Weddings and Sacred Unions

Weddings and Sacred Unions

Email or call Paul to request a document that describes services and the planning process.

I will work with you to create a personalized wedding ceremony that embodies your love and commitment to one another, your faith convictions, and any spiritual traditions that you resonate with. I can also respect any special dynamics having to do with the faith of other members of your families.

Rev. Paul's Spiritual Focus

I am a former Roman Catholic priest who actively pursues an all encompassing Creation Spirituality. I call myself Post-Denominational because I believe God wants us to celebrate the commonality in each other's traditions. While still having a deep love for the Catholic traditions and theology I grew up with, I embrace any spiritual tradition that encourages us to grow holistically and be more loving with one another.

After meeting with you and getting to know your values, I will construct a personalized wedding ceremony that embodies your unique expression. It will be treasured by you, your families and your friends for years to come.

Customary Wedding Options

Welcoming for all family and friends gathered
Participation from family or friends
	Any thoughts about the bride or groom you family/friends would like to share as they embark on this journey together?
One or more Readings
	Passages from sacred scriptures. One great selection is the apostle Paul's treatise on love from 1 Corinthians 13.
	Perhaps the bride or groom has written a poem, or maybe a family member has written some noble words.
	Passages from contemporary texts.
	See Readings and Poems on the Helpful Links page.

Sermonette
	This is a 10-12 minute talk that serves to unite your families and friends in the common cause for which they have gathered, and to enhance their experience of the wedding ceremony and your commitment to each other.
Music
	Many parts of the ceremony can be accompanied by music or song.
	You may wish to have a soloist perform a meaningful song or instrumental, perhaps during one of the rituals.

Washing each other's hands with glacial water

Rituals
	Rings
	Bread and Wine - Communal celebration, everyone partaking of the same loaf (Judeo-Christian tradition).
	Water Vessel - Bless each other, drink from the same cup, purify each other's hands (Native American tradition).
	Unity Candle - The bride and groom simultaneously light the unity candle from two other candles that represent the bride's and groom's families.
	Wine - First wine is blessed, then bride and groom drink from the same cup.
	Burning of Sage - Couple incenses each other (Native American tradition).
	Rope / Lasso / Scarf - Symbol of unity (some Latin cultures).
	Breaking of Wine Glass - Symbolizing the destruction of the Temple, and the fragility of human relationships. The couple should stay together for as long as it takes to reassemble the glass (Jewish tradition).
	Your choice from your own traditions, or create your own.

Drinking pure glacial water

Vows

	I can provide you with samples of traditional vows, or you can write your own, or I can help you write them. See Creating your Own Vows on the Helpful Links page.
	Vows can be exchanged as questions from the officiant to the couple with a response of "I do" or "I will."
	The Bride and Groom may want to pose questions to each other.
	The Bride and Groom may choose to make statements to each other.
	Some combination of the above.

Blessings

Presentation of the newly married Bride and Groom to the community
	How would you like to be introduced?

Other Wedding Options

Sufi Dancing. I can lead those present in a very simple group dance that requires no prior experience. The dancing participants use gestures to bless and support the couple. Fun, meaningful, and memorable!

If during the ceremony, this can symbolize the community's love and support of the couple as a preparation for exchanging their vows.

If after the ceremony, this can be a graceful way to invite everyone to the dance floor to bless the couple. Afterwards this makes a nice transition into the regular dancing portion of your event.

Pre-Marital Counseling

See Spiritual Counseling on the the All Services page.

Signing the marriage certificate