The 5 Most Important Steps to Host a Stellar Virtual Wedding Ceremony
If you’re reading this, you might be the couple that has been engaged for over a year now. (Or maybe more--thank you very little COVID 19). The thought of having to postpone your wedding date yet another time sounds like dying a slow and painful death. We hear you! This doesn’t have to be your fate though. With the rise in virtual weddings, many couples are choosing to honor their original wedding date through a virtual wedding ceremony. They plan on having a larger celebration at a later date, when things slow down in the world.
In our humble opinion, this is the BEST of both worlds. You get to honor your original date with a beautiful virtual wedding ceremony and then have a bumpin’ party down the road. The most amazing part? You won’t be half as stressed at the sequel party because it’s less of a ‘reception’ and more of a full out celebration. Given the fact that virtual weddings are a new thing, many couples are wondering how this all works. In the post, we will look at how to successfully pull off a virtual wedding ceremony and make it a memorable occasion for all!
Step #1: Decide on a Location for Your Virtual Wedding Ceremony
This is really the first thing to nail down, when you begin planning for your virtual wedding. Begin brainstorming ideas of where you want to say “I Do!” Keep in mind that the most important thing is strong Wifi connection. So while that beautiful secluded spot on the beach would make for an amazing backdrop, it might not lend itself to a seamless Zoom stream. If strong Wifi is not an option, then a backup is to ensure that you have strong cell reception in that area. You can test this by doing a test Zoom meeting in the exact location while running off of cellular data. Listed below are some amazing locations we’ve seen for virtual weddings:
Beautiful backyards/patios (this is a great option, as you are most likely close to the Wifi connection in the house)
In front of a fireplace or mantel
Rooftops of city buildings (hello STUNNING views!)
A specific room in a wedding venue or restaurant
National parks or local neighborhood parks (you must have strong cellular data here)
Backyards make for amazing and affordable virtual wedding ceremony sites.
If you want to read more about selecting an amazing virtual wedding venue, check out this blog post for more in depth information.
Things to Consider When Picking a Spot for Your Virtual Wedding Ceremony
An “anchor” for your ceremony. The set up for a virtual wedding ceremony can be very simple. However, the most important thing to consider is that you need something to serve as the “focal point” or anchor behind. This could be a floral arch, fireplace, mantle, front door or chuppah. You want your space to look artfully created and be visually appealing during the ceremony.
This wooden structure was a perfect anchoring piece for Dacklin and Marisa's virtual wedding ceremony.
Spice up your backdrop. If you plan on exchanging vows in front of a blank wall, consider how you can add visual appeal to it. Move a beautiful piece of art to that wall or purchase a piece of fabric to drape behind you. Add a few candles and flowers and you are ready to go!
Consider natural light. The best lighting is always natural light. So consider having your virtual wedding ceremony during daylight hours. If this is not a possibility, make sure you add in other sources of light so that your guests can clearly see your faces.
Step #2: Decide on an Officiant for Your Wedding
Deciding on an officiant should fall early on in your planning process. You want to ensure that your officiant doesn’t have any conflicting events happening on your wedding date. Additionally, we urge you to be creative when selecting your officiant! Gone are the days of your options being limited to just judges and members of clergy. Check out this blog post for more information on how to select your virtual wedding officiant. Keep in mind that some states are allowing for officiants to legally marry couples via Zoom and some states are requiring that they must be present with you. If you live in a state this is requiring the officiant to be present with you, you can always handle the legal ceremony beforehand. Then on the Zoom it will be more of a formality...but your virtual guests will never know!
Deciding on an officiant is an important piece when putting together your virtual wedding ceremony.
Some Things to Consider When Working with Your Officiant
Let them know the time commitment. Many people have never attended a virtual wedding, let alone officiated one. Given the fact this is new territory for most people, you will want to have a conversation with them beforehand. Let your officiant know that they will want to join the AV call (approx 1 hour Zoom call), the rehearsal call (approx 1 hour Zoom call) and join the virtual ceremony before the start time.
Touch base about their script. Make sure to have a conversation with your officiant about what is going to be said in your ceremony. Ask them if they have a pre-written script (mostly applies to faith-based officiants) or if you will need to provide them with what they will be saying. Additionally, if you don’t know your officiant well, consider setting up some time to chat with them & share some anecdotes about yourselves and your story as a couple. This will help to bring the ceremony to life!
