One-Stop Shopping, er ... wedding.
We're kind of doing this as one-stop shopping - the wedding and reception will both be at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, Mass. We had discussed a beach ceremony, but with a June 6 date - still rather early in the summer - the weather can be unpredictable. Last year in early June, I believe the temps were in the 40's. Yeesh. Rather than have to scramble last minute, we've decided to get married in their courtyard, with a reception to follow in their Emerald Room (My matron of honor did the original tour with us - all the rooms were beautiful, but for her, the disco ball in the Emerald Room was a tipping point).
Check out the 360-degree virtual tour of the Emerald Room (from the Cape Codder Website)
One huge stress to me early on was who was going to marry us. Sure, there are some wonderful officiants, but with a destination wedding, essentially ... how would those people get to know us, and perform the personal ceremony that was important to both of us?
One great thing is that the State of Massachusetts will issue a one-day license to someone to perform a marriage ceremony. This is different than someone getting ordained online! A non-minister or non-justice of the peace (such as a relative of family friend) may receive from the Governor, for a $25 fee, special one-time permission to perform a marriage.
This allowed us to ask Joe, a close friend of Eric's and the godfather of Gage, to perform our ceremony. Joe, while very active in his church, is also not the type that would judge us for not getting married in one. He and his wonderful wife, Jane (Gage's aunt, as well as godmother) were both so excited when we asked! We honestly could not be more thrilled to have them involved in our wedding, and they have helped, too, in putting together what we think will be a beautiful ceremony (as well as one that is meaningful to us.)
One great thing is that the State of Massachusetts will issue a one-day license to someone to perform a marriage ceremony. This is different than someone getting ordained online! A non-minister or non-justice of the peace (such as a relative of family friend) may receive from the Governor, for a $25 fee, special one-time permission to perform a marriage.
This allowed us to ask Joe, a close friend of Eric's and the godfather of Gage, to perform our ceremony. Joe, while very active in his church, is also not the type that would judge us for not getting married in one. He and his wonderful wife, Jane (Gage's aunt, as well as godmother) were both so excited when we asked! We honestly could not be more thrilled to have them involved in our wedding, and they have helped, too, in putting together what we think will be a beautiful ceremony (as well as one that is meaningful to us.)
Readings
Our ceremony will have two readings.
The first:
Wilferd Peterson – The Art of Marriage
The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, “I love you” at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have the wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is BEING the right partner.
This is “The Art of Marriage”
The first:
Wilferd Peterson – The Art of Marriage
The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, “I love you” at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have the wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is BEING the right partner.
This is “The Art of Marriage”
The second is Beyond Words - Daily Readings in the ABC's of Faith
They say they will love, comfort, honor each other to the end of their days. They say they will cherish each other and be faithful to each other always. They say they will do these things not just when they feel like it, but even -- for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health -- when they don’t feel like it at all. In other words, the vows they make could hardly be more extravagant. They give away their freedom. They take on themselves each other’s burdens. They bind their live s together... The question is, what do they get in return?
They get each other in return... There will always be the other to talk to, to listen to... There is someone to get through the night with, to wake into the new day beside.
They both still have their lives apart as well as a life together. They both still have their separate ways to find. But a marriage made in heaven is one where a man and a woman become more richly themselves together than the chances are either of them could ever have managed to become alone.
They say they will love, comfort, honor each other to the end of their days. They say they will cherish each other and be faithful to each other always. They say they will do these things not just when they feel like it, but even -- for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health -- when they don’t feel like it at all. In other words, the vows they make could hardly be more extravagant. They give away their freedom. They take on themselves each other’s burdens. They bind their live s together... The question is, what do they get in return?
They get each other in return... There will always be the other to talk to, to listen to... There is someone to get through the night with, to wake into the new day beside.
They both still have their lives apart as well as a life together. They both still have their separate ways to find. But a marriage made in heaven is one where a man and a woman become more richly themselves together than the chances are either of them could ever have managed to become alone.
