| There are some fairly straightforward rules about | | | | asked you! |
| performing at a wedding ceremony. If you've been | | | | - Be completely prepared and in place at least a half |
| asked and you're trying to make up your mind whether | | | | an hour before the wedding starts. If you have |
| you'd like to have a role in this wedding, please | | | | important questions for the bride or groom, make the |
| consider the following: | | | | rehearsal the day before. It's their wedding day. They |
| - Get clear who's choosing the pieces you will perform. | | | | want it to be wonderful. They don't care where you sit, |
| Even if they want you to make the choices, it's in your | | | | as long as it doesn't interrupt anyone's view of them. |
| best interest to run it by the wedding couple a month | | | | If you really feel that you can't get a good handle on |
| or so before the wedding. | | | | any of these, then you really can say no. It won't make |
| - Make sure it's something you're good at. If you do | | | | the wedding ceremony better if you do it but can't do |
| jazz improvisation on a saxophone, you might not be | | | | a good job. Be honest with yourself and the couple. |
| the best pick for "Here Comes the Bride" (Of course, | | | | Tell them you're flattered and tell them no if it doesn't |
| you might just be the best pick!) | | | | work for you. (And tell them early enough that they |
| - Make sure you have enough time to prepare. If you | | | | can get someone else if they need it.) Suggest |
| do this regularly, you may have songs, or poems or | | | | someone else if you have any ideas. |
| dances that you can pull out of your bag for just such | | | | Oh, and that one last thing. Practice. The day of the |
| an occasion. But if you're an amateur who needs | | | | wedding is not the right time to figure out you don't |
| preparation, make sure you have the time you need. | | | | know how to pronounce one of the words in the |
| - Do what you're asked and no more. The worst | | | | Shakespeare Sonnet that you are just now reading |
| moments at a wedding are when someone has been | | | | for the first time. It's a joy and an honor to perform at |
| asked to read and decides to preach a sermon on | | | | someone's wedding. Act like you understand that! And |
| what the reading was about. Trust me, if they had | | | | then enjoy! |
| wanted you to perform the service, they would have | | | | |