VIDEO: Alternative to "Traditional" Best Man's Speech?

How does one simultaneously:

• Show off your music skills
• Dis your sibling for not possessing same said skills
• Avoid public speaking
• Send off aforementioned sibling on his wedding day?

This video is touted by the author to be yet another of "the favourite (ed. = best) things ever". Hiperbole aside, it may resonate for wedding guests and participants of a certain age. Funny thing is, the emotionlessness of the Kraftwerkian robot dummy was what they were going for...because, apparently:

We knew the hardest thing would be doing a traditional best man’s speech because we would cry too much.

At least, according to Gawker. Still, it took time, effort and caring to write and create such a production, so i know these guys love their bro. And what better thing to follow or precede or replace a wedding slideshow, than with this six-and-a-half-minute epic?!!  i think i would've taken the speech.

BTW at the time of this blog post, the video had had +350k YouTube views but the band/ensemble still only has 500 or so Facebook fans.

TRADITION: Wine Box - Handmade for Ceremony with Family Participation

WINE BOX WEDDING TRADITION. (clockwise from top left:
wine with wedding year vintage; wine box handmade by couple; copy of wedding vows: photo;
wedding invitation [under photo]; nails and hammer.)

Recently, a couple i wed chose to include a made-by-hand wine box (or is it winebox ?) in their wedding ceremony.  Their box included a bottle of wine from 2012, the year of their marriage; a copy of marriage vows; a  picture they took together, and their wedding invitation. These items served as symbols and as a reminder of their love for one another, on this day, and leading up to it. 

The wine box was built of wood and the couple constructed and stained the wine box themselves.  Once the box was filled during the ceremony, the couple invited their parents to come forward and help them hammer the nails to seal the box shut.  The box is like a wedding time capsule, because it will not be opened until their tenth anniversary.

Other alternatives or variations of winebox contents to consider: wine from the year you first met or began dating; ticket stub from concert or event at which you first met; the first photo you took together; a souvenir or symbol from an important shared occasion (e.g. a party favour from New Year's Eve; fortune of fortune cookie from your first date; etc.)...  Or, in line with the time capsule concept: if you are having a small wedding (or not!?), ask your guests to bring an item that represents your friendship or relationship to contribute to the box.  The possibilities are many, and limited only by what you consider appropriate!

For more information, please contact A Non-Denominational Ceremony at www.ceremonyceremony.com .

WEDDING: Officiant for Intimate Westlake Village Inn Ceremony

Westlake Village Inn Wedding Officiant, originally uploaded by dj venus.

Congratulations, No. and Jo.!

These two were wed on a patio within the lovely grounds of the Westlake Village Inn.

There was no music, no elabourate choreography. The couple simply exchanged rings and a kiss, surrounded by friends and family. Photography (although not on the left) by JEN of Laurie Bailey Photography.

WEDDING: Asian Ceremony Officiant for Small Destination Wedding Celebration

Asian Wedding Ceremony Officiant at Palm Springs Area Golf Course

Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, CA is one of the many golf courses, resorts and spas that host hundreds of weddings each year in the Palm Springs area. But, did you know a small and intimate wedding ceremony and celebration is still possible, even at a large venue?

A couple from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada brought their loved ones down for a week of golf and sun and a short family-only wedding ceremony.  There was a total of twelve seats in the audience, and the couple stood alone with the officiator / minister / Celebrant.  To symbolise the union of two families in the weddings, the two mothers of the bride and groom blended sand in a unity ritual.

With the help of the resort's attentive catering staff, they took photos on the greens and on a golf cart, and  later ate in a private dining room.  Huge thanks to Darin, catering manager at Rancho Las Palmas, for making this such a wonderful, special occasion!

Please see A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY for more information about having your small, simple ceremony with an experienced, affordable, qualified and trained wedding officiant.

 Photo of Rancho Las Palmas - Asian Wedding Officiant,
originally uploaded by dj venus

WEDDING: Spiritual Wedding Officiant for Inclusive 1/31/11 Ceremony

CONGRATULATIONS Stephanie and Sean!  This incredible couple was a complete joy to work with, and their ceremony was a Celebrant's dream-come-true!

The ceremony, held at the Santa Ana Doubletree Hotel near Orange County's John Wayne Airport, was full of symbols and traditions of special meaning to the couple, from around the world, and from the entire human spectrum.  The date itself, 1/31/11, held its own significance.

Where do we begin?  First of all, it was very important for the ceremony to acknowledge and honour all the world's faiths, rather than to exclude any of them.  Both Stephanie and Sean are fortunate to have large extended families and close friends who all agreed to participate in the wedding ceremony.  This presented an ideal way to present the readings and passages from the world's religions, spiritual leaders and thinkers: by having loved ones read them.

Sean and Stephanie chose to include the Japanese San San Ku Do sake ritual, with her maid of honour pouring the sake for each cup sipped.  They also had a sand ceremony, where Stephanie's father and uncles (his brothers) each recited one of the seven Hindu Precepts of Marriage as the couple poured their containers of black and white sand into one.

More details to come, as i find more photos of the wedding to share with you!  Ceremony music by JOY VARGO (harp) and JESSICA HADDY (violin).  Photography (not above) by Smith.  Event design by the bride.  Day-of event coordination by Amy at EVERY LITTLE DETAIL.

INTERESTING: Pre-Wedding Passive Aggression...Love, Mom & Dad

Occasionally, we post wedding and funeral (and other ceremony-related) submissions from the POST SECRET website.  Today, check out one of the most-loved posts of 2010 on PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE NOTES.COM!

