a family member on their big day. Plus, wedding cards can be given in place of, or alongside a wedding gift.
If you’re struggling with getting started on wedding card writing, check out our post on what to include in a wedding card. We’ve got great examples of wedding card writing, as well as top tips for writing etiquette and how to be mindful of tone.
A wedding card is more than just a kind gesture. A well-written and thoughtful wedding card acts as a treasured keepsake from the big day and can help you express your well-wishes for the happy couple.
However, knowing what to write on a wedding card can be difficult. How do you condense the big feelings of your bestie’s special day into a tiny little card? Wishing them a long and happy marriage is standard, but how do you strike the balance between heartfelt and loving without being cringey? If you’re looking for guidance, we’re here to help. We know exactly what to write in a wedding card, and we’re here to make the process easier for you.
In this article, we explore how to write a thoughtful wedding card message to your friend, some top tips for what to include, and some guidance on how much money to put in a wedding card.
A wedding card for a friend is a card gifted to the happy couple on their big day. A standard A4-sized wedding card is perfectly acceptable for a friend’s wedding card.
The card should include a semi-formal greeting, well-wishes for the newlyweds, a funny memory or anecdote, and then sign off with a congratulations message or special wish for their long and happy future.
The message in your wedding card can be as unique as your relationship to the happy couple. However, if you’re stuck with where to start, try following the below advice:
A friendly greeting
A warm greeting is always a great place to start. Greet the couple by first names or titles and surnames. This is especially exciting if the couple has decided to change their names, as it’ll likely be one of the first times they see it written down!
Traditionally, you should address the card to ‘Mr. and Mrs. [NAME]’. However, for non-traditional, same-sex, or non-binary couples, you can mix up the names and titles however you’d like. For example:
“To the newlyweds; Dear love birds; To the happy couple”
“To Mr and Mrs [NAME]; Dear Mr and Mr [NAME]; To Mx and Dr [NAME]”
“Dear Jenny & Jane; To Michael and Adam; Dear John and Sophie”
Heartfelt congratulations
This day is the start of the couple’s happy married life, and a wedding congratulations card is a beautiful token they can look back on for years to come. Try sharing your wedding wishes for the couple’s long and happy future, how excited you are for them, and your gratitude to be part of the big day.
Funny story or memory
In a wedding card to a friend or close family member, you don’t need to include formal wedding wishes. Instead, try including a funny story about how you met, happy memories from your friendship, or even an anecdote about wedding planning.
If nothing springs to mind, try thanking them for the free booze, apologising in advance for your terrible dancing, or even sending your best wishes for the honeymoon!
Advice and guidance
You can then move on to sharing any wedding wishes, marriage advice, or guidance you’ve picked up along the way. If you’re married, you could share something you’ve learned from your special day. But, if you aren’t, don’t let that deter you!
Instead, share a thought about lasting love, tips on compromise, the importance of teamwork, or even re-visit your earlier congratulations. You could also highlight that this is just the beginning of their beautiful love story, and explain how excited you are to see them grow in their love as a married couple.
Warmest wishes
Sign off your card with the warmest wishes and kindest regards. Be sure to include your name so the couple can identify who sent this lovely card.
Wedding card message structure
Check out the infographic below to help guide your writing:
Follow this general structure when composing your message
How much money do you put in a wedding card for a friend?
A cash gift of between £20 and £30 is usually sufficient for a wedding card.
Money can be a tricky subject at a wedding, as everyone’s financial situation is different. The best tip is to give what you can afford — a true friend wouldn’t want you to go into debt for the sake of giving them a gift.
Whether you give a wedding card and a wedding gift depends on what the newlyweds have asked for. Some couples prefer to have a casual wedding day, and are strongly against receiving gifts. A card with a well-written message can be a happy medium in these instances.
As a general rule, if you’re giving a gift, you don’t need to bring a card. However, you can do both if you want to.
But, if you aren’t giving a wedding gift for whatever reason, it’s better to give a wedding card so you don’t show up empty-handed.
Pro tip: If the happy couple are strongly opposed to receiving gifts, it’s best to check whether they’re accepting cash before you slip a £20 into their card.
Remember that the newlyweds will likely keep and look back on these cards for years to come. They might even share the cards with their family and friends. Ensure that any stories, special memories, or anecdotes you share are tasteful and appropriate for these audiences.
