Photo by Jo Photo
When I first sat down to write this article about church coordinators, I must admit that I envisioned a little, grey-haired lady following a bride and groom around saying “No” to this and that request. I assumed, (which I should not do, as we all know the saying that comes with “assuming”), that the role of a church wedding coordinator, above all else, was to maintain the sanctity of the church.
However, in the midst of writing, I discovered two things. First, they are not all old and grey. In fact, the majority are young and open to new ideas. Second, even though the integrity of the church is important, it is not the only main focus.
Even though each house of worship has a different set of procedures and guidelines to follow, the wedding coordinator’s job is to ensure that the bride and groom, most importantly, are able to have the ceremony they envision.
Toni Meason, Wedding Director at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, has been
coordinating church weddings for 11 years. Toni makes sure the bride and groom are “made to feel welcome, let them know I am there to help, and know I am glad they are here.” She stresses, “I want the couple to have a good understanding of how the wedding
will proceed, so that they can enjoy their rehearsal and wedding day.”
In order to accomplish this goal, she arranges a private meeting with the couple, which typically lasts about an hour. She inquires about the chosen vendors (i.e. Wedding Planner, musicians or specialty choir, florist, etc.), family members and bridal party, ceremony music, particular readings, and whether the couple plans to have Communion. Basically, she apprises the bride and groom about her role from the rehearsal all the way through the recessional.
Toni also emphasizes that she supports anything the bride and groom wish to include as far as décor as long as it does not “endanger the guests or facility.” She feels that there are some churches that are far “too rigid” and this might be why so many couples today are choosing a venue rather than a place of worship to have their ceremony.
Realizing that brides and grooms have other options, I have found that most church wedding coordinators today want to send the message that just because there are still guidelines that must be followed does not mean the couple cannot incorporate new trends in order to have the wedding they envision. No longer are they blurting out “No!” to all ideas.
However, in the midst of writing, I discovered two things. First, they are not all old and grey. In fact, the majority are young and open to new ideas. Second, even though the integrity of the church is important, it is not the only main focus.
Even though each house of worship has a different set of procedures and guidelines to follow, the wedding coordinator’s job is to ensure that the bride and groom, most importantly, are able to have the ceremony they envision.
Toni Meason, Wedding Director at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, has been
coordinating church weddings for 11 years. Toni makes sure the bride and groom are “made to feel welcome, let them know I am there to help, and know I am glad they are here.” She stresses, “I want the couple to have a good understanding of how the wedding
will proceed, so that they can enjoy their rehearsal and wedding day.”
In order to accomplish this goal, she arranges a private meeting with the couple, which typically lasts about an hour. She inquires about the chosen vendors (i.e. Wedding Planner, musicians or specialty choir, florist, etc.), family members and bridal party, ceremony music, particular readings, and whether the couple plans to have Communion. Basically, she apprises the bride and groom about her role from the rehearsal all the way through the recessional.
Toni also emphasizes that she supports anything the bride and groom wish to include as far as décor as long as it does not “endanger the guests or facility.” She feels that there are some churches that are far “too rigid” and this might be why so many couples today are choosing a venue rather than a place of worship to have their ceremony.
Realizing that brides and grooms have other options, I have found that most church wedding coordinators today want to send the message that just because there are still guidelines that must be followed does not mean the couple cannot incorporate new trends in order to have the wedding they envision. No longer are they blurting out “No!” to all ideas.
About the Author
Pam Sparks is an event manager and event specialist for En Vogue Events and is known for her amazing energy and love of designing beautiful wedding themes.
Pam is currently a member of NACE, the National Association of Catering Executives, and serving on the Crystal ICON Awards committee for ISES, the International Special Events Society.
You can connect with her on Twitter!
Pam Sparks is an event manager and event specialist for En Vogue Events and is known for her amazing energy and love of designing beautiful wedding themes.
Pam is currently a member of NACE, the National Association of Catering Executives, and serving on the Crystal ICON Awards committee for ISES, the International Special Events Society.
You can connect with her on Twitter!