In 50 years ....

"In 50 years, as they celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary ...."

I write personalized wedding ceremonies, with a lot of input from the couples. One of the questions I ask them is: "When you reach your Golden Wedding Anniversary (50 years), what do you want to look back on and celebrate?" (Naturally, if the couple is older -- like ME! -- I would ask about their Silver (25 years) Wedding Anniversary.)

I ask this question for many reasons.

First, and this is most important to me, I am planting a seed or "affirming" that they will still be married and celebrating in 50 years. I want the couple to think about their long, happy and durable marriage, not *just* the celebration of their wedding day.

This also tells the guests that the newlyweds plan to be married for many, many years. Hopefully, if the marriage goes through tough times the guests will remind the couple of their commitment to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary together.

And, on a practical note, I need a way to "end" the Love Story portion of the ceremony. So I talk about what the couple will look back on, and finish the section with "And they will look forward to many more years together as a happily married couple." Again, planting a seed / affirming their longevity in marriage!


Today, August 28, 2010, Levi and Emily got married at the beautiful Catta Verdera Country Club in Lincoln, CA.

And on August 28, 2060, "as they celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Levi and Emily expect to look at their close-knit family with pride, knowing their children and grandchildren were raised with love, laughter and strong values and have grown to be happy and responsible adults. ... They hope to be an example of a thriving partnership, marked with respect, kindness and growth, individually and as a couple...."

Emily and Levi already have a blueprint for their long-lasting marriage. Both were raised with the example of longevity, as their parents have all been married for more than 30 years. We acknowledged this accomplishment during the ceremony, publicly thanking Paula and Bill, and Jan and Mark, for their wonderful example. Their tearful smiles clearly said, "It has been worth it!"

Levi and Emily "will continue to be best friends, still deeply in love and inspiring each other. And they will look forward to many more years together as a happily married couple."

Congratulations to the newlyweds! While I doubt that I'll still be around for Levi and Emily's 50-year renewal of vows, I am confident they will celebrate! Probably with many of those who celebrated with them this evening as they began their journey as husband and wife!


So, on your Golden Wedding Anniversary, what do YOU want to look back on and celebrate?

Rev. Jeri

Make a Wish

Katherine and Daniel got married on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Theirs was a lovely ceremony (in my humble opinion!)

Their reception included some familiar ideas: Tables named for favorite restaurants, bottles of wine as favors, gorgeous orange stargazer lilies and roses.

There were also some unique elements, my favorite of which was the memory board with photos of their parents and each set of grandparents on their respective wedding days. (Daniel and Katherine have a legacy of longevity in marriage, and we thanked their parents for their example during the ceremony.)

But there was something in their printed program that really caught my attention. I was so impressed, that I want to share it here ... and maybe someone else will use this idea in the future. (I believe that's "paying it forward.")

On the last page of the program, Katherine and Daniel said, "In honor of all our guests here today, we have made a charitable donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation. This gift will help make a special child's wish come true. Thank you for helping us make our wishes come true and joining us on our wedding day."

What a beautiful idea.

And ... congratulations to the newlyweds, Katherine and Daniel!