we've scripted the scripture!

We've selected our scripture reading/passage!  We didn't want to do the usual 2 Corinthians 13:1-13 ("Love is patient, love is kind...") or Ephesians 5:21-33 ("Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ...").  Not that those aren't great passages, but while they are very applicable, they have been in many weddings.  You could say it would be "traditional" but I, at least, wanted something that was meaningful, yet not terribly commonplace.  (Though if that is the passage you've picked for your wedding, more power to you!)

Tim and I joked about selecting some more interesting passages in the Bible, like a passionate passage from Songs of Solomon that might make people squirm in their seats, or a random Psalm about suffering, or one about the guy who lost his head in a tree while riding on a donkey.  :oP  But we figured we should at least pretend to be grown up and serious.  ;]

So our selection is one of my favoritest passages in the Bible, and Tim liked it and thought it was quite suitable for the occasion.

Philippians 2:1-11 ::  Imitating Christ's Humility

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.


Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
     did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
     taking the very nature of a servant,
     being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
     he humbled himself
     and became obedient to death—
     even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
     and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
     in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
     to the glory of God the Father."


Verses 2-4 --- "... by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" --- is totally what a marriage should consist of.  Being like-minded, and having the same love, spirit, and purpose seems comforting to me.  Like someone who understands and is striving, living for the same things in life.  That we can travel this journey together for the same purpose.  And, loving the other person before yourself, to love not out of selfish ambition but with humility.  Who doesn't want their spouse to love them that way?  And to follow that with the example of Christ -- He is the foundation of this marriage.  Day to day, sometimes it's easy to forget that marriage, as a Christian, involves not only me and Tim, but more importantly, God.  Each of our relationship with God affects our relationship with each other as well.

Serving each other with humility!  That would be Lego Jesus washing his diciples' feet.  :]  LOVE.  hehe.  (And here's one of the last supper.)  (Source)

Our officiant/pastor says he will tailor the [brief] message to this passage.  :]  Next, we will have to work on vows.  Traditional?  Write your own?  Mix & match?  Oh the possibilities!  But we already know, so it shouldn't be too hard.  ;]

Which passage did you choose for your wedding, if any?  Or if you aren't having a wedding in the near future, which one would you want to use, and why?
                     

arches and things

I think we are working with a blank, green, lawn slate here. And with my previous post on what I want the ceremony area to look like... it is now time to think about what to put at the front!

I think I would like SOMETHING up there to stand in front of or next to... Though I suppose we'd be just fine without it. The pastor and the rest of the bridal party will just have to know where to position themselves. But some ideas would be...

Skinny white (instead of the black featured here) metal arch for $16 (+$8 S&H) that we would still have to decorate. And run the risk of it looking craptastic (which is my new favorite word when describing something gross) or somewhat weaksauce. Though I guess the craptastic weaksauce aspect is up to my creativity and how much time and effort I put into it.  (Source)

We could...

Make it leafy  (Source)

Make it squared  (Source)

Trees! Problem is... after we find some plotted plant thingies... what do we do with them afterwards?! Free wedding giveaway!!!! haha.  (Source)

Too bad there isn't a free tree like this...  (Source)

The view is kinda pretty... and I kinda like the three arch concept. BUT. Say no to balloons.  (Source)

Hm. I think this embodies the aforementioned weaksauce arch. And the previously discussed candle vases, in the background there. But, they have the "good" chairs. :)  (Source)

   

Anybody have or seen any other brilliant ideas for "something" to put at the front to stand in front of?

  

candles and sand

(Source)

This is pretty neat. At first I thought the sand would just mix together. I joked about using orange and green sand and that it would turn into vase of brown sand... but this could be pretty! (Green and orange sand together still questionable though.)

Sand is a new trend, but also... it won't blow out outdoors! Which is the main reason I thought of it. It's symbolic in that... once it's mixed, it's pretty hard to separate the grains of sand... your lives are intertwined forever!! Not the same as sharing a flame, but... there could be a breeze!

I think Tim wants to do candles. He said something about it traditionally symbolizes two spirits becoming one. Understandable. And I suppose if you were reeeeally determined to separate sand you could, but you can't separate a flame! But have I mentioned possible wind or a strong breeze? I'm just a cautious one, okay?

But with some online research, I found this!

(Source)

Apparently it's for outdoor weddings and they keep the wind off. Trruuuee. We can look into those... but I can't say I LOVE how those glass things envelope the candles. And it looks real 80's, dontchathink? And maybe kind of ugly? If you look carefully, the two separate candles are taller than the vase! And how are you suppose to lift them up to light the big one?! Hmmm... I guess this will be another thing I kinda put off when we have to deal with it :-P

Heidi is doing communion instead of the unity candle, which could also be another idea. Though while communion is fantastic, I'm not too keen on that idea.

Do you think it makes a difference whether it's sand or candles as long as it's symbolic? Or does tradition (candles) carry more weight with you? Have you looked for alternative methods to do certain projects?