Ahh the ceremony - the most beautiful, romantic, meaningful, perfect part of the day. You and your fiancé vowing to love, honor and cherish each other until "death do" you "part". It's so romantic - the moment you have been dreaming of all of your life. Your biggest concern about this moment is that you will shed too many happy tears and ruin your makeup.

Well - it is a very special day and the ceremony is the most important part of the day. It is actually what the wedding is all about. Whether you are Protestant, Catholic, Jewish or non-denominational - the day is about giving yourself to someone else for the rest of your life. Its big -- its serious and its big!

No Ceremony Is Perfect

I don't want to burst anyone's bubble here but I do want to be honest - no wedding ceremony is perfect. I have been in and attended so many weddings and trust me, something...even if it's a small something...something always goes wrong.

I recently went to a wedding where the groom was terribly sick with the flu. Much of the ceremony had to be cut out because they weren't sure that he would be able to stand up there for very long without tossing his cookies (and, no, he wasn't hung over from the night before - he truly was sick). He was really only able to dance the required dances and he had to sit down for most of the reception. The bride didn't let this spoil her day - she danced and mingled with the guests. "In sickness and in health", right?

A few years back, there was a terrible ice storm the weekend of one friend's wedding and very few people were able to make it to the church. The power in the church didn't even work - and I must say it seemed to be a disaster. But the most important people were there - the bride, the groom, the minister and the witnesses. These two were determined to get married that day and they did. Maybe they weren't able to throw the party they had dreamed of - and it certainly wasn't the bright sunny day that we all hope for - but nevertheless - they were married "for better or for worse."

Even Reese Witherspoon's wedding wasn't perfect. According to a recent interview I read with Reese, she claimed that the florist delivered the wrong flowers. But she just went with it - no one even knew!

Let's see...I have seen a bridesmaid faint...I have seen a bride go into convulsions because she was crying so hard... I have seen a bride giggle from nervousness throughout the entire wedding...I have heard horrible wedding singers...I have seen people make donkeys of themselves at receptions...As a matter of fact, I think I have made a donkey of myself at a wedding or two!!!

The bottom line - none of these things ruined any of these weddings. In fact the funny and unusual events probably made the weddings more special and memorable!

Even If It Seems Hopeless, It Usually Works Out For The Best

But everything that seems like it is going to be bad doesn't always turn out that way. For example, one of my friends was getting married in Florida. A whole bunch of people drove down from Atlanta to attend this wedding. The wedding was going to be held outside on a Friday afternoon at 5:00 in March. The morning of the wedding, we all decided to go to the beach. Well, the sky looked ominous. And just as we had suspected it started pouring down rain within the hour. We had to take cover from the beach at a beach side restaurant and bar.

As we sat there trying to wait it out, the rain just seemed to get worse - it was raining so hard that you couldn't even see through it. We left the beach at about 2:45 to go and get ready for the wedding - it was still raining. We arrived at the country club at 4:00. It was still raining - things didn't look good for an outdoor wedding that was to start in an hour.

But, at about 4:30, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Everything was very green from all of the rain. The wedding took place as planned - outside - and I have to say it may have been one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen. After the ceremony the cocktail hour took place outside while the wedding party took pictures. After the pictures, everyone went inside for the reception. And then I couldn't believe what happened - about ten minutes after the reception started inside - the rain started again outside! It was truly unbelievable.

You Simply Can't Plan For Everything

The point I am trying to make here is that you never know what might happen the day of your wedding. But whatever happens - even if you think it is the end of the world - it's not. Make the most of your day no matter what you are faced with. You are there to get married even if it doesn't end up being perfect.