tw + ac: 10.17.08.09: The Ceremony, Part Two

MUSIC

Picking the music for our wedding was a bit of a struggle. The English Major in me focuses on the lyrics, whereas Andy might have wanted to walk down the aisle to a song about a breakup because he liked the drum solo in it. I finally decided that I wanted some surprises at the wedding, so I asked Andy to pick out the song that I would walk down the aisle to and our first dance. This caused the only argument that we had throughout the entire wedding planning process. Our argument isn't significant enough to document, so here's a word of advice to other brides-to-be:

Silent Treatment = Getting the Good TV for the Night and Offers to Help Fold Things

Interlude

In My Life

The Beatles

Processional

Northern Sky

Nick Drake

Bride's Processional
Andy's Surprise Pick

Maybe I'm Amazed

Paul McCartney and the Wings

Hearing the introduction to this song was the only time the teared up that evening. I remember someone "whispering" loudly, "Look! She's already crying." I kind of remembered hearing the room take a collective breathe when we turned the corner, but thought that I had made it up, as I'm not normally one to turn heads. But Andy's sister and my friend trix both said the same thing. It was such a great moment. I kept trying to make eye contact with Andy, but he wouldn't look at me because he was afraid he'd cry.


I don't know why brides get crap about being all emotional. The dudes were the saps at our wedding. Andy was worried about crying and was shaking like a leaf when I got to the top of the aisle. And my dad was crying and trying to have a moment about "trying to be a good parent." I just wanted to listen to our music and wave to people! I swear, someone slipped me a valium when I wasn't looking.

Recessional

For Once In My Life

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! - Stevie Wonder - Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

WORDS: READINGS, LAUGHTER, AND VOWS

My Catholic family members weren’t too pleased with our decision to not marry in a church. The church that I wanted doesn’t do Friday weddings and I didn’t feel it very moral to join another church just to get married there. I tried securing the priest from the church that I grew up in, but he couldn’t perform our ceremony because it wasn’t in a church. (Fourteen years of Catholic school tuition and they can’t loan me a priest for 30 minutes?) Also, Andy’s Lutheran (pity that he won’t be joining me in Heaven. Ha. Ha.), so we'd have to have an Interfaith ceremony. We agreed that it was easiest to get married at A New Leaf and work with an officiant to include God.

For our readings, I had given my good friend carte blanche to do a reading of her writing or selection. She ended up selecting the lyrics from the song, What Are You Doing the Rest Of Your Life?, by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman. Here’s an excerpt:

I want to see your face in every kind of light

In fields of dawn and forests of the night

And when you stand before the candles on a cake

Oh, let me be the one to hear the silent wish you make

What are you doing the rest of your life?

North and South and East and West of your life

I have only one request of your life

That you spend it all with me

We followed it up with a modern interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13 performed by my brother. It was odd standing so close to people as they read.

Then, our officiant read our responses to several questions that he sent us before the wedding. Oh my God. I might have chosen my words more carefully if I had known about this. But it was so funny. Both Andy and I and our guests were cracking up the entire time. It feels odd to put something so personal up on the Interweb, so here’s a peek at our words:

My Words for Andy

Andy's Word for Me

Then, we began our vows. I didn't want to stress Andy out about writing our own vows, so we used traditional vows. They were sweet.

And then we kissed! (If you look closely, you can see that I'm on my tip-toes - and I still can't reach!)

And then we walked down the aisle to Stevie Wonder! Yeah, Stevie! I actually "forgot" that Stevie was about to play. I was reaching back for my flowers when I heard the first few beats. I became happy all over again. My friend from work said that they cried when she heard the Steve start to play.

When we walked out, we were greeted with hamburgers (a total hit with the guests) and had an impromptu receiving line before going back to the Apartment for some photos with our officiant and wedding party and heading downstairs to join the fun.

Images: Sarah Alair Photography

tw + ac: 10.17.08.08: The Ceremony, Part One

My insane work schedule aside, the ceremony posts are the real reason that I’m behind schedule on documenting our wedding -- which has probably become old news to the Internet. Our wedding ceremony was the best 30 minutes of my entire life. When I think of it, I can feel a smile in every inch of my being. What’s not to smile about something that a friend referred to as “the most genuine wedding ceremony that [she’s] ever seen?” But, as others have said, "I'm afraid if I shake it too hard the glitter will fall off."

