Author: Cynthia Dumont

Writing Your Own Vows Part 1: Overcoming Stage Fright

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

When you’re asked if you’ll be writing your own vows, how will you reply? Yes, I can’t wait to affirm my commitment in the presence of witnesses I’m not sure No, I’ll be too emotional to speak Before you answer, here are a few things to consider. A Moment in Time The moment in your ceremony where vows are exchanged is one of the most important in your life story; one that you will never experience again. It’s your opportunity to declare what you will do, or more importantly, who you will be in this union. Once the moment has […]

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A Primer on the Wedding Processional

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Wedding processionals can be confusing – who walks down the aisle when, and with whom? That alone is reason enough to schedule a rehearsal, especially if you have a large wedding party. The good news is that the order in which your party walks down the aisle is truly up to you. But if you lean toward the traditional, let’s take a look at how it would typically go. Before the wedding party walks down the aisle, the guests are ushered to their seats. Although the bride’s family traditionally sits on the left and groom’s on the right, many modern […]

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Planning a Service for those who Serve

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Military wedding with couple under arch of swords

Updated November 7, 2022 During this month when we commemorate Veteran’s Day, I thought I’d look at the ways we can bring military customs into the wedding ceremonies of men and women who serve our country. If you are an active service member planning a wedding, or if you know someone who is, consider these time-honored rituals for a unique and inspiring wedding. Ceremony Space Active military are allowed to have their ceremony performed in the chapel on the base where they are stationed. In that case, the chaplain will officiate the ceremony. But a military chapel is not required […]

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Present in Spirit at Your Wedding

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Remembering the deceased at your ceremoy

It’s the most important day of your life and all your loved ones are there to support you…almost. If people you love deeply have passed and cannot attend your wedding except in your heart, how can you recognize them in your ceremony? It’s a very personal decision, but you are not alone. Here are a few ways others have done it. Acknowledgment For some, simply naming loved ones in the introduction of the ceremony feels right. Calling attention to the surroundings, such as blue skies, warm sun, the love of family and friends, and then naming those who are here […]

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Animal Attendants in Your Ceremony

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Doves at your wedding ceremony

The animals in fairy tales steal our hearts: Cinderella’s songbirds, Bambi’s butterflies and the Darling children’s Nana in Peter Pan. But how about incorporating these icons into your own real-life fairy tale? If you want to bring animals like these into your wedding ceremony, you can certainly do it. But to make sure you get the happy ending you dream of, here are a few important things you should know. Doves Releasing a dove is a symbol of hope. During your ceremony, you could release just two doves to symbolize your union and future together, or a flock to represent […]

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Wedding Readings that Tell Your Story

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Wedding reading and poems

To create a beautiful and powerful wedding ceremony, your wedding officiant will strive to weave together your past, present, and future as a couple. A collection of just the right words, placed in just the right order, tells the story of who you are, touching the hearts of everyone within earshot. Readings play an important role in that narrative. Yes, you may already know you want to incorporate readings to help define this moment, but perhaps you don’t know where to begin. Readings and quotes can come from almost any source, but here are some classic sources to consider. The […]

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Quiz Yourself to Find the Right Ceremony Tone

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Quiz yourself to determine the right tone for your ceremony

In a conversation with your officiant, you might be asked what you’d like the tone of your ceremony to be. Your JP wants your ceremony to reflect you as a couple — your values, beliefs, passions, and style. How would your ceremony feel overall if it were to express the essence of both of you? If you’re not quite sure how to answer that question, take the following quiz. Add up your answers at the end to find out what tone of ceremony might be right for you. Which of these venues is where you’d most like to be married? […]

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A Fresh Take on Old Traditions

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Updated traditions in your ceremony

“I like the idea of using the traditions that my mother and grandmother used in their weddings, but I also want to keep my ceremony fresh and a little unexpected.” Each of the elements in your ceremony, readings, rituals, and vows for example, plays an important role in defining your day. Like instruments in a symphony orchestra, when joined together in concert they should swell your heart. The officiant is the conductor. Be sure to have a conversation with him or her about what’s important to you so that it can be included in the score. To get the conversation […]

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Don’t Let Language be a Barrier

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Bilingual ceremonies

Recently, I officiated the wedding of a bride from New Hampshire and a groom from Paris. He spoke English with a charming French accent. But his family, flying over for the festivities, did not. The couple requested a bilingual ceremony, but I do not speak a word of French. What was I going to do?These days, this isn’t an unusual dilemma. As our world grows smaller and more interconnected, cross-cultural weddings have become much more commonplace. These types of ceremonies serve not only to join the couple in marriage, but also to merge two cultures and languages. You can get […]

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Who Should be Your Officiant: A JP or Your Best Friend

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Friend officiating wedding ceremony

Your wedding:  imagine that magical moment when you say “I do” and your life changes forever. Who could be better than your best friend to join you in marriage? STOP.  Are you sure about that? In recent years, some states have relaxed the rules for who can officiate a wedding, authorizing almost anyone to be “officiant for a day.”  Fill out a one-page form, bring it to your town hall, give them a check, and voila! For one day, you’re official. From the government’s perspective, it’s an easy way to generate a little revenue. In Vermont, for $100 any adult can now […]

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Bring back the real JPs!

Posted on | Author Sarah Jay

Is the title “Justice of the Peace” destined to become a generic term for marriage officiant? Not so long ago, most states elected or appointed JPs whose primary duty was to perform marriages. Today many of those states have abolished that role and that official title. Justices of the Peace in Nevada, Texas, Florida and other southern and western states are primarily the lowest level of court justice for whom officiating at marriages is a subordinate (and happy) perk of the office. In some states, a law degree is a prerequisite; in others, not. The New England states are the […]

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