First things first. Without an officiant, there is no wedding. If you booked your church or synagogue for your wedding a year ago, that’s great. But if it’s two weeks before your ceremony is scheduled to take place and you’ve never talked to your pastor or rabbi about who’s performing your marriage—and this has happened before—you may have a problem. It’s not his or her responsibility to check the calendar to see whose wedding is coming up; it’s yours to ask him or her to marry you and to see if he or she is available on the day you’ve chosen for your ceremony.

Along the same lines, you’d hate to have the ceremony and reception sites reserved only to discover that your favorite minister, who’s also one of your family’s dearest friends, is leaving for a monthlong vacation on the date you’ve chosen for your wedding.

As for your ceremony site, a little planning can go a long way. For instance, some sites—as with reception sites—can be booked a year or more in advance. Likewise, if you know that your church is planning major renovations, schedule your wedding for after they’ve been completed. Wouldn’t it be awful if you had your heart set on walking down the aisle in the church you’ve attended since you were a child, only to realize that all services during the weekend you had chosen were being held at alternate sites while roof repairs and painting were being done? If you’ve planned an outdoor wedding, is there an alternate site in case of rain?

Getting down to the nitty-gritty, here are some things to keep in mind: In advance of the wedding day, go over the particulars of your ceremony and vows very carefully with your officiant. Don’t just leave it up to him or her. If you’ve chosen readings, who is responsible for bringing them to the ceremony, you or the officiant? If you’ve asked friends or family members to perform readings, supply them with copies in advance so that they can practice. If there’s to be a sermon, you may wish to discuss the tenor of it or any special thoughts you might like to have included. Make sure you and your officiant are on the same wavelength. You’d be pretty upset if he or she started preaching about some notions that you regard as sexist or outdated at your wedding.

Does your site have an adequate sound system for the ceremony you have planned? For instance, if you’re to be married outside or in a sound-dampening location, is there a need for a microphone so that guests can hear the ceremony and musicians? If you’re using recorded music, does your church or synagogue have the equipment you need to play it? Do you know how to use it? Has someone been assigned the responsibility of cueing it up and playing it at the appropriate times?

Regarding music, make sure you choose selections that are appropriate. You may love the song “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music, but an instrumental version of it is hardly the stuff that climactic wedding processionals are made of. Consult with the director of music at your church or knowledgeable friends for some good ceremonial-music suggestions if you’re stuck.

Paying attention to such details in advance of your wedding day can help ensure a memorable and beautiful ceremony that you and your guests will remember for years to come.