Wedding Coordinators

Lynne Burns

Three years ago while sitting in church one Sunday, I read a notice in Crossings for new positions in the church, wedding coordinators. Instantly, the job description jumped out to me as one in which I would be interested. Having been married at the church in 1994, I knew I was coming into the position with just my own personal experience of an Episcopal service, but I soon found out there was much to learn. Dozens of weddings later, the coordinator role continues to witness every wedding as different but always the same. More on that later....

The position of wedding coordinator is one shared by three people - Holly Phelan, Linda Howden and myself. Throughout the calendar year each of us take turns in assisting couples with the elements of the wedding rehearsal and the ceremony. All three of the coordinators come from different educational, work, and social backgrounds, but all have the same desire to fill this role of wedding coordinator.

Correspondence with brides begins soon after the couple's initial meeting with the clergy. All brides come into the planning of their wedding with preconceived notions about how the ceremony will unfold. There may be different religious upbringings that come into play or an experience at a friend's wedding that they would like to recreate. I enjoy meeting face to face with brides that live locally to explain the church policies and symbolic elements of the ceremony. Sketching it out on paper for the bride often elicits an "Ah Ha" moment for the couple looking at the ceremony from a contemporary mindset. When they are able to see that it is not about the perfect picture moment or the adornment of flowers throughout the church that makes the ceremony special, then I feel my role takes on a deeper meaning. Conveying what is really important in the ceremony makes the role of wedding coordinator more than just someone who cues people down the aisle and cleans up after the service.

Each wedding I assist with has its own uniqueness - color scheme, number of attendants, fashion trends, music selection - but in the end the Blessing of the Marriage is what links them all together.

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© 2004 The Chapel of the Cross