The bottom line is that your wedding ceremony will be done to reflect who you are and how you want to express your love. I take a great deal of pleasure in the co-creation of making your dreams of perfection come true. You are blessed to have found one another and I am honored to be witness to that love.
If you would like to hear from some of the couples that I have officiated for, please visit my testimonials.
This is how we will begin.
A first phone call will allow us an initial introduction. We’ll talk
about your needs and desires. You’ll get to know me and I’ll be asking
you a few questions. You’ll be able to ask about pricing and I’ll be
able to ask when you and your beloved first met. In just a few moments
we’ll decide if we should meet. We’ll arrange a time and date that is
convenient and before we hang up, if you are the type of person that
wants to go further with your research, I will recommend some reading
material that will help you tap into the ‘how to’ of designing your
wedding ceremony.
I look forward to our first phone call or email. You may contact me, Reverend Laura Tria at (631) 666-0078 or email me at info@customizedceremonies.com.
We jumped into marriage, we jumped into unity, we jumped into love, and we jumped together as one. To me, holding on to each other with my trust in his hands, knowing that if I stumble, he was there to catch me was a feeling of security.
Jumping the broom meant leaving the past and entering into a new life as a couple. It’s hard to describe the feeling of unity and trust that comes from this Leap of Faith.”
Mrs. Greta Gardner.
Greta and Wayne chose to “jump the broom”. These are Greta’s words on what it meant to her.
“Jumping the broom took on a whole new meaning for me. You may have read about this tradition as to where and when it started. You may have seen textbook pictures of people taking that leap. But until you’ve jumped, you have no idea what it means. So there we stood hand in hand waiting for the count of three, 1, 2, 3, we jumped.
It’s
an exciting, wonderful and at the same time stressful time in your
life. There was a time when a couple didn’t have to be concerned
with the creation of their wedding ceremony. If you married
inside of your family’s house of worship, more than likely the
Officiant was also the Rabbi, or Priest, Elder or Minister that
presided over the community. There was a fixed way to perform a
marriage ceremony and there was very little co-creation involved in the
way you wanted it to be. It’s a different era now. Many
couples are choosing to marry outside of tradition. My experience
is that each couple has their own special insight as to the flow of their Wedding Ceremony.
Some like a traditional wedding and others like to create something
totally unique. Some couples consider themselves to be religious while
others describe themselves as being Spiritual without the
tradition. Wedding Ceremonies have been as simple as a few words,
lasting just a few minutes, to elaborate ceremonies that include
rituals, readings, dance and songs. Weddings can be performed on
the beach, in beautiful gardens, at reception halls, in a chosen place
of worship, or even in your own backyard.
These pictures are of some of the places that the couples I’ve Officiated for have chosen. Kevin and Kay chose a private ceremony in the Japanese Gardens. It was secluded, gentle and warm and all the while
Jose and Sandy were married at a Vineyard here on Long Island. They chose a time when the sun was setting. The mood was that of a tender, sensual love.
Once you’ve decided where your ceremony will be, you will have to decide how you want to express your love and commitment to one another. There are rituals for every emotion. A ritual is a visual and physical practice that allows a person to show the meaning behind their words. Looking up the word ‘ritual’ in the Encarta dictionary, the definition is: performance of formal acts: the observance of actions or procedures in a set, ordered, and in a ceremonial way. Rituals during your wedding ceremony play a role equivalent to the idea that a picture says a thousand words.
The work I do is so enjoyable. It’s about Love! And so for you, it will be a smooth and joyful experience.
Kathy and Brett love the ocean. For them it was their reverence of the beach that made their wedding day unique, powerful and truly an expression of their love.
At
Fredda and Oby’s wedding (Fredda from a Jewish background and Osvaldo
from a Catholic background), we had a situation where half the guests
only understood Spanish. How fortunate that I was able to have
assistance from Reverend Minerva Berrido Contreras, who translated for
us each step of the way. When it came time for Osvaldo to stomp on the
glass, I can still hear his side of the family shouting Mazel Tov with
a Spanish accent!
Don’t panic. There are several parts to a ceremony. In many ways your ceremony will tell the story of you and your fiancée. How you came to be, where you stand now and what you are creating for your future. I will assist you every step of the way in creating the perfect reflection of you and your love. Many couples choose inspirational readings that express their thoughts on the commitment and promise they are about to uphold. I will include, in our very first meeting, a reference guide that can give you a glimpse of a ceremony outline. Here are two books that I have used and recommended over and over again to assist couples as they move along the creative process of their wedding day. They are Joining Hands and Hearts, by Reverend Susana Stefanachi Macomb and The Wedding Ceremony Planner, by Reverend Judith Johnson, PhD. If you are the type of person that does your own research, then I highly recommend both of these books as they were written with integrity, love, experience and a sincere reverence for your wedding day. I can only tell you that whether you choose to do your own research or not, make sure that you and your officiant are on the same page. You come first and your love and the expression of that love is what your ceremony should be about.
Spirituality comes in as many forms as there are people on this earth. I am an Ordained InterFaith Minister and Multi-faceted Wedding Officiant. I have been blessed and honored to Officiate for numerous kinds of ceremonies. From Interfaith couples to couples of same faith. From the very religious to the extreme atheist. Whether your Spirituality has a label or not, you are still a sacred being. You are part of this grand and glorious creation and I celebrate you. In my understanding God, The Divine, Our Creatress or whatever Sacred and Holy name you give to your understanding, we are all part of It.
Rob and Leslie came from two different religious backgrounds. We found a way to honor both families and the religious traditions that are so dear to them. Their ceremony was absolutely sacred and special and unique, while keeping their religious beliefs honored and in tact.
Same sex unions are blessed and special in their newness and uniqueness. With the joy of your commitment to one another we will co-create your ceremony to include all the ritual and expression of love that you desire. Tradition breaks loose with the many creative ideas that have been used in the past and the new ones that you and I will create to reflect the love that you have.
Weddings
can be first time couples or couples entering into a second or third
marriage. In many of these cases, Love is not only the
comming together of two, but the uniting of children as well. If
it is warranted, children from previous marriages can be part of your
wedding ceremony. I will share with you the many ways that
children can take part in the celebration of your unity while feeling
included and surrounded by your love.
When I first visited with Martin and Jeanette, I learned how Jeanette felt about Martins’ two daughters Casidhe and Cory. She said that they were already family to her. To consider that life was just about she and Martin would be absurd. So we thought about how to include them into their wedding ceremony. I shared with them ideas from my experiences and they shared enough of the girls’ personalities so we could create something unique to their situation.
During the ceremony, and just at the right time, I called the girls, one at a time, to come forward. I can still remember the expression of surprise and deep felt gratitude on their faces as they realized they were being acknowledged. Jeanette prepared the bracelet that she purchased as a symbol of her following vows: She repeated after me first to Cory and then to Casidhe, “I am so happy we are going to be family. I love you. Every time you look at this bracelet, please remember what I am about to say…”
When she concluded her vows, Jeanette fastened the delicate bracelet on her Step Daughters’ wrist. With tears in their eyes and joy in their hearts, they kissed and hugged each other as it was understood that this moment would forever be cherished.
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