How to Write a Wedding Scene James Matheus Sterling 2 Comments on How to Write a Wedding Scene SHARE THIS SITE WITH YOUR FELLOW WRITERS! Part One Where exactly is the wedding held and what time of year is it? In Hawaii by the ocean in the middle of summer? How about in New York, indoors, at the beginning of winter? »A. How is the place decorated? I. Does it have everything the bride and groom want? Does it look expensive or cheap? II. What about the guests? What are they dressed in? Dolce and Gabbana or jeans and a t-shirt? III. Backstage have the bridesmaids try to calm the bride as they do touch ups IV. Heads up: Have something go wrong. That is what makes a wedding scene memorable. Example 1: It was an Autumn wedding in the late afternoon. The area faced the breathtaking sunset. At the end of each seated aisle, jasmine scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Spread down the aisle was white leaves, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn’t crack when you stepped on them. We’d have a small group of close family and friends dressed in beach attire for comfort. On either side of the aisle, they sat in white chairs set up for them on the sand. “Okay, okay Nora, you need to breath… Can you do that for me??” one of my bridesmaids asked. Only five minutes remained before I my wedding began; I was nervous just like the first time I went on a date with him. “I can breathe,” I said to her, “I just need my grandmother’s necklace to calm down.” My two friends looked at me wide-eyed. “Uh, Nora… about that.” (Thirty seconds later) “What do you mean you can’t find my necklace! I can’t get married without it. It’s my lucky charm. No way. “Look,” Mary, bridesmaid number one, said, “Everyone’s here and has a program. It’s about to start. I see Fred waiting at the end of the aisle and he’s just as nervous as you. DO you really want to not marry the love of your life over a necklace?” I shook my head. “Good, because if you don’t marry him, I know plenty of women who would.” »B. What items are handed to the guests and what preparations are made right before the wedding begins? I. Usually the bride and groom’s mothers light the candles and pass out the programs. They could even talk about their children and how they grown up so fast. II. People should be taking their seats by now. Guests can continue talking, however, the doors to the wedding’s entrance should be closing. III. Next, you can have the bridesmaids and groomsmen start walking in and lining up at the front of the chairs. Example 2: (No Example Added- but you can add one for your scene) »C. Note how happy the atmosphere is? I. Are the guests really quite because they are bored or because being silent shows respect? II. Maybe the best man cracking jokes to keep groom calm. III. When the priest comes out and says please stand for the bride, does everyone smile and get excited? What about whispering nice to their neighbor about the bride? Example 3: (No Example Added- but you can add one for your scene) Part Two This should be around when the bride makes her way out. Show how she’s feeling and if she’s crying or not. Add a metaphor or simile about the way she looks if you can. »A. Is there a ring bearer or flower girl? How cute do they look in their clothes? I. You don’t have to spend too much time on this. But if the bride or groom has a little sister or nephew or even a child, you can make them useful by having them be the flower girl or nephew. Example 4: Finally, the priest came out and asked every to stand. It was my turn! All eyes would soon be on me. The flower girl lined the path with white rose petals as the music started. I only took two steps out before I was greeted by my father. He escorted me down the aisle, which seemed longer than before. He became my strength; without him I would faint. The guests looked at me, taking pictures of my dress, waving at me, smiling- one thing was for sure, though… no one made a sound. Up ahead I saw him, Fred. My future husband, the love of my life, my everything. He stood taller, his shoulders back and his eyes on me. If I wasn’t mistaken I could have sworn tears filled his eyes. »B.The bride is usually escorted down the aisle by her dad. If the father is dead then she can have a close guy friend, or her brother walker her down. I. Talk about the nervousness of the character and the abrupt silence as the bride or main character comes in with the music. Traditionally, people stand when bride enters. The guests may not like it because harder to see over people’s heads. II. What does the groom do? Is he frozen because of his nerves? What about his face or his body? Is he standing taller to appear more confident as his future wife comes to him? Is he showing signs of fear or happiness? III. Talk about the fear of the bride when all the eyes are on her. Example 5: Unlike