For those with ceremonies less than half hour....

What are you doing besides reciting your vows?

Are you having a soloist, readings?

I am grateful to be having a short ceremony, but I want something meaningful as opposed to a quickie ceremony?

You can take a look at the whole thing (word by word) on my program (www.lukeandstefanie.homestead.com/program.html)
but my ceremony was broken out like this:

Prelude
Processional
Opening Greeting
Hands Ceremony
Vows
Rings
2 Cantors singing 'The Prayer'
Proclamation
Recessional
Recieving Line
Rose Petal Toss

That is perfect Sonic Stef.

You always bring alot to every discussion.

Thanks.

NVR: I dont know how all of my guests felt but many of them told us that it was the best Catholic ceremony they had ever been to because it was very much about us and not about God or Jesus or the church.

Not that there is anything wrong with those things but our guests were not there to worship, they were there to celebrate our marriage and even though the ceremony was quite short - it was packed with the 'important' stuff.

I dont mean to sound self congratulatory because we had no idea how such a short ceremony was going to be received - just wanted to reassure you that your making the righ decision.

Thanks again Sonic Stef

My FI and I are not very religious. We do not consistently attend Church.

You put things into perpspective for me.

I still cannot get over your website- AWESOME!!!!!

Ours was 16 & 1/2 minutes(according to my Uncle)

This is how it went-

-Guests were seated
-My Grandmother & stepmom were ushered
-Our Mom's light our unity candle tapers & then were ushered to their seats
-Purpose of Marriage
-Short blessing by Reverend
-Reading by my friend(less than 2 minutes)
-The vows we wrote(2 sentences each)
-Hands ceremony(modified)
(Reverend turned her back to our guests so they could see us)
-Blessing & exchange of the rings
-Circle of acceptance(vows including our children)
-Lighting of unity candle(with kids)
-Delcaration of marriage
-Presentation of couple


& on to the party!

Stef,

Can you please tell me what the 'Hands Ceremony' was?

Jodi

Me Three

Stef,

Do you have the Hand Ceremony typed out? I would love a copy of it. Or do you know where I can find it? If you do can you forum mail it to me?

Thanks.

Jodi

I couldn't see the link that Stef mentioned. Here's our rough copy(we deleted & added a few things) I'll try to find the original for you.
We both work with our hands, so this was perfect for us.


The Hands of the Bride and Groom

Reverend speaks
Kelly, please face Rich, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. (Bride and groom should be facing each other, his upturned hands resting in hers.)
These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind. These are the hands that will comfort & encourage your children to be the best they can be. These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family, so that you may enjoy life’s successes. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

Reverend speaks
Rich, please hold Kelly's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. (Bride should now place her upturned hands in the Groom's hands.)
These are the hands that are smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will hold your children in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurts, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it's time to let go. These are the hands that will lovingly work to make your house a home. These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Reverend
Dear God, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in trust, rich in caring, and respect. May Kelly and Rich see their four hands as a symbol of their everlasting devotion to each other and their children.

Thanks Kelly!

If you find the original that would be great! I really like it and would love to use it.



Jodi

The website with my program scanned and all the wording is in my original post. Here is my version of the Hands Ceremony...I didnt like all the references to having children (since we are not sure we will have them) so I removed those and I didnt like how it seperated man/woman roles so I cobined it into one reading.


Program Page 5

Program Page 6

Stefs Program

Thanks Stef

Sorry Stef, I only looked at your second post

Here's the original that I got the idea from-


Hands of the Bride and Groom


[Bride's name], please face [Groom's name], and hold his hands,
palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you.

These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family

These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

[Groom's name], please hold [Bride's name]’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go

These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Minister:
God, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May [Groom's name] and [Bride's name] see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your name, Amen.


Edited to fix my cut & paste

Thanks Kelly I appreciate it!

Jodi

WELCOME
The Art of Marriage
CONSENT
VOWS
RING EXCHANGE
Ceremony of the Roses
PROCLAMATION


I don't know how long it was...but it was really short...

'short and sweet' according to DH's uncle...and my aunt said it was very good, b/c my uncle is going under chemotherapy and he can't sit in the sun for too long...but they said it was no problem...

if anyone wants a copy
email me