Making Your Ceremony Your OwnMore and more couples choose to personalize their service with a unique reading, vow, or symbol of their love. To make your ceremony your own, simply take a step back and think about what's important to the two of you.
Most religions allow a fair amount of flexibility, but some don't. Talk to your officiant to find out what you can and cannot "customize" in terms of your service. If there is some flexibility, here are some common ways you can individualize your ceremony. VowsMany couples choose to write their own vows, but remember you'll be speaking in front of possibly hundreds of people. What may sound wonderful on paper may feel awkward in front of a crowd. Plus, your religion may have fairly strict guidelines about your vows. With that said, some of the most moving ceremonies we've seen involved couples who wrote their own vows; it felt less like a formality and more like a living, breathing extension of their feelings. ReadingsScripture readings are a nice way to express your feelings and include loved ones in your service. Your offician should be able to recommend choices of a religious nature; if you have a passage from a non-religious work, feel free to use it. Make sure your reader takes a moment to put the passage in context, though. SymbolsIf the thought of reading your vows is intimidating, you can personalize your ceremony by using symbols or special ceremonies. You can light unity candles, the bride can give a flower from her bouquet to her mother and the groom's mother, children can be included by giving them a gift... there are a number of possibilities. We photographed a wedding recently where the groom gave the bride's child from a previous marriage a necklace during the ceremony; he placed it around her neck as a symbol of the joining of the family. If you or your fiancee have children, consider making them an active part of the ceremony. They'll appreciate the chance to participate and your wedding will feel like a joining of two people and two families. |
