The Wedding Ceremony

THE WEDDING CEREMONY

A wedding ceremony is an occasion in which two people are united in marriage. Wedding ceremonies are precious moments that involves the wedding vows by the couples , presentation of a ring or rings, and a public proclamation of the marriage by a religious leader. Special wedding garments are often worn, a wedding reception follows the wedding ceremony. Music, poetry, prayer or readings from Scripture may also be held to the add to the holiness of the ceremony. The words in the wedding ceremony publicly express how the bride or feel about each other and the institution of marriage in such a way that it reflects their own beliefs. Its a wonder that at the end of the ceremony the couples grow more closer to each other as they work together for it right from the beginning.

Certain religions have guidelines of how the entire ceremony should be held. Go through a standard wedding ceremony and decide what you may change. Below are five basic parts in a ceremony that may be customized.

The Greeting

The purpose of the introduction or greeting is to address the assemblage at hand, acknowledge the presence and spirit of God and welcome and thank the guests for their love and support. The first words spoken during the ceremony would be to thank God and to grace the importance of the occasion. The greeting might begin as:”We are asked here today to witness the joining of two such kindred spirits, whose love for one another has inspired them to become greater people than either believed possible. Friends and family, we welcome you with open arms…” The greeting may also include your favorite poem, a wish to your families.

Your Vows

The exchange of wedding vows is an integral part of a wedding ceremony. It is a very romantic moment and often the perfect place to express your feelings towards your fiancé The promises that join you together emotionally and publicly declare your intentions to love, trust and honor. Writing your vows, however, can be harder than it seems. A Traditional Christian wedding vow goes like ” I, _____, take you, ______, to be my wedded husband (wife). With deepest joy I come into my new life with you. As you have pledged to me your life and love, so I too happily give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your headship as to the Lord. As is the church in her relationship to Christ, so I will be to you. _____, I will live first unto our God and then unto you, loving you, obeying you, caring for you and ever seeking to please you. God has prepared me for you and so I will ever strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage you. Therefore, throughout life, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as an obedient and faithful wife.”

The Exchange of Rings

Since you’ll wear your wedding band for the rest of your life, symbolizing your marriage, you’ll want the words you say during the ring ceremony to be meaningful and personal. When it is the time for wedding ring exchange, the Bridegroom will place the ring on the Bible or Prayer Book offered from the clergyman. He then recites hearing the clergyman as he says ” “With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honor; and all my worldly goods with thee I share, in The Name of the Father, and The Son, and of The Holy Spirit. Amen.”. Once the Bridegroom has put the ring to the Bride, the Bride puts the ring to the Bridegroom in the same way. Then, holding the Bride’s hands, the Bridegroom says “I YYYYY take thee XXXXX to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part; according to God’s Holy Law, and thereto I give thee my truth.”

Blessings and Readings

In any tradition, hand blessing is a belief that is meant to draw you closer to one another. Hands are a connection to the heart, and a hand blessing symbolically brings two hearts together. Physically there is a connection between the veins in the hands and the heart. It can be done at any point in the ceremony. It is best to do this after the exchange of the rings. Readings that would capture your feelings about marriage. can be well encouraged. Blessing and readings can appear almost anywhere in the ceremony, and are an effective way to involve family and friends.

The Pronouncement

The pronouncement officially declares that the Bride and Groom are now husband and wife. The minister may state the authority which allows him to make the pronouncement. This part of the ceremony declares to everyone that the couples are legally married that no one should try to come between or separate the couple. Often the officiate will say, “Now that ____ and ____ have given themselves to each other by the promises they have exchanged, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Discussion with Clergy man

A wedding officiant like clergyman should first know the wedding ceremony content & vows. He is the one who gives bride & groom more assurance & control. He will provide with plenty of ceremony ideas & customs, even wedding ceremony samples! He will help in the process of the constructing of wedding ceremony content or vows. The clergyman will offer you a reasonable choice as to his/her wedding day apparel. Find out early what he expects you to include and if you feel your opinion or ideas would clash later. Non religious couples or those planning an interfaith ceremony should consider an independent wedding chapel

The right words

The vow on your wedding is of your choice! You may read or sing a poem for your bride or groom , else together with him or her. Whatever may be your way of marriage, either traditional or completely original, make your vows personal and unique, with forethought and creativity. Create an everlasting memory that you, your family and friends will cherish.

EXTENDED WEDDINGS

Enjoying your wedding and celebrating the day is a great thing, because being the newly married couples, its your day! You may well plan and have a wedding that will last for a whole weekend. You can spend your unforgettable moments with your family and friends. This would be a good idea for the couples who dwell in different parts of the country or the world. The other side of the ceremony like hosting the activities, accommodation of the guests go on same as a traditional wedding.

Suggestions for extended weddings:

To get together and celebrate your wedding to the maximum extent, plan your wedding on a Vacation or Long Weekend. You may even plan for parties and get togethers on days surrounding the actual wedding ceremony. A great idea is to include your wedding as part of a family reunion.

Honeymoon Wedding

The reception takes place at your honeymoon destination. While planning for honeymoon in a different country,you may include the local food and customs from that country into your ceremony. Check with the marriage licensing bureau if you are marrying out of state. Finally, check with the Government in your home state to make sure that your marriage will be recognized and registered too if you marry out of state or out of the country.

Special Location Wedding

The ceremony and reception takes place at a location which has special meaning to both the bride and groom.You may plan for the reception at the first place that they had met, the location where the groom proposed or any other

OTHER UNIQUE IDEAS

Marriage Tablecloth

As a memory or token of love ask all the guests to sign a table cloth with a cloth pen legibly.(Make sure that the names are legible). Following the reception, have the names embroidered and use it on each anniversary.

Balloon Release

Traditionally during wedding the guests throw rice or flower pedals. For a change, have balloons released. Include a tag with the name of the bride and groom and the marriage date. Before planning this, check local environmental laws, if doing such things are prohibited

Butterfly Release

Releasing a butterfly is an effective touch if you have an outdoor reception. Provide each guest with a box containing a butterfly. At the end of the ceremony , let all the guests open the box and set the butterflies free.

Candle Light Ceremony

This is a the most romantic moment of a wedding ceremony. The wedding party carries candles down the aisle during the processional. Guests light candles at a specific point of time during the wedding ceremony. The guests will “float” their candles in a pond or pool at the ceremony site

Fireworks

If your wedding is in the night or if you really want to entertain the guests with colourful fireworks, you may have fireworks display commemorating the special occasion. But before that, check local laws first! Also , Laser Light Show will be an exciting and interesting addition to any reception.

Mortgage Down Payment

Instead of registering for bridal gifts, organize a program and account with a bank or mortgage brokerage and have guests contribute to this account for your down payment for a new home.

Other Special Ideas

You can fill your occasion with unforgettable meetings like an outdoor reception. Have church bells ring immediately after you recite your vows. Give a flower to each female guest attending the ceremony.

Satellite or Internet Service

If anyone has not attended your wedding do not worry! Broadcast your wedding through satellite or Internet to relatives all over the world so they too can be part of this happy occasion. Contact us for Internet site design and set-up.