A wedding is one of life's major rites of passage. It is certainly something to celebrate! Today, wedding books and magazines promote large weddings so that more and more wedding products can be sold. Wedding expenditures run into many thousands of dollars. And after this major outlay of money, most of what is purchased is never used again.
On the Spring Equinox 2004, my ex-husband (yes, that's right! my ex-husband!) Larry and I remarried. We had been together for almost seventeen years, and had divorced several years ago when our relationship problems seemed impossible to resolve. But we still loved each other, so we figured out what to do to make things better, and are now happier than ever.
In planning our wedding, we wanted to keep it simple, small, and full of meaning. We wanted a ceremony and celebration that would be easy to prepare for and manage. We wanted an intimate occasion, surrounded by our closest friends who would participate with us in the intention of our union. And as we planned our wedding, we used the same guidelines for health and the environment that we practice in our daily home life.
Since most books and articles are about planning big weddings, I want to offer some tips on planning another sort of wedding that can be beautiful and meaningful in it's own way.
* Make it your day. Each wedding can and should be a unique expression of the couple getting married. So create the day just the way you want it, to please the two of you.
* Choose the wedding traditions that are important to you. When it comes right down to it, the essentials of a wedding are the two people to be married, the minister or justice of the peace who performs the ceremony, the ceremony itself, and the guests who witness it. Everything else is decoration and tradition. Learn about wedding traditions and choose to do those that will make your day special.
* Write your own ceremony. The entire reason for having a wedding, really, is the ceremony. The most important aspect of a wedding is not the decorations, but the vows and intentions that are stated in the ceremony and that you give to each other. Research the time-honored patterns to wedding ceremonies and follow this pattern in your own personal way.
* Invite meaningful guests. When you have a small number of guests, you can spend more time with them and really experience their presence. Minimum is just the two of you, the minister, and a witness. Invite family and friends with whom you have real relationships. Eliminate those that might be invited out of social obligation.
* Have your wedding at home, either indoors or in your garden, or in a park. Rather than spending a lot of money on floral arrangements, we put that money into tidying up our back yard and planting perennial flowers that we are still enjoying today.
Looking back on our wedding day, we are very pleased with our simple, small wedding. We were able to relax and enjoy the day and experience the love and support of our best friends. Best of all, we still had energy left for the honeymoon...
For many more details on planning your simple, small, green wedding (including choosing flowers, rings, clothing and reciption, and photos of Debra's wedding), visit http://www.debraslist.com/wedding, and click on "You are invited to... My Simple, Small, Green Wedding". Debra is also available as a consultant to help you plan your wedding.
Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website for 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products, and to sign up for her free email newsletters. http://www.debraslist.com/wedding
high-end home cleaning Bannockburn ..When it comes to decorating your reception tables, the centerpieces... Read More
Would you like to have a stronger, healthier, more enjoyable... Read More
If you are planning to have a full wedding that... Read More
On Friday, 1st May 1835, Mr Charles Dickens, the creator... Read More
One of the most beautiful of the bride's adornments at... Read More
The big day is not all about the bride; the... Read More
The look of the wedding invitations you send will not... Read More
Wedding centerpieces help tie together the look of your entire... Read More
Your wedding party is a major factor in the success... Read More
I am a woman, 42, who three years ago married... Read More
With today's economy, and the layoffs occurring as a result... Read More
If you are at all familiar with Las Vegas, you... Read More
Love should not blind a couple to the realities of... Read More
You are locked in your seat on the most famous... Read More
One of the biggest on-going problems for couples is how... Read More
He's popped the question and you're dying to tell someone.... Read More
If you are in the process of design a wedding... Read More
Is the cost of your wedding putting the honeymoon of... Read More
Apparently for a person to get married is like burning... Read More
You have purchased the latest bridal magazines from your local... Read More
Wedding shower invitations should lay out all of the necessary... Read More
Your true love got down on his knees and asked... Read More
Exactly what should your disc jockey be doing in the... Read More
If you're getting married, a Bridal Show is a great... Read More
The Cancun honeymoon vacation comes with its bagage of sweet... Read More
green cleaning service Lincolnshire ..Every marriage needs a healthy dose of on-going romance to... Read More
One of the most joyous occasions in life is a... Read More
Hawaii honeymoon vacations could take you to a miracle trip... Read More
Hearing that your cheating spouse is "in love" with someone... Read More
Tracking down a wedding officiant can be a little intimidating.... Read More
With today's economy, and the layoffs occurring as a result... Read More
How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges... Read More
Planning a wedding is an exciting thing, and can be... Read More
The invitation is the first impression of the type of... Read More
Want to manage your wedding guests with style and ease?... Read More
Your true love got down on his knees and asked... Read More
Planning as early as possible for your wedding is the... Read More
One of the most beautiful of the bride's adornments at... Read More
For a day you'll never forget on that special occasion,... Read More
OK, so you have your heart set on the top... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is pleased... Read More
The wedding gown is most important choice for a bride... Read More
You have to start with a thorough to do list... Read More
"Las Vegas hotel weddings give you tons of options. You... Read More
You have purchased the latest bridal magazines from your local... Read More
Let's face it, not many of us have the kind... Read More
Butterfly Releases offer the viewer the chance to see beauty... Read More
Mexico, a country rich in arts and ancient cultures and... Read More
When it comes to decorating your reception tables, the centerpieces... Read More
Proposing marriage to your beloved is a very big step.... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |