Themed Weddings

What could be more fun than having a wedding?  Having something that really relates to who you are as a couple and expresses the good times that you have had with something, whether a hobby, a spectator sport, a special vacation spot, you name it.

Some of the excitement for this type of wedding will test the creativity of your wedding officiant or planner, to write a ceremony that is full of what is special for the two of you, or you may even want to write it yourself.  We often personalize our vows in this way, but now the entire ceremony can be specialized to you. In any case, it should be delightful and entertaining for your guests.

Where do you start?  The first thing to do is to brainstorm.  What do you like to do? What do you share as a couple?  What kind of hobby gives you joy? These questions should get you started and encourage your creativity to flow.  When you have some options selected, pick your theme.

Once you have selected your theme, think about the peripheral, visual parts of your wedding.  This includes decorations, your wedding gowns and tuxedos (which now become costumes) and the atmosphere of your venue to immerse your guests in your themescape.  You will want to adjust your entrance, your music, and, of course, the script of your ceremony.

Decorations can be selected with help from the local dollar store, a sporting goods store, the fabric shop and a thrift shop.  While you may not normally expect to shop for a wedding in these places, when it comes to theme weddings, you will be able to exploit these stores for the most rare of items.  This includes finding sports jerseys, books that can be used as decor, glassware for the reception, whatever your heart’s desire.

For your attire, you can usually find something unique at the above locations as well.  Think in terms of the image you wish to represent, and you can go wild. Suppose, for example, that you wish to have an Alice In Wonderland wedding.  You should be able to find a red dress anywhere, but a ball gown with a hoop skirt, for the Queen of Hearts, may be a little more difficult to find.  Thrift stores have this kind of thing from time to time. The items are usually cleaned, so don’t feel you have to skimp on quality. The groom’s attire for this wedding might be a military style uniform.  Some may want to alter the pants with a stripe down the side, but you should be able to find something special. Of course, the clothing for your attendants may be a little more difficult to find, and you may want to make them, for example, pillow cases with playing card faces on them, worn with leggings for each. The attendants may wish to get in on the fun as you create something special. Do this for any of your themes and you will be having fun that will last a lifetime.

Personalizing your ceremony script to reflect your theme will add to your fun.  Writing a fun, rhyming poem to highlight the address is always a good place to start.  Preface that with a themed greeting and following with vows that you have written will make your day memorable.  Writing not your thing? Find a talented wedding officiant who will offer to write your ceremony according to your dreams.

You may wish to carry the theme over into your reception, and you can do this just as easily as you have done for the ceremony, using the same sources for decor.  The main thing is to enjoy!

What You Must Have in Your Ceremony

Your wedding ceremony is a presentation which contains all of the legal requirements that transform a couple of single individuals into a married couple.  The language therein is arranged with all of the necessary wording to accomplish that fact. When it comes down to it, there is little that must be said, and a lot that makes the money you spent on your ceremony worthwhile.  You will want your ceremony to reflect your feelings and express who you are as a couple. The ceremony script should express how you feel, but also, include nothing that you feel is irrelevant. It is important that you communicate this to your officiant.

What, then, is a required part of the ceremony, and what is for appearances?  Let’s run through the ceremony skeleton and see what we can find.

The first segment is the Prelude.  This is, generally, the music that is played while guests are being seated.  It is entirely optional and fairly difficult without a large sound system, if your ceremony is to be out or doors.

Next is the Processional.  This is also music, but it is played while the wedding party is approaching the area where they will stand for the rest of the ceremony, i.e. the front of the church, a stage, the water’s edge if near a lake, etc.  Even if you have no Prelude, a Processional is nice to have, but it, too, is not a required part of the ceremony.

The Convocation is the third part of the ceremony.  This is where the officiant or a designated individual introduces bride and groom, welcomes your guests and/or invites them to witness the union.  This is usually brief, often stated in traditional ceremonies as, “Dearly Beloved…etc.”  This too is optional.

The Invocation is next.  It may be a religious prayer or a secular wish of goodwill toward the bride and groom.  It is not legally required, but its presence may nicely set the tone for the rest of the ceremony.

Following the Invocation is the Dedication.  This is the part where the Officiant asks, “Who gives this woman to be married?” for example.  Again, this is completely optional, particularly if the bride has not chosen to be escorted up the aisle.

