Life On A Crag ...Weddings

I am in the process of preparing for some up-coming weddings this weekend and next. I like weddings, they are fun, but stressful all at the same time. Weddings I think are the comic relief every pastor needs to help him make it through another week, month or year at any given church.

I have performed many weddings over the years and there are a few that really stand out in my mind because of the uniqueness of them. I'd like to tell you about the ones that I remember the most.

I'll never forget the first wedding I ever performed... I was so nervous...I wanted to do everything perfect...anyway I went through the whole ceremony, got the ring part right and the pronouncement, dismissed the couple when half way down the aisle the groom turned around and said, "You didn't let me Kiss her..." So they turned around came back to the front of the church, and I said with a very very red face, "You may now kiss your Bride". He dipped her, everyone was ready with their flashes and for the second time I pronounced them Husband and Wife and sent them on their way... glad that one was over.

Many couples, Brides that is, tend to want the fairy tale outdoors wedding. I don't think the guy really cares where the ceremony takes place as long as it happens, for the most part the guy just wants to do whatever it is he has to do and then get on with what he thinks is the best thing in life. Don't ask me what that is please.

Personally I try to counsel clear of outdoor weddings if there is anything that can go wrong it tends to go wrong at these outdoor ceremonies. You can have clear blue skies all morning and 15 minutes before the cermony is to start rain pours from the heavens. Sound systems tend NOT to work outdoors, wind is a nasty thing for microphones...nothing worst than asking a guy, "do you so promise?", with a howling sound in the background. If it doesn't rain, the heat can cause a bridal party to flop over like dying tulips in seconds. If you survive drowning in the rain or being fried in the sun, don't worry the wasp are merciless!

Brides to be...if you are going to have an outdoor wedding and the forecast is calling for 30 degrees would you be a little considerate of the guys and not force them into a black wool suit? I learned something helpful at one such wedding last July -that the inside pockets of a Tux can have a purpose at an outdoor 30 degree wedding - just fill them with those small icepacks and you'll be the coolest guy at the wedding.

The next wedding that I'll never forget was the one where the ceremony was booked at the Chalet at the top of a ski hill. I thought this will definitely be fun... the plan was to have the ceremony on the deck which would have the peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the background simply stunning... A 4x4 was booked to bring the bride and the other females via the service road up to the top of the mountain. The rest of us would take the chair-lift. So here I am, on the chairlift, in a suit with the marriage register enjoying the breath-taking view. When without warning, the chair came to a swinging halt...my worst fears were about to be realized as I looked towards the top of the mountain, thick black clouds had gathered, any other time I would have thoroughly enjoyed a good thunder and lightening storm, but NOT while on an open chairlift, in a suit half way up the side of a mountain holding a Marriage Register! One may not be able to see wind with the naked eye, but one can certainly feel wind, especially in an, did I mention - open chairlift half way up the side of a mountain in a suit...20 minutes later looking like I had just come through the rinse cycle I found my way to the Chalet where 30 other people were wondering if the minister remembered what day it was.

The ceremony had been planned for the deck of the Chalet, I was most relieved when someone made a wise decision to have it inside the Chalet instead. The room wasn't set up, some guys quickly moved chairs and cleared a spot big enough for the Bridal Party to stand in a semi-circle. The Brides-maids found a center aisle, but the biggest surprise was yet to come...just before the Bride was due to grace us with her presence a Golden Retriever with a pink bow attached to its head carrying a ring pillow in its mouth rounded the corner and bee-lined for where I was standing, she came and stood next to me...no questions asked I never moved. When the Bride was in place the dog lay down at her feet for the rest of the ceremony. I hope no one heard my sigh of relief once I realized the rings on the pillow were fake...anyway,
it turned out to be a very meaningful wedding after all...one I shall treasure forever...

That's all for now...next time I will tell you about the most unique wedding dress I have ever seen....until next time...