him, my nervous kicked in ten-fold. The attention felt like too much for me to handle. Good thing I only had ten more steps to go. »C.Father presents bride to the groom. I. This should be an emotional moment for the both of them. Does he hug her? Kiss her check? Tell her he loves her? II. The father might directly place his daughter’s hand in the groom’s hand. Then, he’d give his future son-in-law a hug. III.For the bride and groom: focus on the way the world slips away and it’s just the two of them. Example 6: At the end of the aisle my father hugged me, said “I ‘m proud of you” and then presented me to my groom. My father placed my hand in Fred’s and smiled. As a couple, Fred and I stood in front of the priest. Before my father walked away, he patted Fred on the shoulder. That was his way of welcoming him into the family. Standing next to my love felt overwhelming. Part Three Couple approaches minister… » A.The minister says “You can now be seated” to the guests. I. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today (or this evening) to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony.” II. They say their wedding speech in front of the crowd. It doesn’t have to be long, but if your book is part of a series and the characters were together for several years then the speech should be a least a few deep and meaningful sentences. III. Vows are now exchanged. Here is an example of what they’d say: I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live. IV. This is the time for the ring bearer to bring the rings. Example 7: Was this really happening? Will I soon be Mrs. Welton? The minister said to guests, “You can now be seated”. My friends and family followed his request. “Dearly beloved,” he began, “we are gathered here this evening to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony.” He said the speech and a fterward we exchanged vows, tears filling both our eyes. The ring bearer came forward and presented the rings. I placed Fred’s ring on first, then he placed on mine. »B.Priest begins to wrap it up. I. He will ask if anyone objects to the marriage and says “Speak now or forever hold your peace”. Most times no one will say anything, unless your book is about a love triangle and the person comes running into the building shouting “Wait!” II. “With the power invested in me by the (name of religious organization or state in which they reside) I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride. (The man goes in for the kissing.). III. Guests clap as they watch the bride and groom swap spit. They may cheer and shout. Example 10: The priest nodded and asked, “If anyone objects to the marriage speak now or forever hold your peace”. As assumed, no one said a word. “With the power invested in me by the State of Colorado I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Fred leaned in and kissed me,softly like he’s never done it before. Everyone cheered for us, however I barely noticed; my full attention rested on Fred. »C.Final ceremony moments I. Couple take individual candles (lite earlier by their mothers) and use those candles to light a larger candle (called the “unity candle) that symbolizes they are no longer “two” but now “one”. II.When the lucky couple leaves stage and goes to the reception, then they are followed by their attendants Example 11: Soon after we did the whole candle symbolizing. And we left the stage. I was beyond hungry. The guests followed behind us. ** !You might have to scroll down with your mouse! Click For Full Example It was an Autumn wedding in the late afternoon. The area faced the breathtaking sunset. At the end of each seated aisle, jasmine scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Spread down the aisle was white leaves, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn’t crack when you stepped on them. We’d have a small group of close family and friends dressed in beach attire for comfort. On either side of the aisle, they sat in white chairs set up for them on the sand. “Okay, okay Nora, you need to breath… Can you do that for me??” one of my bridesmaids asked. Only five minutes remained before I my wedding began; I was nervous just like the first time I went on a date with him. “I can breathe,” I said to her, “I just need my grandmother’s necklace to calm down.” My two friends looked at me wide-eyed. “Uh, Nora… about that.” (Thirty seconds later) “What do you mean you can’t find my necklace! I can’t get married without it. It’s my lucky charm. No way. “Look,” Mary, bridesmaid number one, said, “Everyone’s here and has a program. It’s about to start. I see Fred waiting at the end of the aisle and he’s just as nervous as you. DO you really want to not marry the love of your life over a necklace?” I shook my head. “Good, because if you don’t marry him, I know plenty of women who would.” “Good luck,” the