Would it be OK to pay the minister for his services at the rehearsal or rehearsal dinner? That way, it is out of the way for wedding day.

Also: reception is at church following service: as we leave, the rules say people can't throw rice, birdseed, and can't blow bubbles (soap may mess up fine clothes) - what if we provided little bells, and people rang those? I would just have to find 1/guest, which may be about 80.

And I think it would be fine to pay the minister ahead of time.

--the wedding planner came up to me at rehearsal, and asked for checks for pastor, organist, soloist, and remainder of church fee - thus all of that was taken care of easily (as long as the checks clear!). plus, he took mariage license, and will be taking care of getting pastor's sig and submitting that.

if others don't have a wedding coordinator, it might help to have someone take on this role - at rehearsal and wedding day i did not feel like chasing anyone down or making more arrangements.

---the bells worked wonderfully, by the way, and i would endorse this idea for others - i asked my mom last week if she liked the idea, and she bought ~60 various little bells, and tied ribbon in the wedding colors. As the 2hr reception was winding down, and our chauffered ride to nice hotel showed up, my mom handed these out - everyone started ringing them, and lined up as my bride and i walked through this line to limo. it was really cool. when you throw rice or blow bubbles, it only is fun for the moment when the bride and groom pass right by you. but the ringing carried all the way down the hallway, to outdoors. and i think the bells will show up better in photos than bubbles or rice/birdseed.

that basically was the little gift for everyone to take home. if we had planned it more, we could have gotten them engraved. maybe a ribbon with wedding info printed on it. but it was cool as it was.