There’s no such thing as the perfect wedding message
Try not to get too overwhelmed at crafting the ‘perfect wedding card.’ The reality is that the perfect message or wedding card wording doesn’t exist. Instead, trust that any message you write to the happy couple will be perfect in its own way.
Don’t be cringe
It’s easy to get caught up in the sentimentality of writing a wedding card. However, a good friend will be able to see through any disingenuous messages. Keep your message short but sweet, and be sure your card conveys a personal and thoughtful message to the happy couple.
Include your name
It’s easy to forget to include your name when you’re focused on what to include in your wedding card. Try signing your name at the beginning to avoid this common mistake!
The bottom line on wedding card messages for a friend
Writing a sweet wedding card message to a friend is a lovely and sentimental way to share your congratulations and well-wishes on their special day. It’s also a great way to thank them for inviting you and to remind them of any special memories you’ve shared in your friendship.
Wedding cards to a friend don’t need to include formal wedding messages or any elaborate prose. Speak from the heart, write casually, and wish them a fun-filled future full of happiness and love. Tell them what a joy it is to be included in their big day, and if appropriate, include a little financial help.
If you’re still stuck on what to include, we have a great post on what to include in a wedding card. This includes some brilliant examples of wedding card messages and some top tips on personalising a wedding card.
Weddings are full to the brim with traditions and customs that couples may choose to include in their special day to celebrate their love and commitment to each other. In the UK, traditions include the couple not seeing each other the morning of the wedding, the bride wearing white and the couple cutting the wedding cake together.
But, many black communities have introduced new traditions to UK weddings, which many love to include in their wedding as a mark of respect and honour and to honour their heritage. Including traditions is a wonderful way to add depth and meaning to a wedding while keeping parts of a family’s culture alive.
In this post, and to celebrate Black History Month, we’re going to explore black wedding traditions and what you can do to honour your heritage at your wedding, including some from the Caribbean and several African countries, such as Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda.
Weddings are all about celebrating the love between you and your spouse-to-be as you start this wonderful new chapter in your lives. As part of this, using traditions can be a touching and thoughtful way not only to mark your family’s history, but also to instil your personality and culture into your big day.
If you and your partner are from different backgrounds, honouring traditions is also a great way to bring two cultures together and pay tribute to your families.
That being said, whatever you choose to do for your wedding is entirely up to you – it’s your day, after all. You may choose to ignore traditions, or you may wish to include as many traditions related to your heritage as you can. And let’s be honest, our families love a good tradition, so it would definitely be appreciated.
There are many ways you can honour your heritage at your wedding, which can be as big or small as your style, preferences and budget allow. Just some of the ways you can honour your heritage can be done through the:
Ceremony
Rituals
Vows
Venue
Attire
Food and drink
Wedding favours
Music
You might decide to go all-out and have a wedding heavily influenced by traditions and culture. Or, you might choose to honour your heritage in a few smaller ways.
60 black wedding traditions and how you can honour them
It might be important to you that your heritage influences your wedding day, but what traditions are there and which should you choose? Below are 60 black wedding traditions from around the world that make for wonderful ways to mark your family’s history and culture.
Place a dime in the bride’s shoe to bring a life filled with wealth and prosperity.
The bride is given away by both her mother and father.
The Sunday after the ceremony and reception, the wedding guests are invited to the bride’s home after church, which is known as Tun T’anks Sunday.
To symbolise purity and modesty, and in some cases hide from unpleasant spirits, the bride wears a veil until the end of the ceremony.
Instead of throwing the bouquet over her head, the bride throws it straight at one of her dearest family members or friends. Some believe that if no one catches it and the bouquet lands on the floor, it’ll lead to infidelity.
Wedding ceremonies are often held in a marquee in the back garden (though in the UK, not many of us have gardens that are nearly big enough).
To honour family members they’ve lost and ensure they can take part in the celebrations, white rum is poured outside before the ceremony.
If they hope to start a family, a slice of wedding cake is kept under the pillow, which is thought to help with fertility.
Brides ask their bridesmaids to also dress in white, which is thought to confuse any evil spirits who might try to meddle with the big day.
Instead of tin cans, shoes are tied to the back of the wedding car at the end of the night, which symbolises that the father of the bride is no longer financially responsible for her.
Traditional Caribbean wedding cake is known as ‘black rum cake’, which takes six months to make as the fruit is soaked in rum.
Traditional Caribbean wedding food and drink include:
Before the wedding there is a knocking ceremony, when the groom’s family approaches the bride’s family to tell them their son intends to marry their daughter.
