Weddings

Soon to be Mrs...

2014 begins with weddings; three of my close friends are getting married in April, May and June…  Of the three I am a bridesmaid for two (smile) and of the three one is having a Christian service, one a non-denominational ceremony and one a Catholic wedding.  Maybe the fact that I have been involved in wedding planning since last year has brought to mind the topic of marriage.  As I keep exploring that journey God keeps bringing forth the scripture in Genesis referring to a man leaving his father and mother and uniting to his wife and they become one flesh.  It’s so romantic that since the beginning God defined marriage as a union so strong that it required the start of a whole new entity, the husband and wife as one.  Marriage requires one to leave our family of origin to begin our new family with our spouse.  God tells us to cleave onto our spouse that is to unite to him/her out of deep love and commitment and to actively work at staying close to each other.  To be one flesh is more than the physical union it’s constantly giving, receiving and responding.  It’s developing such a level of closeness that lasts an entire lifetime.  Marriage is serious business is not just an emotional bond that's why having God be part of it is so important.  

Exploring the Bridal World

Bride & her Maid of Honor

Bride's Party

 A few days ago I accompanied my best friend to a Bridal Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds.  We roamed around for a few hours looking at venues, dresses, invitations, cakes, shoes, accessories, flowers, music, photographers, photo booths- the whole shebang. I didn't realize wedding planning could be so stressful, just walking through the expo I became overwhelmed and I am not even the bride!  After the whole experience I thought about the wedding celebration and how traditionally it was a way to mark the foundation of the new family to come.  The ceremony itself was a public demonstration of the commitment the two people were making with God and each other.  The importance being the divine covenant over the earthly one.  Sadly, nowadays the wedding can be stripped of it's beauty and just be a lush party.  And the details are not what is important, but rather the couple's covenant before God and men.

    

Bride being silly.

Beautiful things

Flowers and Cake Oh My!

"As Christians, it is important to focus on the true purpose of marriage when considering the wedding ceremony. Although the details are ultimately between the couple and God, scripture encourages believers to enter into marriage in a way that honors God's covenant relationship, submits to the laws of God first and then the laws of the land, and gives public demonstration of the holy commitment that is being made. This can be carried out in a simple, private ceremony with only a few witnesses, or a large traditional wedding."

Wedding Dress Fashion Show.

Brides posse being silly!