At this point comes what I think of as the entertainment portion of the ceremony.  It includes the Address, which involves a message that can include how the bride and groom have come together, what they think about each other, and advice that may seem appropriate.  This would be the section of the ceremony in which there might be passages of scripture, poems, literary readings and music. This part should be long enough to be interesting and entertaining, yet short enough so that your guests won’t fall asleep.  This, too, is optional.

Now we come to the required parts of the ceremony.  There is the Expression of Intent. This is merely a statement, such as, “Have you come here for the purpose of marriage?”  Both parties answer in unison, “We do,” or something similar.

If the couple wish to share personal messages with each other, this is a nice spot for them to do so.

Once that is done, the Officiant may say the Consecration.  Not required, it is a form of blessing. Some people like to say one of several Old Irish Blessings.

Next come the Vows.  While it may be as simple as, “Do you, (name), take (name), to be your wedded wife/husband” followed by, “I do,” they can also be poetic and lengthy.  These are required.

Following the Vows, some couples like to have more entertainment, such as music, another reading, or a Unity Ceremony, which can involve flowers, water, sand, candles, hand tying, or planting a flower bulb, a tree, or other symbolic ceremony.  All of this is optional, but ideally represents the couple’s feelings.

Next comes the Blessing of the Rings, which is also optional and can be either religious or secular, simple or poetic.  It precedes the Exchange of the Rings, in which the bride and groom place their rings on each other’s fingers. This can be done with or without vows, such as, “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Immediately following is the Pronouncement of the couple as husband and wife.  This is required.

Some couples like to save the signing of the Marriage License for this part of the ceremony, but it can also be signed following the end. It should be noted that there must be two witnesses of legal age to sign the license. This is a legal requirement.

Most couples like to seal their vows with a kiss at this point.  After that, the Officiant may introduce the couple to their guests as Mr. and Mrs. (names) followed by the Benediction, which is another blessing.  All of these parts are optional as well.

The couple goes out of the church/etc. during the Recessional, often followed by a Receiving Line, in which the bridal party and relatives receive the well-wishes the guests.  Some will do this immediately after the wedding, while others like to save this for the reception/party afterward.

It is important for a couple to choose the parts of the ceremony which reflect their feelings and to advocate for themselves with the professionals who will make the ceremony special for their wedding day.  A good Officiant will guide you through the script and create a memorable ceremony that you can remember for the rest of your lives.

What Are You Celebrating?

When a couple comes together for the purpose of marriage, there is always the question of how big a splash to make.  Some couples prefer something quiet, private, in which they can take care of the legal necessity of joining their lives, while others want to make as big a production with a great deal of fanfare to announce to the world that they are married, something that creates a beautiful memory of a day that seems more like a fantasy that reality.

As an officiant, it is my job to help you realize either one, whatever your hearts desire.  It is my job to find the right words, set the stage and express to your guests, however many you may have, that this day is special, that the two of you are now one voice, one heart, one life. 

Because everyone is different, your job is to let your officiant know what you envision as the perfect ceremony.  What rituals do you want as part of your ceremony?  Do you want special music, poetry, a tribute to someone special, memorials to those in the family who have passed, but are watching you from above? 

There are a lot of things that you can do to create a forum to have said what you want to do and say.  This ceremony will mark a transition from one stage of life to another, even if you, as a couple, have been together for years.  A wedding speaks volumes in that it can show your guests the story of your evolution from a single, solitary person, to a supportive, loving couple.  It can say what you feel, why you feel it, and why it is important and special to you, the couple.

Therefore, dream!  Envision what your perfect day is going to be.  If you are setting free balloons, or homing pigeons, or lighting a Unity Candle—whatever reflects your personal desires or style—make it your own and say what you will to celebrate who the two of you are as a couple and light the path ahead to where you want to go.

Marriage Counseling, Part 3

If a couple has not set up housekeeping prior to the wedding, the adjustment to each other’s routines and private quirks can be jarring.  Not only does it take time to adjust, but there are worries about finances and housekeeping, time to spend with each other, time to spend with family and friends, and all sorts of little things that need to be worked out so that each of you is satisfied and not imposed upon. 

Making sure that you have set aside a specific time allotment each day to talk over your day, including things that may be uncomfortable to talk about, will help ease the friction that comes in your shared lives.  It is important that you keep your feelings in check while discussing these problems, because for one to say they find a problem with a certain behaviour, takes a great deal of courage.  It is not intended to hurt you, rather it is intended to indicate that a certain behaviour is bothersome or hurtful.  Listen, explain if need be, and then accept that there may have to be some changes.  Putting in the effort to keep your home harmonious is one of the most important things you can do to keep your marriage happy.  The difference between a good marriage and a bad one is that the parties actually try.  They work at making things good between them.  If you do so, it will go a long way toward setting the pattern of a lifetime of love.

