Ensuring A Successful Ceremony
The following appeal concerns the success of your ceremony and the crucial role of each vendor.
Temperatures in Italy can reach 40 plus degrees in the summer months and many couples regret their decision to hold the ceremony in the hottest period of the afternoon. In fact a recent ceremony was interrupted when a Bridesmaid suffered convulsions due to extreme temperatures and was subsequently taken to hospital.
Some venues and Planners impose a certain time for the ceremony because their main priority is the organisation of post ceremony celebrations, which are of course important but the ceremony should be the main focus of the day. Without a ceremony your day is merely a party.
There are valid reasons why time of day is an important factor:
Extreme temperatures are dangerous and for some with existing health issues potentially fatal. Elderly guests, those with heart conditions and children are most at risk.
Visual appearance of Bridal hair and make-up can be adversely affected. Being blinded by strong sunlight and beads of sweat make capturing your best expressions impossible. The financial investment made by hiring a professional photographer and videographer will be wasted if conditions are not conducive to obtain the highest quality results.
It is also harder to see each other, relax, and concentrate upon the ceremony.
Musical instruments can be negatively affected by the heat and are more likely to be out of tune.
Providing shade, water and fans is not enough especially when humidity is high. It is not fair to subject others to the dangerous effects of high temperatures. Naturally as a Bride and Groom you will be concerned for a positive outcome and not wish to suffer yourselves!
A note about Guests with children:
We welcome children at ceremonies but it is unrealistic to expect very small children to remain quiet for the duration. Understandably children cry when they are uncomfortable. This can however potentially spoil poignant moments such as pledging of vows (and ruin your ceremony and wedding video!)
Guests with babies and small children should ideally be seated towards the back in places with easy access to an exit if needed.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO OF YOUR CEREMONY
We have an excellent working relationship with many photographers and videographers in Italy. Many understand and respect how we work because we are mindful of their work. We expect to be treated with respect by them in return.
We believe the protagonists of a wedding should be the Bride and Groom and do our best to move out of the way during key moments (such as first kiss, exchanging of rings and lighting of unity candle). After all no-one wants wedding photos with the Celebrant in the centre of every shot.
You have no doubt hired the services of a professional and your guests should respect this financial commitment. Your photographer will not be able to capture those all important iconic images of you arriving as a Bride and leaving as a newly married couple if guests jump out of their seats to take photos with their own cameras and i-gadgets.
Guests who insist on keeping mobiles switched on or viewing the ceremony through a lens will not be truly present. This can greatly reduce the vibe from the audience. Their interest and participation is more important than they realise!
Bottles of beer and glasses of wine at ceremonies are against etiquette.. The appearance of these on wedding photos is most unattractive and lowers the tone. The appearance of plastic bags, jackets and other out of place objects hanging from chairs or thrown on the ground can ruin the overall effect of photos.
Guests who use dark/black umbrellas to shield them from the sun risk giving the appearance of a funeral. Fans or white/cream parasols look much nicer on photos.
Floral arrangements should not be so large that they obscure the view of the couple.
Remember to be spontaneous and natural.. forgetting the presence of your Photographer and Videographer during the ceremony is important.
Your photos will look much nicer if you suggest a dress code to your guests.
VIDEOGRAPHERS
Videographers are affected by the same issues as Photographers. We will coordinate all movement and moments, especially the entrance and exit of your ceremony.
Take your time when speaking and concentrate solely upon one another… stay within an invisible bubble and don’t be distracted by what is going on around you. Ensure that you look at one another often during the ceremony and not at the ground… and remember to smile!
Don’t repress your feelings.. if you wish to cry do so and laugh when you want to. Emotions are an essential part of a ceremony and vital to the emotional quality of your video.
Please don’t read out your vows from phones or i pads.. Elegant paper and font is preferable visually to scraps of paper and screens.
Bad feeling between videographers and photographers can sometimes occur if there is not sufficient space for them both to move around and they get caught in ‘the line of fire’! It is imperative that no heated verbal exchanges between them occur while we are performing the ceremony.
We do not allow unauthorised people such as Florists, Muscians and Wedding Planners to stand at the back of the ceremony to take photos and video once the ceremony has begun. We have to protect our intellectual property.
If your ceremony is going to be filmed then it is crucial that we know as soon as you book your videographer in accordance with laws on privacy. We will need to send them a Video Release Form to sign in order to protect our intellectual property.
We are concerned to protect the privacy of couples as many do not wish to have their ceremonies photographed or recorded by anyone but their professional photographers and videographers.
MUSICIANS:
Music plays a crucial part in a ceremony and impacts negatively on its success if performed badly or with delayed response.
Not all musicians may be able to play your preferences, especially contemporary pieces. It is a good idea to ask musicians for a list of pieces from their repertoire.
We do not become involved in downloading music or providing sound equipment but we do provide a document entitled ‘Music Choices’ to provide some inspiration.
If you are hiring musicians we need to know who they are as we need to choreograph the ceremony closely with them on the day.
WEDDING PLANNERS:
Around 90% of our bookings are made to us directly, without the involvement of a Wedding Planner but we are happy to liaise with registered professionals. Most of our clients hire us directly even when a Wedding Planner is involved.
Hopefully you will already have informed us of your Planner’s name and contact. If not or you are considering hiring one later we do need to be informed at the earliest opportunity.
Unplugged Ceremonies
We are absolutely pro ‘unplugged ceremonies’ and will happily make a diplomatic announcement before the commencement of your ceremony, requesting that all electronic devices be put away… at least during the entrance and exit but throughout is even better.
Copyright – Giuseppe Rossi © Blessings From Italy BFI European Independent Celebrants ®