Guest Blog: First Look Photos by Jennifer L K. Thompson Photography

Over the past couple years my wife Jen and I have been photographing weddings in St. Louis and the surrounding area. We have seen a lot of trends come and go but one that we really like is the first look. We have noticed that it is such a great opportunity to get candid photos of our couples and for them to a quick moment together.

The tradition has been for the first time that the couple see each other is when the bride is walking down the isle. I found myself needing to coach our grooms to smile and look happy as often the nerves would take over and we got a lot of deer in the headlights looks. I know our couples were excited to see each other but the photos didn't always seem to show it. We began shooting first looks and we got those beautiful emotional shots of the couple seeing each other and having a moment to reflect on the day.

The way we do first looks may be a little different than most. Jen and I look for a beautiful well lit spot and we clear every one out. We feel its really  important for the couple to have this moment just to themselves. I stand with the groom while Jen gets our bride and then we stand back and have our groom turn around and we capture everything that happens from there. We have seen the stress of the day and nerves melt away. I can't tell you how many times I've heard our couples say " okay, now I'm ready."

The benefits of the first look beyond eliminating some of that stress. The first look can help with the flow of the day with photography. We find that it frees up time before the ceremony to have couple and wedding party photos or even the family formals. It can also eliminate the long break between the ceremony and the reception. We know that most photographers are by the hour and first looks help to get more of those important photos of the bride and groom. If your looking for a great way to get beautiful candid moments between the bride and groom a first look may be the way to go. 

 

 

Jennifer L K Thompson Photography

314-477-9218

jenniferthompsonphtoography.com

 

 

Guest Blog by: Beautiful Celebrations: Why hire a Wedding Planer

Why a Bride would want to hire a wedding planner?

You just got engaged, Congratulations! What now? Where do you begin? You’ve never planned a wedding before and you haven’t been to many weddings to begin with. There are so many details that it’s almost overwhelming! Where and when are you going to find the time to do all of your research and calls?

These questions can be easily answered when you hire a wedding planner. A wedding planner can be a god-send when you work full time or you are a full-time student. A wedding planner can be hired during any part of the wedding planning process. However, it would be a lot of less stressful to hire a wedding planner from the beginning. A wedding planner has already planned many weddings, already knows and works with the best vendors in town, and most importantly, can keep you within your wedding budget.

Once a budget is set in place, the wedding planner will start to get to know who you both are and what your likes and dislikes are. The planner can research venues and vendors for you and schedule all of your appointments. The planner is the liaison between you and the vendor. The planner will help ask questions that you might forget to ask during meetings. Don’t think of the planner as the person who will ‘take over’ your wedding. Think of the planner as merely your guide to help accompany you effortlessly through the planning process.

If you already have your wedding planned but are worried about how the day will unfold, hire a planner! ‘Day of’ wedding planners are becoming more and more popular. Don’t depend on your mother or your sister to take care of all the little details of your wedding. Let them enjoy the day and have the planner take care of the little details and ensure that the day will run smoothly.

When the big day arrives, all you have to worry about is walking down the aisle! The planner will have taken care of all of the details beforehand. Most importantly you will have the planner as your ‘right-hand’ person for anything you may need help with on the big day. Know that your planner will be the background person taking care of all the little details so that you and your family and friends can enjoy the best day ever!

How much is piece of mind worth to you on your most important day of your life?

Written by: Evonne Grabauskas, owner, Beautiful Celebrations, llc. www.beautifulcelebrations.net

Tips to make your wedding ceremony great.

Writing your own vows:

Almost every couple I talk with thinks about writing their own vows, but then gets discouraged because they think it is too much work. Writing your own vows can make your ceremony much more personalized and more relatable to your guest.

A few tips for writing your own vows:

1. Please write them down, you do not need to memorize vows, nobody does, I or your officiant will hold them for you during the ceremony.
2. Don't lose your personality in your vows. If you are a funny person, make your vows funny, if you are a passionate person, have your vows passionate.
3. Both vows have to be the same length. Not true,,, some of us are verbal communicators, others are not so don't worry about your vows being too long or too short, just write from your heart.
4. Make sure you get your vows back from the officiant for your scrapbook or memorabilia. 
   
   
   Readings at your wedding:
   
   
   When choosing family or friends to read readings, here are a few tips:
   
   
5. Please make sure you pick someone that is not afraid to do public speaking. Most people that read readings are not heard so it is frustrating for your guest.
6. Have the person sit on the end of a row, that way when they get up to do the reading, they can turn around in their seat, or come to the front quickly to do the reading.
7. You do not have to memorize the reading, please give the reader the reading a few days or weeks before the ceremony to rehearse.

