|
|
Marriage is a very ancient ritual.
Every culture throughout history has had some kind of marriage
ceremony. Throughout time, marriage has been a public
declaration of love that celebrates one of the most enduring
expressions of human love. The decision to marry is a major
one; it is an act of profound commitment.
Your
ceremony is the central part of the act of marriage. It is the
act of changing course, a transition and turning point. It is
about acknowledging where you have been in your relationship
and moving on to commence a new path together as husband and
wife. Through a series of rituals and statements, the marriage
ceremony puts into words the love and commitment you both
share and the special reasons you have chosen each other as
life long partners.
There
are no two people alike, so no two marriages should ever be
the same. Each couple brings to their ceremony their own
unique qualities and personalities. Whatever your belief of
love or romance, claim it and express it in your marriage
ceremony. Don't judge it or try and turn your ceremony into
something that does not reflect you as a couple.
In
each of us there is a trigger that has lain dormant from
childhood or adulthood of what romance and love means to us
and it is the job of a celebrant to find that trigger to put
that special touch and brand your marriage ceremony as your
own.
For many being the romantic centre in one of Jane
Austin novels and having a Mr Darcy take her hand and
uttering, "I love you and will you marry me?" is the perfect
expression of love. For example, this passage from Pride and
Prejudice would suit them perfectly, Elisabeth wanted Mr.
Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her.
"How could you begin?" said she. "I can comprehend your going
on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what
could set you off in the first place?" "I cannot fix on the
hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the
foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I
knew that I had begun."
For others romance may be
depicted in their favourite song be it Nick Cave's "Into My
Arms" or doves being released when the marriage certificate is
signed or a passage from the Bible such as the first letter of
St Paul to the Corinthians 12:31 - 13:8.
For
other the words of Toni Morrison from "Beloved" sum up a
romantic love
Paul D sits down in the rocking chair
and examines the quilt patched in carnival colours. His hands
are limp between his knees. There are too many things to feel
about this woman. His head hurts. Suddenly he remembers Sixo
trying to describe what he felt about the Thirty-Mile Woman:
"She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The
pieces I am, She gather them and give them back to me in all
the right order. It's good, you know, when you got a Woman who
is a friend of your mind."
Make your marriage one that
is sprinkled in fairy dust, where the Bride blushes and the
Bridegroom waits anxiously and radiates a special smile as he
catches the first glimpse of the woman who is about to become
his wife. Where mothers and fathers hearts swell with pride
and affection for their children, and guests weep with joy as
they see and hear an authentic exchange of love.
©
June Newman and Mandy Newman
Recent articles by
June and Mandy
Australian
Civil Weddings
June and Mandy's New Book
How
to say 'I do' | |
|
