Carolyn Burke STL Blog

Ceremony Trends • The wedding ceremony is becoming a place where couples are choosing to express themselves through their personal style. Today, 72% of ceremonies are held at a non-religious location and 37% of couples have a friend or family member be the officiant their wedding. St Louis Wedding Ceremony • Today, most ceremonies mix a bit of the old with the new. In fact, 1 in 3 couples create their own vows to add a personal touch and 22% incorporate special traditions and customs related to race or religion. • While over 80% of brides are still being escorted down the aisle by their father, 55% of couples choose to have themselves and the wedding party walk down the aisle to non-traditional music. Escort the Bride Down the Aisle Yes or No? • Although it’s customary not to see your partner before the ceremony, more couples are opting for a first look. Wedding First Look In fact, 43% of couples prefer to see each other before the ceremony to take pictures and ...

Ceremony Traditions  There are many wedding ceremony traditions you may wish to include in your event. The bride being walked down by an escort is a ceremony tradition.  First choice is the father of the bride, but I have seen the brother, step father, both parents, and even the bride's son walk her down the aisle.  Of course, walking down the aisle alone is always an option. When using an escort, the bride should take the escort's LEFT ARM. Another tradition that the bride and groom consider is the "first sight of the bride by the groom.  If photos will be taken before the ceremony, a private moment may be arranged for the “ first look ”. If the bride and groom are not to see each other before the ceremony, it is the responsibility of the groomsmen to ensure the groom does not see the bride. The bride’s ring may be held by the best man and the groom’s ring may be held by the maid or matron-of-honor. The best man can hold BOTH rings - most likely he has a poc...

Wedding Ceremony Rehearsal Guide I have performed over 1,000 wedding ceremonies in the last 15+ years. One of my packages includes coordinating the wedding rehearsal . While I do offer rehearsal coordination, it is not necessary to have me there. I require a Phone Rehearsal for all wedding ceremonies, but I am happy to supervise the rehearsal for an additional fee.  The majority of my couples choose to do the rehearsal themselves without me being present. Running Your Own Wedding Rehearsal Below is an extensive guide as a way to help you run your own wedding ceremony rehearsal, saving you time and money, as well as helping the ceremony run more smoothly on your wedding day. It is important to note that there are many possible variations to the ceremony order, and this guide was created focusing on a straight, non-denominational wedding ceremony. Please see the “Variations” section of the guide for options for our LGBT couples, as well as common cultural, religious, and r...

While many couples prefer the traditional feel of a church ceremony, a growing number are choosing a more personalized vow exchange. This shift has created plenty of opportunity for Carolyn Burke - Wedding Officiant , an ordained non-religious minister based in the St. Louis Metro Area. Since 2005, Burke has specialized in officiating at non-religious or secular weddings , specifically those that do not mention a deity. Over the years, she has seen a steady growth for such ceremonies which she calls, "Short, Sweet and Simple". St Louis Wedding Officiant  Burke enjoys working with clients who seek the path less traveled on their wedding day. They find out about her unique services from using internet search engines, vendor referrals, and word-of-mouth. "You put the words ' Elope St. Louis ' and I am number one in the search engines", states Burke. “Planning a wedding can be great fun if it's done in the spirit of joy rather than the spirit of follo...

Whether you want a classic wedding or something more edgy and modern, you don’t HAVE to follow the “standard” wedding rules or silly superstitions. It’s YOUR day, forget the traditional wedding rules and do it your way! Here are some of the most common “wedding myths” and how to rise above them. Take control and have the wedding of your dreams! It’s “Bad Luck” To See Each Other Before the Ceremony This dates back to pre-arranged marriages where bride and groom didn’t even MEET before the wedding. Lots of couples are opting out of this tradition and taking advantage of “first look” photos, a rising trend in modern day weddings. This gives the photographer a better chance to capture that “magical moment” when the couple sees each other for the first time in their wedding ensemble. It can also give family and close friends an intimate moment with the couple and more chances for photo ops, thus saving time between the ceremony and the reception. For small and intimate weddin...