Sprucing Up Your Outdoor Wedding

Everyone knows that having an outdoor wedding in a beautiful garden abundant with flowers provides a rich and lovely backdrop to a special and memorable ceremony.  But let’s say that you just want to have your ceremony in a public park where there is grass and trees and that’s about it.  You can’t get permission to attach anything that will leave a mark on the natural landscape, but there are a few things that you can do to make a pretty setting more you.

Suppose you are bringing in chairs for your guests.  Anything that can be attached to the chairs, including netting, flowers, ribbon, teddy bears, or other theme-related item is a go.  You can bring in an archway that can be covered in the same kind of decor. Let your imagination go wild.  If you really like teddy bears, for example, have one attached to the end seat of each row, alternating rows, if you wish to be a little budget-conscious.  You can put some large teddy bears with their own bouquets of your choice of flowers to the sides of the archway.

In addition, you can set up a table in the front from which to perform any of the rituals that you choose, including a Unity Sand ceremony, Love Knot ceremony, Wine and Bread ceremony, Bulb Planting ceremony, and so forth.  You can decorate the table with battery-powered lighted candles, pictures of relatives you wish to honor, and, of course, more flowers. 

In essence, you can decorate the outdoors in a similar way in which you decorate the indoors, so long as you have something on which to anchor your decorations.

Creating Invitations

For those with summer or autumn weddings, now is the time to get your invitations sent out, if you haven’t already done so.  The days of spending hours going through the printers sample books to select the perfect invitations are passé.  There are plenty of computer graphics programs which will help you design and print out your invitations. You can make them as flamboyant or as simple as you like and you can embellish them with ribbon, scrapbook lettering, ink stamps, appliqués and just about anything that you can imagine.

Most invitations these days follow in line with the theme of your wedding.  If your colors are the only theme that you are presenting, chances are, you will want your invitations to reflect that simplicity.  But if your theme is something like the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, for example, you may want to have little hat cutouts, some netting, ribbon, perhaps a patch of felt, and, of course, tea cups!  Your invitations become the template for your decorations for your wedding and reception.

Of course, it is unnecessary to go to all that intricacy if you merely want to make sure that all of your aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends receive notice that you request the honor of their presence at your nuptials.  Wording is sometimes everything.  Lettering is also something special these days, as we have so many font options to choose from. Wording and lettering should reflect your personalities and the level of seriousness or playfulness that you want your ceremony to reflect.  Traditional wording acknowledges the invitation coming from the parents.  More modern invitations, or invitations from couples who have been down the path before, generally state that the couple is requesting the honor.

Formal or casual, simple or exotic, if the invitations reflect who you are as a couple and the impressions you would like to give your guests, you can’t go wrong.

Considering Elopement

For many people, the time and money that must be invested in a large, luxurious wedding is beyond the scope of their finances or may be beyond the scope of the time they have for planning.  Perhaps the important thing for a couple is to say some words that they might not have the opportunity to say to their partner.  Perhaps having the chance to just look each other in the eyes, proclaim love, and put those rings on each other’s fingers, without a great deal of hooplah is what will be the most memorable.  Whatever the reason, whether money, time or just plain preference, elopement may be just enough for what you desire.

What, exactly, is an elopement?  Usually, elopement is when you make an appointment with a magistrate to have your five minutes of time, exchange rings and be pronounced husband and wife at the fall of a gavel.  However, more and more wedding officiants are offering this service at a discount of their usual rate.  They may have a specific place in mind where they offer the service:  an office, their home, a park, or a beach.  Suffice it to say that the settings will be limited.   They will also only allow a small number of guests, usually immediate family or a few close friends, generally less than 10 people all together.  You will need to have the usual two witnesses to sign the license, which you must get prior to the ceremony according to the laws of your state.  You can expect that an elopement ceremony with an officiant or minister to be a little longer than one performed by a judge or magistrate, and it may allow for a little depth of meaning, but it won’t be as long as a large ceremony with all the trimmings.

To find out if an officiant does elopements, you may need to ask or visit his or her website.  I have decided to do them this year, as the economy tightens its belt. 

May your wedding become a beautiful story!