 

Moment of silence, honoring moms with flower/sand

A moment of silence is a great way to remember someone that is not present at your ceremony because they just could not make it, or have passed away.

At this time, we'd like to take a moment of silence to remember those who are not here with us.

Even though they are not here physically, they are a part of the foundation that makes _____ and _____ the people they are today.

May we remember ___________________________.

Please cherish the memories of these friends and family and all others who live on in our hearts.

Some couples choose to light a candle or have a picture of loved ones that are not able to attend. Some couples also choose to set off balloons.

Honoring moms/grandmothers is a great passage to add to your wedding. I have had a few couples when they do a sand ceremony, instead of the flower or with the flower also give the moms a vile of the sand.

There are also several wine ceremonies, beer ceremonies, rose ceremonies, sand ceremonies and fingerprint ceremonies that you can incorporate in your ceremony.

I have had dogs be the ring bearers or just walk up the aisle in wedding ceremonies.

As far as music for your ceremony. Many couples now are going for not so traditional music and going with songs that mean something to them.

Maybe you have a favorite song together or the first song you danced to together, use that as the song for your exiting song.

KIDS INVOLVED IN MARRIAGE CEREMONY

Child ceremony 2

___ ,________ being parents has always been one of the most important parts of your Mom and Dad’s lives. They are so proud of you and of all your accomplishments. Today they are making a promise to one another, a promise that no matter what may happen good or bad, that they will always be there for each other. This promise they make, it is also a promise to you. They love you with all their hearts, and no matter how old you get or where life takes you, they want you to know that that’s forever. _____ will you make your family vow first?”

father repeats after me

­_______, I promise to be a good and faithful partner to you, and also a patient, loving father to _______, caring for and providing for them as my own. I promise to be
their strength and their emotional support, loving them with all my heart forever.”

mother repeats after me

_____, I promise to be a good and faithful partner to you, and also a patient, loving mother to ______, caring for and providing for them as my own. I promise
to be their strength and their emotional support, loving them with all my heart forever.”

Child Ceremony

OFTEN MARRIAGE IS VIEWED AS THE UNION OF TWO PEOPLEYET MARRIAGES NOT ONLY UNITE THE COUPLE, IT UNITESTHE FAMILIES. WITH THE CHANGING STRUCTURE OF WHATA FAMILY IS IN TODAY'S WORLD WE ARE OFFERED UNIQUEAND WONDERFUL OPPOURTUNITIES TO SIMPLY INCREASETHE NUMBER OF LOVING CARING RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES.

WILL _______PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT:

_______ AND ___________, DO YOU BOTH PROMISE TO

PROTECT _____? WILL YOU ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST TO

PROVIDE FOR HIM, GUIDE HIM, LISTEN TO HIM AND MOST

OF ALL LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEARTS ALL THE DAYS

OF YOUR LIVES?  WE DO

Children Committment

___AND____ TODAY YOU ARE PROMISING YOUR LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT YOU ARE ALSO PLEDGING YOUR LOVE TO YOUR CHILDREN AS WELL, COMMITTING TO THEM THAT YOU WILL CREATE A FAMILY TOGETHER. __-AND___, YOUR PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THESE GIFTS TO YOU AS A SYMBOL OF THEIR COMMITMENT, TRUST AND LOVE.

DO YOU ___ TAKE ___AND___ AS YOUR OWN, PROMISING TO LOVE THEM AND CARE FOR THEM, PROVIDING FOR THEIR NEEDS, PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL?

____: I DO

AND NOW __AND___ DO YOU PROMISE TO LOVE AND RESPECT ___, TO SUPPORT THIS MARRIAGE AND NEW FAMILY, TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING THEIR CHILDREN AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND SUPPORT THEM IN YOUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER:

KIDS  I DO

 

SAND CEREMONY WITH KIDS

______ AND _____, TODAY YOU ARE MAKING A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT TO SHARE THE REST OF YOUR LIVES WITH EACH OTHER AND HONOR YOUR CHILDREN AS WELL.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIP IS SYMBOLIZED THROUGH THE POURING OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS OF SAND; EACH REPRESENTING ALL THAT YOU WERE, ALL THAT YOU ARE, AND ALL THAT YOU WILL EVER BE AND ANOTHER CONTAINER FOR EACH CHILD.

