Summer Weddings, 2009

July 24th through 26th was a big wedding weekend for us! I officiated at three very different, unique weddings - the first, an early afternoon Native American wedding at a private home, the second a large lavender field wedding on Sauvie Island at the Blue Heron Herbery and the third again at a private home, very chic, tatoo-adorned crowd. Each one was special, highly personalized and went without a hitch - except if you call waiting for Grandma to arrive a tiny hitch in the last ceremony.

It was truly an honor to officiate at the Native American wedding. Drumming friends of the couple brought a large native drum and gifted them with two eagle feathers. We honored the directions, the elements of water, earth, air and fire - and the couple received blessings through the playing of the sacred drum.

The second wedding was highly personalized and humorous in parts because of the material. Large lavender beds adorned either side of the ceremonial area. Several sweet children threw petals before the wedding party entered. Lots of readings and the entire party of about 180 people all vowed to help and honor the relationship. They all blessed a rock or pebble and placed them in a very large glass vessel, into which the couple poured sand from places far away that were meaningful in their lives. And what a great party and food!

The third wedding of the weekend - and, by the way, this was the hottest weekend Portland has seen - was styled in black, white, with a touch of red. The couple's friends were mostly all tatooed - large tatooes across chests, down backs, small tatooes on faces, hands, ankles ....... people standing at tables, sitting at other round tables.....very yummy finger-licking food, great DJ - a touch of Jewish ritual - blessing over the wine, breaking the glass - and mostly a personally-honed ceremony, tear-jerking vows....the groom weepy as he read the sweetest, most heartfelt poem to his beloved.....here's a picture of the couple sharing wine....

We are now preparing for several weddings for the weekend of August 28th. Weddings seem to be clumped together this year.
I love officiating at weddings. I actually love the entire process of putting a ceremony together. It is such an honor to participate with a couple at such a special time of their lives.