Church Weddings, Civil Wedding Ceremonies

What components of a church wedding can be incorporated at Hermann Hill?

There is no "church lady" at Hermann Hill.   This means you have flexibility in planning your ceremony, using your own officiant or selecting one of ours, writing your own vows, selecting musicians to perform and people to read passages from the Bible and other selected prose and poetry.  Some couples and their officiants have brought in religious symbols like crosses to display on the unity candle table.   Others have had religious passages included in their programs for their guests to read during the ceremony.

One of the hardest decisions a bride and groom have to make is whether the amount of religion used in your ceremony is designed for you or for your guests.    Regardless of your decision, most couples want their officiant to include a special request to the family and friends who are guests to help make their marriage work by their collective support.  This important request seems to make your guests understand how important their presence is at your ceremony and works well with all degrees of religious emphasis.

Jill Winkelmann,
Wedding Coordinator Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Elopement Packages, Elopement Ceremony

Each year Hermann Hill hosts many elopement packages.  It is an exciting moment when the bride and groom decide to slip quietly away and celebrate their love in a very private and personal elopement ceremony.  We have learned from these couples what they want most on their wedding day and we able to respond quickly when you come to us for help in arranging your special elopement ceremony.

• An officiant who makes their day special, including personal details included in their vows
• A unique setting that allows for great photography
• A small cake and champagne to help celebrate their special day
• A romantic dinner at one of Hermann's great restaurants
• A night's stay in one of our luxurious cottages 

Jill Winkelmann, Wedding Coordinator Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Second Weddings, Marriage Ceremony

With the proper planning of second weddings, we can avoid much of the stress and drama that is usually associated with first weddings, but your second marriage ceremony can be just as fun and memorable for the bridal couple and their guests!  Since they frequently involve blended family members and children, here are some key items to always consider:

• Select an officiant who genuinely likes second marriages
• Create vows and include special unity candle or sand jar ceremonies to symbolize how important each family member is to your marriage
• Allow your wedding coordinators to organize the sequence and order of entry of your wedding party into the chapel and the seating by having detailed plans and contingencies
• Plan for a unifying event immediately following your ceremony that allows total participation
• Consider reception seating arrangements that allow for flexibility and interaction
• Include in your time-line sufficient time for you to visit every table and personally thank everyone for attending your wedding

Jill Winkelmann,
Wedding Coordinator Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Wedding Etiquette - Greeting Guests Following Ceremony

What is the best way to greet your guests following your ceremony?

There is not a correct answer to this question but Hermann Hill's philosophy is that as soon as the ceremony ends, your guests are the most important people.

There are three common approaches typically used to greet your guests following the ceremony:

- Bride and Groom form a receiving line in the Narthex.

- Bride and Groom dismiss each guests from their pews or side chapel chairs.

- Bride and Groom and wedding party assemble outside the front chapel doors and greet their guests as they exit the building.

Your wedding coordinator can give you the positive and negative aspects of each of these wedding etiquette guest greeting approaches, and help you decide which fits your vision and style.  


Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Wedding Ceremony Music - Live Music is Preferred

Why is choosing live music for your ceremony a good idea?

A musician is second only to the clergy is determining the quality of your ceremony. 

Using CD's gets music incorporated into the various segment of your ceremony, but the timing is always off, even after repeated rehearsals.   The reason for this is no two rehearsals of a segment like lighting the unity candle, or the flower girl's entrance take the same amount of time and having music end too early or drag on and then fade out makes a less than perfect impression. 

Your musician (Harp, Keyboard, Vocalists accompanied by musicians) can adapt to changing conditions and extend or shorten their music to fit the ceremony segment perfectly.   Allow the experienced wedding coordinators at Hermann Hill help plan your wedding ceremony music. 

Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Outdoor Wedding Planning - Too Complicated?

Why is it not a good idea to host your wedding outdoors? 

While nearly every couple and their wedding party take advantage of the great exterior photography opportunities like the Gazebo, waterfall, cottage decks and patios, and views from various locations around the chapel here at Hermann Hill, an outside wedding poses some additional challenges:

Weather can be too hot, too cold, too windy
Seating for all of your guests can be problematic
Glare from the sun that affects photography (and causes squinting which can be unflattering)
Decorating can prove more challenging in order to fully fit your theme
Sound poses a problem as your guests cannot hear your ceremony

Champagne toasts are generally not a problem with our outdoor weddings unless it is so windy that the flutes blow over on the trays, but we do go back to the sound problems in hearing the toast.

As you plan your special day, our experienced Coordinators will guide you through all of these important details and help orchestrate the best balance of indoor and outdoor wedding planning so there are no disappointments for you or your guests.

Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Planning Your Wedding - Three Weeks in Advance

Why is it so critical to have your ceremony and reception details in order three weeks prior to your ceremony?

Some brides insist on having drama right up to the moment they walk down the aisle and that is their privilege.  However, drama should not surround the details of your wedding, including the following:


Rehearsal Time
Wedding Party- bride's maids, groomsmen
Wedding Time, Clergy, Musicians
Photographer
Number of Guests
Reception menu
DJ

When any one of these components are not decided at least three weeks out a problem always results and unnecessary stress is placed on the bride and groom.  By working with the wedding coordinators here at Hermann Hill in planning your wedding, they will expertly pull the necessary details together and make your wedding day worry-free!


Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings