Family

When the officiant is a friend or family member

We get it. There is a certain joy when a friend or family member stands before you and your beloved. In front of your loved ones. And you declare for the world that you want to marry each other. Naturally, there is a joy for the officiant-family member, too. The Justice of the Peace Association polled its members and asked what it was like for them, when they officiated their children, parents, friends or other family members.  Not one of our officiants regretted their choice to officiate for their loved ones. 67% said they were proud and honored to be […]

Holiday Weddings

Engaged! Now get married, over the holidays.

Holiday weddings are directly correlated with Engagement Season. That is the period between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air, and the holidays remind us how much we value family and being with the people most important to us. Specifically, capture those feelings during your wedding ceremony. That is, pick your special date and start planning! Let’s Get Married – Quick! Once you are engaged (Congratulations, by the way), the next decision is to decide when to get married. You could pick a date in the far-off future, of course. Or, soon! Like, this winter. Keep it simple […]

Wedding Planning with Kids

Wedding planning with kids in mind

If you have children – the under 18 kind – then when you get married, the kids are part of the package. Bringing two families together is at the heart of all marriage ceremonies. When there are children involved, especially if those kids are not of the union of the couple getting married, then there is special significance to the ceremony. Deciding how to include your children in the wedding ceremony can be fun, and something that you can do together. Venues Choose a location where the kids will feel comfortable. Naturally, their ages will influence your decision.  A backyard […]

Be You – Tradition be gone!

Your wedding ceremony is all about you and your partner. Making sure it reflects your vision is the most important.  It is your wedding, after all. So the rules are — There are no rules! Focus on what makes you happy. And then do it. Money Doing it your way may mean forgoing the financial benefit of someone else footing the bill. But, what if that generous contribution also means that you are stressed out and the day is not what you’ve envisioned? Or, even worse, it feels inauthentic. Well, it may be time to rethink the arrangement. “The Walk” […]

Small Wedding Trend

Sometimes, making do with less is more! Initially the coronavirus pandemic forced couples to rethink their wedding plans: live streaming the ceremony; nuptials outdoors no matter the weather; pared down guest lists. Of all of these wedding features, having fewer guests seems to be here to stay. What we’ve realized during this time is that small weddings keep us safe and so much more! When not trying to accommodate a large crowd, the newfound extras can be spent on what really matters to you. Small Wedding Benefits Recognizing all the good that comes from a micro-wedding isn’t so hard. For […]

Six Degrees of Separation

2020 Spring & Summer Weddings Even with these challenging times, your wedding can still be intimate and memorable. With beautiful green lawns, and flowers exploding with color, spring and summer offer a wonderful wedding backdrop. Things to keep in mind… With many businesses and town halls closed to the public, be sure to check out our tips on navigating marriages during the pandemic. This will help expedite the process. Location, Location, Location If you’re thinking about a spring or summer wedding, one of the best venues can be your own home. It’s easy to control social distancing and other safety necessities. In […]

Blending Blended Families

Modern families call for modern ceremonies.  Often times one or both partners have children from previous relationships. Every couple is unique and every ceremony should be written to accommodate their special circumstances. Do: Consider the children’s ages; Have fun and make it a family affair. Don’t: Make kids do something they are not comfortable with; Discount their feelings toward the other birth parent; Worry if plans don’t go as planned because young children will not cooperate; Be afraid to think outside the box and make your wedding your own. Here are a few examples of ways that have proven to […]

What Wedding Size is Right for You?

Image of large wedding party at outdoor wedding ceremony

Big venue or microwedding? Or, something in-between? Recognizing the pros and cons of different size weddings helps couples decide how they should proceed with their ceremony plan. It’s a balance. Many couples today want to move forward with their lives as a married couple as soon as possible. However, they also wish to have a wedding where they can celebrate their marriage with their loved ones. As a couple, they need to figure out what wedding size is best for them. Medium and Large Weddings Having a medium or large wedding creates opportunities for families to come together to strengthen […]

Incorporating Your Kids into the Ceremony

There are 4 million stepchildren in this country (US Census Bureau 2010). That represents a lot of blended families! If you are about to join the ranks, get a solid start by involving your kids in your ceremony. After all, the commitment you’ll be making is not only to your new spouse. It is also to the children in the new family you are creating. Your ceremony should reflect that. Words Readings: Our previous blog on Readings suggested using children’s books. They have the most insightful truths. Depending on the ages of your children, select an excerpt of a children’s […]

Family Matters

family matters blog post image of wedding seating

Weddings bring family together. Family members are happy for you and excited to celebrate this hallmark occasion. So what could possibly go wrong, right? Well, family dynamics are complicated, and bringing two or more families together for one important day can be intense. Planning the ceremony, even with well-intentioned family members giving conflicting advice, can bring added stress to the day. Solutions to Common Ceremony Dilemmas As Justices of the Peace, couples tell us about sensitive situations that worry them. We thought a discussion about some common concerns along with solutions would be helpful. We’ve enlisted Anne Ziff, a licensed […]

A Primer on the Wedding Processional

Wedding processionals can be confusing – who walks down the aisle when, and with whom? That alone is reason enough to schedule a rehearsal, especially if you have a large wedding party. The good news is that the order in which your party walks down the aisle is truly up to you. But if you lean toward the traditional, let’s take a look at how it would typically go. Before the wedding party walks down the aisle, the guests are ushered to their seats. Although the bride’s family traditionally sits on the left and groom’s on the right, many modern […]

Present in Spirit at Your Wedding

Remembering the deceased at your ceremoy

It’s the most important day of your life and all your loved ones are there to support you…almost. If people you love deeply have passed and cannot attend your wedding except in your heart, how can you recognize them in your ceremony? It’s a very personal decision, but you are not alone. Here are a few ways others have done it. Acknowledgment For some, simply naming loved ones in the introduction of the ceremony feels right. Calling attention to the surroundings, such as blue skies, warm sun, the love of family and friends, and then naming those who are here […]

Don’t Let Language be a Barrier

Bilingual ceremonies

Recently, I officiated the wedding of a bride from New Hampshire and a groom from Paris. He spoke English with a charming French accent. But his family, flying over for the festivities, did not. The couple requested a bilingual ceremony, but I do not speak a word of French. What was I going to do?These days, this isn’t an unusual dilemma. As our world grows smaller and more interconnected, cross-cultural weddings have become much more commonplace. These types of ceremonies serve not only to join the couple in marriage, but also to merge two cultures and languages. You can get […]