Friday, October 19, 2012

Dispatches from the Marriage Factory: A Grand Affair

Reading Joe's post this week has made me so homesick.  I really miss the weddings.  I especially miss the ones like he describes.  This week Joe asks for your opinion.  Leave comments please.  I will be sure he checks in and sees them.  Now here's Joe.

During the standard ceremony I perform, I ask the bride & groom to
join hands. What should the bride do when she's already holding a
bouquet? I don't think there's a right answer. Some keep it, the
groom wrapping his fingers around the stem and hers. Others hand it
to a witness, seeming to regret having brought it in the first place.
Readers, what do you think?

I had the most elaborate wedding ever this week. The couple wanted a
traditional processional. The groom's best man and groomsmen stood by
him. There were three flower girls - luckily, their title was
ceremonial; no petals to clean up afterwards - and a 2 or 3-year-old
ringbearer in a 3-piece suit. As the bride prepared to walk down the
aisle, one of the witnesses played the wedding march on her phone.
After the ceremony, many pictures were taken.

For the first time I can remember (although I'm sure not the first
time ever), all the couples were first-timers - none had been married
before. Considering how much planning went into the large wedding, I
suspect it will be the only one for them.

--
Joe Mallon

3 comments:

Janet A said...

Some of my brides place the bouquet on one of the little tables. I have even held the bouquet when the witness is busy taking pictures. I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer.

Sue T. said...

Clearly the maid/matron of honor is supposed to take and hold the bouquet during the ceremony. That's the peril of having a non-traditional wedding - no attendants!

Kakers said...

My Matron of Honor (my sister) held mine and during my sisters wedding, I held hers and since it was HUGE and required 2 hands to hold, her co-Maid of honor held mine. Designating a person to take it ahead of time, regardless of who it is, is a good idea. I think if it is a non-traditional ceremony, if possible, it may be helpful for the officiant to ask the bride ahead of time "will somebody be taking your flowers when I ask you to join hands?" That way it gives the bride the chance to decide who should hold them, or to decide she and the groom will hold them together. ~Katy