_____ AND _____ WILL NOW COME FORWARD TO HELP US WITH THE BLENDING OF THE SANDS. THE GATHERING OF THIS NEW FAMILY WILL HAVE A DEEP INFLUENCE UPON THEM. WE REALIZE THAT IN ORDER FOR THE HOME TO BE A HAPPY ONE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THERE BE LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CHILDREN AND THE ADULTS BEING MARRIED.

AS YOU EACH HOLD YOUR SAND THE SEPARATE CONTAINERS OF SAND REPRESENT YOUR LIVES TO THIS MOMENT; INDIVIDUAL AND UNIQUE. AS YOU NOW COMBINE YOUR SAND TOGETHER, YOUR LIVES ALSOJOIN TOGETHER AS ONE FAMLY.

Short n Sweet Ceremony

DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO WITNESS AS JOIN THEIR LIVES TOGETHER IN HOLY MATRIMONY, THE MOST SACRED OF RELATIONSHIPS. BECAUSE YOU HAVE KNOWN AND LOVED THEM AS INDIVIDUALS, YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SHARE IN THE JOYOUS MOMENT AS THEY JOIN LIVES TOGETHER AS ONE.

THIS IS THE TIME WHICH YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BECOME HUSBAND AND WIFE. WE ARE HERE NOT ONLY TO WITNESS YOUR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER, BUT TO WISH YOU BOTH EVERY HAPPINESS IN YOUR FUTURE LIFE TOGETHER.

WITHIN ITS FRAMEWORK OF LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT, MARRIAGE ENABLES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOME, WHERE THROUGH TOLERANCE, PATIENCE AND RESPECT, THE LOVE AND AFFECTION WHICH YOU HAVE FOR EACH OTHER MAY DEVELOP INTO A DEEP AND LASTING RELATIONSHIP.

THE BIBLE HAS GIVEN US WHAT MAY BE THE WORLD'S BEST DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A WELL KNOWN PASSAGE FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 13 AND OFFER IT AS A MODEL TO YOU FOR THE NEW LIFE YOU ARE CREATING HERE TODAY:

LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND, IT IS NEVER JEALOUS.LOVE IS NEVER BOASTFUL OR CONCEITED. IT IS NEVER RUDE OR SELFISH.IT DOES NOT TAKE OFFENSE AND IS NOT RESENTFUL.

LOVE TAKES NO PLEASURE IN OTHER PEOPLES FAULTS, BUT DELIGHTS IN THE TRUTH.IT IS ALWAYS READY TO EXCUSE, TO TRUST AND TO HOPE.IT IS ALWAYS READY TO ENDURE WHATEVER COMES. TRUE LOVE DOES NOT COME TO AN END.

BEFORE YOU ARE JOINED IN MARRIAGE IN MY PRESENCE AND THE PRESENCE OF THESE, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I AM TO REMIND YOU OF THE SOLEMN AND ENDURING NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP INTO WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER.

PLEASE ANSWER WITH “I DO”

DO YOU TAKE TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE? FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, FOR RICHER AND POORER, IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH, TO LOVE AND CHERISH FOR SO LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE:

PLEASE ANSWER WITH “I DO”

DO YOU TAKE TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND? FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, FOR BETTER AND FOR WORSE, FOR RICHER AND POORER, IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH, TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH FOR AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE:

MAY THESE RINGS BE BLESSED AS THE SYMBOL OF THIS AFFECTINATE UNION. THESE TWO LIVES ARE NOW JOINED IN ONE UNBROKEN CIRCLE. WHEREVER THEY GO, MAY THEY ALWAYS RETURN TO ONE ANOTHER IN THEIR TOGETHERNESS. MAY THESE TWO FIND IN EACH OTHER THE LOVE FOR WHICH ALL MEN AND WOMEN YEARN. MAY THEY GROW IN UNDERSTANDING AND IN COMPASSION. MAY THE HOME WHICH THEY ESTABLISH TOGETHER BE SUCH A PLACE OF SANCTUARY THAT MANY WILL FIND THERE A FRIEND. MAY THESE RINGS, ON THEIR FINGERS, SYMBOLIZE THE TOUCH OF THE SPIRIT OF LOVE IN THEIR HEARTS.

IN PLACING THIS RING ON FINGER, PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME: I GIVE YOU THIS RING AS THE PLEDGE OF MY LOVE AND AS THE SYMBOL OF OUR UNITY.

