Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Massachusetts.....The Service of the Crowning - Congratulations Moira and Bill!!

Moira and Bill had a magnificent wedding at the Martha Mary Chapel, and the Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Moira wanted a service that would honor her Greek heritage and the ritual included the Service of the Crowning. This service is highlighted by seven significant acts.

• The Exchange of Rings - symbolizing the unbreakable bond of Christian marriage.
• The Lighted Candles - where the Bride and Groom are given lighted candles to hold to symbolize the purity of their lives which should shine with the light of virtue.
• Joining of the Hands - Three long prayers read to ask God to grant the Bride and Groom a long and peaceful mutual love and understanding, happiness, and health. The right hands are joined and God is called upon to join them into one.
• The Crowning - The crowns are raised and the sign of the cross made three times, over the heads of the bride and groom. after which they are placed on their heads. The crowning signifies the newly crowned married couple receive the grace of the Holy Spirit to be the founders of a new generation as they are crowned with virtue and holiness.
• The Bible Readings - following the crowning, St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians concerning the mystery and holiness of marriage and the duties of the husband and wife to each other; and St. John's gospel of Christ's miracle at the Marriage of Canna that shows how our Lord blessed the sacred institution of marriage.
• The Common Cup - Drinking from the "common cup" symbolizes that a couple must share every joy and sorrow. The bride and groom must each drink from it three times.
• Circling the Table - The bride and groom are led by the Minister around the table or altar 3 times. By circling, the couple signifies their oath to preserve this marriage bond forever. The circle symbolizes eternity, the triple circling honors the Holy Spirit. It also symbolizes that they will be following the word of God as they start their lives together.
• Benediction - Finally, after final words of blessing, the crowns are lifted from their heads and the newlyweds thus ending the marriage ceremony.

Here's a great tip! Hire a Wedding Planner... and here is why....

Just about every day I speak with couples who work with what can be the all time-consuming task of planning their wedding. Most times, when I meet them for the first time, they have a big binder loaded with materials, contracts and the like. There are so many choices, and making the decisions can certainly be overwhelming. If you are feeling this way, or even if you are just beginning the process, you really might want to consider getting some help. I am going to write about the event planners that I have worked with over the course of several articles, but the first person that comes to mind for me is Tammy Waterman.

I've had the privilege of working with Tammy and her wonderful staff on several weddings and am looking forward to those that we will be doing together in the coming years. Tammy is a complete professional with many years of experience and has a real gift for creating beautiful, unique and memorable wedding experiences for the couples she works with. She can create an elegant formal affair, or a beach wedding "Jimmy Buffet" style.

In my role as Wedding Minister she makes my job a complete joy, working closely with me so that the rehearsal and ceremony come off without a hitch! A real plus is that she has a great sense of humor, which is so important!

I have seen Tammy in action when flowers fell to the ground off a pillar and smashed within minutes of the start of the wedding and she quickly reassemble the flowers, and no one even was aware of what happened. She is quick and thinks on her feet!

My words don't do justice to Tammy's magic, so please take a moment to visit her website http://www.eventsbyspecialmoments.com/ so that you can see the may wonderful photos of the weddings she has planned as well as detailed information about her packages. Tammy offers many levels of service to her couples...everything from her Complete Wedding Planning package, all the way to Day-Of and A la Carte services.

If you just not sure if hiring a wedding planner s right for you, ask her about the pros and cons, it may be helpful in your decision making...but if you're considering this option at all, my best recommendation would be for you to pick up the phone and give her a call, you'll be glad that you did. You can reach Tammy at 727-343-0800. Tammy is an Accredited Bridal Consultant with the Association of Bridal Consultants.