Entrances - The opening act!

I come from a theatre background, and so when I create a ceremony for a couple I work in that framework; I look at ceremony structure, the feel and the dynamics of the ceremony.

The entrances are the opening acts for a beautiful production and I have seen all types. From horse-drawn carriages to hip-hop dancing down the aisle. From a royal parade with trumpet fanfare to being led down the aisle by the family dog. The entrances immediately create the tone for the rest of the ceremony and are a fantastic way to display your personality. Here are some things to consider when planning your ceremony entrances

1. Grooms can do it too!

While some grooms are perfectly content to stand up the front and wait for the love of to come down the aisle, more often recently some grooms are deciding they want that big entrance too. It could be a small thing, a casual walk down the aisle, or it could be a big production. I've had the pleasure of watching one groom zoom up in his fast car, jumping out and dancing down the aisle, collecting his groomsmen as he went culminating in a choreographed flashmob. So have a think about if you want to come down the aisle too. You don't need to limit yourself to starting up the front.

2. Think of music choices

Another personal choice, your music should reflect who you are both individually and as a couple. There is no wrong answer to what kind of music you want as you make your way into the ceremony and I have heard everything from traditional Pachel-Bell's Canon all the way to "Highway to Hell" So don't be bound by what kind of music you think should be playing, think about what would make your wedding the most special to you.

3. Think about music timings

There is nothing more stressful for me as a celebrant to be looking at the timeline on a music track as it's coming toward the end of a song and the bridesmaids have taken a little bit extra time making their way down. We don't ever want to music to cut out before the bride has made her big entrance. So when you've found your perfect tracks, have a look at the time and make sure there's enough for everyone to enter. If you've chosen a 2 minute song but you have 5 bridesmaids and two flower girls preceeding you, consider choosing a different song for everyone else and keep the one you really want just for yourself. In fact, you're welcome to have several songs for everybody's entrance if you feel like it. But save the best one for you!

4. You can start when you want.

A song doesn't have to start at the beginning too. If you want to make your entrance only when the big chorus hits or at the most emotional verse, ask your celebrant or person controlling the music to start at that point. It's a small and very easy thing to do.

5. Plan out your walk

If you have multiple bridesmaids (or groomsmen, or a combination) you don't want them to create a traffic jam walking down the aisle if they're too close or too far apart or walking at different speeds. There's two ways to solve this. First, you can have each person walk down by themselves until they've stopped and then the next person can start. Or, you can pick a landmark; for example, when the first bridesmaid passes the guests' chairline, thats the cue for the next person to start walking. This way, everyone is walking the same distance apart.

6. Animals and Children

Finally, if you're using children or animals in the procession, firstly it's going to be so cute! But secondly you can never guarantee what will happen. Acknowledging this first and foremost is super important. It probably won't be a perfect formal entrance, it will become a bit more casual or loose. Own that, if you've got a child who's getting emotional or a pet dog who decides to go off sniffing, it adds to your wedding's character and will help make it a memorable day.

There are so many other things that could be talked about with the entrances but the best takeaway, like everything I do when planning a couple's wedding, is to think about what you want, and what suits your personality, rather than think about what should be in a wedding.