We just got back from my brother-in-law’s wedding. My new sister-in-law has an eight year old daughter (which means I now have a niece who I can spoil rotten–:)). When they did the unity candle, my niece had a candle to light, as well as my b-i-l and s-i-l. I thought that was a great way to include her in the ceremony (she was also the flower girl) and show that all three of them are now united as a family.
The bride’s aunt is a minister who officiated the ceremony. Ironically, she has been married and divorced six times. When she gave the big talk about the importance of keeping the marriage strong and staying together through all the hard times, some people were having trouble not cracking up laughing. She’s a very nice woman, but I’d have a hard time taking advice on how to make a marriage last from a woman who is currently working toward husband #7.
So, anyone have interesting wedding stories or nice ways that couples have personalized the event to reflect themselves?
When I married my first husband, we had a pretty traditional wedding. But we had a daughter prior to our marriage, and we had relinquished her for adoption. We have an open adoption though, so we still know her and are part of her lives.
When we married, we had her adoptive parents in the wedding party–her adoptive mother as a bridesmaid, and her adoptive father as an usher. It was nice.
Then there’s my sister. When she was born in 1966, my mom relinquished her for adoption. We were reunited with her in 1988. My sister and I have the same birthfather, and together we searched for him, and were reunited with him in 1991.
When my sister married in 1996, my birthfather came up from Florida to attend. My sister had my mother and birthfather walk her halfway down the aisle, and then they handed her off to her adoptive parents, who walked her the rest of the way. Most people don’t cry at weddings until after it’s over, but most people at the wedding also knew about my sister’s searches and reunions. To see my mother and birthfather together (for the first time in 30 years), walking my sister down the aisle together…I’m telling you, there was just not a dry eye in the house. It was just amazing.
I’m not married yet, but I know what I want to do. (And my parents are dreading the day…)
I come from a big family, but I have an extended family of best friends. I have 4 sisters, but I really don’t want them to be in my wedding. (I’m not close to any of them, really.)
So, my 3 best friends are going to be my bridesmaids, and my closest girlfriend is going to be my matron of honor. My three best friends are guys, who have all volunteered to wear dresses for the wedding. (I plan on making them wear kilts with our family’s colors on them.) I have told my mom time and time again that Pat, Bradley, and Le are going to wear dresses, and that she has to make them. (She made every one of my sisters’ dresses.)
I once went to a wedding where the groom had lost his leg recently in an accident. His wife included in her vows that she would love him, all of him, even the parts that were missing. Everyone kind of giggled, even the groom. Then the entire crowd started sobbing, because he said that he would always love her, even if he had to give up his other limbs to do it. (I know that sounds kind of twisted, but it was really sweet.)
Mrs. Rastahomie and I incorporated parts of ourselves into the wedding music. We each picked out about 4 songs to be played as guests were filing in, and about 4 to play as they were filing out.
I picked a very beautiful song called Anata Ni (loosely translated as “In You,” but not in a vulgar way) by Seiko Matsuda. It was popular while I lived in Japan. I also had two selections by Yanni (one of my favorite artists) on the way in (Before I Go and In The Morning Light) and one on the way out (Reflections of Passion).
Mrs. Rastahomie had about 5 songs by Barbara Streisand~ she’s one of her biggest fans.
Also, I was still in the ministry when my younger brother got married, and I performed the ceremony. snif