IN PLACING THIS RING ON FINGER, PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME: I GIVE YOU THIS RING AS THE PLEDGE OF MY LOVE AND AS THE SYMBOL OF OUR UNITY.

INASMUCH AS HAVE CONSENTED TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE BEFORE THIS COMPANY, HAVE PLEDGED THEIR FAITH AND DELCARED THEIR UNITY BY EACH GIVING AND RECEIVING A RING AND ARE NOW JOINED IN MUTUAL ESTEEM AND DEVOTION, BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF MO, I PRONOUNCE THAT THEY ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE. YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE.

IT IS NOW MY GREAT HONOR TO BE THE FIRST TO PRESENT:

Additional passages Honoring Moms, Moment of Silence, Prayers, Readings

Honoring Moms

MOTHERS PLANT SO THEIR CHILDREN MAY HARVEST. MOTHERS CRY WHEN THEIR CHILDREN HURT. MOTHERS WELCOME PAIN AND BURDEN TO GIVE THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS THE GIFT

OF LIFE.

____ AND ___ WILL NOW PRESENT THEIR MOTHERS WITH FLOWERS, AS SYMBOLS OF ETERNAL GRATITUDE FOR THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, THEIR UNYIELDING STRENGTHS IN TIMES OF HARDSHIP, AND FOR ALL THE SELFLESS SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

Moment of Silence

At this time, we'd like to take a moment of silence to remember those who are not here with us.

Even though they are not here physically, they are a part of the foundation that makes _____ and _____ the people they are today.

May we remember ___________________________.

Please cherish the memories of these friends and family and all others who live on in our hearts.

Opening Prayer 1

 

Let us pray. God, we ask for your blessings upon this man and woman, as we celebrate this momentous occasion in their lives.

Grant them happiness and contentment as they establish their new home, create a new family and explore the depths of their love for one another and for you.

Bless their families and friends and the relationships, which have supported, strengthened and sustained them throughout their lives.

Bless their home as a place of love and of peace.

And if times grow hard and tempers grow short, help them to look into their hearts and remember the love that brought them here today.

Opening Prayer 2

Let Us Pray God, as you join us today, we ask for your blessings upon this couple as they unite in marriage.

Let all their days together by happy and all their words to each other be sweet.

Though their paths are intertwined, let them be aware of each other's separateness. Bless their home and allow it to be a place of joy and serenity.

Remind them to nurture each other's body with mutual love, honor and respect. Let their spirits dwell within.

As they learn from one another, may they grow stronger as individuals and closer as a couple.

And as their wedded life beings today with prayer, so may they continue it, praying for and with each other.

Readings

On Love and Friendship by Roy Croft
I love you, not for what you are, but what I am, when I am with you.
I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
I love you for putting your hand into my heaped up heart and passing over all the frivolous and weak things that you cannot help seeing there, and for drawing out into the light all the beautiful and radiant things that no one else has looked quite far enough to find...
I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy.
You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself.

True Love Author Unknown
    True love is a sacred flame
    That burns eternally,
    And none can dim its special glow
    Or change its destiny.
    True love speaks in tender tones
    And hears with gentle ear,
    True love gives with open heart
    And true love conquers fear.
    True love makes no harsh demands
    It neither rules nor binds,
    And true love holds with gentle hands
    The hearts that it entwines.

Carrie's Poem" from Sex and the City
His hello was the end of her endings Her laugh was their first step down the aisle
His hand would be hers to hold forever His forever was as simple as her smile
He said she was what was missing She said instantly she knew
She was a question to be answered And his answer was "I do"

  

- Ephesians 5:25-28 and 31-33

Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh. However each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself and the wife respect her husband.

- From the Book of RUTH

And Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God; where you die I will die and there will I be buried. May the lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you.

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense and is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people’s faults, but delights in the truth.

It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope. It is always ready to endure whatever comes. True love does not come to an end.

- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him.

- Corinthians 13 (condensed version)

Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous.

Love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not

take offense and is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people’s faults, but delights in the truth.

It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope. It is always ready to endure

whatever comes. True love does not come to an end.

- Art of Marriage

A Good Marriage must be created.

In 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, "1 love you," at least once each day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives;

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is speaking of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other 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 not only marrying the right partner. It is being the right partner.

Additional passages Candle Lighting, Sand Ceremony, Hand Tying Ceremony and Fingerprint canvas

 Candle Lighting 1

FIRE IS BELIEVED BY MANY TO REPRESENT PASSION AND PURITY. IT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE SECURITY OF HOME AND FAMILY AS THE WARMTH OF THE HEARTS AND THE HOME FIRES.

