Traditions: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Should you put a penny in your shoe? Wear a veil? For nearly every wedding tradition, there’s someone who loves it and someone who hates it. So how do you decide which wedding traditions are best for you?
Traditions & Rituals that Work for You
Some people love the idea of tradition and ritual; others are less crazy about it. Traditions can connect you more deeply community or tie you down in ways that don’t reflect your values.
So how do you know if particular tradition or ritual is right for you?
At the heart of it all is this: do what enhances your experience and cut what doesn’t. We no longer live in the world where you have to do what’s always been done.
If you have family pressures, talk your officiant about how to thread the needle. Usually there’s a way to be true to yourself and keep family happy. But at the end of the day, it’s your wedding. It should reflect your beliefs and vision!
Deeply meaningful can also be seriously funny!
Creating a personalized, deeply meaningful ceremony isn’t all about super serious, heavy poetry. It’s connecting to what is actually important to you. For this couple, a huge part of their life together is gaming—everything from board games to Pinballz, this couple loves to play games together. And let’s face it, there’s not a much better … [Read more…]
Wedding Ink and Thoughts on Finding Meaning
I just loved this bridesmaid’s tattoo and had to snap a shot. What I loved most is that she not only didn’t try to hide it, she wore her dress & hair in a way that showed it off. In contrast to the days when my mom got married (the newspaper announcement described the lace … [Read more…]
Found in Translation – Story of a Bilingual Wedding
In Texas, bilingual weddings aren’t that uncommon. However, I recently officiated a bi-lingual wedding in which the bride’s parents spoke only Russian—and that is a bit more unusual around these parts. The bride told me right away—we don’t expect you to learn Russian, but we’d love to include my parents in some way. What can … [Read more…]
We’re eloping! Does the ceremony matter?
Sometimes I’m asked to officiate a wedding with no guests. It’s just the happy couple & me–maybe a photographer. There are many reasons a couple might not want to host a big wedding. Maybe they want to avoid the expense–or their families live too far apart to accommodate everyone. Sometimes there is a practical reason: … [Read more…]
Halloween Wedding
Think weddings and Halloween don’t have much in common? The ancients believed marriage made a couple susceptible to malignant spirits. Roman brides wore veils to hide their identity from demons and shield them from curses, while flower girls throughout the ages have worn garlic and tossed herbs to ward off evil. A groom carries his … [Read more…]