Lake Wedding

What could be more fun than a boat wedding on Goodyear Lake? How many celebrants get to spend their rehearsal hour out on a boat on a beautiful afternoon while the pilot practices getting the boat into the right position for the ceremony? This is what I got to do this past July when I officiated at the wedding of two water-lovers, Les and Holly.

On the wedding day the guests stood up on the tiered deck of Les's lake-front cottage while we processed down to the dock, onto the boat, and then out onto the water. There was just room on the boat for we three, the best man and maid-of-honor, and the pilot. I used a microphone so that those on the deck could hear me above the lake breeze. The ceremony was simple, without any rituals, but I think the boatride itself was a ritual, symbolic of this couple's love for water - both lake and ocean. Their first date was a walk on the ocean beach in Florida, and most of their time together is spent either in Florida or at the lake cottage. The bride and her daughter, the maid-of-honor, wore shell necklaces and shell belts, and the men wore white Hawaiian shirts. Even the wedding cake was decorated with white scallops!

My First Wedding

Just a few weeks after receiving my certification, I received a phone call from a young bride who wanted me to marry her and her beloved - that day! It would be a simple ceremony in their backyard - no attendants, no flowers, no rings, and no guests except for her parents. I told her that I really needed a little time to prepare the ceremony. We agreed to hold it the next day. In that time I was able to create a brief, but meaningful and joyful ceremony, the bride and groom bought rings and a white sundress for her, and the bride's family set up a ceremony and reception site at the American Legion, complete with flowers, balloons, and refreshments. About two dozen guests showed up for the wedding that almost wasn't!

I learned that the hastiness of the wedding was due to the fact that the Mexican groom's visa was about to expire. Never-the-less, it was apparent that this couple was very much in love, and all of the bride's family and friends were pleased with the match. The ceremony was simple, but I know they will always remember the vows they made to each other that day, in which they said: "I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward, for the rest of my life."