Tips to Personalize your Wedding Ceremony
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
by Maureen Thomson
Lyssabeth's Bay Area Wedding Officiants
Make your ceremony POP no matter what your budget. Here are some ideas:
Choose a humorous reading. Sure, Kahlil Gibran and Corinthians are beautiful time-honored pieces, but for some zing, try Dr. Suess's Oh the Places You'll Go, or recite the lyrics to Adam Sandler's I Wanna Grow Old with You (from The Wedding Singer).
Instead of having the officiant say to the groom, "You may kiss the bride" after the pronouncement, have him or her say to the bride, "You may kiss the groom!"
Sign your marriage license during the ceremony. Combine the ceremonial with the legal for a great photographic moment. For even more variety, choose your grandparents or other honored guests to sign as witnesses.
For an unusual processional, gather your bouquet as you come down the aisle. Strategically place a few people at the ends of the rows to hand you a flower (and give you a hug) as you pass. When you get to the front, have the maid of honor tie a ribbon around the collected flowers to form a casual bouquet.
Choose different vows to say to each other. There is no law saying the bride and groom have to say the exact same words. You can each recite a vow that reflects your individual feelings.
Rather than the traditional, "Who gives Bride in marriage?" asked of the bride's father, have your officiant ask, "Who gives their blessing for the union of Bride and Groom?" Then all parents can respond by saying, "We do."
Involve your guests in your service. Include a Bowl of Blessings (where guests wish you a silent blessing on a small stone or seashell and then place the stone/shell into a bowl for you to keep in your home). Or consider a group candle-lighting ceremony, with the grand finale being the bride and groom lighting their Unity Candle from the flame started by their guests.
Make a memorable entrance. You've probably heard of the newest trend to have the wedding party dance down the aisle, but you can get more creative than that. Arrive in a horse-drawn carriage or on a motorcycle. How about a pedi-cab entrance? Have the guys sprint down the aisle to the Notre Dame Fight song or the theme from Rocky high-fiving each other. Or, if you prefer something more sedate, have an announcer (either the officiant or a DJ) introduce each bridal party member as they enter the ceremony.
Include words of thanks to your parents. If you wish, you can ask that the bride and groom's families each welcome the bride/groom into their hearts as their new son or daughter.
Add one humorous line to your vows. You can promise to love, honor and respect him until death do you part AND vow to tolerate his love of Monday Night Football!
For more information on personalizing your wedding ceremony, visit Lyssabeth's Monterey Wedding Officiants.
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