Our pseudo-ceremony

I really didn't want to be late so I made sure to tell everyone to meet at our apartment and we would all be there at the same time. My cousin from CT who was supposed to be there from that morning for some reason wasn't there by 6:30 so we left. That means we were down to 2 BMs and MOH.

When we got to the venue, my DOC was just pulling in. I was so mad. The DJ was also just setting up so we waited out in the parking lot. I was too pissed to go in.

Finally the DJ started playing music so the wedding party lined up to go in. I wanted Black Eyed Peas' I got a Feeling to play to kinda hype up the crowd but my dumb ass DJ mixed up the songs and played Anita Baker's Sweet Love for the entry song. That was supposed to be our song for cutting the cake. I honesly felt like crying. All my hard work and preparation ruined.

In spite of the fact that I gave him a chronological list kinda like an idiot's list. Honestly the list went like - the wedding party line up, you play "I got a feeling, by Black Eyed Peas". Let it play until we come in and are ready to start. I mean seriously the only way you can mess that up is if you can't read.

Saying a prayer 

The guys and ladies paired up and walked in to the lame ass song and stood on opposite sides of the dance floor. 

We waited at the entrance till we got the go ahead from the DOC and then my husband, son and I all walked in holding hands. I had to let go and gold to my dress because it was seriously tripping me up. 

As soon as we entered, everyone broke out in applause, whistles and cheers. OMG, I was so shocked.What the hell were they clapping for? Well as it turned out, word had spread that I done all the decor pretty much myself and I guess people were impressed. Really impressed. 

They clapped and clapped until Mr. M's cousin / oficiant quieted them down. 

I don't think I have to tell you how much better I felt right then. The night just took a turn for the better and from then on it was fun, fun, fun. I didn't think of anything else going wrong. Things would be what they would be. I had written the whole ceremony beforehand and Charles the officiant and I had gone over it and tweaked things here and there a few days before and in my estimation, it was just perfect. 

Our son wouldn't let anyone take him away, so we did the whole thing with him in his daddy's arms.

Charles conducted the little ceremony just as I had anticipated, even saying that I told him not to add anything and make it lively.

We didn't exchange vows since we had already done so at City Hall but we did kiss again for our audience. It was much appreciated.  

Of course our photographer didn't get the actual kiss and since we're not very comfortable kissing in front of people, it was a quick one. 

JEM.

Disclaimer: the pictures are mostly dark because one of the banquet hall's managers had the bright idea to turn off the bright lights for ambience and none of us noticed till we saw the photos. 

Our pseudo-ceremony

You guys know we had a civil ceremony and are having a reception August 7th right? 

Well as far as i'm concerned, it's a wedding reception and will be treated as such. Our reception will be treated as if we just finished our ceremony and cocktail hour and just came in. We'll have cutting of the cake, first dance etc. The only difference is that we'll have a 10 minute pseudo- ceremony right at the very beginning. This is what I have in mind.
When we are announced and come in, our guests will throw petals on us. Those petals will be in the aqua cones that I made. Our DOH will pass them around right before our entrance.

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen

We are all here tonight to celebrate the very happy occasion of Jem and Mr. Muscle's marriage.  As we all know they were married in a civil ceremony and I would like you to please join me in saying CONGRATULATIONS!

I think it’s fitting here as I’m sure you will agree that we commemorate their union with a few words.

Each of us knows that a marriage is not created by a law or a religion, but in the hearts of two human beings. It grows out of loving, caring, and sharing ourselves with another.

Marriage is a bold step into an unknown future. It is risking who we are for the sake of who we can be. In marriage, two lives are intimately shared; and the blending of the two must not diminish either one. Rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner.

The lord works in mysterious ways and sometimes we look at our lives and wonder how we found this person who just seems to match us perfectly. Who is all we hoped to find in a life partner and we know it’s God’s hand at work and for this we are immensely grateful. Thank you Father.

Ladies and gentlemen let’s all bow our heads as we lift our hearts to God to thank him for this blessed occasion.

(Prayer inserted  here.)

I know you must have done this in your civil ceremony but it can’t hurt to do it again. 

Mr. Muscle,  please kiss your bride.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Muscle.

to which I expect lots of applause. Mr. Muscle's cousin is an almost pastor so he will be presiding. I decided to write everything because he said he was a little nervous and he would do it any way I wanted.

I again stole borrowed alot of this from Miss Fancy Pants. She found most of it online so I guess this came from a lot of different sources. I tweaked it and added a little here and there to make it my own. I ran it by Mr. Muscle and he seems to like it but then again it was during a yankee game so he may have just said that to get rid of me.


My SIL wanted to do a reading in the original ceremony so I thought she could still do it so I wrote something for her:
Love
You are born and cocooned by the love of your family
You then grow up and there comes a time when you shed that cocoon to seek a life partner
That's not to say that when you find that person, life is going to be perfect
Nothing is
But you will find someone who is matched to you in spirit and makes your heart sing
Someone who who you can't imagine your life without
Someone who you're drawn to even from across the word
And your heart rejoices
That is when you know you've found LOVE.
I ran it by Mr. Muscle and he seems to like it but then again it was during a yankee game so he may have just said that to get rid of me.

Either way, this is it.

JEM.