Wedding with Egyptian Embellishments

We've all heard the saying: "Just follow the instructions!" If this groom had followed instructions when signing up for a math tutor he wouldn't have met Jaime, the love of his life. They felt something click between them at their very first tutorial, and four years later they took their vows and exchanged rings engraved with Egyptian hieroglyphics. Jaime has a deep fascination with ancient Egypt, so there were several references to Egypt in the ceremony. I loved the words that Jaime wrote in her vow to Jake: "In ancient Egypt it was believed that you could get into the afterlife only if your name was written and protected. I have written your name in my heart." Later everyone partook of a cake decorated with Egyptian hieroglyphics!

Photo by Meg Argo

www.customceremonies-in-the-heartland.com

Butterfly Wedding

Dustin and Jennifer's wedding on Oquaga Lake was just beautiful! They were married on the dock at the Chestnut Inn in Deposit on May 23, 2009. The bride was gorgeous and glowing, but Dustin's 5-year-old daughter, Destiny, was almost just as pretty. She played a very important part in the ceremony which included a sand ritual and a butterfly release. First, I poured the natural-colored sand to represent the marriage's foundation of unconditional love; then Dustin, Jen, and Destiny each poured a different color of sand into the vase to symbolize the blending of these three individuals into one harmonious family. Jen read her vow to Destiny, promising that she would always be present to help her learn and grow, and gave her a butterfly necklace. At the close of the ceremony it was Destiny's job to release the butterflies that symbolize new beginnings, freedom, and happiness. One butterfly just sat on Destiny's hand and she said delightedly: "It wants to stay with me!"

Lots of Laughs!

Photo by Gerry Raymonda

Rick and Chanda were married on April 25, 2009 at the Oneonta Holiday Inn. Rick is an avid bow hunter, and Chanda is becoming one, so I began their ceremony with these words: "Finding true love is like spotting a bobcat in the New York woods -- you can search for a very long time -- eventually you may find it, but then again you may not. Rick and Chanda are two of the lucky ones who found true love with each other." Rick and his groomsmen wore camoflauge vests under their jackets and the bridesmaids wore green and brown dresses that lent a "woodsy" feel to the ceremony even though it was held inside. We're probably laughing about Rick's nickname "Hot Job" in the photo above.

Interfaith Wedding

I pronounced Dan and Rachel husband and wife under a chuppah outside the Latourelle Resort in Ithaca, New York on October 19, 2008. It was a beautiful, but cool fall afternoon, so I was glad to see the bride and her attendants wore pretty shawls over their dresses. The interfaith service included a reading of 1st Corinthian 13 and the Seven Blessings that are traditional in a Jewish wedding. The service ended with a wine sharing and breaking of the glass. Nobody had remembered to put the wine out for the ceremony, so two waiters came out, each bearing a glass of wine, not realizing we only needed one for the ritual! The bride and groom sipped from the same cup, "symbolically affirming that throughout life they will experience both joy and sorrow, but always together."

"Love is the glue . . ."

Tanya and Alberto were married on October 11, 2008, eight years after their first meeting in NYC. The wedding took place at the Owego Treadway Inn's gazebo on a beautiful fall afternoon. One of its highlights was Alberto's mother reading First Corinthians 13 in Spanish. What a beautiful language!
This couple had been through a lot together during their eight years together, but Tanya says: "I usually feel closest to Alberto in the face of adversity. For example, we were both living in the City on September 11, 2001, and we really had to support each other through our feelings of shock and loss." That's why I quoted a Marydel Roszenfield poem at their wedding: "Love is the glue that makes us stick, that holds us together through thin and thick." The glue holding this couple together is so Super-glue thick, I just know their marriage will last for the rest of their lives!

Family Affair

Bruce and Amy's wedding on September 7, 2008 was a real family affair. Their niece, Sarah,sang the processional song, "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morissete. Best man and matron-of-honor were Bruce's son, Todd, and his wife, Erin. The ceremony included a wedding sand ritual in which Amy, Bruce, Todd, and Erin all poured sands of different colors into a monogrammed vase to symbolize the blending of their personalities into one harmonious family. Nephew, Nick, read a passage from "Love is Walking Hand in Hand" by Charles Schultz. The line: "Love is passing notes back and forth in school" was especially appropriate for this couple who met at work where they passed love notes to each other! Their wedding took place at Tipperary Hill, a beautiful spot for an outdoor ceremony.