The bride’s brothers are offered money as a gesture of appreciation for protecting her, known as Akonta Sekan.
The groom offers a drink, known as Tiri Nsa, to the bride’s father, which is often wine or schnapps, which acts as a dowry.
The groom offers the bride’s family gifts known as ‘Aye-do-dee’, which can include meat, tobacco, schnapps and yams.
Wedding attire is made from kente cloth (handwoven cotton and silk) which is brightly coloured with gold and jewels. This helps the couple feel like royalty for the day.
Colours play an important role and represent different things:
Pink represents calm
Gold represents wealth
Maroon wards off spirits
Blue represents peace
Traditionally, the wedding ceremony will take place at the bride’s home.
Music from ‘Adowa’ groups will usually be played before the ceremony.
As the guests take their seats before the ceremony, the bride’s family are usually seated first so they can welcome the groom’s family, who offer gifts.
The bride gives consent three times to show that she is truly happy to become her fiance’s wife.
During the first dance, guests are invited to throw money at the couple at the end of the song to help them start their new life together.
Traditional Ghanaian wedding food and drinks include:
One partner writes a letter to their intended fiance’s family asking for permission to marry their child, which is often read aloud.
Traditionally, guest lists aren’t put together, as everyone from the community is welcome to attend.
Before the wedding, the bride’s family gives the groom’s family a dowry list, which they must adhere to if they want the wedding to go ahead.
Kola nuts that have been blessed are broken apart and are used as a way to welcome the guests – the more parts the nut breaks into, the more luck the couple will have.
One colour is chosen for the bride and another for the groom, and each family is asked to wear clothing of that colour depending on whether they know the bride or groom.
Weddings are traditionally officiated by an Alaga, who heckles the groom and his groomsmen as a form of wedding entertainment.
Brides wear a headpiece known as a Gele and grooms wear a Fila, with both usually being custom-made.
The groom and sometimes the groomsmen will lie face down on the floor at the feet of the bride’s family to show that he will respect his future wife.
The cake is usually cut during the ceremony itself, rather than at the evening reception.
Traditional Nigerian wedding food and drinks include:
A dowry is offered by the groom to the bride’s family, which can be a large and expensive gesture, or something smaller and more of a token gift.
There are often two ceremonies, the first being an introduction known as Kwanjula, and the second similar to Western wedding ceremonies.
Brides traditionally wear a long silk or cotton dress, known as a gomesi, which is tied around the waist. This may be one of many dresses the bride chooses to wear throughout the course of the day.
Traditionally, weddings are organised by older members of the family.
Weddings are big and loud celebrations – so much so, that even strangers are invited to attend.
Grooms wear a tunic or kanzu, which is often white or cream and floor-length, along with a round, flat cap called a kofia.
Guests will frequently wear suuka, which women wear around their waist or shoulders, while men wear a kanzu and jacket.
At the reception, guests often enter while dancing, at which point the couple will offer them a token gift.
Traditionally, the Okunabbya omugole ritual must be completed by the groom’s mother, which involves the couple being washed in herb-infused water beneath a tree.
Traditional Ugandan wedding food and drink include:
The bride wears a kanga or kitenge dress, which is a colourful dress with a head wrap. They’ll also wear lots of fabulous jewellery.
The groom wears a kanzu, a floor-length white tunic, or a suit, with a kofia – a flat, round cap.
The two families greet each other outside the venue to introduce themselves to one another before entering together.
A sand-pouring ritual symbolises the two families coming together.
The couple jump over a broom which is placed on the floor to symbolise sweeping away any bad luck.
The bride and groom feed each other wine or honey, which represents the sweetness the two have in marriage. They may also wash each other’s feet as a display of humility.
Benga or Taarab music is often played at the ceremony.
Guests are usually invited to sing alongside the band, with anyone welcome to take part.
On top of wedding favours, the couple traditionally give guests additional gifts, such as jewellery.
Traditionally Kenyan wedding food and drink include:
The Kupe is a traditional wedding dance, where guests stand and dance within a circle.
Brides may wear a white, full-length dress with a veil or colourful Shweshwe. Grooms may wear a suit or a boubou.
The Imbeleko ritual involves making an offering to ancestors in the form of exchanging cows.
The men from the bride’s and groom’s families meet in each others’ homes to talk and drink, which is known as Dherela Amadoda. This is similar to the Umabo Ceremony, which is a traditional Zulu blessing.
