Wedding Coordinators

Lynne Burns, Chief Wedding Coordinator

The wedding coordinator positions at the Chapel of the Cross have been in existence since fall 2000, growing out of a necessity to help coordinate the efforts of the clergy, altar guild, organist, and bridal couple. Three wedding coordinators share the responsibilities and take rotating assignments throughout the year. After assignments have been made, contact with the bride is initiated. If possible, when working with a bride who lives locally, meetings can happen in person rather than on the phone, so the bride and the coordinator know each other on a more personal level.

Initial meetings help answer questions, clarify church policies, and describe expectations of what will happen during the rehearsal and ceremony. Follow-up contacts help the bride keep track of a checklist, (contacting the organist, publications editor, license and fees drop off, etc.). Finally, during the wedding weekend, the coordinator assists the clergy with the rehearsal, helping everyone through the 'dry run' of walking down the aisle, and finalizing plans to meet the bride the next day at the church. Some brides come up to two hours before the ceremony time, so the coordinator is there to show them changing rooms, bathrooms, and begin preparation for the service. Photographers and videographers are apprised of church policies through the coordinator as well. After the ceremony, the coordinator assists with the efforts of the photographer to get pictures finished, cleans the pews, cleans the parlor and any other areas used by the bridal party, and then locks up the church after the last person is gone.

Now, Murphy's Law usually enters the picture during the wedding weekend, so a coordinator has to be able the handle unexpected situations—such as the groomsmen showing up late while guests are waiting to be seated, a father of the bride who has not yet arrived at the church and all the bridesmaids have made their walk down the aisle, or the unexpected loss of air-conditioning during Friday afternoon rehearsal on a holiday weekend that has everyone sweating bullets. Most miscues are temporary in nature, but to a bride on her wedding weekend, the problems take on a weighty quality. So, dealing with Murphy's Law means the wedding coordinator has to have a few tricks up her sleeve to let the brides know all will be taken care of and there is nothing for them to worry about.