1. Be Creative. Don't think you are? Think again! Let's face it, if you've sustained a healthy relationship with each other, you've already figured out a number of creative solutions to problems. Be still and think about it. The ideas will flow. Talk to other recently married couples. If all else fails, get a group of friends together and brainstorm!
2. Incorporate your joint interests into your ceremony. Outdoor enthusiasts? Include a reading that speaks of nature. Share a passion for dancing? Tango up the aisle after you're "hitched".Add in an ethnic tradition!
3. Include your children. If this is not your first time down the aisle and you have kids who are old enough to participate, then by all means, make them part of the ceremony.
4. Choose an alternative location. Church weddings are not for everyone. Consider locations such as parks, museums, bed and breakfasts, even a private home. If size is a problem, keep you ceremony guest list small and invite the rest to a party later.
5. Feeling really brave? Throw a surprise wedding! Invite guests to a luncheon or dinner; promise them a surprise. When everyone arrives, announce that they've been gathered to witness your wedding vows! (Make sure you arrange for the officiant to be on the scene.) While this is very unorthodox, it's a whole lot of fun and takes the pre-wedding pressure off.
6. Consider a winter wedding--even outdoors. You can keep it brief, and winter can be such a beautiful time of the year. (This does not work if you have older guests.)
7. Pick a theme for your wedding. Go beyond simply choosing coordinated colors for your bridal party. Whether you love country western, have an affinity for butterflies or the work of William Shakespeare, revolve your ceremony around a single theme and people will talk about it for years.
8. Plan your ceremony around an untraditional holiday. Sure, Christmas weddings are beautiful, but how about a Halloween event where all the guests arrive in costume? St. Paddy's Day, complete with pale green dresses and shamrocks at every table. Groundhog Day? Well, we haven't seen that one yet, but if you do wed on this day, please share your creative ideas with us. We'll pass them on!
9. Use your ceremony to honor special people in your life. Have your maid of honor do a reading; hand roses to your mom and new mother-in-law as you walk down the aisle; ask Uncle Fred to offer your final blessing; include a prayer of thanks to your parents.
10. Do not expect a "perfect" ceremony. Children may cry; your bridesmaid's hair may be dyed blue; your grandmother may flub the reading. That's okay. Don't aim for perfection--aim for memorable.
11. You are allowed to have fun. Do not...I repeat DO NOT let anyone convince you that a stodgy, stuffy, stale wedding ceremony is for you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime day, so don't be afraid to bend the rules. Do what you like and have a blast!
Maureen Thomson has been a wedding officiant since 2001 and is the owner of Lyssabeth's Bay Area Wedding Officiants. This article may be reproduced in its entirety provided that authorship is credited to Maureen Thomson and a link from the recipients website is placed to www.MemorableCeremoniesBA.com.
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