The bride is washed by her mother and other close female relatives in warm water which symbolises washing away bad luck.
A couple of days before the wedding, the two families come together to share prayer and food.
Zulu dancing and Marabi music are traditionally included in the celebrations.
Traditional South African wedding food and drink include:
Charmaine and Chris tied the knot on 3 July 2021 at Mitcham Methodist Church and celebrated their love with a beautiful traditional Ghanaian wedding. They followed many of the traditions explained above, most notably:
The traditional knocking ceremony
Exchange of gifts from the groom’s family to the bride
The groom dancing in with his friends and family
The bride dancing in with her friends and sisters hiding her face until she got to the front
The bride being asked three times by her father if this was the man she wanted to marry
Christina and Leslie tied the knot on 29 July 2023 at Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon. Christina is Charmaine’s sister, and just like Charmaine, chose to honour her heritage with a traditional Ghanaian wedding, incorporating all the same traditions into her own big day.
Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook
If you’re planning your wedding and looking to honour some of your heritage, there are plenty of ways you can do it, whether big or small. Here at Bridebook, we have all the tools and tips you could need to plan a wedding that’s truly unique and meaningful to you.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It’s full of joy, generosity and love, and it’s when we come together with our families to give gifts and enjoy each other’s company.
And when you’re sat in front of a crackling fire, surrounded by hundreds of twinkling lights and all cuddled up watching Christmas movies, it’s also a super romantic time of year. That’s why it’s a hugely popular time for couples to get engaged. So, if you’re considering asking your partner to marry you this Christmas Day, go for it!
But, what’s the best way to propose on Christmas Day? How can you use the festive period to your advantage to pop the question in the most memorable and romantic way?
In this post, we’re going to give you 12 Christmas Day proposal ideas so you can ask your beloved to marry you and have a festive season you’ll never forget.
Yes, Christmas Day is an exceptionally popular month for couples to get engaged. Our annual UK Wedding Report found that in 2021, more than a quarter (26%) of all engagements took place in December. Out of all the couples who got married in 2022, the top four most popular dates those couples got engaged on was 25th December in 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
This might sound surprising, especially when you think about how Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve have romantic and mystical connections. But, there’s just something about the magic and warmth of Christmas, as well as the feelings of love and generosity at that time of year, that draw those looking to pop the question to this one special day. As the song goes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Just because Christmas Day is the most popular day for a proposal doesn’t mean it’s something to steer clear of. Clearly, there’s something special about getting engaged at Christmas that makes it so appealing.
Whether or not you choose to propose on Christmas Day depends on you, your preferences, your plans for the day and your budget. Christmas is notoriously an expensive time of year, and with the average cost of an engagement ring being £1,978, you might not have the funds to spare for a festive proposal.
Proposals are usually romantic and intimate, and the hustle and bustle of a family Christmas can sometimes get in the way of one-on-one time. If you know you’re going to have your aunt and uncle around with their six kids, a proposal might not be quite as romantic as it would be if there weren’t excitable little ones running around.
It also depends on how you and your partner feel about Christmas. If you love Christmas, you might not want to share the date you got engaged with something as widely celebrated as Christmas. Or, perhaps that’s what makes it so special for you.
Whatever you choose to do, just make sure it’s right for you and your soon-to-be fiance.
For more information, read our post on how to propose on Christmas Day so you can make sure your magical proposal goes down without a hitch.
Why is Christmas Day such a great day for a proposal?
If you’re on the fence about proposing on Christmas Day, there are a bunch of reasons why it makes for such a brilliant day to ask one of the biggest questions of your life. Just some of the reasons why Christmas Day is a great day to propose on are:
It’s a magical time of year when people get together and give each other gifts. Why not make one of those gifts a sparkly ring, and the recipient the person you want to spend the rest of your life with?
Despite being the most popular date to get engaged on, it’s often not seen as cliché like Valentine’s Day or 29th February.
A lot of people have time off around Christmas, which gives you time to make sure everything’s perfect.
You might spend a lot of time around family and friends, which gives you a great opportunity to tell everyone your amazing news in person.
Christmas is hugely romantic with plenty of cosy nights in, amazing food and a drink or two to set the scene.
Is there anything more suitable for a proposal than a wintry walk across a snowy landscape? The weather might not always do what we want it to, but just imagine the photos if it did!