Give them ample time. For most people, officiating a wedding is a big deal. They will want to do it right and make you feel celebrated on the most important day of your life. Make sure to ask your officiant far in advance, so they have time to prepare and feel confident in what they are going to be saying.
Advise them for the call. Let your officiant know whether they will be joining you in person or virtually. If they are joining virtually, encourage them to join the Zoom meeting from a quiet, well lit spot in their house. Lastly, make sure that they have a strong WiFi connection!
Step #3: Decide on Your Virtual Ceremony Script
Time and time again, we have heard the following feedback from virtual guests of Wedfuly weddings. “The ceremony and vows were SO MUCH better than in person!” “I could hear and see everything!” “It was like I got a front row seat to everything happening!” And that folks, is the magic of a virtual wedding ceremony. Your guests will be able to see and hear every little detail...down to the sniffle that comes from the groom as he sees you walk down the aisle for the first time.
That being said, you might be thinking “how do I know how to structure a ceremony in the first place??” Fear not, beautiful people. We have you covered. Check out this blog post for an in-depth look at the flow of a traditional American wedding ceremony. Keep in mind that you can be as creative as you want with your ceremony. The only necessary pieces that you must include are the declaration of intent and the pronouncement of marriage.
Feel free to get as creative as you want to be with your virtual wedding ceremony script!
Need Some Help with Your Virtual Wedding Ceremony Script?
Unlike most of life, wedding ceremonies are a great time to copy, copy, copy. If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of coming up with a script for your wedding, you are not alone. However, don’t feel like you have to reinvent the wheel in order for your virtual wedding ceremony to be special. Consider pulling from any of these pre-written scripts and tweaking them to fit your needs. Throw in a special reading or poem and you will have a completely unique and tailored wedding script that will leave your guests teary eyed. Additionally, listed below are some tips to ensure that your virtual wedding ceremony is a success:
Tips For Success
Consider peoples’ attention spans. In general, guests' attention spans are a bit shorter in the virtual world than in real life. Consider how you can keep your ceremony meaningful, while also not going so long that you might lose people.
Include virtual participants. The wedding ceremony is a great time to include any virtual guests as a part of it all. Choose a close friend or family member to do a reading or recite a special passage of a book. This way they feel included in all parts of your day!
Think about the music. We have seen Wedfuly couples opt for many different options when it comes to music. Some choose to have all of their music played via Spotify. While others opt for live musicians on site or live musicians via Zoom. All of these are wonderful options and will bring life and joy to your ceremony!
Provide guests with a program of events. Many times when you attend weddings in person, you are often handed a program of events. This helps guests know what to anticipate is coming. Consider creating a program of events to give to your virtual guests. You can either have your Wedfuly host broadcast this via the Zoom or you can send a printed copy along with their invitations. This is especially helpful so that guests know how long the virtual event will go and don’t log off early.
Step #4: Work with Your Wedfuly Coordinator to Nail Down More Logistics
When working with your Wedfuly coordinator, your first two meetings will be fully dedicated to nailing down logistics and planning for your virtual wedding. It’s important to come to these meetings prepared having discussed beforehand with your partner so that you guys are on the same page. The following are some logistics that you will be discussing in your meetings:
Order of processional. If you are planning on having guests that will be physically present during your wedding, you will need to determine the order that they will walk in/process. Additionally, you might have some guests that will be processing virtually and some that will be processing in person. Make sure that this is well coordinated so that it comes across flawlessly on your wedding day. This blog post the various orders of processionals in Christian, Jewish, Same Sex, Military, etc weddings.
Two cuties dressed in pink make for great sidekicks as Lou processes down the aisle.
If you aren't able to have your bridesmaids in person like Lauren, they can also process virtually on Zoom.
Order of events. You will communicate to your coordinator in detail about everything that is going to be happening on your wedding day. They will begin building out a detailed timeline, down to the minute so that they know exactly what will be happening at various points. This will ensure that we know which specific camera angles to spotlight and which virtual guests to have queued.
