Reflections from a Wedding Officiant
You know that it is your wedding! You are getting a lot of advice no doubt about what you should do in your wedding. And you may even be prone to asking people about what you should do, or what most people do. Couples ask me that often and I tell what many others do, but then remind them that it is their wedding and they should do the way they want to.
This is one of the best ways to make your wedding unique. Do it the way you want to. Do it the way that it most sense for you and as a result your wedding will be special and memorable. Here are some suggestions to help you think through making your wedding uniquely yours.
- If you are a big outdoor enthusiast, then consider an outdoor wedding location. Maybe your sister’s wedding and everybody you know had theirs inside. But it doesn’t matter. Maybe you can be the first outside and others will follow your lead.
- Do you have pet that is like part of the family? You could include Fido somehow. He could be the ring bearer. I wouldn’t suggest actually having the rings on the dog since with one sighting of squirrel could say good-bye to your rings.
- Consider writing your own vows. Not too many people go to the trouble to do that, and that’s one good reason for you to think about doing it. It isn’t the easiest thing to do (and the reason many don’t) but you can do it. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, but your heart-felt expressions of why you love this person and why you want to spend your life with them. People love that!
- Let your interests show through in the choice of your wedding location. I have already mentioned outdoor weddings for those that like being outside. Are you interested in history? Then look around to see what historical homes or other historical sites are available in your area for weddings. Like the water? I’ve done weddings on house boats and even in a bass boat once.
- What is your favorite season of the year? Some people actually love wintertime! So have a winter themed wedding. They are actually quite beautiful. Fall is a favorite time for many, but you can still add uniqueness in your choices of wedding décor and location.
I’m not one for being different just to be different. You want to be unique because you aren’t just like everybody else. You do want people to remember your wedding and have a good experience. So start thinking about who you are, what marriage means to you, and what you would like your wedding day to be like. And then go for it!
Note: Doing your wedding your way shouldn’t mean that you entirely overlook the feelings and interest of those in your family. A wedding is a family event and you want everyone to feel good about it. So do give thought to the feelings of others as you make your wedding decisions.
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