PERSONALIZED WEDDING CEREMONY
With all the details of planning a wedding, your ceremony is often the last thing you think about. But it is, of course, where the ultimate meaning lies. It’s what makes your day unforgettable… the words spoken, the promises made, the bond you create. What better way to share this than with a personalized ceremony which expresses your love.
Your ceremony is where you have the golden opportunity to express what you deeply love about each other and what’s important to you as you begin your journey. To have your love mirrored to you and to those attending in a manner that both touches and opens the heart is what sets the mood for the rest of your day, be it a dinner reception with a small group of family and friends, a quiet night together, or a formal gathering with banquet, toasts, music and dancing.
As your officiant/minister my first job is to understand a little about your relationship. To assist in this I present you with a number of simple get-to-know-you questions…
For example:
- How did you first meet and what were the feelings around that?
- What are some of the special qualities and gifts within each other that draw you together?
- What enrichments have entered your lives through your being together?
- How does your faith, spirituality or philosophy of life help to support you personally and as a couple?
- What activities do you enjoy doing alone and together that help bring you to a place of inner peace and centeredness?
- What meaning does marriage and family have for you?
Your responses to these questions provide me a basis for our dialogue. They help me adopt a ceremonial style in harmony with who you are as a couple and also personalize your ceremony so that it mirrors and celebrates you.
The most touching moment in a ceremony is when you share your wedding and ring vows, when you look into each other’s eyes and speak what lies deepest within your heart. But to prepare for this moment the right mood needs to be created. Like the diamond set in a wedding ring, this beautiful moment needs to be set into a rich context of language and imagery that celebrates and mirrors your unique story, your unique history as a couple. Your responses provide this setting.
The second thing I do is provide you with ceremonial selections for you to choose from. These selections, which range from contemporary to traditional and which form part of the body of the ceremony, I arrange in such a way as to create a dynamic flow leading to the sharing of your vows.
You’re invited to select whatever pieces speak to you. There are poems, readings, quotes, blessings, vows, etc… Also you’re invited to select materials form other sources… perhaps a site with wedding selections, a favorite song, poem, spiritual text, an old love letter or words long ago scribbled on a napkin… Once I know a little about your background and tastes I also research new materials on your behalf.
All you really need do is provide me with feedback to the relationship questions and let me know which selections and content interest you, and I’ll do the rest… the organizing of the ceremony. Should you wish to co-create and interact with me in developing your ceremony, by adding your own special ideas, touches, wording, etc… I greatly welcome that!