A typical civil wedding ceremony takes about 20-30 minutes, give or take. Couples have most often hired a professional photographer and/or a videographer to capture their special day. All too often well meaning guests step into the aisle to get a picture of the bride coming in, blocking the paid photographer. I have seen parents of the happy couple taking pictures all during the ceremony as well as close family members capturing the entire ceremony on video with their hand held devices. While this may seem like a good idea, my case in point. Look at the accompanying picture of taken at the “Rock the Park” concert in London recently. How many people were actually PRESENT and enjoying the concert and how many were watching an expensive evening through their cell phone? While you may actually be there… were you? The joining of a couple in marriage is not a matter to take lightly. I personalize and create unique ceremonies for all my couples, but it is a legal commitment. Couples have spend hours over the special wording of the vows and how the ceremony reflects themselves. As special people in their lives, do you not owe them 30 undivided minutes of your time… the gift of your presence.? I have yet to meet happy newly weds who were not available for many many pictures following the ceremony. The next time you are at a wedding, baptism, or perhaps a rock concert… enjoy the ‘present’.
