Weddings are full of humor. They are live events with little rehearsal time. They are packed with emotion and expectation. Anything can happen. I have been performing weddings for more than 20 years, and I have seen some strange things.
The bride's six year old son was the ring bearer. Kids provide a lot of surprises. When we got into the message, her son said in a loud voice, "I have to go to the bathroom." The mom and bride kept her composure and said, "Go ahead." The little guy jumped down from the stage and sprinted to the back door to the restroom. Just as we finished the ring vows, her son sprinted back down the center aisle, jumped back on the platform and stood at attention. Apparently, no one tried to stop him. The wedding continued with as much dignity as possible.
The unity candle ceremony is always a beautiful and significant part of a ceremony. It symbolizes the union of the man and woman into a new "oneness." They are no longer two, but one. However, it is also a good idea to remember that you are working with a live flame. The mothers of the bride and groom usually come to the front before the ceremony begins and light the tapers so they will be ready for the bride and groom to light when it is time. They did this. The father of the bride escorted his darling daughter down the aisle ready to give her away. I began to welcome everyone when I heard a "crack" behind me. It did not sound good. The groom peered around me with a concerned look on his face. I knew something was wrong. I hurried through the welcome and asked the important question: "Who gives this woman to this man in holy wedlock?" I knew it would be my one chance to turn and check out the situation. Sure enough, the small candle used to light the tapers, which had been sitting inside a small glass holder, had cracked the glass and the flame fell to the table which was covered in lace, paper lace. Though very small, the flame was beginning to spread quickly. The entire backdrop behind the small table was covered in paper lace. I laid down my Bible and used my hands to snuff out the fire before it spread. It only took a few seconds. By the time, I turned around, the father had kissed his daughter, given her hand to the groom, and they had stepped into place. No problem. I learned later that the groom was actually a fireman, so we were safe all the time.
Whenever a person locks their knees while standing for a long time it has the potential to cause fainting, especially if this is combined with heat, fatigue, or lack of food. The ceremony had started and we had almost gotten to the wedding vows when I heard a loud "Crash!" Everyone seemed to gasp at the same time. The ring bearer, a boy about nine years old, had passed out and fallen flat on the floor. His dad rushed onto the platform and scooped him up and off to another room. My philosophy is that the wedding must continue and since the boy was alright and the situation was under control I continued with the wedding vows and ring vows without comment. As soon as the wedding was over the dad came out and triumphantly announced that his son was alright he had just fainted. The room erupted in applause.
To eat or not to eat? That is the bride's question. How many brides have skipped breakfast because they were nervous that they would not be able to fit into their dress. I know of at least one. Halfway through the ceremony, the bride turned and whispered something to the groom. A look of concern passed across his face. He leaned forward and asked me if we could take a break because the bride was about to faint. I told the audience we needed to take a short break. The wedding coordinator tossed me a confused look and escorted the bride back to her dressing room. I walked back in a few minutes to see what the problem really was and if we would be able to finish. Apparently, she had no eaten all day, after getting she got some orange juice and crackers, she was OK and ready to proceed. We brought a chair for her and she sat down for the ceremony. When we got to the ring vows, she was feeling strong enough to stand up, and finished on her feet.
There are many opportunities for verbal mistakes. I have done plenty of these. Aside from losing my place, I have asked, "Who gives this man to this woman in holy matrimony?" I did not realize it until the everyone started to laugh. More than once I have asked the bride "do you promise to be a good and faithful husband?" Or, asked the groom, "do you promised to be a good and faithful wife?" One groom answered, "I do, to everything except being a good wife." My face was bright red.
Sometimes you must improvise. Like when the unity candle goes out. Outdoor weddings are notorious for this. After one couple tried several times unsuccessfully to light their unity candle and it blew out each time, they finally gave up. When they returned to their place, I said, "In marriage and in life, we have to relight the flame of love many times." This broke the tension and the crowd laughed.
The bride's six year old son was the ring bearer. Kids provide a lot of surprises. When we got into the message, her son said in a loud voice, "I have to go to the bathroom." The mom and bride kept her composure and said, "Go ahead." The little guy jumped down from the stage and sprinted to the back door to the restroom. Just as we finished the ring vows, her son sprinted back down the center aisle, jumped back on the platform and stood at attention. Apparently, no one tried to stop him. The wedding continued with as much dignity as possible.
The unity candle ceremony is always a beautiful and significant part of a ceremony. It symbolizes the union of the man and woman into a new "oneness." They are no longer two, but one. However, it is also a good idea to remember that you are working with a live flame. The mothers of the bride and groom usually come to the front before the ceremony begins and light the tapers so they will be ready for the bride and groom to light when it is time. They did this. The father of the bride escorted his darling daughter down the aisle ready to give her away. I began to welcome everyone when I heard a "crack" behind me. It did not sound good. The groom peered around me with a concerned look on his face. I knew something was wrong. I hurried through the welcome and asked the important question: "Who gives this woman to this man in holy wedlock?" I knew it would be my one chance to turn and check out the situation. Sure enough, the small candle used to light the tapers, which had been sitting inside a small glass holder, had cracked the glass and the flame fell to the table which was covered in lace, paper lace. Though very small, the flame was beginning to spread quickly. The entire backdrop behind the small table was covered in paper lace. I laid down my Bible and used my hands to snuff out the fire before it spread. It only took a few seconds. By the time, I turned around, the father had kissed his daughter, given her hand to the groom, and they had stepped into place. No problem. I learned later that the groom was actually a fireman, so we were safe all the time.
Whenever a person locks their knees while standing for a long time it has the potential to cause fainting, especially if this is combined with heat, fatigue, or lack of food. The ceremony had started and we had almost gotten to the wedding vows when I heard a loud "Crash!" Everyone seemed to gasp at the same time. The ring bearer, a boy about nine years old, had passed out and fallen flat on the floor. His dad rushed onto the platform and scooped him up and off to another room. My philosophy is that the wedding must continue and since the boy was alright and the situation was under control I continued with the wedding vows and ring vows without comment. As soon as the wedding was over the dad came out and triumphantly announced that his son was alright he had just fainted. The room erupted in applause.
To eat or not to eat? That is the bride's question. How many brides have skipped breakfast because they were nervous that they would not be able to fit into their dress. I know of at least one. Halfway through the ceremony, the bride turned and whispered something to the groom. A look of concern passed across his face. He leaned forward and asked me if we could take a break because the bride was about to faint. I told the audience we needed to take a short break. The wedding coordinator tossed me a confused look and escorted the bride back to her dressing room. I walked back in a few minutes to see what the problem really was and if we would be able to finish. Apparently, she had no eaten all day, after getting she got some orange juice and crackers, she was OK and ready to proceed. We brought a chair for her and she sat down for the ceremony. When we got to the ring vows, she was feeling strong enough to stand up, and finished on her feet.
There are many opportunities for verbal mistakes. I have done plenty of these. Aside from losing my place, I have asked, "Who gives this man to this woman in holy matrimony?" I did not realize it until the everyone started to laugh. More than once I have asked the bride "do you promise to be a good and faithful husband?" Or, asked the groom, "do you promised to be a good and faithful wife?" One groom answered, "I do, to everything except being a good wife." My face was bright red.
Sometimes you must improvise. Like when the unity candle goes out. Outdoor weddings are notorious for this. After one couple tried several times unsuccessfully to light their unity candle and it blew out each time, they finally gave up. When they returned to their place, I said, "In marriage and in life, we have to relight the flame of love many times." This broke the tension and the crowd laughed.
About the Author:
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