TELLING YOUR LOVE STORY-It’s All About You

Your Wedding, Commitment, or Vow Renewal ceremony is all about you and your love story. Let it be heard and seen. Your story can be shared not just through narrative but also through rituals, visuals, music, objects and location.  Your love story is multifaceted and can be expressed throughout the celebratory event.  How do you go about sharing it in such a way that it heard and seen out loud and touches the hearts of your guest?

Besides being a ceremony and a ritual maker, I’m a list maker, so I’ll list some ideas on how to tell your story throughout the ceremony.

1)   Location. Why did you and your partner choose the venue? For example, did you choose the lovely park because that is where you fell love? Let the celebrant explain that.

2)   Rituals. Rituals often speak louder than words. Rituals are a universal language. Choose rituals that are meaningful to the two of you. For example perhaps you and your chosen life mate enjoy time at Starbucks and good coffee is important to you. Your celebrant is a ritual maker; have him/her create a coffee ritual to weave into the ceremony.

3)   Colors. Does your color scheme have anything in particular that relates to your love story? For example, did you choose the red flowers to represent the passion between the two of you?

4)   Readings. Select readings that reflect who you are. Are you quirky or full of humor, maybe you’ll want to select a reading from Dr.Suess. Poetry is such a wonderful way to express emotion and goes straight to the heart.

5)   Music. Let your favorite sounds be heard. Most people have a variety of music they prefer depending on mood. Let your favorite sounds be heard from ceremony through the reception. Music definitely can set the tone you want to convey and says a lot about you. If you love hip-hop but choose not have it during your ceremony let it be heard during the reception or perhaps later in a video of the wedding. Talk to your entertainment person photographer and/or videographer.

6)   Vows. Use your own words- write your vows let them say what the two of you want to uniquely promise one another. Ask your Celebrant or other officiant for sample vows you may want to use as a template.

7)   Programs and such. Share something special about your  

     relationship on your program or on cards at each table. For

example, have a quote or poem printed out as a keepsake that                                      may have been read during the ceremony. Think about having your guest tables have names of your favorite songs, restaurants, vacations spots, etc.         

Remember, we all like a good story. Let yours be heard, seen and felt.

If you have questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

So What's the Difference?

I am often asked, what’s the difference between a wedding or commitment ceremony officiated by a celebrant & one that is officiated by a clergy person, or justice of the peace or in Florida a notary public?

Well for one a celebrant lead ceremony is one of a kind. There are no two ceremonies alike. Celebrants do not conduct “off the rake” ceremonies. Each Ceremony is custom fitted to reflect the personalities, values, beliefs, customs, and desires of the client. For example the Hallmark of a Celebrant lead wedding ceremony is the couples love story. Each couples love story is unique to them and each element of the ceremony, is a thread that weaves into the couples story, creating a beautiful tapestry. Every element (i.e. music, rituals, readings) is thought out and co-created with the couple to reflect those parts of themselves they want to share with their guest. So what I’m saying is you will not be hearing or viewing the same –old- same old. Celebrant lead ceremonies will capture your attention- you’ll be saying, or thinking- “what’s next?” or “tell me more!” Is that exciting or what?

Another difference you may notice is that the celebrant is not standing center stage with the couples’ back to their guest. The ceremony is all about the couple- not the celebrant. The couple face their guest and the celebrant is off to the side. I need to mention, however there may be certain parts/elements of the ceremony where the couple may choose to face the Celebrant in order to be lead to a space where a ceremonial ritual may take place. The celebrant choreographs each movement in the ceremonial space. Also the couple will choose to face each other during the more intimate rituals such as vow and ring exchanges and during those times the celebrant will be standing with them much like the traditional wedding ceremony.  The celebrant will be reading the ceremony script since it not memorized with fill in the blank names. The script is always unique and meaningful to the couple and may often include antidotes gleamed from the guest, if approved by the couple. The ceremony is the coming together of the couple’s community and gives the guest a feeling of inclusiveness. Another big difference is the fact that there will be no surprises to the couple. They own the ceremony and approve of every last word.  The script is not completed until it is perfect and exactly how the couple wants it and the couple will always receive a copy of the ceremony as a keepsake.