12 romantic Christmas Day proposal ideas
Get inspired by our top 12 Christmas Day proposal ideas
1. Pull a one-of-a-kind cracker
A popular Christmas tradition happens around the dinner table up and down the UK, in the form of pulling crackers to reveal a cheesy joke, a paper hat and a BANG! Except, why not ensure your entire Christmas goes with a bang by concealing an engagement ring inside your partner’s cracker? A few little cuts to weaken your side of the cracker will make sure your partner wins, then when they dig their hand inside to find the toy, they’ll receive a lot more than they were expecting.
2. Customise your partner’s advent calendar
If your partner has an advent calendar and loves tucking into a chocolate or little treat every day throughout December, why not customise your advent calendar this year so the 25th door has something extra special inside, in the form of a beautiful engagement ring? You could even build up to the big reveal and hide something personal or romantic behind every door throughout the month.
3. A Christmas pudding surprise
Traditionally, a sixpence used to be hidden inside a Christmas pudding, and whoever found it would have luck and happiness for the next year. Why not put a spin on this festive tradition and, instead of a sixpence, craftily conceal an engagement ring inside your partner’s pud instead? Just make sure it’s not too well hidden, because they might crack a tooth on a diamond if they don’t realise it’s there.
If your partner isn’t a fan of Christmas puds, a ring can just as easily be hidden in a mince pie, chocolate log or sherry trifle instead! Just make sure you have a cloth so you can give the ring a bit of a wipe before they put it on, or better yet hide the ring in a small, clear bag.
4. Get down on one knee in the snow
Christmas morning is a brilliant time for a walk. You’ve opened a few gifts, the potatoes are roasting in the oven and there’s a crisp layer of frost clinging to the leaves outside. Sounds like the perfect time to head out to your favourite spot to propose.
5. Use a custom Christmas card
You and your partner might exchange cards that have soppy messages inside and lots of hearts, but why not reserve another card to give to them on Christmas Day? Imagine their shock when they open the card and on the front it says, ‘Will you marry me?’ Then, they look up at you and you’re getting down on one knee with a ring in your hands. Bliss.
6. Use mistletoe to your advantage
Using mistletoe to grab a cheeky kiss with your partner is not exactly unheard of. But, you could ramp things up and, instead of just an ordinary kiss, you could use it as an opportunity to pop the question. They’ll never see it coming!
7. Hide an engagement ring inside a bauble
When the time comes to put up your Christmas tree, why not hide your engagement ring in plain sight inside a bauble? That way, your partner will spend weeks with the ring right there, but with no clue what you’re about to do. Then, when the moment’s just right, hand it over to them and change both your lives forever.
8. A present inside a present inside a present…
This one is really annoying, but if the two of you have a playful relationship it can be a lot of fun. Wrap the ring box in boxes that get progressively bigger, so to get to the centre they have to unwrap present after present. It’s funny and frustrating, but once they get to the ring that’ll all be forgotten and it’ll definitely be worth it.
9. Ask them with Christmas lights
You could wake up early on Christmas morning and sneak downstairs in true Father Christmas style so you can make use of some spare fairy lights. If you tape or pin them carefully to the wall, you can spell out WILL YOU MARRY ME? in beautiful, twinkling lettering. Think of it a bit light Stranger Things, but a lot more romantic.
10. Get kids or pets to help
If you have kids or pets, recruit them as Santa’s little helpers and include them in your proposal. You could slip a baby grow onto a little one that says something like. ‘Mummy, will you marry Daddy?’ or loop a ring around a bow that’s tied around your beloved dog’s collar.
11. Spell it out with Christmas cookies or cake
There’s nothing quite like Christmas cake, cookies or gingerbread men at Christmas. With some extra icing and a talent for decoration, you could ask your partner to marry you spelled out on a festive treat.
12. Christmas morning breakfast in bed
A surprise breakfast in bed is a lovely way to wake up on Christmas morning, but you know what can make pastries, fresh fruit and orange juice even nicer before opening some gifts? A lovely engagement ring sitting right there on the napkins.
Alternatively, many couples gift each other a stocking at Christmas, which is a lovely way to give each other smaller presents that they may open in bed. As part of this, include the engagement ring at the bottom of your partner’s stocking to give them an unforgettable start to Christmas.
If you propose early, you can then spend the whole of Christmas day as an engaged couple!
Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook
After your Christmas Day engagement, you’ll be ready to start planning your wedding. Sign up to Bridebook and use our helpful tools and resources to plan your perfect big day.
