Comments on: Ask Abby http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/ A wedding blog for the style obsessed bride. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:08:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kena http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16529 Kena Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:27:59 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16529 The original touches in our ceremony were: - we did a ring warming - we asked my husband's grand-mother, who's been happily married twice, to share her advice about marriage (she wrote the sweetest little speech) - instead of formal vows, we gave each other a declaration of love. It took the form of a short speech recalling important moments of our life together, and the reasons why we chose to unite our lives (we each wrote our sections separately so it would be a surprise... I cried all the way through mine :) ) Then we had the usual "do you take so and so to be your wife/husband". We also had readings (Pablo Neruda wrote gorgeous love poems that are just perfect for weddings), and music by friends during the signing of the registry. The original touches in our ceremony were:

- we did a ring warming

- we asked my husband’s grand-mother, who’s been happily married twice, to share her advice about marriage (she wrote the sweetest little speech)

- instead of formal vows, we gave each other a declaration of love. It took the form of a short speech recalling important moments of our life together, and the reasons why we chose to unite our lives (we each wrote our sections separately so it would be a surprise… I cried all the way through mine :) ) Then we had the usual “do you take so and so to be your wife/husband”.

We also had readings (Pablo Neruda wrote gorgeous love poems that are just perfect for weddings), and music by friends during the signing of the registry.

]]> By: Alison http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16528 Alison Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:45:30 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16528 Writing letters to your parents and having siblings or friends read them out loud to your parents is something so touching and so special. I've been to two weddings where this happened and it was both warm and endearing. Since you have been together for 8 years each of you could address both sets of parents in your letters. You could also ask each guest to bring a flower or another symbol of their support and love, and have a portion of the ceremony dedicated to them presenting those small tokens to you. Best to you whatever you choose. :) Writing letters to your parents and having siblings or friends read them out loud to your parents is something so touching and so special. I’ve been to two weddings where this happened and it was both warm and endearing. Since you have been together for 8 years each of you could address both sets of parents in your letters.

You could also ask each guest to bring a flower or another symbol of their support and love, and have a portion of the ceremony dedicated to them presenting those small tokens to you. Best to you whatever you choose. :)

]]> By: Abbie in CO http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16527 Abbie in CO Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:49:05 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16527 A friend will be officiating at our ceremony next year, too. Right now, we've been on the lookout for readings that resonate with us. A friend will be officiating at our ceremony next year, too. Right now, we’ve been on the lookout for readings that resonate with us.

]]> By: Heather http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16526 Heather Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:43:19 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16526 For our January wedding, we asked a few family members who were comfortable speaking to choose a poem or verse which reminded them of us or moved them. My college aged brother read the Apache Wedding Blessing - which I orginally thought was trite & overdone. Standing there though, it was the most perfect selection. My father-in-law wrote a short story about growing older, watching his son become a man and the beauty of family. It was touching and immensely moving. I was surprised to receive so many comments (mostly from our male guests) on how much they loved the ceremony! (AND how many of these old, grown up fraternity types were crying during the readings!!!) Best of luck! For our January wedding, we asked a few family members who were comfortable speaking to choose a poem or verse which reminded them of us or moved them. My college aged brother read the Apache Wedding Blessing – which I orginally thought was trite & overdone. Standing there though, it was the most perfect selection. My father-in-law wrote a short story about growing older, watching his son become a man and the beauty of family. It was touching and immensely moving. I was surprised to receive so many comments (mostly from our male guests) on how much they loved the ceremony! (AND how many of these old, grown up fraternity types were crying during the readings!!!) Best of luck!

]]> By: Sherri Kardell http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16525 Sherri Kardell Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:42:22 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16525 One cerampny idea I really love is to have the seating for your guests in the round so that you are incircled by all the people you love. Another idea I really like is for each guest to choose one word each as a wedding blessing as you go around the circle. For example: love, passion, compassion etc. One cerampny idea I really love is to have the seating for your guests in the round so that you are incircled by all the people you love. Another idea I really like is for each guest to choose one word each as a wedding blessing as you go around the circle. For example: love, passion, compassion etc.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16524 Jessica Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:16:37 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16524 We did the exact same thing. I wrote our ceremony, using different ideas I had collected on the knot. We had a welcome, an affirmation of intent (the I do's), the vows, exchange of rings, then an interlude (we just weren't into the unity candle/rose ceremony/etc. idea), a blessing, and the pronouncement of marriage. We aren't particularly religious, so writing the ceremony allowed us to put our personal spirituality in it. And for songs, we used "Silver & Gold", "Calico Skies", "Grow Old With Me", and "All You Need Is Love". I can't find my ceremony wording on this computer, but I can get it if anyone wants specifics. We did the exact same thing. I wrote our ceremony, using different ideas I had collected on the knot. We had a welcome, an affirmation of intent (the I do’s), the vows, exchange of rings, then an interlude (we just weren’t into the unity candle/rose ceremony/etc. idea), a blessing, and the pronouncement of marriage. We aren’t particularly religious, so writing the ceremony allowed us to put our personal spirituality in it. And for songs, we used “Silver & Gold”, “Calico Skies”, “Grow Old With Me”, and “All You Need Is Love”. I can’t find my ceremony wording on this computer, but I can get it if anyone wants specifics.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16523 Sarah Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:15:59 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16523 An interesting idea that I remember reading somewhere was to have some of the couples in the audience stand and offer their advice for a happy marriage in the form of vows (i.e Promise to say 'I love you' every morning. Promise to listen even when you're angry). When you say your actually vows, you are then committing not only to honor and cherish but to doing all the little things your family has found to work. It would make your vows incredible personal and naturally unique. This, coupled with any combination of the great ideas proposed in this thread, would create a personal and meaningful ceremony An interesting idea that I remember reading somewhere was to have some of the couples in the audience stand and offer their advice for a happy marriage in the form of vows (i.e Promise to say ‘I love you’ every morning. Promise to listen even when you’re angry). When you say your actually vows, you are then committing not only to honor and cherish but to doing all the little things your family has found to work. It would make your vows incredible personal and naturally unique. This, coupled with any combination of the great ideas proposed in this thread, would create a personal and meaningful ceremony

]]> By: Katie http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16522 Katie Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:12:25 +0000 http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/06/27/ask-abby/#comment-16522 Another cool, unique thing that you could do, is to have some sort of "drop" at the ring exchange, or your pronouncement. If you are standing underneath an arch, or another structure, you could rig it so that petals, leaves, confetti, balloons, or something fitting with your theme could drop down upon you. Guests love to see something a little different, and it will make for a beautiful and fun photo-op! Another cool, unique thing that you could do, is to have some sort of “drop” at the ring exchange, or your pronouncement. If you are standing underneath an arch, or another structure, you could rig it so that petals, leaves, confetti, balloons, or something fitting with your theme could drop down upon you. Guests love to see something a little different, and it will make for a beautiful and fun photo-op!

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