If you’re a mid-life (or later) bride or groom, “Relax” might be your mantra. That’s how one 55-year old bride (third wedding) was able to cope when she realized she’d left her bridal bouquet at home in the refrigerator. “My first two weddings were about pleasing other people,” she told Match.com. “But I ended up being very pleased this time around …. We both felt it was our ceremony.” Turning the ceremony into our ceremony can really make the difference when you are getting married later in life. Your ceremony can be anything and everything both of you want it to be. Find a JP who will help make that […]
Author: Loretta Jay
Is a Wedding Rehearsal Necessary?
I’m a Tom Brady fan. Brady, as you may know, is the quarterback for the New England Patriots. He’s considered one of the best — if not the best — quarterback to ever play professional football. But he didn’t start out that way. He has never looked like the prototypical quarterback. Which is why in high school and college, other quarterbacks were brought in to replace him. But he won. They didn’t. In the NFL draft he was forgotten. He was so skinny. He was slow. I think he still owns the record for the slowest time for quarterbacks in the 40-yard dash […]
Your Wedding: The Beginning Of A Happy Marriage
Across all societies, the wedding ceremony is held as sacred. It links to the other momentous events of our life cycle – like birth and (yes) death – in significance. Most religions see the wedding as a rite by which two persons are joined and their destinies merged. The married couple becomes the new generation of family. So a wedding is both an outcome of one family unit and the beginning of another: a conversion that mirrors Nature. In the Jewish tradition, “the dawning wedding day heralds the happiest and holiest day of one’s life.” Catholics too see the wedding […]
Who Invites Their Ex To Their Own Wedding?
I know I wouldn’t. And neither would my wife. But I read a story about a situation like this. The groom’s ex-girlfriend was invited to the wedding. She of course got drunk – and started screaming at the groom. And then the bride got into a fight with her. Needless to say, this ruined the wedding ceremony. This is why it’s important to have a professional JP perform your wedding. You don’t want an amateur to lead your marriage ceremony. Because you never know what is going to happen. It is an emotional day. All sorts of things may bubble […]
Recognize The Ups And Downs Of Marriage In Your Ceremony
Congratulations! It’s delightful. It’s delicious. It’s marvelous. You’re in love! It’s the stuff of life. Let’s get married.Hate to rain on your parade but you know of course that “in love” is only the beginning, and sometimes the middle and the end – of love. But it isn’t ALL OF LOVE. This is why couples who are getting married might like to inject into their wedding ceremony a note of realism. After all, we all know that “Love is not just champagne and roses!” Ah darn. How to you infuse that sober truth into your wedding, without it being a […]
Your Marriage Vows — Real Or Fairytale?
You want your wedding day to be a dream come true. But should it also be a fairy tale? When you write your marriage vows or talk to your Justice of the Peace about what s/he will say at your ceremony, are there stars in your eyes or are you taking an honest look at your future together? How realistic should your marriage vows be? You know that half of all marriages end in divorce but you don’t expect yours to be one of them. Still, would it make sense to say “I do promise to do my utmost to love you, for […]
Connect The Past And The Future: Wear “Something Old” At Your Wedding
There are so many ways to make your wedding ceremony meaningful, but perhaps nothing makes it more so than when you wear something old that belonged to one of your ancestors. Traditionally, many brides wear the gown their mother or grandmother wore as she walked down the aisle — with possibly a few alterations to keep with the spirit of the times. But how about that ring? Perhaps you are the lucky one who inherited your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding ring. How much more meaning will your “I dos” carry as that ring is slipped onto your finger (or as […]
5 Tips To Writing Your Own Wedding Ceremony
While it may be true that the ceremony is the radiant sun of your wedding day, around which every other wedding festivity orbits, it is also true that many brides (and grooms) put off until the last moment the design of that all-important center to their nuptials. Why, you ask yourself, why did you tell your JP that you and your fiancée would write the ceremony? Is it too late to ask for help? It’s never too late, until it is. So call your JP now! (and read these tips to snap you out of your panicked brain freeze.) 1. Get Help from […]
Three Reasons To Plan A Wedding Ceremony Rehearsal
Here you are only months from your wedding, a day you’ve been looking forward to your whole life, and cash is flying out the door! Who knew getting married would be so expensive? All those details – from the $$$-dollar gown to the $$$-dollar venue and everything in between…. Cha- Ching!! So where can you cut corners? Well, if you are like some less-than-prudent brides and grooms, the first place you look is the marriage officiant. How about shaving off that extra $100 she is charging to attend the rehearsal? That’s $100 you can put towards something more important, like […]
Is A JP Right For You? Five Reasons To Say YES
So you are ready to select your wedding officiant and you are wondering if you should forgo the pomp and circumstance of a religious ceremony and choose a Justice of the Peace instead. But how do you know for sure if a JP wedding is right for you? To help you decide, take a look at the five most common reasons couples choose a JP as their wedding officiant. You want simple and quick. Finding a JP who can preside over a simple wedding at your town hall or local park for a modest fee is easy. If you wake up one morning with a […]
Whom should you ask to marry you? A JP, of course!
Having been a Justice of the Peace for several years, and having been married more than once myself, I think it is safe to say that I have heard the question “Will you marry me?” probably more than most people. Usually it starts with a phone call that goes something like this: “Hi, I’m getting married and wanted to talk to you about your JP services.” Or “I found your name on www.findajp.com. I’m getting married in February. Can you help me?” And more than a dozen times, “Your listing on findajp.com says you do short notice. My wedding is […]