bridesmaids said as they left the back room and made their way to the front. Arm and arm the groomsmen and bridesmaids looked radiant. I then wondered how I looked. The crowd stopped speaking to each other to take pictures and admire the unforgettable moment. Finally, the priest came out and asked every to stand. It was my turn! All eyes would soon be on me. The flower girl lined the path with white rose petals as the music started. I only took two steps out before I was greeted by my father. He escorted me down the aisle, which seemed longer than before. He became my strength; without him I would faint. The guests looked at me, taking pictures of my dress, waving at me, smiling- one thing was for sure, though… no one made a sound. Up ahead I saw him, Fred. My future husband, the love of my life, my everything. He stood taller, his shoulders back and his eyes on me. If I wasn’t mistaken I could have sworn tears filled his eyes. Unlike him, my nervous kicked in ten-fold. The attention felt like too much for me to handle. Good thing I only had ten more steps to go. At the end of the aisle my father hugged me, said “I ‘m proud of you” and then presented me to my groom. My father placed my hand in Fred’s and smiled. As a couple, Fred and I stood in front of the priest. Before my father walked away, he patted Fred on the shoulder. That was his way of welcoming him into the family. Standing next to my love felt overwhelming. Was this really happening? Will I soon be Mrs. Welton? The minister said to guests, “You can now be seated”. My friends and family followed his request. “Dearly beloved,” he began, “we are gathered here this evening to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony.” He said the speech and so did we. Afterward we exchanged vows, tears filling both our eyes. The ring bearer came forwards and present the rings. I placed Fred’s ring on first, then he placed on mine. The priest nodded and asked “If anyone objects to the marriage speak now or forever hold your peace”. As assumed, no one said a word. “With the power invested in me by the State of Colorado I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Fred leaned in and kissed me,softly like he’s never done it before. Everyone cheered for us, however I barely noticed; my full attention rested on Fred. Soon after we did the whole candle symbolizing. And we left the stage. I was beyond hungry. The guests followed behind us.
How to Write a Wedding Scene James Matheus Sterling 2 Comments on How to Write a Wedding Scene SHARE THIS SITE WITH YOUR FELLOW WRITERS! Part One Where exactly is the wedding held and what time of year is it? In Hawaii by the ocean in the middle of summer? How about in New York, indoors, at the beginning of winter? »A. How is the place decorated? I. Does it have everything the bride and groom want? Does it look expensive or cheap? II. What about the guests? What are they dressed in? Dolce and Gabbana or jeans and a t-shirt? III. Backstage have the bridesmaids try to calm the bride as they do touch ups IV. Heads up: Have something go wrong. That is what makes a wedding scene memorable. Example 1: It was an Autumn wedding in the late afternoon. The area faced the breathtaking sunset. At the end of each seated aisle, jasmine scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Spread down the aisle was white leaves, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn’t crack when you stepped on them. We’d have a small group of close family and friends dressed in beach attire for comfort. On either side of the aisle, they sat in white chairs set up for them on the sand. “Okay, okay Nora, you need to breath… Can you do that for me??” one of my bridesmaids asked. Only five minutes remained before I my wedding began; I was nervous just like the first time I went on a date with him. “I can breathe,” I said to her, “I just need my grandmother’s necklace to calm down.” My two friends looked at me wide-eyed. “Uh, Nora… about that.” (Thirty seconds later) “What do you mean you can’t find my necklace! I can’t get married without it. It’s my lucky charm. No way. “Look,” Mary, bridesmaid number one, said, “Everyone’s here and has a program. It’s about to start. I see Fred waiting at the end of the aisle and he’s just as nervous as you. DO you really want to not marry the love of your life over a necklace?” I shook my head. “Good, because if you don’t marry him, I know plenty of women who would.” »B. What items are handed to the guests and what preparations are made right before the wedding begins? I. Usually the bride and groom’s mothers light the candles and pass out the programs. They could even talk about their children and how they grown up so fast. II. People should be taking their seats by now. Guests can continue talking, however, the doors to the wedding’s entrance should be closing. III. Next, you