- 1). Determine where your civil ceremony will take place and who your officiant will be. This is important, as the venue or officiant may have limitations that interfere with your plans.
- 2). Decide which family members you want to include in the ceremony, and determine any special talents they may have. Knowing who you want to include will help you figure out how to involve them all. Knowing their talents or what's special to them will help you decide the best way to involve each of them.
- 3). Incorporate a family ritual, such as a unity candle or sand ceremony. These can involve multiple relatives from both families, including parents and children.
- 4). Ask family members to read a poem, story or verse that you'd like to include in your ceremony, such as the story of how you met your fiance. Another member of the family could sing your favorite love song while others play instruments. Utilize the talents of family members you want to include.
- 5). Involve an adult child, older brother or favorite uncle of the bride by asking him to walk her down the aisle on one side with her father on the other, or in place of her father if he's unable. Some brides opt to have both their mother and father walk them down the aisle. Or, walk down by yourself but have those that are important to you stand up to "give you away" in unison at the appropriate time.
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