SPECIAL TOUCHES FROM PREVIOUS WEDDING CEREMONIES
officiated by the Rev. Robin L. Zucker

Julianne and Dinakar weave Hindu rituals, such as the Saptapadi, into their ceremony:
The most important part of the Hindu marriage ceremony is the Sap-tap-adi, also known as the rite of seven steps. It is believed that when the bride and groom walk seven steps together, they become forever friends. The groom leads the couple, hand in hand, around the wedding fire as they make seven promises to each other.
Seven Steps (spoken by the couple):
The first step: We vow to remain together through happiness and sadness, united through whatever life may bring.
The second step: We promise to embrace each other’s families.
The third step: We commit to remaining forever faithful.
The fourth step: We promise to love, comfort, and nurture each other.
The fifth step: We shall come together spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
The sixth step: We acknowledge God’s presence in our marriage and in our lives.
The seventh step: We resolve to share all spiritual and moral activities.

Emily and Tom include a wine ceremony ( a “loving cup”)
At many times and among many people, wine has signified life’s sweetness and abundance. For centuries and in many cultures, sharing a common cup has been the symbol of a deep and intimate bond. May you be blessed by life’s sweetness and abundance, and may whatever drops of bitterness you encounter be lessened because you face them together.

Owen and Melissa’s enact a Sand Blending Ceremony:
Melissa and Owen, you have come together as partners here at the edge of the sea and the sand to take your two separate lives and make of them one life.
Tonight in this place, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two containers of sand, one representing you, Melissa, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you ever will be. And the other representing you, Owen, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you ever will be. As these two containers of sand are poured into a third container, the individual vessels of sand are now emptied to be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.

Juris, Carrie and Carrie’s daughter, Cecilia light a unity candle to symbolize their new family :

Ceremony: We'd like to ask Cecilia to come join us. Juris and Carrie, you bring a child to this marriage. You are making a new family. Do you affirm that this child is a sacred responsibility, and do you welcome her into this new union with love and commitment? (We do)
Cecilia, your Mom and Juris love each other very much, and they love you very much, too. Today they become husband and wife, and the three of you become a new family. Will you wish them happiness, share their hopes, and do all you can to help this new family love and help one another? (Yes)

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The bride’s mother reads the famous “Love” passage from Corinthians in Mandarin Chinese.

Nicole and Karl create a candlelit atmosphere on New Years Eve

JP and Sue wed in the glow of their Christmas tree.

Ashish and Raluca: Eastern Orthodox ceremony with heirloom crowns.

In Raluca’s Rumanian tradition, these crowns signify the glory and honor with which God crowns a couple during their wedding and subsequent marriage. The groom and the bride are crowned as the king and queen of their own little kingdom, the home, which they will rule with wisdom, justice, and integrity.

Minister stands behind couple, takes the crowns and places them on the heads of the bride and groom saying,

"O Lord, our God, crown them with glory and honor." "O Lord, our God, crown them king and queen of their own little kingdom, the home, to rule with wisdom, justice, and integrity, with glory and honor."

Hannah and John include Hebrew prayers and Jewish traditions in their interfaith ceremony
Grandparent's Candle: By joining your lives together, you bring a common light of compassion, joy, and love into the world. In that spirit, Hannah and John will now light a candle to honor their beloved grandparents: Esther and Neal Olken, Esther and George Feldman, John and Mabel Pentz, and James and Margaret Beers. (Candle is lit.)
General Blessing (Hebrew): Barucheem Habah-eem Beshame Adonai
Eve-do et Adonai Beh-seem-kah beooh l'fahnan
Brie-nah-nah me adeer all ha-coal me-baruch all ha-coal
Me gadole all ha-coal
Who-ya-vah-ureck et heh-ha-tan v'et ha caw-lah.
Blessed are you who come here in the name of God.
Serve God with joy, come into God's presence with song.
O most awesome, glorious and blessed God, grant your blessings to the bride and groom. Amen.

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Steven and Catherine include a Catholic reading and a special blessing from the family’s Priest in their interfaith ceremony:

Remain in My Love (John 15:9-12)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.

This is my commandment:
love one another
as I have loved you. “

The gospel of the Lord.

Rob and Laura recite a love poem to one another in Spanish and English:

My Love Reveals Objects , Isabel Fraire

my love reveals objects
silken butterflies
concealed in his fingers

his words
splash me with stars
night shines like lightning
under the fingers of my love

my love invents worlds where
jeweled glittering serpents live
worlds where music is the world
worlds where houses with open eyes
contemplate the dawn

my love is a mad sunflower that forgets
fragments of sun in the silence.

Mi amor descubre objetos

mi amor descubre objetos
sedosas mariposas
se ocultan en sus dedos

sus palabras
me salpican de estrellas
bajo los dedos de mi amor la noche
brilla como relámpago

mi amor inventa mundos en que habitan
serpientes cuajadas de brillantes

mundos en que la música es el mundo
mundos en que las casas con los ojos abiertos
contemplan el amanecer

mi amor es un loco girasol que olvida
pedazos de sol en el silencio.

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Peter and Nicole’s Wishing Well ceremony:

Peter and Nicole will now make their way over to the wishing well. In a minute we will follow them. Please take one of the flowers at the well and place it in the well, while you offer your unique blessings for this couple.

Gary and Lourdes marry under a Huppah, and include the traditional Jewish glass breaking ceremony in their interfaith wedding:

Gary will now break a glass under his foot, a traditional Jewish ritual with several meanings. First, it reminds us that the world is still broken, despite the joy of this moment, and that we all have a responsibility to mend it (Tikkun olum). The ritual also reminds us that marriage is a transforming experience, one that leaves the couple forever changes. The traditional response to the shattering of the glass is “Mazel Tov” (Congratulations and Good Luck!) .

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