Ceremony Info

YOUR CEREMONY:

This ceremony is romantic & couple centered. It includes an optional ring exchange, a legal vow exchange, a marriage inspired reading. This ceremony does not have any religious or spiritual language. Usually, the ceremony lasts about 5-10 minutes, much like a courthouse wedding! With this package, no customizations or additional special ceremonies are allowed.

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YOUR OFFICIANT:

With this package, you must use our officiant and our civil ceremony.

Your officiant will meet with both you and your partner to review your names & other ceremony specifics.

You will meet with your officiant separately in most cases, unless you are walking down the aisle together

(which more & more folks are doing these days!)

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WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

When you arrive, your day-of coordinator will greet you in the bridal lounge.

(You can enter through the unlocked back entrance and go right in to the lounge).

While the bride is getting settled, guests will get settled in their seats.

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WHERE TO STAND FOR THE CEREMONY:

Usually the "groom" stands at the front with the officiant, in wait for the "bride" to walk down the aisle. Since we do have a lot of same sex couples, and times have changed a lot there is no rule on how to do this. Either person can stand at the front with the officiant or you can both walk down the aisle together!

You decide!

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WALKING DOWN THE AISLE:

Once everyone is seated & your bridal party is lined up by the coordinator, your coordinator will start the music.

Your coordinator will open the curtains & cue everyone down the aisle.

Once you get up to the altar at the front, your coordinator will fade the music so the ceremony can start. 

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NO REHEARSAL NEEDED:

No rehearsals are necessary. Your coordinator will show everyone where to go, what to do, & where to stand.

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MARRIAGE LICENSE:

Your officiant will be sure to have your two witnesses sign your license

& then mail it in to the state to make it official! You will need to select two adults over 18 to sign your license after the ceremony concludes.

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You can obtain the wedding license at any Missouri county courthouse.  
You must both go with 2 forms of ID, no more than 30 days

prior to your wedding.

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Always check in with your county courthouse for their requirements,

but take a look here for Jackson County marriage license information: 

https://www.jacksongov.org/278/Marriage-Licenses

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ARRIVAL TIME & TIMELINE:

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SUGGESTED 2 HOUR EVENT TIMELINE:

 

FIRST 30 MINUTES:

Get in the door & get ready.

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SECOND 30 MINUTES:

Get married & get the license signed.

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LAST HOUR:

Take pictures, celebrate, mingle, & wrap up!

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YOUR CEREMONY START TIME:

The doors open at your venue rental start time. We will open the bridal lounge &  you can start letting guests in the front door at that time! 

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To make the most of your time with us, we recommend that you

start your ceremony about 30-45 minutes after the doors open.

That will give everyone a chance to get in & settled before the big moment.

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So, for instance if your venue rental time is from 4:30pm - 6:30pm, you would want to invite your guests to start arriving at 4:30pm or 4:45pm for a 5:00pm or 5:15pm ceremony start time.

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Nobody knows your group better than you. If you have a particularly early/ or late arriving crowd, adjust guest arrival time accordingly.

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PRE-CEREMONY PICS & ACTIVITIES:

Generally, we recommend that if you want to do any pre-ceremony pictures,

you try to finish those up in time to get down the aisle no later than 1 hour after your event start time.

Any later than that, you run the risk of running out of time for your ceremony, post ceremony celebrating & other activities.

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PHOTOGRAPHY:

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PRETTY PICS FOR THE WIN!

If you have the photography add-on with this package, your professional photographer will be there for your entire 2 hour event. Your photographer will capture your entire event, including your ceremony, posed family photos, & your newlywed portraits. They know all the best places to stage photos in our venues and outside around the neighborhood!

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GALLERY DELIVERY: 

Our photographers will edit your entire gallery for lighting & general consistency. Your gallery will be delivered in an online digital gallery along with a backup USB which will be mailed to you about 5 weeks after your wedding! Keep in mind, our photographers will provide this general editing but they will not do heavy photoshop editing.

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IMAGE RELEASE: 

We send your photo gallery via USB so that you have the digital copies which can be shared & printed however you wish! Your USB will include a document labeled "Image Release" which notifies any print shop that you have the rights to print your photos to cherish forever!

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FLOWERS:

This package does not offer a flower add-on but you are welcome to bring your own!!