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Wedding Ceremony
The civil ceremony requires only the consent between the parts to be official.
All the other parts of the wedding ceremony can be personalized to reflect your preferences, traditions and culture.
You may add wedding enhancements ceremonies (or rituals) that I have listed or create your own.
Language (one, bilingual or mixed)
Your ceremony may be officiated in one language or more. It means that you may select to have all in one language, in two languages or have only parts of the ceremony in two languages. I am also open to co-celebrants, for languagues that I am not fluent. It works very well and it is very special for the couple and the guests.
Tone (Romantic ,Spiritual or mixed)
Couples opt for civil ceremonies for many different reasons. Our ceremony gives the couple the opportunity to celebrate with a more romantic ceremony or include blessings and prayers. It is very accommodating for couples of different faiths or culture.
Length
Our civil ceremonies run from 15-25 minutes in average.
Remembrance
Short opening that may include relatives or friends that have passed or that could not be there.
Readings (Romantic or Spiritual)
You may select a bible passage, poem or a short reading. For couples of different faiths you may select a nutral reading or one from each of your faiths. It gives the opportunity to honor each other's diversity.
Vows
You may write your own vows and recite to each other. Write your own vows and I will read and you repeat after me. Repeat after me, and you many choose from many samples we have.
Exchange of Rings
You may write your own and recite as you place the ring on your spouse’s finger. Repeat after me, and you may choose from many samples we have.
Rituals (a few suggestions)
Box, Wine and love letters.
It is a time capsule. The couple is asked to find a wooden box, a bottle of wine and they are asked to write a letter to one another, expressing their thoughts about the good qualities that they found in their partner and the reasons of falling in love. The box is sealed to be open on their 5th anniversary. They close or nail shut the box during the ceremony.
Breaking of the glass
Breaking of the glass at the end of the wedding ceremony is usually reserved for Jewish ceremonies. It is a beautiful ending as it remind us of two very important aspects of a marriage: The irrevocable act – just a permanent as the breaking of the glass as well as the frailty of marriage.
Flower Ceremony
Each guest is invited to place a flower on a central vase to create a garden of love
Handfasting Ceremony
The ancient Celts tied the hands of the bride and groom as part of a marriage contract. The officiant loosely binds the hands of the bride and groom together.
Honoring the Parents or Mothers
A brief reading is done and then the bride and/groom present their mothers usually with a flower. Some couples surprise their parents and it is very well accepted.
Including children
There are many ways to include children to the ceremony. Bride and groom may choose to affirm their love and devotion to the children as they start a new family or use the “New beginning medallions” with a small Poem for the little ones.
Jumping of the broom.
There are many different version of this ritual, which involves jumping over the Broom. It symbolizes sweeping away of the old and welcoming the new .
and others.
Rose Ceremony
It is also an expression of union and love the exchange of a rose between the bride and groom. The couple may also incorporate the guests by receiving a rose from each guest.
Unity Candle Ceremony
It lasts about 3-4 minutes – You will need to taper candles and 1 larger candle. Consists of the lighting of one candle from two separate candles held by the bride and the groom. This ceremony symbolizes the union of two lives into one.
It symbolizes the new family that is being created. You may designate the mothers or any other person, one representing the bride and the other representing the groom to hand you the lighten candle. You may include your children – mom’s kids light their side and the same for dad. You may keep the middle candle and re-light each year of their anniversary.
Unit Sand Ceremony –
It lasts about 3-4 minutes and just the candle ceremony, describes the joining of two lives together. It involves two containers of sand, usually of different colors, one representing the life of the bride and the other representing the life of the groom. Together they will pour into a third container, which they later use as a keepsake. As they pour their respective sands into a larger container, it symbolizes their becoming “one”. It works very well with family with children.
Wine or Water Ceremony
The same concept as the unity as the couple share wine or water from the same cup the officiant says a blessing.
or one created by you.
Pronouncement
The Kiss
Announcement.