Are you ready for it? This is it. You have been preparing for your wedding for a long time and it’s finally here…
It is the week before Easter: Holy Week! It is the most solemn and liturgically packed week of the entire year. It is the last crescendo of Lent and its climax is Easter Sunday, the greatest of all Sundays and the most important of all liturgical seasons, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you ready? There is so much that we, as Catholics, can do to participate in the life of our Lord as we approach Easter Sunday. We begin with Palm Sunday and Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Next, Holy Thursday and the rite of the washing of the feet and the mass of the Lord's Supper. Then on Good Friday, we have the veneration of the Cross, the Seven Last Words of Christ meditations, the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, beautiful Tenebre, all night Eucharistic adoration, and the reading of the Sermo Dominicus (John 14 - 17). Phewf! We should participate in these liturgies as much as we can, keeping in mind that the purpose of all these outward actions and preparations is an internal union with Jesus Christ. Take each day slowly and keep in mind the purpose: being united with Jesus ever more deeply on Easter and the entire year.
Speaking of being united with your beloved, imagine this.… you are walking down the center aisle of the church wearing your best white dress. The church is filled with people and the joy and excitement of everyone present is at its peak. The church itself is decorated with all kinds of beautiful flowers, the air is filled with sweet melodious hymns and the finest incense, and best of all, you will be made one with your beloved forever. What day am I describing? I am describing both Easter and your fast approaching wedding day!
These special days are surprisingly similar to one another and so too is the week of preparation beforehand. Just as Holy Week is liturgically full, in the week before your wedding you will find yourself with an increasingly busy schedule. I hope that I can give you some suggestions to help make both Holy Week and the week before your wedding prayerful and stress free.
Go to confession. As during Holy Week in preparation for Easter, it is incredibly important for you to do what you can to get to confession shortly before your wedding day. You may be low on sleep and patience during the days prior to your wedding, and a good confession will put you at peace and prepare your soul, allowing you to focus on the present moment during the entirety of the nuptial mass. My husband and I had arranged that prior to our wedding rehearsal, we and the entire bridal party could go to confession.
Make a schedule for the week. Thankfully, the schedule for Holy Week is already set for you by your parish. If your parish doesn’t offer something that you're interested in, look at the recent bulletin for other nearby parishes as well. Then, make a firm resolution to keep your commitments, regardless of your feelings when the time comes for the mass or devotion. Keeping these days holy and solemn will help you be prepared for the Easter Resurrection.
In the same way that sticking to the schedule for Holy Week ensures that you are prepared for Easter, a schedule for the week before your wedding is essential for you to be prepared for your wedding day. The week before your wedding is sure to be packed full of all of the things that are necessary to complete close to the wedding day, such as making the flower arrangements, decorating the reception hall, picking up suits, and wedding rehearsal. There is so much to do that all of the moving people and pieces may seem overwhelming. I suggest typing out a schedule for the week prior to your wedding day that includes times, places, addresses and what needs to be picked up or done and who is responsible for it on each day. Don’t forget to include the little details that we often forget when we tell people by word of mouth. For example, write in the schedule that the groomsmen will be tasked with pouring the champagne for the toast. As this schedule solidifies closer to your big day, be sure to send it out to everyone in your bridal party and anyone involved in the mass such as readers. Consider making two schedules, one for the groomsmen and one for the bridesmaids to reference.
Delegate tasks. This is incredibly important for the week before your wedding. Not only does this help you and your fiancé prepare for the in-person parts of your wedding and reception, it helps your family and friends feel important and honored to participate in your wedding in some way. However, when you delegate, make sure to be as specific as you intend to be. You may have a very specific idea of what the final result should be, in which case you should give every detail that is in your imagination. On the other hand, you could simply tell the person to “surprise me and design it however you think best.” Delegating can also be useful for picking up mass programs from the printer or giving an all hands on deck order for help decorating the reception hall and setting the table and centerpieces. Delegating tasks during the week of your wedding is an easy way to help it run more smoothly.
For example, in the days before our wedding, my bridesmaids were essential to preparation of all of the flower arrangements. I had a vision of what I wanted, counted and bought each flower, vase, and accessory, but I could never have had enough time to put it all together. I explained what was needed and we all had a long, fun night of preparing the many reception hall centerpiece vases, altar arrangements, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, and they even made my bouquet! Delegating the making of the flower arrangements for our wedding to my bridesmaids was imperative to our wedding preparation.
A funny example of not properly delegating (and not managing time well) is that in the short time between the nuptial mass and reception, my husband and I were trying to finish writing the last of the name place cards for each guest. We were still writing as the guests were arriving (early for the reception) and while my maid-of-honor was busting my dress. Make sure you honestly evaluate all of the little things that you put on your to-do plate and delegate if your plate is too full!
Pray through it. This is important at all times, but especially during Holy Week and the week before your wedding. The week will be full of all good and necessary things and it will undoubtedly have its difficult moments of preparation. In these busy times, it is doubly important for you to continue your prayer routine. Trust in the Lord and He will see you and your future spouse through the week, your wedding day, and forever together.
I hope these suggestions help you and your future spouse as you prepare for Holy Week and your fast approaching wedding day! Be assured of the prayers of the entire Cana team!
Anna at Cana
Married December 15, 2015 at Saint Patrick Church in Columbus, Ohio
Mother of three on Earth and 1 in heaven
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