Ready to Say “I Do” – Ceremony Tips to Stay Present and Prepared

Your wedding ceremony is the heart of your day—the moment where everything else falls away and you’re standing, grounded and present, making a promise to your person. Whether it’s short and sweet, traditional, spiritual, quirky, or completely your own, this part of the day deserves your full attention.

And while we’ll be there to photograph every glance, tear, and laugh, there are a few things you can do ahead of time to make the moment feel more spacious, sacred, and fully yours.

Set the Scene

Before we talk logistics, pause and picture it:

You’re standing at the start of the aisle. You’ve just taken the deepest breath of the day. You’re about to walk toward your partner, and everything slows down. This is your moment. And it doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful.

What to Have Ready Before the Ceremony

Here’s a quick list of things to confirm in advance:

  • Marriage License – Have this signed (or ready to be signed) and stored safely.
  • Rings – Double-check who has them. Usually the best man or MOH.
  • Vow Cards – Bring printed vows if you’re reading your own. Phone notes work too, but cards look better in photos.
  • Officiant’s Script – Make sure your officiant has your ceremony flow and notes in hand.
  • Tissues – Just trust us on this one.

Cross-check this with our Final Wedding Day Checklist

Ceremony Timeline & Music Cues

Work with your planner or DJ to time out your processional. Think about:

  • How long each aisle is
  • How many people are walking
  • How long your song is

Walk it through in advance if you can. Or at the very least, talk through the cue timing. Do you want to walk right as the chorus hits? Or slowly over the instrumental? These small decisions help anchor the moment.

Also confirm:

  • Where the officiant will stand
  • Who walks in with who
  • If you’re doing a unity ritual, reading, or song

Build in a breath. The ceremony doesn’t have to rush. A 15–30 second pause before you begin can change everything.

Personal Touches That Matter

Here are a few ways couples personalize their ceremony and make it feel like them:

  • Writing Your Own Vows – These don’t have to be poetic. They just have to be honest. A paragraph or two from the heart is all you need.
  • Unity Rituals – Candle lighting, handfasting, wine boxing, or anything meaningful to you.
  • Readings – Ask a family member or friend to read something personal (or spiritual, literary, or humorous).
  • Cultural Elements – Include traditions from your background or community (jumping the broom, breaking glass, call-and-response, etc.).

Whatever you choose, keep it rooted in who you are. This is the moment you become family.

Ceremony Space Tips (Photographer’s Perspective)

  • Check the Light – If outdoors, plan for even light if possible. Avoid harsh sun if you can. If it’s a sunset ceremony, know that light shifts fast.
  • Face Each Other, Not Just the Officiant – Your guests (and photos) will thank you.
  • Hold Hands When You Can – It grounds you both.
  • Pause Before the First Kiss – Take a beat to look at each other first. It creates an even more powerful image.

See how this moment connects with earlier decisions: First Look or Not?

Live Stream or Video Your Ceremony

If anyone important can’t attend, consider live streaming your ceremony or capturing it on video. We offer wedding live streaming services that allow distant friends and family to be part of the experience.

Ceremony videos also become cherished keepsakes—not just for what was said, but for the emotion in your voices.

Learn more about why wedding videography matters

Emotional Presence Tips

This is the moment you’ve been walking toward for months—maybe years. It’s natural to feel a rush of adrenaline. Here’s how to stay grounded:

  • Breathe. Seriously. Deep breaths change everything.
  • Look at your partner. Let their presence anchor you.
  • Take mental snapshots. Scan the room. Look at your people. Listen to the music. Let yourself feel.

You don’t need to remember every word. You’ll remember how it felt.

Want to build this grounded feeling into your whole day? Read our Getting Ready Guide

A Note on Unexpected Emotions

We’ve seen it all: unexpected tears, laughter during vows, kids shouting mid-ceremony, wind knocking over decor. These moments become the most human, the most memorable.

Don’t resist what shows up. Embrace it.

The realness is what makes the ceremony yours.

The ceremony is where the day truly begins. Where you step into something sacred. And where we slow down time just enough to let you live inside it.

We’ll be there—not just to capture the kiss, but the squeeze of a hand, the look in your eyes, the way your breath catches.

So take the moment. Fill it with your words. Bring your presence.

We’ll take care of the rest.

← Back to Wedding Planning Guides

A bride and groom standing in front of a cloudy sky.

A La Crosse WI wedding photographer captures a bride and groom sharing a kiss in front of their guests.

A man and woman stand facing each other on a road at night, illuminated by bright backlighting that creates a dramatic silhouette effect.
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Two men in white dress shirts and suspenders stand indoors; one smiles with hands covering his mouth while the other looks down, holding a garment bag.
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