Question: My fiancee and I are not religious. Can we have a ceremony without religion?
Answer: Absolutely! I have worked with several couples who did not want a religious ceremony. We were able to create meaningful, personal ceremonies in every instance.
Recently, I married a couple who enjoyed a lovely ceremony (one of my favorites!) that was completely secular. I shared some funny anecdotes about how they met (a great story that had everyone in stitches) and how their relationship blossomed into love. They also participated in a Tasting Ritual, which none of their guests had ever seen before. After the ceremony, they received many positive comments. A few guests told the bride that theirs was the best ceremony they had ever witnessed.
So, don't worry that your ceremony will seem like something's missing. There are many rituals that are non-religious, so you have many, many options. Look into handfasting, wine sharing, exchanging leis or garlands.... be creative!
Most importantly, your ceremony should be a reflection of you. If you don't want a religious wedding, there is no reason you can't have an amazing, sacred ceremony - minus the religion.
Ben & Jerry's changed the name of Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby for this month in celebration of Vermont legalizing gay marriage. Although I'm disappointed that it will only be sold in Vermont, I think it's a wonderful expression of support - and celebration!
Now, if only I had a carton of Hubby Hubby to display next to my "Americone Dream." Big sigh.
When the Big Day finally arrives, even the most calm and collected people can get a bit nervous. I have seen this lead to a few (unintentionally) memorable moments during the ceremony! But, none have been quite like this. Notice the bride's reaction when the groom says "waffly wedded."
Question: I never heard of a Celebrant until recently. Why should I hire a Celebrant for my wedding?
Answer: A Celebrant is an professional who works with couples to create a personalized ceremony that will reflect you and will represent your unique love story.
When asked how I'm different from a minister or a judge, I explain that a minister is an expert in his or her particular faith; a judge is an expert in the law; and a Celebrant is an expert in creating ceremonies and rituals. I was trained and certified by The Celebrant Foundation and Institute, of which I remain a member.
As for the details - a Celebrant will give you ownership. You will have complete authority over what is said and done during your ceremony. There are no strict rules to which you must adhere, so with a Celebrant, no one will tell you that you must do or say certain things - it's all up to you. If you have ideas for your wedding day (no matter how off-beat or non-traditional they may be) a Celebrant can help you make it happen!
In short, a Celebrant will help you make your wedding ceremony exactly the way YOU want it!
I have noticed something disturbing and wanted to bring it to your attention.
Sleeves have disappeared. It's true. But don't be alarmed - this phenomenon appears to be limited to wedding gowns.
Seriously - just about every wedding gown I've seen in the past year has been sleeveless. So, where the heck did the sleeves go?
Well, I went on a mission to find out - and to see if wedding dresses with sleeves even exist. It wasn't easy. I googled "long sleeve wedding dress" and "sleeve wedding dress" and tried other similar searches. Very often the dresses that showed up were (you guessed it!) sleeveless. One of the searches even resulted in my finding babydoll pajamas. I'm still trying to figure that one out.
But, I searched on and did ultimately find some lovely dresses.
So, for you brides out there who aren't as confident as Michelle Obama and may want to cover those upper arms - there is hope! It may take a bit of work, but your dress is out there.
Here are two of my favorites:
The one on the left, with the long jacket, is from ebay. The smoky-colored dress is by Jovani and listed as a bridesmaid dress, but I think it would be gorgeous for a bride.
As much as I try to dislike Martha Stewart, I can't help but love her fabulous cupcakes.
