Beth and Patrick wanted a simple and meaningful wedding ceremony. They wanted their closest family and friends around them, and they wanted it to be a real "Manhattan" day.
So they arranged for their ceremony to be in the West Village on the stage at the famous Cherry Lane Theatre, the oldest continuously operating off-Broadway theatre in New York. Recent renovations made the space inviting, and the stage was just the perfect size for them to be surrounded by their guests for the ceremony.
Because they come from different faiths, they wanted a ceremony that was reverent, but not denominational. We opened with a moment of silence during which I invited everyone to become spiritually present for the ceremony. The two sets of parents did a reading in unison, and the bride and groom wrote their own vows.
As I do for many small and intimate ceremonies, I had their wedding rings passed to all present...to imbue them with symbolic warmth and good wishes for the couple.
After breaking the glass at the end of the ceremony, it was time for a few pictures and then off to lunch at a restaurant next door to the theatre. From my perspective, this was indeed a "Manhattan" wedding!
Ceremony Idea: Having a small group of guests offers flexibilty as your work with your officiant to design your ceremony. You can probably find ways to involve all present. Your family can be physically very close to you. You can be informal as you like...loved that Patrick didn't wear a tie! You can take time with the elements of the ceremony that mean the most to you.
Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!
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