Selecting Rings

One of the biggest expenses for a wedding are the rings which will symbolize your commitment to one another for the rest of your lives.  Most people opt for the most beautiful rings they can comfortably afford.  However, some people are opting for new twists in this regard.  There are several ways of showing commitment creatively without such great expense and, some people feel, are more meaningful than expensive jewelry.

One variation is getting tattoos on the ring fingers.  These, of course, are permanent.  The tattoos are meant to show the depth and permanence of the intention to commit for life.  They can be as ornate and beautiful as the creativity of the couple and artist can achieve.  The problem with this is that not even couples whose intention becomes a part of their physical bodies can assure that their marriage does, in fact, last a lifetime.  As with all tattoos, should the marriage end, it may become rather awkward.

Another variation I have seen is the use of rubber O-rings, which are worn on the understanding that while marriage may not be perfect, the rules thereof can be stretched and twisted, like the O-ring, but the marriage will not break.  This is charming and a very symbolic sentiment, though the rings may not be suitable for wearing with all clothing choices.

I have also seen couples who have woven, knitted or crocheted rings.  These can be varied in color to match clothing choices, and still use the concept of stretching a point as the O-rings above, but may be more fashionable.

Whatever you choose for your rings, they are, indeed, a symbol of the depth and strength of your commitment to love one another for the rest of your lives.

Venues

With wedding season in full swing, most of you are now full steam ahead on your plans.  You should have your vendors selected and retained, your guest list prepared, and you should know where your ceremony will be held.  That may come with a challenge these days.

Something that has come to my attention recently is that public places are now actually charging large sums of money strictly to wedding parties, for the use of the area, including beaches, parks, lighthouses, and other public lands.  This is the case even in places where other groups or persons are not charged at all.  It’s very sad that greed is taking over.

What can be done instead?  There is little that can be done to use a place that may be near your heart if you are trying to control your wedding budget, but sometimes if you schedule your ceremony for the “off” season, or during the week, you may be able to negotiate a special rate. Or perhaps the concern is more for cleanliness and if you offer to clean the area of debris, you may be allowed special consideration. 

Another option is to have your ceremony in your back yard or at the home of someone who has land and space which is scenic and lovely.  Friends and relatives can be helpful in many ways, but if they are willing to provide the venue, whether they have property near a beach, or on a farm or just have a very spacious garden, it can help to reduce your budget.  And they might be willing to provide you with the space in lieu of a wedding gift.

The main thing is to remain open-minded as to what location you have your ceremony.  You can still have a lovely wedding in the temple of the outdoors without spending a small fortune.

Cold Feet

There are a few of my couples who have experienced cold feet. They go through all of the planning, start looking at the costs, think about how their lives will change, what they will have to do to keep a marriage on course, and they go into a panic. Rarely does this stop them from going through with the wedding, but it can create some very uncomfortable days until everything is back on target.

Planning and communication are the sure-fire ways of making these things work out. By working together, making sure all of the bases are covered for the wedding itself, talking about what has been accomplished, what has yet to be done, talking about the feelings that you have, including how the ceremony and reception will affect your finances, you come to realize what a great team you are, how you solve problems, and that together, you can overcome whatever is before you.
You may find that you have to prioritize desires for your ceremony. Some thing are very important to each of you, other things you can let go of without it negatively affecting you on an emotional level. Some things are just beyond your budget. Part of being a mature, married couple is knowing when you have to make do with what you have. If you have your heart set on something, you may have to make a trade-off. Together, you can make these choices.

The thing that you must avoid at all costs is manipulation. Don’t try to deceive one another or surprise one another with what you think your partner wants or something that you want, but you think you will be able to trick your partner into wanting in the end. This is a sign that you have some growing to do, and you need to face that.

Marriage is about making an unstoppable team. You can be a part of it, or you can break it. What choice will you make?
Warm regards,
Rev. Sandra

Saving Time

Saving Time31213
Last time, we spoke about ways to save money on a big wedding. How let’s think about ways to save time.

