PERSONALIZING YOUR WEDDING CELEBRATION
At your wedding you give the greatest gift you can bestow on any person in this life. You will publicly make a commitment to walk through life's journey together.
All of this will happen in the presence of your family, relatives and loved ones. It represents the public inauguration of your life as a couple. Your wedding celebration should be precisely just that, a celebration of your love and new life as a couple.
Although all weddings encompass these universal truths, those truths find an intimate and unique expression in each couple. In our planning session I will assist you in creating your personal expression of these truths through your wedding celebration.
I have used a traditional format in the following outlines to provide a familiar “starting point” in your planning process. For example: “the father of the bride escorts her down the aisle.” You are not required to use the traditional format, feel free to make changes that reflect your values and circumstances.
At the bottom of this page there is an E-mail button that you may use to contact me so that we can set an appointment for your wedding planning session.
CATHOLIC WEDDING CEREMONY
TRADITIONAL ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
1) The Groom, groomsmen and priest stand in
front of the congregation.
2) Processional music begins.
3) Flower girls/ring bearers (if there are any)
process down the aisle.
4) Bridesmaids walk down the aisle and form a mirror image
to the groomsmen on the bride's side.
5) Music ends and New Music for the bride begins. All stand and face the entrance.
6) The bride enters accompanied by her father (or parents/other person) and walks down the aisle towards the Groom.
7) Upon reaching the Groom, the father of the bride lifts her veil and gives his daughter a kiss on the cheek. He then shakes the Groom's hand. The father then sits down, the bride and groom face the priest.
CONTEMPORARY ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
1)The Groom and priest stand in front of the congregation.
2) Processional music begins.
3) Flower girls/ring bearers (if there are any) process down
the aisle.
4) Bridesmaids escorted by groomsmen walk down the
aisle together. Upon reaching the front they separate;
the groomsmen form a line facing the entrance on the
right side, while the bridesmaids form line facing the entrance on the left side.
5) Music ends and New Music for the bride begins. All stand and face the entrance.
6) The bride enters accompanied by her father (or parents/other person) and walks down the aisle towards the Groom.
7) Upon reaching the Groom, the father of the bride lifts her veil and gives his daughter a kiss on the cheek. He then shakes the Groom's hand. The father then sits down, the bride and groom face the priest.
FAMILY ENTRANCE PROCESSION :
1) The priest stand in front of the congregation and the processional music begins.
2) Flower girls/ring bearers (if there are any) process down the aisle.
3 ) Members of the Wedding Party walk down the aisle together. Upon reaching the front they separate; half form a line facing the entrance on the right side, while the other half form a line facing the entrance on the left side.
4) Music ends and New Music for the couple and their parents begins. Congregation stands and all face the entrance.
5) The first fiancé/fiancée enters accompanied by parents/other family members and walks down the aisle towards the priest and wedding party. Upon reaching the front they turn and face the entrance.
6) The second fiancé/fiancée enters accompanied by parents/other family members and walks down the aisle towards the priest and wedding party. Upon reaching the front in-laws embrace each other, they then embrace their child/family member. Parents/family members then present the couple to each other.
7) The couple take each other’s arm walk forward towards the priest while parents/family members walk to their reserved seats.
WEDDING SERVICE AFTER ENTRANCE PROCESSION
8) Opening prayer, readings from Scripture: The first letter of
Saint Paul to the Corinthians [1 Cor. 13: 4-8]; and, the
Gospel according to Saint John [John 15: 12-16] followed
by a sermon on love & marriage.
9) Priest asks the couple to state their intentions:
"Have you come here freely, etc" the couple responds "Yes."
10) Exchange of marriage vows. "Do you take "X" to be your lawful spouse, for better or for worse, etc" After the exchange of vows there is an exchange of rings.
11) Cultural Option: Unity candle is lit by the newly married couple (optional).
12) Cultural Option: ("Lasso") Veil and Cord imposed on the newly married couple (optional).
13) Cultural Option: ("Arras") Coins exchanged by the newly married couple (optional).
14) Cultural Option: ("Libro y rosario") Bible and Rosary exchanged by the newly married couple (optional).
15) The Lord's Prayer (Our Father) followed by a special nuptial blessing for the newly married couple. An optional Communion Service, or the full Nuptial Mass, may be added at this point. PLEASE NOTE: this will add 30 minutes to the length of the wedding ceremony.
16) Cultural Option: (Rose Ceremony) the newly married couple present a rose to their parents (optional).
17) Closing prayer by priest.
18) Final blessing of congregation by priest.
19) Introduction of the newly married couple by priest "It is my pleasure to present…"
20) Music begins. Newly married couple walk down the aisle followed by bridesmaids & groomsmen.
All of this takes approximately 35 minutes
The following “Contemporary Wedding Ceremony” is offered as a “blank canvas” for couples of different faiths/beliefs. Since it is religion neutral it serves as a starting point for creating your unique wedding celebration.