Think Through Additional Elements of Your Virtual Wedding
Music is one of the most important parts of an epic virtual wedding. It really helps to set the stage and tone of your event. Throughout the virtual wedding, there will be various songs played. It’s important to put time and effort into creating a perfectly curated playlist that reflects you as a couple. Listed below are the times that music will be played and some sample songs of what we hear frequently.
Brainstorm the Music That Will Be Played
Prelude: this is the music that will be playing before the ceremony begins. Generally this is when couples have a picture slideshow looping in the background. Think: sweet songs about love that will get your guests ready for the wedding or opt for some soft instrumental music if that’s more your vibe.
Processional: this is the music that will play as you walk down the aisle (if that is part of your ceremony). The traditional wedding march is “Here Comes the Bride” but many couples opt for a special song that has meaning to them as a couple.
Recessional: this is the music that will play directly after you are pronounced married and will be walking back down the aisle. Opt for something celebratory such as “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole or “For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder. Your virtual guests will not be able to resist hopping off their couches and dancing!
Other Dances To Think About
First Dance: choose a song that is super special to the both of you. *Wedfuly pro tip: listen to the song all the way through and decide on a natural cut off point. Many couples notice that dancing for the full song can feel really long.
Father/Daughter, Mother/Son: **cue sappy tears**
Group Dance: a Wedfuly MUST HAVE. The group dance is the time that we get all of your virtual guests up off of their couches and dancing. The Wedfuly host will spotlight different guests that are actively participating. When picking a song (or songs) for the group dance opt for a song that is upbeat and most guests will know. Think: September by Earth Wind & Fire, Forever by Chris Brown or Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon.
Kelly and Joe bust a move during the group dance. This was a favorite in their virtual wedding ceremony!
Additional Elements. Think about what you want your guests to see when they log in to the virtual wedding. Do you want them to watch a slideshow of pictures from your relationship? A recorded video from your engagement? What about some trivia to get the guests engaged? All of these are great options to further engage your guests and ensure they have a memorable experience.
Step #5: Make Sure You Have all of the Needed Tech
When it comes to virtual weddings, having the right technology is really at the core of it all. The beautiful thing is that you don’t have to be a tech wizard or work as an IT guy to figure it out. We will walk you through step by step and ensure that everything is smooth! Listed below are the necessities (& some additional pieces to consider)
Strong WiFi. When running a speed test, your WiFi must come in at 5 mbps upload speed. If this isn’t a possibility, consider opting for a hotspot. Then, as a final option consider cellular data. Make sure that you have a strong cell connection at your ceremony site.
2 smartphones. These phones will be used for filming the wedding. If you want more angles, you will need to have more phones. If you are using an Iphone or an Android, it should be a 2016 model or more recent. We prefer using phones over tablets/Ipads because the quality that it captures is better. Additionally, many people ask us about using additional cameras such as Go Pros. It is possible to use these cameras, but not always necessary. The Zoom stream will be 720 p and therefore a higher resolution isn’t required.
2 tripods + phone adapters. These tripods will be used for the filming as well. You will attach the phones to the tripods using an adapter piece. Generally, tripods run between $30-$50 on Amazon and are well worth investing in for the recording.
External battery packs. These battery packs will ensure that the phones that are recording the virtual wedding do not die. You will simply attach these to the back of the phones.
Kayla and Madalyn added ring lights behind the tripods so their faces would be well lit.
Additional Tech That Is Needed
Laptop with bluetooth capabilities. This laptop will be used for the audio portion.
Speaker. A bluetooth speaker will be the easiest to work with. However, we are able to work with a variety of speakers if your venue has a specific set up that you want to work with.
Microphone. While there are many routes you can go for the microphone, our preferred option is called an Emeet. The Emeet speaker is a combo speaker + mic and can be easily placed near the place that you will be exchanging vows.
Projector/TV monitor/computer monitor. This is optional, but will provide a way for you to watch what is happening on the Zoom in a bigger format. All you need is an HDMI cord to plug into the laptop and you are good to go.
Go Plan the Virtual Wedding of Your Dreams
We truly believe that virtual weddings are here to stay! (COVID or not!!) It is incredibly easy for guests all around the world to tune in and watch your virtual wedding from the comfort of their homes. And now that you’re an expert in all things virtual wedding related..what are you waiting for?? Get those E-vites created and sent out and prepare yourself to have your expectations far exceeded at your virtual wedding.