You’ve been dreaming of your Big Day since you were a little girl. You know enough of the details of how you want it to look to be able to draw the ideal event. Good! This will really help you when you start to put all of the pieces together. Since you already know what you’re looking for, finding it is just a detail.
One of the reasons that you should connect with your officiant or wedding planning before you get too much into the planning phase: they’ve been doing this for years and should be able to tell you where to find all the things for your perfect day. He or she is in touch with other professionals, deejays, bands, string quartets, photographers, bakers, florists, venues, etc. They’ve been working with them for years. Use their expertise and connections to get the best of the best. This will save you time and in the long run, headaches and money.
Once you have your vendors lined up, you can get to decor. Again, your professionals can point you in the right direction. If you want something that is a little out of the ordinary, they’ve probably seen or heard of such, and can tell you where to go to get what you want. If you have a special hobby, consider where you get the properties (objects, supplies, tools) to pursue the hobby. Talk to others who share your hobby. Networking with others who like what you like will help you along your path of fulfilling your dream day much quicker.
If you have decorations to make, take advantage of family and friends. Perhaps you’re going to have a small wedding and won’t be including them in the ceremony itself. Giving them decorations to work on will help them feel the honor of participating in your lovely day.
Wishing you a Storybook Wedding!

Saving, Saving, Saving

The traditional wedding season is coming quickly upon us. That is to say, the weather is soon to be getting warmer and warm weather brides are likely to be bursting at the seams to get all of their ducks in a row. It may be an easy matter to hire a church, a hall, a band or deejay, minister, florist, and then get the dresses and tuxes, invitations, and decor in line. Or is it? Depending upon how much money you are able to spend, it may be a bit of a challenge to have the things you want in your dream wedding. There are ways to cut the cost if you are willing to look at some possibilities beyond the norm.
Some people are opting to have a wedding at the location where the honeymoon will take place, then having a reception upon their return. For friends who can afford to book airfare, hotel and meals at the location, they are welcome to come, but generally speaking, only close family is included in this type of ceremony. It is one option for saving money and still having the honeymoon you desire.
Often the church is the biggest expense in a wedding. Considering popular outdoor locations which may have special meaning to the two of you, can often save a lot of money. There may be a small reservation fee, but generally, having a wedding in the outdoors is relatively inexpensive. Places that are especially nice are the beach, a public park, a friend’s countryside garden, or a historic site that allows for large gatherings.
Bands are nice, but they can be pricey. Deejays have come into fashion for weddings as well as receptions. Be sure that if you are using a deejay for your wedding ceremony that he or she is willing to coordinate timing with the minister or your event planner so that the ceremony has a professional presentation.

Flowers are expensive and if you can afford the best, go for it. For those who have limited budgets, you can find a broad selection of silk flowers at a dollar store. In fact, they have begun to stock favors and decorations that you can make for your reception tables that look as nice as if you purchased them from an upscale store. You can get a book that explains how to put your bouquets together at your local bookstore.
Dresses and tuxes have been going out the window in recent years as budgets get smaller. I have seen some beautiful gowns at local thrift shops. These are often dresses that have been worn once and are discarded. Purchased new, these dresses may have been hundreds of dollars, often covered in beautiful lace and beadwork, but at a thrift store, they are sold at a fraction of the price. For the obvious reason, sizes are limited, and you may have to really shop around for a few months to find what you want, but the savings is worth it. Tuxes, on the other hand, are being seen as an unnecessary extra for some couples. The gentlemen are opting to wear matching shirts and slacks, and sometimes, depending on the location of the ceremony, something that speaks to the environment, including cargo shorts. The latter speaks to the notion that weddings should be memorable because they really are all about who the two of you are as a couple, and should reflect your personalities and feelings.

What about the cake? Cupcakes are in vogue and often cost less than a multi-tiered cake with extravagant decorations. Arranging them on a special stand creates the captivating look. You can often purchase various flavors of cupcakes, thus allowing your guests a choice. If you wish, you can still have a small cake for the traditional anniversary cake. This is the cake that you share on your first anniversary to celebrate the success of your marriage.
Invitations and other paper products have become a challenge of the past, as more and more couples have opted to design their own with their computer graphics and photo software. They may be expensive to print out, as the papers and inks can add up, but it is likely that they will still be less expensive than purchasing these items from a printer. The positive thing is that you have the ability to change the amount of printed copies, should your guest list grow or decrease. Most office supply stores will be able to provide the special papers and inks that you wish to use.
Knowing the trends of what others are doing to save money can take some of the tension out of organizing and preparing for a beautiful wedding. May you be richly blessed!

Running Late?