Remember when I wrote this in my very first post ever?

As soon as we chose a local wedding over a destination wedding, I began fantasizing about a intimate, laugh-filled, candlelit ceremony…

Mission accomplished.

Intimate,

Candlelit,

(Sorry for the close-up, LP.
This is the only candlelight photo I had. But you look cute! Sassy, even. )

and laugh-filled.

(Bare with me - I'm still lazy on the editing down of the number of photos.)

Images: Sarah Alair Photography

Up Next - Music and Words

Ceremony Officiant

Andy and I met with our ceremony officiant last week. He's a retired chaplain who does weddings for fun. He is an incredibly kind man who seems like he will do a nice job with the ceremony. If anyone's looking for an affordable officiant in the Chicago area, here's his contact information:

Chaplain Tom Brandsness

t.brandsness@comcast.net

312.718.6721

You can tell him that Tina and Andy sent you if he asks. He'll probably ask and I didn't tell him about my nerdy blog.

Is This Ceremony Not Punctilious* Enough?

Image: Snippet & Ink, Board 3

Since I'm in list-making mode this week, I used my commute home yesterday to jot down some of the ceremony ideas that have been floating around in my head. I need to map it out a bit before I present it to A. so that I can convince him that it's the way to go.

Processional

• Step 1: Friends Light Candles: I have so many friends have been important to me over the last ten years. I didn't want to overburden a lot of people with being a bridesmaid, but I still want to involve as many important people as possible. I'm thinking of having some of my girlfriends kick things off by walking down the "aisle" and lighting some candles on our faux altar (faultar?).
  

To be Identified: Candle holder for 4-6 candles

• Step 2: A's Sisters Light Candles: I don't know if he's down with it, but I think that we should include them.
  
  
• Step 3: Aunts Walk In: I'd like to include A's aunt, who's like his second mom, and my aunt/godmother. I'm thinking that we can have Groomsman #1 walk them down.
  
  
• Step 4: Grandma Walks In: Groomsman #2 can walk my grandma down.
  
  
• Step 5: A. Walks His Mom In
  
  
• Step 6: My Brother Walks Our Mom In
  
  
• Step 7: Bridesmaids Walk In -- The flaw with this plan is that the Best Man never makes it down the aisle. We can always have him walk down one of the aunts.
  
  
• Step 8: My Dad and I Walk In

Ceremony

I need to engage the Rev. here. We're not doing any sand or candle ceremonies. A simple "We Do" and "We're Done." I don't believe that we'll end up writing our own vows. My girlfriend from LA, who is incredibly smart, creative, and witty has agreed to write and perform a reading for us. I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Recessional

A. and I leave, followed by the bridal party. I don't think that we'll have our parents walk down.

Music

The DJ will be pumping music into the room for our ceremony. We haven't discussed this with him, but I think that we need three-four songs:

• Song 1: Candles -- Moms
• Song 2: Bridesmaids
• Song 3: My Dad and I
  
• Song 4: Recessional

I think that Songs 1-3 could be combined.

What do you think?

Image: Matrimonio Perfecto via Snippet & Ink

*I totally admit to happening upon the word "punctilious" on m-w.com as I wrote this post. I was trying to think of a play on the word "ceremonious" and checked it out online. "Punctilious" is a definition of "ceremonious." I just adore M-W reader's pronunciation. Listen to it here. He makes it sound like a word that Winchester would use when scolding BJ and Hunnicut for wacky hijinx during surgery or coming back to the swamp after a bender.

Brides of the Round Table

(I have another crack-of-dawn day at work tomorrow, so I am posting my Wednesday post tonight.
THANK GOD THIS PROJECT IS ALMOST OVER! Send happy thoughts 8-5 CST. We'll be in the pilot presentations.)

I can't top thinking about this real wedding featured on Style Me Pretty on Valentine's Day. The bride's teal shoes and gown are both fab, but the circle ceremony just blows me away.

Photo: Style Me Pretty

Andy and I are trying to design a sweet, intimate ceremony that goes against the grain. I'm tossing around a few ideas, but nothing is nearly as unique or cool as this! I wish that space wasn't such a premium at our venue because I'd totally be a copy cat. Hats off to this cool chick!