I pride myself on not being a
“wedding factory.” I’ll officiate only
one wedding a day and most weekends I’m booked with just one wedding, typically
on a Saturday. Recently, I had an
unusual weekend where I was booked with three weddings – Friday, Saturday and
Sunday.
Each was unique and so different
from the other two. Yet, they all shared
one thing in common. . .let me explain. . .
Friday night I was down in Orange
County for the wedding of Suzie and Jared (names
changed), Jared is an actor and keeps
busy with TV work. He hasn’t won an
Emmy, but his profile is high enough that his engagement was highlighted by
People Mag.
Suzie and Jared asked their guests
not to take photos during the ceremony and not post anything of the wedding to
social media.
I’m biased – while I love my
technology and have everything that begins with the letter “i” I don’t get why
guests want to spend the ceremony taking snaps with their smart phone or
tablet. It takes them so out of the
moment and experience.
It was wonderful to look out and
see 120 people focused on Suzie and Jared and not craning to get some
amateurish shot.
As I spoke I happened to notice a young
guy in the third row. He had a
rugby/soccer build and before the ceremony had been joking and flirting with
several single women – clearly making the most of the moment! Now, though, I caught a glimpse and could see
that there was a change in his face – he looked visibly moved as Jared and
Suzie exchanged vows.
I was reminded – again – of the power
of ritual to connect us to a deep truth.
Saturday night was in Malibu at a
high-end resort with a view of “forever.”
Everything about Karli’s and Chip’s wedding was more elaborate than
Suzie’s and Jared’s. But there was
nothing stuffy about any of it.
It was a windy day and Karli’s veil
was billowing up into her face.
Laughing, she turned to her maid of honor who was frantically trying to
grab it and said, “Oh, just step on the darn thing!” And so the maid of honor did – no more
whiplash from the veil!
And then on Sunday I flew up to
Sacramento for a wedding. Dale’s and
Kevin’s wedding was simple, minimal DIY.
The ceremony began and Kevin was
BEAMING –I mean BEAMING – as he watched Dale walk down the aisle with her
mom. I suddenly realized that for the
first time in my life, I may have been witnessing true “euphoria.” And it truly
was magical. WOW!
Three unique couples. Three weddings. Three different styles and budgets.
And what did they share in common?
Alice Walker has one of her
characters in The Color Purple ask this question:
“Tell
the truth, have you ever found God in a church? I never did. Any God I ever
felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too.”
While these were not church
weddings, with a nod to Walker, I’d rephrase the question as:
“Did I
ever find magic created by the budget of a wedding? I never did.
Any magic I ever felt I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too –
bring the magic with them.”
It’s the magic that people will be talking
about for years to come. . .
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