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If your dream is to have a grand wedding ceremony like something out of a fairy tale, then a cathedral just might be the perfect venue for you. They are unmatched in their soaring grandeur and impressive architecture, and there is no more breathing ceremony venue. This is what you need to know to plan the perfect grand cathedral wedding.
Having a wedding in a cathedral is not the same as having it in a regular small church. For one thing, there is the scale. Cathedrals will often seat thousands, instead of hundreds, of guests. This is important to keep in mind, as if you are having a small wedding, your guests may well feel swallowed up by the vast space. On the other hand, a large guest list may require a cemetery site as large as a cathedral to fit comfortably (not that you will likely have thousands of guests, but even three hundred guests may have a tight squeeze in a quaint country church). Whatever the size of your guest list, the ushers will seat everyone comfortably in the front of the cathedral.
In some communities, use of the cathedral may be reserved for parish members, but this is not the case everywhere. St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, for instance, will open its doors to Catholics from outside of the parish. Something that is important to keep in mind when considering such a famous site for your wedding is that you may not be able to have a private ceremony. This is the case at St. Louis Patrick's, which remains open to the general public during wedding ceremonies. Most brides who have had their weddings there have said that the visitors were very respectful and did not distract from their weddings at all. You should also be aware that while a house of worship does not usually charge a fee for its use, there may well be a minimum mandatory "donation", which can run into a couple of thousand dollars.
A grand setting demands equally grand attire. Female guests, this is the time to break out your fancy hats that have been gathering dust in the back of your closet. And gentlemen, a wedding in a cathedral calls for your best suit by day or black tie in the evening. As for the wedding party, this is a chance for a bride to choose something really spectacular. The long aisle of a cathedral is the perfect setting for (you guessed it) a cathedral length train. If you prefer a more fitted gown with a shorter train, up the wow factor with a cathedral length veil, which looks absolutely stunning over a beaded sheath cut bridal gown.
The rest of the wedding party will want to look equally fabulous. The bridesmaids should definitely wear floor length dresses, accented with pretty bridesmaid jewelry sets and gorgeous bouquets. Very petite accessories will get swallowed up in a large cathedral, so opt for sets of bridesmaid jewelry with great impact, such as sparkling Swarovski crystals in your wedding colors. If you have selected strapless gowns, you may want to consider having attendees wear wraps or fitted shrugs for the ceremony that they can remove for the reception.
Imagine the scene: grand doors part, a pipe organ plays, and a bride in a fabulous gown glides down a long aisle to a flower-bedecked altar. Now imagine that the bride taking place in a scene straight from a Hollywood spectacular is you. It could be, if you decide to have your wedding ceremony in a wonderful cathedral.
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Source by Laura Firenze