WE KINDLE THIS LIGHT IN HARMONY WITH ALL THAT IS GOOD IN LIFE. IT'S DANCING FLAME SYMBOLIZES THE BEAUTY AND VITALITY OF THE LOVE THAT HAS BROUGHT ______ AND ______

HERE TODAY, WHICH WILL ENRICH AND SUSTAIN THEIR LIVES THROUGH THE YEARS AHEAD.

_______ AND ______ WILL NOW LIGHT THE OUTSIDE CANDLES REPRESENTING THE LIGHT OF THEIR  INDIVIDUAL SELVES.

_______ AND _______ AS TOGETHER YOU NOW LIGHT THE SINGLE CANDLE, WHILE LEAVING THE SEPERATE CANDLES BURNING, MAY IT BE KNOWN TO ALL THAT YOU ARE INDIVIDUALS, EACH UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT. YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE COMMON COMMITMENT OF SHARING YOUR LIVES, YOUR HEART AND YOUR HOME TOGETHER. 

 

Candle Lighting 3

As you light your separate candles, you honor your separate selves and your uniqueness. This candle, represents the light of your being: your special talents, needs, visions and gifts all that makes you who you are, you honor with this flame.

As you blend your flames to light the third candle, you celebrate the power of separate lights to ignite a common flame of passion and commitment and to come together as one.

From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls are destined to find one another, their two streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.

 Sand Ceremony 3

Today ____ and ____ have chosen to commemorate their marriage through the celebration of the Sand Ceremony. This ceremony symbolizes the inseparable union of___and___into a new and eternal marital relationship. ___ and ___ will simultaneously pour separate containers of sand into a common vessel. Each grain of sand in their separate containers represents a unique and separate moment, decision feeling or event that helped shaped ___and ___ into the separate and unique individuals that they are today. AS they pour their separate containers of sand into a common vessel, those separate and independent individuals will cease to exist. Instead they will merge into a loving and supportive martial community. __and___ just as these grains of sand can never be separated into their individual containers again, so will your marriage be.

 Sand Ceremony 1

TODAY THIS RELATIONSHIP IS SYMBOLIZED THROUGH THE POURING OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS OF SAND ONE, REPRESENTING YOU ____ AND ALL THAT YOU WERE, ALL THAT YOU ARE, AND ALL THAT YOU WILL EVER BE AND THE OTHER REPRESENTING YOU ____ AND ALL THAT YOU WERE AND ALL THAT YOU ARE AND ALL THAT YOU WILL EVER BE. AS THESE TWO CONTAINERS OF SAND ARE POURED INTO THE THIRD CONTAINER, THE INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS OF SAND WILL NO LONGER EXIST, BUT WILL BE JOINED TOGETHER AS ONE. JUST AS THESE GRAINS OF SAND CAN NEVER BE POURED AND SEPARATED AGAIN INTO THE INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS, SO WILL YOUR MARRIAGE BE.

Handing Tying ceremony

As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. Woven into this cord, into its very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together. With the entwining of this knot do I tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last.

In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another. By this cord you are thus bound to your vow. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last.

May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths.

Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconcilliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows. Remember that it is not this physical cord, but what it represents, that keeps you together."

 

FINGERPRINT CANVAS

____ AND ____ HAVE EXPRESSED DURING THIS PROCESS

THEIR LOVE AND DEVOTION TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, HOW

MUCH THEY HAVE MADE THEM THE PEOPLE THEY ARE TODAY, NURTURED AND CARED FOR THEM, AND GREATLY INFLUENCED THEIR RELATIONSHIP.  ____AND___ WILL NOW STAMP THEIR FINGERPRINTS ON THIS CANVAS TO SHOW THEIR UNION TODAY.  THEY ASK THAT THEIR MOTHERS PLEASE JOIN THEM AND STAMP THEIR FINGERS AS WELL TO SYMBOLIZE THE FAMILIES COMING TOGETHER.  AS A SIGN

OF THE COMMITMENT EACH OF YOU HAVE HAD ON THEIR LIVES THEY ASK THAT DURING THIS EVENINGS RECEPTION YOU ALSO STAMP YOUR FINGERPRINGS ON THEIR CANVAS AS A SIGN OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR LIFE PREVIOUSLY AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE MARRIAGE FOR YEARS TO COME.