There was a check enclosed with the above note, which was written by parents to their daughter and the bride, Katie (although Katie says it was 100% 'the way my Mom is. She signed my Dad’s name too, but it’s from her…just her.').  In case you missed it, the note states:

"...We are sure you will be a beautiful bride.  To help insure our wedding dress investment, please buy some scales of your choosing with this money and weigh yourself once a week..."

INTERESTING: Resentment & Wedding Complainers on Post Secret

This one was called "Wedding Revenge".

from POST SECRET week of 21 Nov. 2010

WEDDING: Officiant in Newport Beach, CA

Congratulations, ToHa and Cha., married on 23 May 2010!  The couple rented a beachfront property on Seashore Drive for their special ceremony with the things that mean the most in life: good food, good friends and family.

Newport Beach Wedding Ceremony Officiant, originally uploaded by dj venus. (NOTE: i had already changed into regular clothes, post-ceremony, as it was very breezy on the beach!)

"Growing up in Orange County, To. recalls the many summers he spent here in Newport, and it will always be an especially significant place to him. Being at the beach reminds To. and Cha. of a time when things were easy and carefree. They both have fond memories of being at the beach as kids with their friends, long before the stress of jobs and responsibility set in.

"Cha. and To. say they feel closest when they are together as a family, with loved ones, spending time together without the distractions of every day life. They have brought you here to the beautiful California coast, because it is a place where they both can feel peaceful and relaxed. What better place than the beach to start a new life together?"

The couple made family vows to their daughter, as well as exchanging vows of marriage to each other. Along with their three-year old, they then poured sand from three containers to symbolise their forever unified family!

WEDDING: Officiant for Outdoor Ceremony at L.A. Arboretum in Arcadia, CA

Congratulations, Anna and Sang, married 11 February 2010!

Amongst the peacocks, green grounds and winter rose garden at the Los Angeles Arboretum, this couple had an intimate ceremony with just family.  i was fortunate to have been found by the bride at the last minute...a week before the wedding.

Photography was by LISA TOP and RODD LINDSTROM (of Albertson Wedding Chapel?).  They were a very cool team to work with.  i hope to get some photos up soon.

WEDDING: Outdoor Ceremony at Kellogg West, Cal Poly Pomona CA

CONGRATULATIONS, Tava and Jon!

One of the most touching points of this ceremony was the presentation of the bride. When asked "Who presents Tava to be married to Jon?", Tava's grandfather replied "I do, her grandfather, in honour of her father David." There was also a corsage left on the seat next to the bride's mother in her father's memory.

As an officiant, i am constantly learning new things, whether to engage the audience, comfourt the participants, or in this case, to scope out possible auditoury issues or environmental noise problems...!?

At the rehearsal, the onsite coordinator warned of the potential for cows to moo, since Kellogg West is surrounded by Cal Poly's agriculture fields. However, the ceremony itself was interrupted by the screeching of tires and revving of engines, as an apparent racetrack is laid out just behind the hill, down from where the ceremony took place. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done, and the couple and their families had a good sense of humour about things.

Many thanks to Cori and her team at Kellogg West. Photography by __________ .

WEDDING: Oceanfront Ceremony in Laguna Beach, CA

CONGRATULATIONS, Kendra and Scott!

My workmate and his lovely wife were married at Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach, CA yesterday evening. As they were both previously married, this wedding created a new family, with a total of five children! In honour of this occasion, we created a special family blending or unification ritual: one by one, each of the five children, and husband Scott, handed Kendra a different flower. Once she tied together the six flowers with her one, she was left with a lovely bouquet of seven flowers, to symbolise the new family!

Professional photography (not above) by: Cindy Meadors Photography. (BTW You can see the cement semi-circle where everyone was seated at Radified.com's site here.)

WEDDING: Courtyard Ceremony at Villa del Sol in Fullerton, CA

CONGRATULATIONS: Heidi and Andy!

This wedding taught me a great deal. i was fortunate and deeply honoured to have been chosen to officiate at the wedding of this couple. The happy occasion was even more significant because of the attendance of the bride's father, who has been ill. It was absolutely incredible to see the amount of love and concern within this group of family and friends. The beautiful bride wore a dark red dress, and the groom a black suit with red and black checkered Vans slip-ons!

We had researched for a family unity ritual, and nothing struck a chord, especially the tired old family medallion tradition or unity candle. Until, that is, the bride decided to use a family ritual of their own. One of the definite highlights of the ceremony was this 'family handshake' which consisted of a four-way hand-jive type of performance, including the bride, the groom and the bride's two children Scarlet and Ozzie. The use of this perfect little series of claps and slaps brought much joy and laughter to the occasion.

Catering and location provided by Villa del Sol.

WEDDING: Vietnamese Rituals

Traditional Vietnamese wedding rituals and customs are a mixture of native and Chinese cultures and are strongly influenced by Confucian morality. Their purposes are to ensure the conjugal happiness for the couple and to form close relations between two families.

The groom comes to the bride’s house with an elder of his family who has had a happy family life to pay homage to the ancestors of the bride’s family and to pay respect to her parents. Then the bride is taken before the ancestral altar of her husband’s family where she will be “introduced” to her husband’s ancestors’ spirits as the new family member. After that, the couple will share a cup of rice wine and a small dish of steamed sticky rice as a promise to share happiness as well as hardship.

After the ceremony is over, there is usually a wedding party with the presence of members of both families and some family friends to celebrate the union of not only the couple but also the two families.

References:
Huu Ngoc and Lady Borton, “Wedding Customs”, The Gioi Publisher
Phan Ke Binh, “The Customs of Vietnam”, Van Hoc Publisher

COURTESY OF: Vietnamese Wedding Style blog