can have the bridesmaids and groomsmen start walking in and lining up at the front of the chairs. Example 2: (No Example Added- but you can add one for your scene) »C. Note how happy the atmosphere is? I. Are the guests really quite because they are bored or because being silent shows respect? II. Maybe the best man cracking jokes to keep groom calm. III. When the priest comes out and says please stand for the bride, does everyone smile and get excited? What about whispering nice to their neighbor about the bride? Example 3: (No Example Added- but you can add one for your scene) Part Two This should be around when the bride makes her way out. Show how she’s feeling and if she’s crying or not. Add a metaphor or simile about the way she looks if you can. »A. Is there a ring bearer or flower girl? How cute do they look in their clothes? I. You don’t have to spend too much time on this. But if the bride or groom has a little sister or nephew or even a child, you can make them useful by having them be the flower girl or nephew. Example 4: Finally, the priest came out and asked every to stand. It was my turn! All eyes would soon be on me. The flower girl lined the path with white rose petals as the music started. I only took two steps out before I was greeted by my father. He escorted me down the aisle, which seemed longer than before. He became my strength; without him I would faint. The guests looked at me, taking pictures of my dress, waving at me, smiling- one thing was for sure, though… no one made a sound. Up ahead I saw him, Fred. My future husband, the love of my life, my everything. He stood taller, his shoulders back and his eyes on me. If I wasn’t mistaken I could have sworn tears filled his eyes. »B.The bride is usually escorted down the aisle by her dad. If the father is dead then she can have a close guy friend, or her brother walker her down. I. Talk about the nervousness of the character and the abrupt silence as the bride or main character comes in with the music. Traditionally, people stand when bride enters. The guests may not like it because harder to see over people’s heads. II. What does the groom do? Is he frozen because of his nerves? What about his face or his body? Is he standing taller to appear more confident as his future wife comes to him? Is he showing signs of fear or happiness? III. Talk about the fear of the bride when all the eyes are on her. Example 5: Unlike him, my nervous kicked in ten-fold. The attention felt like too much for me to handle. Good thing I only had ten more steps to go. »C.Father presents bride to the groom. I. This should be an emotional moment for the both of them. Does he hug her? Kiss her check? Tell her he loves her? II. The father might directly place his daughter’s hand in the groom’s hand. Then, he’d give his future son-in-law a hug. III.For the bride and groom: focus on the way the world slips away and it’s just the two of them. Example 6: At the end of the aisle my father hugged me, said “I ‘m proud of you” and then presented me to my groom. My father placed my hand in Fred’s and smiled. As a couple, Fred and I stood in front of the priest. Before my father walked away, he patted Fred on the shoulder. That was his way of welcoming him into the family. Standing next to my love felt overwhelming. Part Three Couple approaches minister… » A.The minister says “You can now be seated” to the guests. I. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today (or this evening) to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony.” II. They say their wedding speech in front of the crowd. It doesn’t have to be long, but if your book is part of a series and the characters were together for several years then the speech should be a least a few deep and meaningful sentences. III. Vows are now exchanged. Here is an example of what they’d say: I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live. IV. This is the time for the ring bearer to bring the rings. Example 7: Was this really happening? Will I soon be Mrs. Welton? The minister said to guests, “You can now be seated”. My friends and family followed his request. “Dearly beloved,” he began, “we are gathered here this evening to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony.” He said the speech and a fterward we exchanged vows, tears filling both our eyes. The ring bearer came forward and presented the rings. I placed Fred’s ring on first, then he placed on mine. »B.Priest begins to wrap it up. I. He will ask if anyone objects to the marriage and says “Speak now or forever hold your peace”. Most times no one will say anything, unless your book is about a love triangle and the person comes running into the building shouting “Wait!” II. “With the power invested in me by the (name of religious organization or state in which they reside) I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride. (The