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A WEDDING WITH SPIRIT has been written for the bride and gr ... Read more

A WEDDING WITH SPIRIT has been written for the bride and groom who are searching for something more for their wedding—not more as in bigger, grander, or more lavish, but more as in more meaningful, gracious, and sacred. Ritual and liturgy experts Gertrud Mueller Nelson and Christopher Witt have helped hundreds of couples plan their ceremonies and in these pages they have distilled their years of experience into some basic principles. Instead of trying to orchestrate “the happiest day of your life” and suffering through catering nightmares, Nelson and Witt help the couple see the wedding as a moment in the larger context of their love. To create such a wedding, A WEDDING WITH SPIRIT offers advice in general principles such as location, participants, symbols, prayers, format, readings, blessings, and music. Sections include:* A look at the history and meaning behind familiar wedding traditions* A walk through the ceremony (including the rites of gathering, the readings, and the exchanging of vows and rings) and the reception* Practical advice for the invitations, the rehearsal, and the programs* Pre-marriage guidance (including pertinent meditations and prayers) to enable the bride and groom to begin their union with a firm footing*Three model weddings incorporating all the principles of A WEDDING WITH SPIRITA WEDDING WITH SPIRIT ensures that one’s wedding day will be about the sacredness of a committed love between two people, about love’s ability to create and nurture life, and about the faithfulness and hope that such a love gives witness to. Minimize

Being showered with wedding gifts is a wonderful experience ... Read more

Being showered with wedding gifts is a wonderful experience, but making sure to thank all of the gift givers can be overwhelming and exhausting. Drawing on her vast experience in wedding etiquette, Beverly Clark offers readers information on how to write personalized thank-yous that will make every recipient feel special. Minimize

Of the many celebrations surrounding a contemporary wedding ... Read more

Of the many celebrations surrounding a contemporary wedding, the wedding shower is especially personal—and especially meaningful. As its name implies, it’s the occasion when friends and family gather to “shower” the bride—or couple—with love, laughter, tokens of affection, and heartfelt wishes for the future. It intensifies the excitement about the big day to come. And because it’s more intimate and less formal than other wedding-related events, the shower uniquely carries the signature of the friend who hosts it. Bringing together all the elements that make for a successful wedding shower—one that’s memorable for everyone involved—is no small task, however. Selecting the right theme (elegant tea, homey brunch, swanky cocktail fête?) and then deciding on the guest list, designing the invitations, creating the menu, and picking out the decorations all require imagination and careful planning. In Simple Stunning Wedding Showers, author Karen Bussen draws on her long experience as a wedding and party planner to guide the shower-giver through each step, from budgeting and etiquette, to choosing refreshments that enhance the ambience, to devising activities that break the ice and heighten the fun. Throughout, William Geddes’s remarkable photographs bring Bussen’s simple stunning ideas to vivid life. Minimize

A WEDDING WITH SPIRIT has been written for the bride and gr ... Read more

A WEDDING WITH SPIRIT has been written for the bride and groom who are searching for something more for their wedding—not more as in bigger, grander, or more lavish, but more as in more meaningful, gracious, and sacred. Ritual and liturgy experts Gertrud Mueller Nelson and Christopher Witt have helped hundreds of couples plan their ceremonies and in these pages they have distilled their years of experience into some basic principles. Instead of trying to orchestrate “the happiest day of your life” and suffering through catering nightmares, Nelson and Witt help the couple see the wedding as a moment in the larger context of their love. To create such a wedding, A WEDDING WITH SPIRIT offers advice in general principles such as location, participants, symbols, prayers, format, readings, blessings, and music. Sections include:* A look at the history and meaning behind familiar wedding traditions* A walk through the ceremony (including the rites of gathering, the readings, and the exchanging of vows and rings) and the reception* Practical advice for the invitations, the rehearsal, and the programs* Pre-marriage guidance (including pertinent meditations and prayers) to enable the bride and groom to begin their union with a firm footing*Three model weddings incorporating all the principles of A WEDDING WITH SPIRITA WEDDING WITH SPIRIT ensures that one’s wedding day will be about the sacredness of a committed love between two people, about love’s ability to create and nurture life, and about the faithfulness and hope that such a love gives witness to. Minimize