My second wedding Christmas Eve was a surprise wedding–even to me! Kim and Tom surprised their families with a wedding in front of their Christmas tree. The presence of the children made it more special–their daughter gave the benediction, and Kim and Tom included pledges to care for and protect the children in their vows.
Wishing you many happy years together!
What a lovely wedding! I celebrated Christmas Eve first with the marriage of Chris and Frank, hosted by Terry who did an amazing job of arranging an elegant affair. The white and silver Christmas tree provided a perfect backdrop. The bubbles, the silver garland–so festive! Thank you for letting me take part in your wedding, Chris and Frank. Wishing you a happy marriage.
I had the privilege of performing a festive, Christmas weekend ceremony for Linda and Kevin with a sweeping view of the water behind them. What a wonderful view for their wedding, and in their living room! Their children brightened the mood with the benediction, and their daughter even read them an adaptation of the Apache Wedding Blessing.
Perhaps more fun was that they were celebrating Linda’s parents’ 40th anniversary. Congratulations to both couples!
So…. it seems, according to Hollywood.com that Will and Jada have decided the small ceremony they shared ten years ago was not enough now that they have seen how TomKat did their vow renewal.
You don’t need to make your renewal that public or that flashy, though. Some couples choose to share their vow renewal with close friends and family rather than the production of a large ceremony and reception. It’s a personal choice.
Everyone seems to be renewing vows in Hollywood (although Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock seem to be poster children for too much of a good thing). Some of the couples I have held small ceremonies for planned right away to hold a reception and vow renewal for families later.
With vow renewals, you have options. You can choose to use the same vows you said the first time, mix your original vows with new wording, or create something completely different.
For more ideas, visit my new vow renewal page at TailoredCeremonies.com.
Following through on a determination to support civil unions in New Jersey, Governor Jon Corzine signed the bill into law yesterday.
What this means: as of February 19, 2007, same-sex couples in the state can enter into a civil union with all the legal benefits of marriage except the title. This will be the first day couples can file for a civil union license, and Thursday, February 22 will be the first day ceremonies can be performed due to the 72-hour waiting period the state requires before issuing a license. Those hoping to marry that first weekend civil unions are legal need to apply for a license no later than Tuesday, February 20, 2007 and must pick the valid license on Friday, February 23. The license is good for 30 days.
Also, note that New Jersey requires the name and address of the officiant to issue the license, so make sure you book one beforehand.
I look forward to many weddings this year of couples who now have a choice.
My husband has said that he thinks under the law, he and I may no longer be married. Our ceremony was not a religious sacrament but one performed by the county clerk. It would seem that many of us formerly-married people should have civil unions under the law, but I suppose that bridge will be crossed later. For now, this is a step ahead for many who have wanted the benefits of marriage. I believe at some point the government will have to recognize civil unions–why would the government care about a religious sacrament, after all? They didn’t require papers when I was baptized or took communion. Until then, I hope the new year brings much to celebrate for many.
Wendie Malick plays the uptight mom in the new series “Big Day,” which seeks to take us through the final moments of wedding planning 24-style, hour-by-hour. The Detroit News thinks it’s a winner. Rocky Mountain News and Hollywood Insider seem to agree.
I confess. I missed it. But I’m setting the TiVo to make up my own my mind, as my horoscope suggests I do (make up my mind, not set the TiVo, that is). There were certainly enough people who didn’t think it was worth watching, and many said that what kind of salad should be served isn’t that pressing. Those people obviously haven’t planned a wedding.
I think that if you are looking for the suspense of 24, then this isn’t going to do it. It has the potential to be funny, though, especially with Brian Benben and Wendie Malick.
I’ll give it a watch and get back to you. If you’d like to add your opinion, feel free to comment. It currently airs at 9 p.m. on ABC (that’s channel 7 for those of us in the New York market, channel 6 for those linked to Philly).
South Africa is making good on its promise to banish discrimination. They have legalized gay marriage, and it seems there are plenty of couples who are interested in taking vows. New Jersey legislators are currently under orders to wrestle with how to balance the rights of same-sex couples under the law, although last I read it seemed “civil unions” was winning out over “marriage,” which many want to reserve for religious purposes.
Tailored Ceremonies looks forward to the day when any couple interested in our services can be joined legally. Right now, it is South Africa’s turn. Soon, New Jersey residents will be allowed to legally share vows and be recognized, too.
Tara and Rich are married. They held the most intimate of ceremonies in their living room with two close friends and celebrated afterward.
In all the planning and whirlwind of reception locations and flowers and favors and parasols, sometimes the meaning of the day seems to take a backseat to the presentation of the day. In this case, the presentation of the day and the meaning of the day fit perfectly: one couple, lots of candles, and two rings.
We wish Tara and Rich many happy years together.
So, speculation about Tom and Katie’s legality of vows is over. As it turns out, they were already married before all this began.
Last week, Tom and Katie got married in a civil ceremony in Los Angeles because the Catholic church wouldn’t allow what they wanted–a Scientology wedding. Although some articles are derided what they did as a “party,” it was a vow renewal.
Vow renewals give couples an opportunity to share those vows with friends and family when a small ceremony was held before, which happens for many reasons.
Barry and Amber are planning a vow renewal for his return from Africa with the Navy (be safe, Barry!).
Tara and Rich are hoping to incorporate a vow renewal with their reception next year so their families can take part in something special to them. To make the vow renewal more meaningful, they are even planning a new ring exchange with bands they could not get in time for the ceremony this time.
Consider a vow renewal a chance to repeat the vows you have already taken, or an opportunity to say what you wanted to say the first time. Those who are renewing vows after many years of marriage may want to include events from those years as part of the ceremony, along with children that came as a result (and grandchildren!). Rather than dismissing a vow renewal as a “party,” see your vow renewal as another chance to connect with your spouse as well as your friends and family.
So, the New York Times has analyzed the possible Scientology vows for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. I have to say, these are not the kind of vows I would think to write for anyone. Certainly, if this is what someone wanted, I could do it, but…. it seems a bit depressing for a wedding to keep harping on all the bad things that could happen. I know brides and grooms who prefer “so long as we both shall live” over “til death do us part” because they don’t want talk of death in their vows.
I prefer vows to focus on the couple, on what they believe in and how they fit together. I love when couples put together their own vows (or have me help them do it) so that the ceremony is personal and intimate without being too voyeuristic. No one needs to know all a couples most private moments and words, and a ceremony is, after all, a public declaration.
I’m not sure where the cat fits into this.
So, Tom and Katie, whether you can convince the Pope to change Catholic doctrine, convince the Italians you have legal paperwork for a civil ceremony, or merely promise Katie she’ll have a cat if she wants, best wishes.
