If it was appropriate
to welcome everybody to the wedding it is just as important to dismiss
them. People need to know when it's time to move! But this is also a
good time for the minister to make any announcements that everybody
needs to hear - especially if people need to understand about the
schedule that follows with photographs, perhaps transport arrangements
to another venue, wedding reception start time, etc.
Is that all? NO.
All we have done is cover the basics. This is a well-worn pattern
and if you need a really quick wedding because you have a plane to
catch or just hate weddings (!) then you could stop here, have a
quick bite to eat with your friends and ride off into the sunset.
However, many people
love to include extra items in the wedding and you should at least
consider these before you complete your planning. You may want special
people to participate in the wedding; you may want them to read deeply
meaningful poems or snippets of literature; you may want everybody to
linger in meditative mood while someone plays music or sings a song.
You may even want someone to deliver a brief exhortation - which was,
and still is, a very traditional thing in a church wedding. (Frankly,
most people don't seem to want this, but I needed to mention it.)
Next - Readings