Practical compassion is at the core of all religions and ethical systems. Although compassion/love can be expressed intellectually, it is only fully understood when it is extended to another. Focusing on this central value will assist you, not only in planning your wedding but, in building your shared life as a couple.
I encourage you and your fiancé/fiancée to select those texts and traditions from your faith/beliefs and culture that you hold dear. Blend these into this basic outline to create a wedding that celebrates and honors both of you as a loving and unique couple.
You may discover that the process is more significant than the product. This is true, because you are constantly developing, both as individuals and as a couple. Part of the attraction and challenge of a living relationship is learning about each other and coming to a greater understanding of love. Although you know each other, you are always discovering something new about each other and about yourself through your shared lives.
On the occasion of future anniversaries together you will look back and see a pure golden thread; of love, respect and gratitude, that runs as a constant through your lives together.
CONTEMPORARY WEDDING CEREMONY
TRADITIONAL ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
1) The Groom, groomsmen and officiant stand in front of
the congregation.
2) Processional music begins.
3) Flower girls/ring bearers (if there are any) process
down the aisle.
4) Bridesmaids walk down the aisle and form a mirror image to the groomsmen on the bride's side.
5) Music ends and New Music for the bride begins. All stand and face the entrance.
6) The bride enters accompanied by her father (or parents/other person) and walks down the aisle towards the Groom.
7) Upon reaching the Groom, the father of the bride lifts her veil and gives his daughter a kiss on the cheek. He then shakes the Groom's hand. The father then sits down, the bride and groom face the officiant.
CONTEMPORARY ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
1)The Groom and officiant stand in front
of the congregation.
2) Processional music begins.
3) Flower girls/ring bearers (if there are any)
process down the aisle.
4) Bridesmaids escorted by groomsmen walk down the aisle together. Upon reaching the front they separate; the groomsmen form a line facing the entrance on the right side, while the bridesmaids form a line facing the entrance on the left side.
5) Music ends and New Music for the bride begins. All stand and face the entrance.
6) The bride enters accompanied by her father (or parents/other person) and walks down the aisle towards the Groom.
7) Upon reaching the Groom, the father of the bride lifts her veil and gives his daughter a kiss on the cheek. He then shakes the Groom's hand. The father then sits down, the bride and groom face the officiant.
FAMILY ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
1) The officiant stands in front of the congregation and the processional music begins.
2) Flower girls/ring bearers (if there are any) process down the aisle.
3 ) Members of the Wedding Party walk down the aisle together. Upon reaching the front they separate; half form a line facing the entrance on the right side, while the other half form a line facing the entrance on the left side.
4) Music ends and New Music for the couple and their parents begins. Congregation stands and all face the entrance.
5) The first fiancé/fiancée enters accompanied by parents/other family members and walks down the aisle towards the priest and wedding party. Upon reaching the front they turn and face the entrance.
6) The second fiancé/fiancée enters accompanied by parents/other family members and walks down the aisle towards the priest and wedding party. Upon reaching the front in-laws embrace each other, they then embrace their child/family member. Parents/family members then present their children to each other.
7) The couple take each other’s arm walk forward towards the officiant while parents/family members walk to their reserved seats.
WEDDING SERVICE AFTER ENTRANCE PROCESSION
8) Reading of a text/poem selected by couple followed by
commentary on love & marriage.
9) Officiant asks the couple to state their intentions.
"Have you come here freely, etc" bride and groom respond: "Yes."
10) Marriage vows are exchanged:
"Do you take "X" to be your lawful spouse,
for better or for worse, etc."
After the exchange of vows there is an exchange of rings.
11) Unity candle is lit by the newly married couple (optional).
12) Newly married couple express special heartfelt thanks to their parents (optional).
13) Introduction of the newly married couple by officiant,"It is my pleasure to present…"
14) Music begins. The newly married couple walks down the aisle followed by bridesmaids & groomsmen.
All of this takes approximately 25 minutes
Our First Step: Let's Get Together to Plan Your Wedding
To schedule your planning session, please use the
"Email Me" button below and please let me know:
Name of your fiancé/fiancée:
Telephone:
What day of the week is most convenient for you both?
Are mornings, afternoons or evenings the best time of day for the three of us to meet?
I will contact you and we'll set up a date and time for us to get together, get to know each other and plan your wedding.
You may also telephone me at: (760) 799-1685
"Accept this Ring as a symbol of My Love and Fidelity"
I am providing two general wedding outlines, below on this page, for you to begin your planning process. Please view these as possible starting points and not as “finished/final” weddings. When we meet we will personalize your wedding celebration. I have also had the pleasure of co-officiating with Rabbis and Ministers. I will be happy to work with your fiancé/fiancée's clergy to create a wedding celebration that reflects and honors both of your beliefs.