man goes in for the kissing.). III. Guests clap as they watch the bride and groom swap spit. They may cheer and shout. Example 10: The priest nodded and asked, “If anyone objects to the marriage speak now or forever hold your peace”. As assumed, no one said a word. “With the power invested in me by the State of Colorado I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Fred leaned in and kissed me,softly like he’s never done it before. Everyone cheered for us, however I barely noticed; my full attention rested on Fred. »C.Final ceremony moments I. Couple take individual candles (lite earlier by their mothers) and use those candles to light a larger candle (called the “unity candle) that symbolizes they are no longer “two” but now “one”. II.When the lucky couple leaves stage and goes to the reception, then they are followed by their attendants Example 11: Soon after we did the whole candle symbolizing. And we left the stage. I was beyond hungry. The guests followed behind us. ** !You might have to scroll down with your mouse! Click For Full Example It was an Autumn wedding in the late afternoon. The area faced the breathtaking sunset. At the end of each seated aisle, jasmine scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Spread down the aisle was white leaves, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn’t crack when you stepped on them. We’d have a small group of close family and friends dressed in beach attire for comfort. On either side of the aisle, they sat in white chairs set up for them on the sand. “Okay, okay Nora, you need to breath… Can you do that for me??” one of my bridesmaids asked. Only five minutes remained before I my wedding began; I was nervous just like the first time I went on a date with him. “I can breathe,” I said to her, “I just need my grandmother’s necklace to calm down.” My two friends looked at me wide-eyed. “Uh, Nora… about that.” (Thirty seconds later) “What do you mean you can’t find my necklace! I can’t get married without it. It’s my lucky charm. No way. “Look,” Mary, bridesmaid number one, said, “Everyone’s here and has a program. It’s about to start. I see Fred waiting at the end of the aisle and he’s just as nervous as you. DO you really want to not marry the love of your life over a necklace?” I shook my head. “Good, because if you don’t marry him, I know plenty of women who would.” “Good luck,” the bridesmaids said as they left the back room and made their way to the front. Arm and arm the groomsmen and bridesmaids looked radiant. I then wondered how I looked. The crowd stopped speaking to each other to take pictures and admire the unforgettable moment. Finally, the priest came out and asked every to stand. It was my turn! All eyes would soon be on me. The flower girl lined the path with white rose petals as the music started. I only took two steps out before I was greeted by my father. He escorted me down the aisle, which seemed longer than before. He became my strength; without him I would faint. The guests looked at me, taking pictures of my dress, waving at me, smiling- one thing was for sure, though… no one made a sound. Up ahead I saw him, Fred. My future husband, the love of my life, my everything. He stood taller, his shoulders back and his eyes on me. If I wasn’t mistaken I could have sworn tears filled his eyes. Unlike him, my nervous kicked in ten-fold. The attention felt like too much for me to handle. Good thing I only had ten more steps to go. At the end of the aisle my father hugged me, said “I ‘m proud of you” and then presented me to my groom. My father placed my hand in Fred’s and smiled. As a couple, Fred and I stood in front of the priest. Before my father walked away, he patted Fred on the shoulder. That was his way of welcoming him into the family. Standing next to my love felt overwhelming. Was this really happening? Will I soon be Mrs. Welton? The minister said to guests, “You can now be seated”. My friends and family followed his request. “Dearly beloved,” he began, “we are gathered here this evening to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony.” He said the speech and so did we. Afterward we exchanged vows, tears filling both our eyes. The ring bearer came forwards and present the rings. I placed Fred’s ring on first, then he placed on mine. The priest nodded and asked “If anyone objects to the marriage speak now or forever hold your peace”. As assumed, no one said a word. “With the power invested in me by the State of Colorado I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Fred leaned in and kissed me,softly like he’s never done it before. Everyone cheered for us, however I barely noticed; my full attention rested on Fred. Soon after we did the whole candle symbolizing. And we left the stage. I was beyond hungry. The guests followed behind us.
