Oh The Drama!!

I was at a wedding today with a great group of people. It's possible that they were all actors, or comedians/comediennes, or maybe they were just people that appreciated drama? Either way, it was a great ceremony because of them. It was a short ceremony but what was included were

DRAMATIC READINGS from favorite movies. The readers memorized, ad-libbed and recited with such zest that the guests could not help but applaud after each one!!

Meet Joe Black"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived."
When Harry Met Sally
"I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

So what's your favorite movie? You can find romantic, eloquent scenes in nearly any movie, no kidding.

Somewhere In Time
"The man of my dreams has almost faded now. The one I have created in my mind. The sort of man each woman dreams of in the deepest and most secret reaches of her heart. I can almost see him now before me. What would I say to him, if he were really here? Forgive me, I have never known this feeling. I've lived without it all my life. Is it any wonder, then, that I fail to recognize you? You-- who brought it to me for the first time. Is there any way I can tell you how my life has changed? Any way at all to let you know what sweetness you have given me? There is so much to say...I cannot find the words. Except for these-- I love you! Such would I say to him, if he were really here."

Captain Corelli's Mandolin"When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots are become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part."and YES, even...
Dracula!"I have crossed oceans of time to find you." (This quote can easily be the opening line of a ceremony or the beginning of a marriage address.)

If it feels right and it fits your situation, use it! More to come on Song Lyrics as readings...

Spring has Sprung!!

Well no not really but the weather today has me thinking of Spring Weddings. I've always loved spring, it's my birthday season and the only season that gives you "Spring Fever" which is the best!!! That feeling of everything being new and fresh with endless possibilities. THAT feeling should be in a Spring Ceremony!

Let's take it from the top...
The Music.
Something pretty and light, something with birds singing in the background. Why not play "Loving You" for your processional? Loving youuuuuuuuu is easy cause' you're beautiful and everything that I doooooooooo is filled with loving youuuu...la la la la la, la la la la la, etc.
The Flowers!
Spring colors, purple Lilacs, yellow or white Daffodils, Orchids (white ones can be dyed any color), lavender Hyacinths and blue Iris's! (that sounds like the Lucky Charms commercial!) Have them thrown together with a big ribbon for a wild flower look...so pretty!! Why not add some teeny-tiny birds and butterflies (faux of course) to your bouquet?
The Words!
The Spring is when everything blossoms. Life on earth is re-born, so too is your marriage new. You may have been together for 14 years, but on the day of your wedding you step into a fuller and more mystical expression of Love, your UNIQUE marriage. Why not ask your officiant to write something special about just that. Your marriage as something that has never existed before. Ask them to use Spring as a jumping board for your ceremony, it'll bring everything together nicely.

And this is just a little opinion from me...YELLOW! I'm feeling yellow lately. I'm not jaundiced or anything, I love yellow! Any shade, I think it's happy and pretty and bright. Just sayin'. I thought of getting a yellow robe but then I thought better of it. I might end up looking like a big, baby chick. So I'm ordering a yellow stole (that's the thing that looks like a wide ribbon that ministers wear around thier necks) in case anyone has a color scheme to match. Oh Please Do!!

Have I Got a Venue for You!!!

Ok, hold onto your hats...or tiara or veils, etc. 
I have found THE Ceremony Venue...it's gorgeous, it's famous and best of all...
IT'S FREE!!!!!!! FREE!!!!!!!! FREE!!!!!!!!!

The Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg. 

If you're a Pennsylvania resident, it is free for your ceremony use.  All they ask is that you rent chairs for your guests and I think at local rental places, they're about $1 each.  You don't need any decoration because the place itself is breathtaking.  I found one picture online, but I'm looking and asking around for more so you can see it!

For more information contact Walter George through the Capitol Events office.

The number is 717-705-7775.

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Your Official Officiant

I've been thinking about officiants.  I want to tell you about the officiant I hired years ago when I got married (before I was an Interfaith Minister).  I was living in Pennsylvania and planning my wedding in New York.  I found an officiant in the Yellow Pages. The WHAT you say? The Yellow Pages. It was a magical book that had all different businesses listed in it.  This was wayyyy before the web you kids are so crazy about. : )
So I find this guy in the Yellow Pages.  I call him. He gives me a price and asks if I want to book him. I say yes because really, what choice did I have? (He was the only one listed that would come to Staten Island!) Nobody wants to go to Staten Island, but that's another story. He tells me he doesn't do rehearsals, I say OK.  I send him a check and don't see or talk to him until the day of my wedding.  He showed up in a ripped black robe that my sister-in-law had to put together with safety pins.  He had a cookie cutter wedding ceremony and he commented on my boobies. That's right.  My boobies. 

What I'm trying to tell you is...your officiant is important!!! 

Ask your friends for referrals.  Look online and pay attention to reviews! Meet your officiant.  If you are out of state or country, talk on the phone. Talk on the phone at least twice.  Ask lots of questions. Go with your gut.  If something feels awkward, its probably not a "love" connection. 

Know what you're looking for in an officiant.  Do you want a strictly traditional ceremony? Then maybe versatility isn't so important.  Do you want to have a Christian or Pagan or Jewish ceremony? Then you'll want to make sure they are experienced in those religions or at least willing to research and "perform" it for you.  Do you want something different, and unique? Then you'll want someone creative and experienced with writing. Ask for samples.

The ceremony is most likely the part of the day that will make you nervous.  At times like that it's nice to have a friend who might just make a goofy face when no one is looking...or someone whose smile will help you to relax. Take your time and when you finally decide who your Official Officiant will be, if it's right, he or she will be just as excited as you are! Yay!

Peace, UNITY, Love...and havin' fun...

James Brown knew what weddings are all about!

Let's concentrate on the Unity for now.  Unity Ceremonies to be exact. The ceremonies within your ceremony.  Let's see, there is the Unity Candle Ceremony, Unity Sand Ceremony, Unity Wine Ceremony, Unity Water Ceremony, Unity Bread Ceremony and the list goes on and on!! While any of these are sweet, why not create your own?!?! Where do you think they all came from? From someones imagination of course, so who's to say you can't put your own spin on a Unity Ceremony.  I officiated for a couple that met while playing softball.....so we had a Softball Bat Unity Ceremony! They had two little bats made and placed them on a plaque while I spoke about bringing the teams (families) together and home runs and all that fun stuff. 

On a more "serious" note, the father of a groom I officiated for is a Steel Artist so the couple created two halves of a steel heart and joined the pieces together during the ceremony. It went a little something like this...HIT IT!

Unity Ceremony

I'd like to read you a poem by Joseph Wardy

Steel as in firmness... Demonstrates commitment of convictions.

Steel as in heart... Your not intimidated by the practice of tenderness.

Steel as in mind... you have toughness balanced with flexibility.

If you look up the definition of steel in the dictionary, you will learn that it is Iron made stronger by mixing it with other substances, it's much like a marriage where one partner is made stronger by the addition of the other partner's love.

I bring this up because Rob and Jessica have created something from steel to use in their ceremony today.  I'd like to ask their mother's to bring their respective children the piece that they have fashioned from steel.  Now Rob and Jessica will join these pieces together as a symbol of their coming together today.  After the ceremony they will be welding it together like the melting together of parts of themselves.

(and the heart was joined together and placed on the altar).

You can make a Unity Ceremony out of anything! A shared hobby or occupation maybe? Just use your imagination and make your ceremony your own!

Shout out to my first follower!!! Hollerrrr!!