Welcome. Perhaps you have found your way to this blog because you are in the process of planning a wedding. My goal here is to inspire within you a vision which recognizes your wedding ceremony as an open door through which you will go forth to build your dreams together. Your ceremony has the potential to be so much more than just a generic legal ritual. It’s an opportunity to affirm the strengths of your relationship and to hold on to the memory of all the reasons why you are together. Your ceremony marks the very first moments of your married life, the springboard to all of your hopes and desires. Why not think of your ceremony as the blueprint from which you’d like to design your married life?Most couples embrace their wedding day with a vision and detailed plans through which this significant day will unfold. Yet for many, the ceremony is unknown territory. Few couples recognize how much freedom they have in creating a ritual that is personally meaningful. Here are just a few things you can talk to your wedding officiant about bringing into your ceremony so that it will unfold as a touching affirmation of your unique story:

  • Highlights of how you came together
  • What does the marriage means to you? What statement are you making to your family and friends and to each other?
  • What you have done to successfully create your relationship?
  • Are there any guests you’d like to specifically acknowledge?
  • How would you describe your relationship?
  • What do you value most in your partner?
  • What is your vision for your married life?
  • What do you want to promise one another?
  • What do your rings mean to you?

Remember that the realization of a dream begins first with a thought. What better way to begin walking towards your dreams than by embodying them within your ceremony? I’ll be sharing many more ideas for designing a wedding ceremony with vision in future articles so I hope you’ll stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this most exciting time of your life.

Susan Hanshaw