weddings

Advantages of Intimate Wedding Ceremonies

 in Ceremony / COVID-19 / Guests / Personalization / Weddings  tagged ceremony / COVID-19 / intimate ceremonies / wedding ceremony / wedding guests / weddings by

The advantages of intimate wedding ceremonies are significant. With a smaller guest list options exist for all aspects of the ceremony. You might be opting for a smaller number of ceremony guests due to safety and health restrictions, or just because the idea appeals to you.

Either way, consider some of these options and advantages of intimate wedding ceremonies:

  • Choose a circle or semi-circle ceremony space layout. These connect you to your guests in a visual and emotional way.
  • Opt to forego a wedding party, simplifying planning and expenses and keeping the focus on you as a couple during the ceremony.
  • Invite guests to participate: identify someone to hold your bouquet and someone else to hold the rings.
  • Leverage skills and interests of your guests as readers, musicians or DJ for the ceremony, and even as photographer if you’re lucky enough to have a talented family member or friend.
  • Include spontaneous moments. Perhaps you want to speak to your families and express appreciation for their assistance and support. Or near the end of the ceremony you can invite them to voice their wishes for you going forward.

It’s not uncommon for couples to express concern about being the center of attention with all eyes on them during the ceremony. But smaller guest lists offer less of a “show” feeling to the ceremony and offer you less stress and more connection with your guests. Your ceremony can also be more intimate, sharing inside stories that family and close friends will understand. You can be more open and vulnerable to each other in front of a small group of close family and friends.

While large ceremonies have their own beauty, the advantages of intimate wedding ceremonies make them a great option for many couples. Whether it is to keep you and your guests safe in the time of COVID-19, or to best fit your personal style, make sure you discuss an intimate ceremony option with your wedding celebrant when planning your wedding day.

Social Distancing at Weddings

 in COVID-19 / Weddings  tagged COVID-19 / Social distancing / wedding ceremonies / wedding ceremony / weddings by

Social Distancing at weddings is a daunting thought, but you can make it work. While the COVID-19 virus continues to be a threat in our country, especially to older Americans and those with some pre-existing conditions, many areas are relaxing rules about gatherings. Weddings in particular are currently allowed, but we are being asked to continue to practice social distancing to help keep each other safe and healthy.

I recently performed a small wedding where social distancing was observed during the ceremony. Each household sat on their own bench which were widely spaced. The couple and I kept our distance from each other, too, except for the few moments of the ring exchange.

Social distancing at 2020 wedding.

The couple chose to forgo their initially planned large wedding party in order to keep the number of attendees down. This wedding took place when gathering sizes were even more limited than they are today, but you’ll need to consider the size of your wedding party given social distancing requirements. You might consider having your honor attendants (best man, etc) stand with you, and have the rest of the wedding party walk in, and then be seated with their households for the ceremony.

The couple in the ceremony above kept their original wedding date, and modified the wedding plans as needed. Other couples are making different choices including postponing to later this year or even next year, hoping that the virus won’t be an issue. There is no right answer in these uncertain times, but making the decision considering what is most important to you about your wedding day will ensure that you’re making the right choice for you as a couple.

While social distancing at weddings is possible, it is more practical if you have a smaller guest list. The ceremony space is something you have reasonable control over, setting chairs apart from each other, identifying groupings for the households you know will be attending, etc.

You’ll also need to consider your reception plans with an eye toward social distancing. Table placement, seat assignments, and certainly unstructured activities like social hour and dancing must be considered. Your wedding plans may need to be modified to accommodate current limitations, but social distancing is possible at weddings, and most importantly, you’ll still be married at the end of the day, and will be embarking on your unique marriage journey.

Our Responsibilities Going Forward

 in Ceremony / COVID-19 / Guests / Memorial services / Weddings  tagged COVID-19 / funerals / Masks / memorial service / Social distancing / wedding ceremony / weddings by

Our responsibilities going forward continue as states begin to ease restrictions on gatherings including weddings and funerals/memorials. As our country and state continue to deal with COVID-19, many areas are beginning to lift or ease limitations on wedding ceremonies and memorial services. In almost all cases there are still restrictions in place, and we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to honor them.

The number of people allowed to gather for ceremonies varies depending on whether it is taking place outdoors or indoors, and depending on the capacity of indoor spaces. But in all cases we are being asked to observe social distancing and to wear masks. Social distancing by household will require different seating plans (and in some places chairs are not being allowed at all). While masks hardly make a fashion statement as part of guests’ attire, the long incubation period of the virus makes them essential.

Masks are not worn to protect the wearer, but to help ensure that the wearer is not unknowingly transmitting the virus. Anywhere between two and 14 days can elapse between the time you are infected and the time you begin to show symptoms. If you attend a gathering during that time, feeling perfectly well and not knowing that you’ve been exposed, you can infect dozens of other people without knowing it.

A number of COVID-19 outbreaks have been traced back to funerals and other gatherings. That’s in part because it is so difficult to keep our distance when we want to show our support and to mourn together. We get too close without even thinking about it. And it doesn’t take long for the virus to spread.

Have you ever attended a wedding where you didn’t want to hug the happy couple, or the relatives you haven’t seen in awhile, or the school friends you’ve lost touch with through the years? We do it without thinking, and might well not know that we are giving or receiving the virus with those happy hugs. Our responsibilities going forward are to care for ourselves and others as COVID-19 continues to be an issue.

It may not be fun, but our responsibilities going forward include continuing to practice social distancing and to wear masks. It may be your own life you save, or the life of a relative or friend. None of us would knowingly put others at risk, and unfortunately, masks and social distancing are the best tools we have at this time to keep each other safe. So let’s be happy that restrictions are easing, but be cautious and diligent going forward, so we are part of the solution to this virus, and not part of the problem.

Making Personal Vows Relevant

 in Personalization / Wedding Vows / Weddings  tagged personal vows / personalized vows / wedding ceremony / wedding vows / weddings by

Making personal vows relevant is a great way to make them significant and memorable. Many couples want to write their own vows but can struggle to choose what to include in them. Including references to your life experiences connects you not only to your partner, but also with the family and friends witnessing your ceremony.

In 2020 the COVID pandemic is having an impact on all of us, and this recent article shows how some people might have modified thier own wedding vows if they had married in the time of COVID-19. Some of the vows speak to the general impacts we’ve all seen like shortages of toilet paper. Some are more specific to the couple, like references to Zoom meetings for work or personality traits that became obvious when quarantined together.

Even if you don’t want to use quarantine experiences in your vows, you can use the concept when making personal vows relevant for your wedding. For example, you can reference the little rituals and traditions you’ve established as a couple, or reminisce about funny experiences you’ve shared. Letting your personalities shine, and sharing specific moments from your time together will bring a smile, a laugh, or maybe a tear from your partner. Making personal vows relevant and significant as you make your promises to each other during your wedding ceremony will ensure the moment is memorable for you and your guests.

Humanist Celebrants Continue to Serve

 in Humanist Celebrant / Memorial services / Weddings  tagged funerals / Humanist celebrants / memorial services / weddings by

Humanist Celebrants continue to serve clients needing ceremony services to mark milestone moments in life. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Humanist Society – the organization that endorses and supports Humanist Celebrants I recently made a video talking about how Humanist Celebrants are working to support clients whether it be rescheduling a wedding or honoring a loved one: