You can see my tutorial for making my invitations here.

DIY Ceremony Programs

What you need for one program:

1 piece of cardstock
1 piece nice computer paper, printed double sided with program information, with 1/2″ cut off each side.
approximately 1 1/2 – 2 ft. of ribbon

1. Fold cardstock in half. (I used a straight edge and the back side of a butter knife to create a crease so it folded nicely.) Stamp whatever you want on the front – I used a penguin.

2. Fold program paper in half.

3. Centre program paper on cardstock and hole punch approximately 1″ from the edge in the crease of both papers.

4. Pull ribbon through the middle and tie a bow on the outside. (What I found worked best was to sit on the floor holding the program between your knees and then tying the ribbon.)

This is what I wrote on the program itself incase you are interested:

Page 1:

“The Marriage Ceremony
Uniting
Miss Bean
and Mr. Bean

<Our Wedding Date>

<Our church>
Calgary, AB

Page 2 (Next to the title, I lined up the person’s name):

Who’s who in the Zoo:

Parents of the Bride
Parents of the Groom
Grandparents of the Bride
Grandfather of the Groom

Maid of Honour
Best Man
Bridesmaid
Bridesmatron
Groomsmen

Officiant

Greeters

Ushers

Musicians

“Today we honor those who could not be with us, especially the bride’s grandparents: Grannie and Danda Bean and the Groom’s Grandparents: Grannie, Grandma and Grandpa Bean in law.

Page 3: (Note: this is a standard order of service at an Anglican church. In the appropriate place I listed names and page numbers.)

Order of Service

Processional
Gathering of the Community
Proclaimation of the Word
Lesson: Ecclesiasted 4: 9-12
Psalm: Psalm 121
Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-29
Message:
The Wedding
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
The Blessing of the Marriage
The Peace
Signing of the Register
Presentation of the Couple
Recessional

Page 4:

We cannot express our gratitude enough. We are so thankful for all of the support, encouragement and prayers each one of you has given us. Your presence on one of the happiest days of our lives is a blessing!

Mr. and Mrs. Bean

Be Thous my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, They presence my light

- Be Thou My Vision, Old Irish Hymnal

There you have it! How did you make your ceremony programs? What were your inspirations?

]]> http://betrothedbean.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/simple-diy-ceremony-programs/feed/ 3 Bean hpim1539 invitation_making-006 hpim1633 hpim1634 hpim1632 http://betrothedbean.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/recaps-ceremony-part-2/ http://betrothedbean.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/recaps-ceremony-part-2/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:50:14 +0000 Bean http://betrothedbean.wordpress.com/?p=175 ]]>

Where we left off last, Mr. Bean and I were ready to get hitched. I think I forgot to mention that we got married in our home church of St. James Anglican. It’s not the most beautiful church in my city, but it holds special meaning to both of us (Mr. Bean has been going there with his family for 17 years!) and it’s still pretty nice looking. Another plus of getting married at your home church – you already know the priest!

Our service was taken directly from the Anglican Book of Alternative Services, which mean that there wasn’t too much room for customization. But that’s okay, I think it’s a really beautiful service regardless and all the important elements were included. We ended up not doing any sort of “unity ceremony“, which I kind of regret. But there is nothing I can do about it now.

At the beginning of the service, I was really nervous. But Mr. Bean held my hand throughout it

During the readings and mini-sermon (which I don’t remember a single thing about except that it was good! – whoops) we apparently looked at each other a lot. I guess that’s a reason why I don’t remember much of the sermon – my attention was on my almost husband.

After the sermon, we exchanged vows:And then exchanged rings! (Thankfully no rings were lost in the making of this wedding)

(If you look very carefully, you can see my reverse farmer’s tan from my bike gloves ;P )

Then came my favourite part of the ceremony itself: when Tony, our priest wrapped his stole around our hands and said: “Those whom God has joined together let no one put assunder*.”

After another prayer, it was time to sign the marriage license:

Meanwhile, the congregation/guests shared the peace:

I love this picture, for everyone looks so naturally happy! (It’s quite an amazing feat – both my grandparents (on the right) usually look like deer in headlights in candid pictures or very forced in posed pictures.) Also, my brother is being his silly self and my parents just look so happy. (My dad was kind of sad all morning for he was “losing” his daughter.)

Mr. Bean and I had a private moment together in the room adjacent to the sanctuary, where I jumped around like and idiot:

Then it was time for our formal debut as the new Mr. and Mrs. Bean!

Can you believe that there is no official place in the Anglican service for the Bride and Groom to kiss? But that doesn’t matter, for we did it anyways:

Fun Times! What are your favourite elements of the wedding ceremony?

