Wedding Ceremony - 9 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Ceremony
Hey - it's all about you; take back your ceremony! It is a ritual - time honored and sacred - but that does not mean your wedding ceremony has to be like every other...yawn. Of course, some couples choose to be extremely original and opt for exchanging vows on a roller coaster, while bungee jumping or even dressed as trekies. I say - good for them for such uninhibited displays of originality. But even if you prefer a more traditional and "scream-free" wedding ceremony, you can still add a touch of personality.
A Scenic Location
Not every wedding ceremony must take place in a house of worship. Outdoor locations and other unique ceremony sites can make for ceremonies that are both spiritual and memorable.
A Refreshing Welcome
Welcome and refresh your guests by serving lemonade, iced tea or water. It's a nice touch, and your guests will appreciate the gesture. Depending on the season or nature of your wedding, you can use your refreshment of choice to tie in the theme or style of the day.
Personalized Pew/Row Decorations
Who says your ceremony decorations must be floral? How about draping framed photographs of the bride and groom tied with ribbon over the ends of each row?
Customized Programs
Summer brides - how about ceremony programs in the shape of a fan? Beach brides - use a shell or small piece of drift wood as a weight, and place programs on each guests' chair before arrival. You get the idea...Or keep the shape and style traditional, and include a personal letter or poem to add some interest to this often overlooked detail.
The Grand Entrance
There are other ways to make your entrance beyond the traditional march with your father. Ride in on a horse.... Or be escorted by both parents, a close uncle, brother, friend-even a pet!
Monogrammed Aisle Runner
You will know this is your ceremony while walking down the isle on a runner personalized with your monogram or logo.
Beyond "Here Comes the Bride"
If walking down the isle to the same song as thousands of brides before you doesn't sound appealing, let your favorite tune can't make a memorable substitute!
Gender Bend the Bridal Party
Who says your maid of honor must be a "maid?" If your best pal happens to be a guy, have a "man of honor." Same goes for the best man; there's no reason why there can't be a "best woman."
Write your own Wedding Vows, Readings, Poems etc.
Nothing puts that special personalized stamp on a ceremony quite like vows and readings prepared by the bride and groom themselves. These spoken words expose your mind and your heart to each other and to your audience. Get started with a guide to writing your wedding vows .
Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process.
Justin Ruttan, a gay Toronto wedding planner who launched a company catering to homosexual couples in March, supports same-sex marriage.
He also supports making money. And, hence, he has a dilemma.
In a 4-3 decision yesterday, California's Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex nuptials, making California the second U.S. state to permit them – and the first to allow them for all Americans regardless of where they live.
When the court's ruling takes effect in 30 days, Toronto's same-sex wedding industry will face a new challenge from the Golden State: Gay and lesbian couples from any place in the U.S. will be able to wed anywhere from San Diego to San Francisco.
Toronto established itself as perhaps North America's prime destination for gay marriage after it began issuing licences to same-sex couples in June 2003.
In the sitcom wedding of the year, Benidorm's razor-tongued, perma-tanned gran Madge glides down the aisle in her mobility scooter to wed wrinkly sunbed tycoon Mel.
But will Madge be hitched or ditched by thong-wearing Mel (played by Geoffrey Hutchings), who is described as Didsbury's answer to Julio Iglesias? Sheila Reid, who plays her, isn't telling - you'll have to watch tonight's final episode of the Bafta-nominated ITV series to find out. What the 70-year-old actress will reveal is that filming the side-splitting scenes actually inspired her to marry for real. .
The nation's first openly gay governor testified today that his estranged wife paid for their 2000 wedding but he doesn't know who paid for their honeymoon to Rome or how much it cost.
"Dina handled the wedding arrangements, and the wedding trip and to a large extent she handled the honeymoon," former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey testified on cross-examination, during his second day on the witness stand in his high-profile divorce.
John Post, a lawyer for Dina Matos McGreevey, peppered the former governor with questions on his income and assets today, as he tried to convince a judge to award his client alimony.
Matos McGreevey is asking the judge to base the payments, at least in part, on McGreevey's "marital conduct," including his alleged adulterous gay relationship.
June � a popular month for weddings � is just around the corner.
Will you be having an unusual wedding?
If so, share your story with Kathy Kirby, feature writer, at kkirby@muncie.gannett.com for an upcoming feature story in the Life section of The Star Press.
Please include your name, city and telephone number.
