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"found photo" credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/decarts/
Do you have access to photos of the women brides in your family? Take a photo of yourself in your wedding dress prior to your wedding day. Then make a print collage of all the photos. ID each picture. Include this in your wedding ceremony program. And at the beginning of the ceremony light a candle for each of the women to honor your lineage.
Do you have a favorite wedding ceremony story?
I'd love to hear it!! Send it my way: tracy@ceremonies.info
Best stories will be published here (with your permission).
"double happiness"
As a single person, Marni adopted Sun-lee from China. Sun-lee was three when Marni and her boyfriend Michael decided to marry. Marni and Michael exchanged rings during their ceremony, and then we conducted a special ceremony-within-the-ceremony at which Marni and Michael presented Sun-lee with a necklace they'd chosen to represent their love for her, their respect for her heritage (Marni and Michael are Anglo American) and to affirm their joint commitment to parenting her. The necklace features a charm with the Chinese symbol for double happiness on it. Mom Marni is now keeping the necklace safe and sound for Sun-lee until she's old enough to fully appreciate and wear it. And when she's old enough, mom will give her both the necklace and a written copy of the ceremony created just for her. What a story that necklace will possess. What a true "family wedding" it was.
For those who want a beautiful contemporary ketubah they can relate to, a fabulously artistic presentation of their non-religious wedding contract, or a magnificent, frame-worthy presentation of their own vows, here's your source:
Modern Ketubah : fine art ketubot by Daniel Sroka at http://www.modernketubah.com.
The power and beauty of Daniel's creations go the distance in helping wedding vows take hold. Look at his site to see breathtaking photographic options that create backgrounds for wedding contracts. Read his thoughtful choices for wording or customization. And be inspired by his depth of character.
Then let me know which one you pick!
How do you define God? Make sure that you discuss this with your officiant so that any mention of God in your ceremony is a true reflection of your spiritual sensibilities. If you can't find the words, perhaps you can find a picture....
photo credit: This photo is public. Uploaded on Mar 8, 2006
I think this may be my craziest idea yet -- for the artsy brides and crafters . . .
Under each seat, provide a small pad of paper and a fine point pen for your guests. Ask your officiant to invite your guests to sketch a picture of you at your wedding ceremony. "Take no more than a minute to do it, and stick figures are welcome." They can sign their sketch (or not) and place it on a display table at your party for everyone to gasp or giggle at while sipping their champagne.
You can't even begin to predict the outcome! Now that's a way to treasure your memories.
Do you have a favorite Aunt and Uncle whose marriage serves as a shining example for your own? Invite them to answer this question as part of your ceremony:
"What is it you see in us that tells you we can successfully do this thing called marriage, just as you have all these years?"
Their words will offer you a beautiful reflection of your strengths as a couple and they will support your aim to live in wedding bliss.
They look like birds, but they are actually little cones from a tamarack tree on Canada, photographed in wintertime, up close and frosty. Photo credit: Photojenic @ http://www.photojenic.ca/
For Green Brides, Eco Weddings or brides who love Mother Nature, wouldn't these make awesome wedding ring holders for a ceremony? What's out in YOUR backyard???
Don't these two look like they should get married?
Have you and your fiance travelled anywhere exotic and memorable? One couple I'd worked with had gone to Bali and fallen in love not only with each other, but with the Balinese phrase "amandari," which means "kindred spirits." So I used this phrase in a blessing I offered them for their marriage. It ended with this wish: "May you always live as amandari -- kindred spirits."
Now as they reflect on their wedding ceremony, they will be reminded of the romance they kindled in Bali -- a touchstone for rekindling their romance time and again as the years go by.
