Judith Kubish

Woke up this morning feeling impending panic about the holiday season ahead.  Took some meditation time to center and focus and came to my computer with much more serenity.  Received the Chopra Center newsletter for December with a wonderful summary of de-stressing actions.  So– here’s the link.  Seems to me these same suggestions can really help with wedding preparation stress, too!  Ahhhh–welcome peaceful and enjoyable holiday time–peaceful and enjoyable wedding planning.    What a gift for ourselves, each other, and our world! http://www.chopra.com/agni/dec09/tips

Among the many choices you make about your wedding, there are only a few that are necessary.  You NEED to have a place to get married, an officiant to make it legal, and your statements of intention/vows to each other.  Everything else is a WANT.  When dealing with finding an officiant,  there is another distinction to look at:  do you want an officiant or an officiant and a ceremony? 

Some couples are looking for the “legal person” ( a minister or a judge) to be present at a certain time,  lead them into saying “I do”, pronounce them “man and wife” and let them kiss and get on with the party.  This is especially effective if you’re free-falling in a sky dive and the officiant is mouthing the necessary words to have you marry before the chutes open! 

Of course, if you are marrying in a particular religious tradition, the ceremony is dictated by the customs and ritual books of that religion. 

There is also the option, though, of choosing an officiant AND a ceremony.  In this case, you are looking for someone who has the credentials to be a legal officiant and the skills and creativity to create a ceremony with you.  As a Certified Celebrant (www.celebrantusa.com) this is my background, my expertise—and my passion!  I  accompany couples on a pleasant, and affirming process of creating a ceremony reflecting who they are, how they  have come to love each other, why they want to spend their lives together, their hopes and dreams.  I invite them to be conscious and choiceful about the words that are said, the symbols used, the tone, music, and movement that are part of THEIR ceremony.

Whether you talk with me or not, as you make this choice for your wedding day, I hope it will be clearer to you now : are you looking for an officiant—or are you looking for both an officiant and a ceremony?