Unusual, unique weddings

One of the brides I met with last week asked me about the most unusual wedding I’ve done. I told her about the two most atypical ceremonies that came to my mind and didn’t remember the third until a few of days later.

The most unusual wedding was also one of the loveliest and most meaningful. The bride was Sikh and the groom was Lutheran and they had a double ceremony. We started outside where the groom entered on a white horse with the family beating drums to announce his arrival. Then we went inside and took off our shoes to enter the wedding site. Everyone sat on the floor. The women had colorful scarves covering their heads and the men wore turbans or makeshift head coverings. The Sikh ceremony was fascinating and included the couple walking around the center clockwise. The bride must look solemn to symbolize her sadness at leaving her family, but she found it hard to pull off on such a joyous occasion! Everyone eats Karah Parshad which is semolina, butter and sugar during the ceremony. After the Sikh portion, I presided over a traditional Western ceremony.

A number of years ago, a bride called and asked if I would marry her and her fiancé in their backyard. Naturally I said yes; I love providing a couple with exactly what they imagine. She said it was going to be very casual. She wasn’t kidding! When I got there, they were in their pajamas! The bride had dressed it up by adding pearls. They read the vows they had written to each other, lit a unity candle and then we went in to enjoy cake and champagne.

Last summer I performed a wedding at a Starbucks. The bride worked there. The groom was a regular and so they met. The ceremony was full of coffee puns and the rings were presented on straws in their favorite iced coffee drinks. People coming in to get a beverage wound up being wedding guests. It was unique and fun.

And this weekend I’ll be in Homewood at Bamboo Blue marrying a couple who had their first date there. It’ll be just the three of us. Very romantic.

Most weddings are in more traditional settings, but I enjoy the occasional ceremony that’s completely unique. How will you personalize your wedding?