This Cape Cod Wedding Celebrant/Officiant muses on

ceremonies close to home on Cape Cod and some far afield. This month I presided over my first wedding in Rhode Island at the Providence Public Library. In this wedding we included the Common Cup and the Stefana Crowning since the groom was from a Greek family. The aunt of the groom did the Common Cup and presented the couple with Rosemary plant. The father of the groom crowned the couple. The bride's  9 year old nephew did a reading and one of the bridesmaid sang Songbird. The setting was elegant with lots of archways and marble staircases.

The bride and groom so beautiful and handsome and heartfelt!

 Now closer to home starting at the Chatham Bars Inn Boathouse. From intimate elopement to more expansive affairs here are some pics! Elopement photos of Erika and Adam and Kerry and Ed

 by Stacey Hedman

Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

  

"we join ourselves to the unknown….You do not know the road; you have committed your life to a way."

                                             and that way is with each other

 ...protect this couple from the storms and challenges of life as they become husband and wife!

 

Just the Two of Us saying I Do

This Cape Cod Wedding celebrant/ Interfaith minister/ officiant wants to give a shout out to the wedding ceremony.  It really is the centerpiece of your wedding day though by the time I'm doing the rehearsal the exhausted bride and groom are often "decisioned out." In the midst of all the detailed decisions from placesettings to candy stations, the reason for the day, let's just say, becomes covered in confection. There are some brides and grooms who truly thrive on all that jazz but beware of decision overload and pull the focus back to why you are getting married in the first place.

 Lately I have had a flurry of last minute wedding ceremonies...it goes something like this. "We have been togeter for some time now and we just love Cape Cod; it is our favorite place on earth so we decided to get married while we are on vacation next month, well I guess in a few weeks actually....... Are you available?... and I have been. Ususally the setting is a beach, midweek with just the two of them or a few of them. No muss no fuss sweet simplicity!

 Asha and Marissa drove from Texas through a hurricane to say, " I do"  on First Encounter Beach in Eastham at sunset.

 They loved the Cape but really loved the slots so they had their nuptials and drove back to Foxwoods before heading back south. We are still in contact and they are one of my favorite couples ever!

Here is   another 'Just the two of us' couple, Dan and Dawn, on Nantucket Sound. (Julia Cumes Photography.)

Now don't get me wrong all those beautiful details enhance the over all wedding day, just remember to include the ceremony in your list. And turnover to a trusted celebrant the task of getting it right.

I did a wedding for Jennifer and Gaston out on the tidal flats at Skaket Beach and the best comment I kept hearing was "This is so Jenn." That made my day and I know it did theirs. They had the most lovely chuppah made by Fancy Flowers. When I get some photos I will share with you.

And next time I 'll report on the wedding on Martha's Vineyard at the Harborview for Katie and Brian -heartfelt and hilarious...that's what she said!

A Blessing for Marriage- As Spring Unfolds .....

 For Marriage by John O’Donohue

 From to Bless the Space Between Us

As spring unfolds the dream of earth,

May you bring each others hearts to birth.

As the ocean finds calm in view of land,

May you love the gaze of each other’s mind.

As the wind arises free and wild,

May nothing negative control your lives.

As kindly as moonlight might search the dark,

So gentle may you be when light grows scarce.

 As surprised as the silence that music opens,

May your words for each other be touched with reverence.

As warmly as the air draws in the light,

May you welcome each other’s every gift.

As elegant as dream absorbing the night,

May sleep find you clear of anger and hurt.

As twilight harvest all the day’s color,

May love bring you home to each other.