I love when I go to a wedding and something during the ceremony takes me by surprise in a good way.
Just recently I attended a wedding where the officiant had upon one of the first meetings with the couple asked them to write down on separate pieces of paper the attributes about the other person that they most admired.
As the time during the planning process went on the both the bride and the groom pestered the other to let them in on what they wrote down but, neither of them budged.
Finally all of that waiting paid off and during the ceremony the officiant read each note aloud. Explaining the many things each of them enjoyed and appreciated about the other. This was such a joy to witness!
Knowing the couple very well, of course I know what I admire most about each of them but to hear what they admire about each other was such a touching and sweet moment. Watching their faces as the officiant read each trait was wonderful. Sometimes you could see their eyes glisten as they welled up with tears, other times you would see and hear them start to laugh at some of the more silly things that they admire most about one another.
As many of us looked on I’m sure we could relate to a lot of the things the officiant said. While he read off their lists, I know several of us out in the pews looked to our spouse and nodded with a knowing smile.
I found this to be such a nice touch to the wedding ceremony. So often the ceremony seems to stuffy and cold. While, I by no means imply that getting married is not quite serious business, I feel that many ceremonies lack the extra touches that make them tailored to the couple. We all know each couple is different and I think, they should have a ceremony that reflects them and the special love for one another.
Keep in mind that your wedding ceremony, is a time when you should tell your significant other not only what you vow to do and be for them in the future but, what you love and appreciate about them now.
If it were me, I would ask the officiant for the original slips of paper and have them trimmed down and framed with a candid picture from the reception.
