Wedding Ceremony Archives

Wedding Ceremony

Be You – Tradition be gone!

Posted on September 30, 2021 | Author Loretta Jay

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” […]

Marriage Ceremony Repeat

Posted on April 8, 2021 | Author Loretta Jay

Celebrations During the past year wedding ceremonies changed. It wasn’t a choice – COVID forced couples to reckon with what is most important. The answer is simple. Love. Hopefully you followed our advice to postpone the mega party and have two wedding celebrations: an intimate ceremony first, and then a larger affair later. Happily, later is almost here! As our communities receive vaccinations and it becomes safer to gather, celebrating with loved ones is becoming a reality. The Ceremony Therefore, the next question is, How to handle the ceremony? There are many ways to think about this. Of course, one option is to skip […]

Wedding Ceremonies that Unite and Heal

Posted on January 8, 2021 | Author Loretta Jay

One of the most significant parts of planning your wedding ceremony is determining what is said. You can write your own vows or ask your Justice of the Peace (or notary) to do so. Or, do it together! Professional marriage officiants are adept at talking with couples to elicit just the right information to be incorporated into the ceremony and achieve your vision. If you are struggling, they’re available to help you find your voice and create messaging that is all you! Let the Sun Shine In After a year of hardship and loss, consider your ceremony and its significance. […]

You’re Engaged! Now What?

Posted on January 3, 2021 | Author Loretta Jay

Engagement season is between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, with most happening during the month of December. While this year was unlike any other, when it comes to couples falling in love and planning their lives together, we expect the engagement trend to continue! If this is you, Congratulations! On one hand, it is an exciting time! On the other hand, it can also be a bit overwhelming. We can help! What to Do There are so many decisions to make and being in the midst of a pandemic complicates things. Your first decision is how soon to tie-the-knot. Putting off […]

Legal Marriage vs Marriage Ceremony

Posted on November 23, 2020 | Author Loretta Jay

A common confusion when getting married is the distinction between the ceremony and the legal act of marrying. When we think of weddings, we tend to think of the legal and the ceremonial as being intertwined and integral to each other. While this is typically the case, it doesn’t have to be. Just the Paperwork Each state has very specific laws about who may officiate a marriage. There are also other technical details associated with the marriage license process. Similarly, each state determines what the officiant and couple need to say – or more accurately, what they don’t need to […]

I Do. Again and Again!

Posted on September 7, 2020 | Author Sharon Curole

Are you a bride or groom having to choose whether to move forward with your wedding plans? Have you had to postpone and reconfigure? If your answer is Yes, you’re not alone. Two Ceremonies Pandemic or not, couples have been celebrating their love and commitment more than once for a long time! In 1983, I got married in California. That is where I lived at the time. However, most of my family and friends were in New York. Want to know what we did? We married twice! Two ceremonies, one on each coast. Double the fun, double the gifts, double […]

Spontaneous Weddings

Posted on August 2, 2020 | Author Heidi C. Keyes

I absolutely love being spontaneous! And, an added bonus, it takes the edge off of planning for months and months for an extravagant wedding. As a Justice of the Peace I have been asked to officiate many small, intimate ceremonies, especially during COVID. Many couples need to switch gears and do not want to wait. Frequently, it is a last minute decision. They prefer to keep their original date, and have the ceremony at an uncrowded, open space location. The trick is to be flexible. You are with your love, so just make sure it’s a legal ceremony (don’t forget […]

Love Prevails: Getting Married in the Age of the Coronavirus

Posted on March 17, 2020 | Author Loretta Jay

Social Distancing None of us has experienced what our country, and the world, are facing right now. Fear and anxiety are natural emotions. Add a wedding plan into the mix, and it is understandable if emotions are high. Many couples are postponing their mega-celebration or opting for an intimate ceremony outdoors. For others, the venues have taken the initiative and closed shop, taking the decision-making out of the couples’ hands. For all, these are trying times, when thoughts about the common good must prevail over our personal desires. Safety First First and foremost is safety. At the beginning of the […]

We’re Getting Married. Surprise!

Posted on March 13, 2020 | Author Lisa Olech

I love surprises, don’t you? As a Justice of the Peace, I’m constantly surprised by some of the unique locations couple choose, unusual requests, last minute elopements. Recently, I’ve had more than a few true, surprise weddings. I was asked to officiate a surprise wedding last fall where the couple was throwing an engagement party for their family and friends. Instead, surprise, it was really their wedding in disguise. I was asked to pretend to be the aunt of a friend of theirs so the Mother of the Groom wouldn’t get suspicious! The couple had just returned from a cross-country […]

Blending Blended Families

Posted on February 11, 2020 | Author Karen Mowad

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?

Posted on January 26, 2020 | Author Carmen George

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 […]

Wedding Canopies

Posted on November 10, 2019 | Author Loretta Jay

Canopies are popular for secular wedding ceremonies. Saying vows under a canopy is a well-loved tradition, embraced by both secular and religious ceremonies. Using some type of a cover over the nuptials provides a beautiful focal point for the ceremony, and creates an opportunity to personalize the space. Canopies provide a wonderful base for floral decorations. Pick the blooms that mean the most to you, and coordinate them with the rest of your wedding theme. Whether it is symbolism or beauty, let your creativity take over the decor that suits you. Chuppas In the Jewish tradition, the chuppa (or huppah) provides a […]

Have Your Cake And Eat It Too!

Posted on June 29, 2019 | Author Loretta Jay

So, you are thinking of having a friend or family member officiate your wedding. That is, well, okaaaay. Kinda. Sort-of. Maybe? If you are determined to go down this path, we encourage you to hire a professional to make sure that at the end of your ceremony your marriage is legal. Yes, that is right. Legal. This is because up to 90% of amateur officiants make serious mistakes that can jeopardize health insurance, buying a home, or dare we say – divorce settlements. In the age of internet officiants, your bestie from college might seem like the way to go. […]