Dare to be Different!

Are you a fun-loving couple, known for your over the top approach to life? Perhaps you are a young couple who just wants something unique and interesting to spice up your wedding with an out-of-the-ordinary, appealing idea. Whatever drives your wanting something other than the standard wedding ceremony fare, here are some ideas we have done with our clients to create another special moment for them.

One couple, in which the groom was notorious for his antics, dreamed this up: At the commitment, when I asked him if he would choose (bride) for his wife, he lowered his head, stuck his hands in his pockets, walked to the balcony railing while “Beat the Clock” theme music played, and after a perfectly long pause, said, “I do.” I turned to the bride and asked her, to which she hesitated nervously, and said, “I want to call a friend.” I reached into my pocket, withdrew my cell phone and the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” music chimed. I said, “Who would that be?” She said a name, I pressed a pre-programmed number, and a phone rang somewhere in the audience. Her friend stood, they exchanged a few lines about how serious this decision is, and the bride finally said, “I do!” It came off perfectly.

In an earlier blog I told about the couple who planted an acorn to symbolize the strength and longevity of their marriage. I told the story of the Florida Live Oak while they planted, including why Spanish Moss hangs in these majestic oaks.

My wife Jayne dressed as a buccaneer captain to marry two pirates in a full-blown theme wedding.

The most common break from tradition is probably one or two readings interspersed in the ceremony. With readings, the words and their meaning bring interest to the ceremony. Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet is a source, as are the poems of favorite authors and excerpts from famous sermons. Some couples want it soapy, some not. Whatever you want, you can find many choices on the Internet or in the public library. Researching together can be fun.

One of my favorite unique add-ons is song lyrics. Many people “hear” the lyrics for the first time without music, and the effect can be very strong and positive.

If you choose to do something unique in your ceremony, make sure you get a copy of it for your memory book. It will have interesting meaning when you review it in the future.

Your day, your way!