1. As soon as you arrive (unless we made other arrangements), you’ll want to place the two-part

• license-certificate envelope or folder package

3. The Chapel staff is eager to assist with entrances and exits. You may also want to double-check if you have arranged for recorded music. 

4. INFORMAL GREETING. For weddings with many guests, just before the ceremony begins, I’ll informally greet your seated guests and, if appropriate, light chancel candles. LEARN MORE. For more intimate weddings, this is unnecessary.  

5. Weddings often begin with the Minister entering from the side with the Groom immediately following, then followed by the best man.            Alternatively, couples may process or appear together, or make other plans best suited to the facility and the couple’s wishes. LEARN MORE.

6. After the men are in place, usually Chapel event coordinator (or someone you designate) helps the Bride’s party to enter from the front door of the chapel to process in. In case of rain, umbrellas or a "Plan B" may be used.

7. During the ceremony, you will want to enjoy looking at each other — not me — except when I’m giving directions. We’ll not rush. Feel free to stand naturally  and reach out to each other — and hold hands if you like at any time. I'll guide you through the ceremony so you do not need to worry about remembering anything -- except to kiss after I pronounce you married!

8. After welcoming everyone, in many bride-groom weddings as arranged, I’ll motion for the bride to give her flowers to an attendant to hold until the end of the ceremony when the bride takes them to recess with her husband.

9. Here is advice for you to send to your photographer. With your permission, I’d like to take a photo of you together after the ceremony. If your photographer wants me in any posed photos, this would be a good time, immediately after the ceremony. 

10. Current health advice based on local assessments are found here.

11. Please feel free to let me know as any questions arise.  You'll find reminders for the actual flow of the ceremony here: CeremonyReminders.

I usually walk to Pilgrim Chapel from my home about half a mile away. Depending on the weather, I may not be properly attired when I arrive. Even after I am presentable -- perhaps to have your witnesses sign the License and Certificate -- I may not be vested for the ceremony. But when it is time, I will be ready!

Again, thank you for inviting me to be with you on this happy occasion!

0. The mothers of the bride and groom and others designated for the honor of speacial seats, usually closest to the chancel, are seated after all other guests are seated.

1. The minister may provide informal greetings to the guests. 

2. The minister, the groom, and best man enter from the side and wait in the chancel. 

3. Groomsmen follow the best man immediately from the side or can escort the bridesmaids from the front door of the chapel.

4. The bridesmaids singly or with groomsmen escorts begin the procession.

5. The ring bearer and/or flower girl.

6. The maid or matron of honor.

7. The bride, often with an escort -- her father or other close male family member or friend on her right.

8. When the bride’s father reaches the chancel, he may kiss her and then place her hand in her groom’s hand.

9. The minister begins the ceremony by welcoming the guests.

10. He then motions for the bride to hand her flowers to her maid/matron of honor to hold during the ceremony.

11. After the couple are pronounced husband and wife, the bride is handed her flowers in preparation for the recessional.

12. After the benediction, the couple recess, followed by the wedding party.

1. As soon as you arrive (unless we made other arrangements), you’ll want to place the two-part

• license-certificate envelope or folder package

3. The Chapel events coordinator is eager to assist with entrances and exits. You may also want to double-check if you have arranged recorded music. 

4. INFORMAL GREETING. For weddings with many guests, just before the ceremony begins, I’ll informally greet your seated guests and, if appropriate, light chancel candles. LEARN MORE. For more intimate weddings, this is unnecessary.
 
5. Weddings often begin with the Minister entering from the side. After any attendents are in place, the Partners may enter from the door of the Chapel or from the side room. Alternatively, couples may make plans best suited to the facility and the couple’s wishes. LEARN MORE. 

6. If any of the wedding party plan to enter from the Chapel door while it is raining, the Chapel will provide  umbrellas or suggest a "Plan B."

7. During the ceremony, you will want to enjoy looking at each other — not me — except when I’m giving directions. We’ll not rush. Feel free to stand naturally  and reach out to each other — and hold hands if you like at any time. I'll guide you through the ceremony so you do not need to worry about remembering anything except, if you wish to follow tradition, to kiss each other after I pronounce you married.

8. After welcoming everyone, in many weddings as arranged, if one or both to be married carry flowers or other adornments in hand, I’ll motion for an attendent to hold them until the end of the ceremony when the flowers or adornments are returned and the couple prepare to recess. 

9. Here is advice for you to send to your photographer. With your permission, I’d like to take a photo of you together after the ceremony. If your photographer wants me in any posed photos, this would be a good time, immediately after the ceremony. 

10. Current health advice based on local assessments are found here.

11. Please feel free to let me know as any questions arise.  You'll find reminders for the actual flow of the ceremony here: CeremonyReminders.

I usually walk to Pilgrim Chapel from my home about half a mile away. Depending on the weather, I may not be properly attired when I arrive. Even after I am presentable -- perhaps to have your witnesses sign the License and Certificate -- I may not be vested for the ceremony. But when it is time, I will be ready!

Again, thank you for inviting me to be with you on this happy occasion!

0. The parents of the couple and others designated for the honor of speacial seats, usually closest to the chancel, are seated after all other guests are seated.

1. The minister may provide informal greetings to the guests. 

2. The minister may enter from the side and wait in the chancel. 

3. Attendents follow immediately from the Chapel door.

4. The couple enters from the Chapel door.

5. The minister begins the ceremony by welcoming the guests.

6. He then motions for the attendents take any flowers or onaments carried by the couple to hold during the ceremony.

7. After the couple are pronounced married, flowers or ornaments are returned to the couple in preparation for the recessional.

8. After the benediction or fioewell wish, the couple recess, followed by the wedding party.

Most weddings do not need a rehearsal, but sometimes couples like to have them to preview the ceremony to feel more comfortable and help the wedding party be sure of their roles. or even as part of an evening prenuptual celebration by including family and friends. Whatever your reason for scheduling a rehearsal might be, these considerations might be helpful:

0. Please remind folks that the Chapel is sometimes scheduled with events back-to-back, so it is important to be on time.

1. Dress is usually casual for a rehearsal. 

2. Rocio  will conduct the rehearsaI and call on the couple (and the wedding planner if one) to be sure that entrances and exits are what is desired.

3. The Pilgrim Chapel campus provides several options for places from which the bride, the groom, and other members of the wedding party can prepare and enter, including the basement, the side room, the sacristy, the nave itself, and the cottage next door.

4. Here is a general outline of the ceremony sequence. This is adapted to your wishes. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
 
    [Informal Welcome]
    Processional
    Welcome by the minister
          Bride holds flowers until the Welcome ends,
          then hands them to attendant)
    Consent and Presentations
    [Prayer if desired and Reading(s) if desired]
    Exchanging of Vows and Rings
    Pronouncement and embrace
          Flowers are returned to the Bride.
          The couple face guests.
          All stand for the . . . 
    [Benediction or] Farewell Wish
    Recessional

5. All of us at the Chapel want everyone to be comfortable about
how to enter and exit,
where to sit or stand,
and how everyone gets in place,
and departs when the ceremony is completed.
Questions and suggestions are welcome.

6. If  everyone is on time, and there are no technical problems with recorded music, the rehearsal usually should take less than an hour.

7. On the day of your wedding, I will check with you when I arrive, usually an hour before the ceremony.
     When you arrive, please give the License and Certificate to Rocio or place them on the altar-table.
     Then I'll complete the legal paperwork with your two witnesses. You do not sign either the License or the Certificate, but one of you, as convenient, will sign a receipt for the license.