*This was one of the reasons that I decided against a unity ceremony because what kind of ritual can outdo those words?

In the last post, we left off where we were all dressed and ready to go to the church. So we happily piled into vehicles and drove! I drove with my parents and it was quite an interesting experience because I just let everything go. I knew that I was going to get married and whatever else happened, I wouldn’t care. (That’s what my friend Dana, my DOC, was for!)

At the back of the church is a little room where the female half of the bridal party waited for our que to enter. We were set to start at 1:41 (anyone know why?) but I think we actually started just a few minutes late, which isn’t too bad. Has any one else been to a wedding that was 1/2 hour late *and* they asked the guests to arrive half an hour early? At least I knew lots of people and got to catch up with them.

The music was done by my friend Bianca and her sister Allegra. I went to Crete with Bianca, where we spent a whole month taking silly pictures together. (And taking courses, of course!)

Did I also mention that they are an amazing string duo? They have both played in the National Youth Orchestra in Canada.

Once the gents were lined up in the front of the church (notice the groomsman on the end – he is usually doing the opposite of everyone else it photos, it’s rather entertaining) next were FIL and MIL Bean:

Then came my mum and my brother, John. Doesn’t my brother look so spiffy? He was wearing the suit jacket and vest of my Danda’s (my mum’s dad who is passed away), which was kind of nice. My mum was so happy all day, it was awesome!

Now for the bridesmaids:

Next was me and my dad.

Mr. Bean and I opted not see each other before the ceremony (as it is traditional in Anglican churches) and so we have the classic “first look at the bride” shot:

Now for a collective: awwwww….

I originally wanted both my mum and dad to walk me down the aisle, but it was determined that neither my mum or I would be able to make it very far without being basketcases. So my brother walked my mum and my dad walked me.

Now that we’ve all walked up the aisle, let’s get the show on the road!

Coming up: More of our ceremony!

Again, Photos by Kathleen Goertzen of Precious Portrait except for the groomsmen photo and the photo of my inlaws which were taken by my dad’s cousin’s husband.

As promised in a previous post, I have done some research about other types of unity ceremonies as an alternative for communion.

Option 1: Unity Candle.  

What it is:As most of you know, this is where the bride and groom takes a flame from two candles (representing each of their families) and jointly light the candle in the middle to represent their lives coming together.

Thoughts:Given that I’m a huge spaz and I’m going to be nervous, playing with fire is not the best idea. I think the thought is nice, but I don’t think it’s special enough.

Option 2: Sand Ceremony

 

What it is:The bride and groom pour two different colours of sand into a common vase to symbolize two lives coming together that cannot be separated.

Thoughts:I think it’s definitely the least risky of all unity ceremonies as it’s difficult for contained sand to ruin much of anything. However, my desire for some originality veto’s this – two of my friends have done or are doing this in their wedding.

Option 3: Water Ceremony

What it is: The bride and groom each pour coloured watered into a common vase to create a new colour. (aka. yellow plus blue equals green)

Thoughts:The chemical engineer/mass transfer lover inside of me is squee-ing with delight, but the thought of getting food colouring on my dress is less exciting.

Option 4: Chemical Experiments

What is it: Do some kind of experiment that when the two chemicals mix, they change colour.

Thoughts: Mr. Bean found a few that could work, but unless I’m pouring water or a mild saline solution, it could mean bad things for me and my poor dress!

Option 5: Washing of feet Ceremony

What it is:The bride and groom wash each others feet to to show their servant-heart for each other.

Thoughts:I think it’s really touching and washing of each others feet is an important act for the Christian faith. However, I think it might be really awkward to do with things like pantyhose, socks, etc.

Option 6: Do nothing

We could always just decide to only have the basic ceremony – then, at least, the ceremony would be shorter?

What kind of unity ceremonies did you include, or are you planning to including in your ceremony?”

Something Mr. Bean and I have been debating since we got engaged was whether or not to have communion in our ceremony. We’re both practicing Anglicans and have been going to church for our entire lives, so the symbolism of partaking in communion would be very significant. However, there are a few points that make having communion less favourable. 

After much discussion and angst about timing of the day, we have decided to not have communion. Besides, everyone knows that all I really want is a huge red wine stain down my dress because I was nervous when the cup came to me! (or not.) Now we are deciding  whether or not to include a unity demonstration – like a unity candle type thing. It’s time to do some research – any suggestions? 

For those of you who are/were also debating as to whether or not have communion, how did you come to your final decision?