Selecting a Reading for your Wedding Ceremony

 

In a personalized wedding ceremony, a reading is something that can create a lovely moment...inspiration, acknowledgement, good wishes, some humor, or sentiment.

The material for a reading may come from such varied sources...from Shakespeare to Springstien.  A reading may be poetry or prose.  It may be the lyrics to the song for your first dance.  It can be from a spiritual source...to acknowledge the faith tradition of your families.  Whatever you select, the words should have meaning to the two of you.

Wedding ceremony readings come in two major categories:

-  words that define love and/or marriage
-  words that convey good wishes or blessings on the couple

Either type of reading can add to the meaning and uniqueness of your ceremony.

Often a couple thinks of including a reading, and they get a cold sweat thinking their only options are boring and obscure chunks of words.  Not so.  Do an internet search and ask your officiant for suggestions. 

As important as the selection of the reading is the selection of the reader.  Your reader should be someone who is comfortable speaking before a group.  The reader needs to have command of the material...having read it and rehearsed it.   You might think of family or friends who are teachers, those who make presentations at work, performers, or community leaders.

It is an honor to be asked to participate in a couple's ceremony, so think of someone you wish to single out with your request they do a reading.  Your reader can be a respected family elder or godparent.  It can be someone you didn't ask to be in the wedding party but whom you want to be involved in a special way. 

Sometimes the reader has a better idea of what to select than the couple does...so solicit their input, but in the end, the couple should like the reading and make the decisions themselves.

Be sure to introduce the reader to the officiant before the ceremony.  The officiant will let the reader know how he or she will be introduced.  There may be an opportunity to do a sound check with the microphone.

A suggestions from an officiant who insists on back-up for everything related to the ceremony:  Have a printed copy of the reading available on the wedding day in case your reader leaves his or her copy at home.  If the reader is using an electronic device for the reading...that's fine, just make sure it's available on paper somewhere handy...you know why!  Dead batteries!

So don't wrinkle your brow when you think of a wedding reading...there is wonderful material out there just for your wedding.

A Heartwarming Frozen Wedding

Deciding to have a themed wedding is a risk...it might be over the top, it might be seen as superflous, or it might just take over all common sense.  When Lisa Marie told me her wedding was going to have a Frozen theme, I admit I had my doubts.  It seemed like it could be appropriate however.  After all, it was winter, the film was full of beautiful things about love...and I did like Olaf.

As I created the ceremony, there was a minimum of Frozen "stuff."  I used the word to describe the dramatic outdoor view from the ceremony space at Nicotra's Ballroom...it was indeed frozen and beautiful.  I incorporated some lyrics from one of the movie's love songs to describe the couple's engagement moment.  But that was about it...just right.  Oh, I did use an Olaf sticker on the envelope containing a copy of their vows that they put in a box that had a bottle of champagne...a box to be opened on their first anniversary. 

The highlight of the ceremony was the duet sung by the bride's cousins.  They sang the song you'd know if you are a fan of Andrea Bocelli..."The Prayer."  It was a goose-bump-producing moment that set the tone for the serious exchange of vows.  This was not an amateur performance...they were pros.

Lisa Marie and Michael made promises to her son as well vows as to each other.  (After the ceremony, her 9 year old nephew came to me and asked for a copy of the promises.  He wanted his mother and step-father to make those promises to him.  Someone was listening!)

Ceremony Tip:
If you are using a theme in the wedding celebration, work with your officiant to get just the right balance between too cutesy and "just right" as you bring in the theme tino your ceremony.  I always like to connect the ceremony script with elements of the wedding...colors, words, the venue, etc.  It makes all that planning come together.  I can even wear something that gives a nod to the theme...like this icy blue silk top.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Holiday Wedding

 

A wedding during the holidays is a bonus bright moment among the festivities of the season.  Hillary and Vincent combined the colors and spirit of Christmas with their Dec. 26th wedding at Above where the ceremony space is breath-takingly beautiful. 

A major part of their ceremony was the involvement of children...their young sons and a couple other children of friends and family.  Children were a charming part of the procession with the infants entering in a decorated small carriage.  Some adult assistance was required as these children were quite young...but the image of the children making a ceremonial entrance made everyone smile.

The couple's older son held the rings and gave them to their parents when it came time for them to exchange rings. 

Toward the end of the ceremony, Hillary and Vincent did a sand ritual involving both their sons.  The ritual's symbolism was the melding of all four of them into a family as the sand from small vessels was poured into a single larger vessel. 

The son who is about six years old did a fine job...he's of an age when he could easily follow simple directions.  The infant son, held by his mother, had a natural curiosity about what was happening...so he reached for the small vessel of sand that represented him.  It was a chance happening...but it was beautiful.  He held the vessel with her as that sand was poured into a center "family " vessel.  I heard an "Ah!" from the guests.

 

Ceremony tip:  If you are involving children, what they do needs to be age appropriate as was the case in this ceremony.  You also have to be flexible in case the children are fussy or confused and don't want to participate.  Their presence and participation is lovely...especially when they are the children of the bride and groom.

 

So I wish Hillary and Vincent many happy holiday seasons to come...including the celebration of their wedding anniversary every Christmastime.



Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!