A last minute ceremony doesn't have to be a headache.  You might be surprised to know how many couples would rather dispense with all the hooplah and have an intimate gathering of friends, leaving the details to the last minute.  If your officiant is free on the day of your choosing, it is no big deal to accomodate your needs.  The fee might be a little less, in fact, as the officiant may have an opening to fill.  Call the officiant.  He or she will ask you a few questions:  what, where, when, who, how many, etc.  Let the officiant know if you have preferences of religious or non-religious ceremony.  If you want something and don't know where to find it, your officiant can guide you to vendors who can help you.  An experienced officiant will have a list of things you might need and know just where to send you. I have done several of these ceremonies with very short notice.  They are just as beautiful as those that are planned months ahead and equally as memorable.

Rituals

Rituals are those things that add a little color and flair to a ceremony. They can be as simple as signing the marriage license following vows, or as symbolic as planting a flower or tree to watch the growth of a relationship. Many people are familiar with the Unity Candle as a standby, and with the boom in outdoor weddings, the use of the Sands of Unity, which uses two or more colors of sand to symbolize the union of a couple or a family, is becoming regarded as something very special. Some couples wish to honor beloved ones who have passed over.

Handfasting is a ritual that comes to us from the Pagan culture, but it is a beautiful symbol of the joining of two people. It requires 18 feet of three colors of ribbon which can be pre-braided to make a beautiful wrap. The right hands are placed side by side, the cord is wrapped crossways around the wrists from one to the other, seven times to make a blessing. The ends of the cord are then placed in the hands, which are pulled out to form a knot, which then becomes a keepsake. If desired, a reading about the significance of all the blessings that come from the hands can be read during the wrapping, or music can be played.

Slideshows are not common at weddings, but if there is a significant amount of photo footage available, displaying the progress of the relationship, from the time a couple meets to the time of proposal is a lovely detail that everyone can enjoy. Of course, this can also be a highlight of the reception.

Ceremonies that allow the guests to participate in blessing the couple are nice and can be done before, during or after the ceremony. Stones can be given to each person before seating. During the ceremony, a blessing is placed on the stone, then they are collected and presented to the bride and groom. Some couples ask that each person pass by the rings which are displayed on a pillow and offer a blessing. Coins can be blessed, then collected and placed in a bag. Next they are thrown out onto the ground. The couple collects the coins to save as a nest egg for their new home.

Whatever you choose to do, your ceremony should reflect the feelings that you have for each other and who you are as a couple.

May you be richly blessed!

2012

Yes, Dear Ones, it is now that infamous year in which the Mayan Calendar is being blamed for bringing on the end of the world. Blame is the key point. To the most reasonable of us, it just means the creators of said calendar ran out of paper. But we do live in times when financial matters, matters of self-governance and matters of human rights are important all the way around our planet. It is a time of rejoicing, rather than a time of fear. So I say, "Let Love Ring!" and let there be marriages to celebrate that love.

I have many openings for the 2012 season and look forward to helping many of you create the most beautiful memories by including some new and unusual rituals, poetry, and creative ceremonies that your hearts long to share. These will be ceremonies that you can remember for the rest of your lives, proud at the way they spoke to your hearts and the hearts of your guests, reflecting who you are as a couple and the feelings that you have for each other. Cheers!

To find out the current rates on weddings, send me an email to revsandra1@yahoo.com with your projected wedding date in the subject line. I will respond as soon as possible. I am looking forward to a rewarding wedding season and I wish all of you the very best, whether you are in my area or across the world.

Winter Weddings

Winter weddings take a little more planning than those carefree, rain-free summer days, but they offer a chance to really let your creativity shine. As most winter weddings are, as a necessity here in the North, indoors, the decor becomes part of the memory and effect that you wish to create. Consider going to the dollar stores where you can find silk flowers, ribbon, crepe paper, etc. to make decorations that will be stunning to your guests and easy on your pocketbook. Afraid they will look cheap, just because they are? Once put together they will dazzle your guests just as much as high-priced decorations. Just employ your imagination and let yourself enjoy the savings.

How to Choose a Wedding Officiant

You're getting married. Congratulations! This is a big step forward in your life and you want your day to reflect who the two of you are as a couple and the feelings that you have for each other. Right? You don't want your officiant/minister/celebrant/preacher telling you what "should" be said. This is about the two of you--what you want and feel.

So number one on your list of questions to ask an officiant, is, "Do we get to choose what will be said, how long the ceremony is, what rituatls will be included, etc?" If your officiant is worth her salt (or his) the answer will be ABSOLUTELY! He or she should be flexible when it comes to what you want in your ceremony, how long it should be, what is included--which should be what you want and nothing you don't want. By all means, listen to the suggestions that he or she makes, but the final decision is yours.