Quaker-style Wedding Ceremonies

Our wedding ceremony will be in the style of Quakers, which is very different from a traditional wedding. Learn more about what to expect by reading the following passage taken from a Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_wedding

A traditional wedding ceremony in a Friends meeting is similar to any other Meeting for Worship, and therefore often very different from the experience expected by non-Friends. The attendees gather for silent worship, often with the couple sitting in front of the meeting (this depends on the layout of that particular meeting house).

Out of the silence the couple will exchange what the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting describes as "promises" [1] with each other; since traditionally Friends have no clergy, there is no one person to “marry” them. Instead they declare themselves married before God and those gathered.

They then sign the wedding certificate which, for the purposes of the meeting, means they are now married. All those present are invited to share messages with the gathered meeting as they feel led (as in any other Meeting for Worship, see main article on the Society of Friends). At the close of worship all of those present at the meeting are asked to sign the wedding certificate as witnesses that the wedding took place and acknowledging their presence at the service. Often these certificates are hung prominently in the homes of the couple throughout their married lives as a reminder of the vows they took, and the people they shared that moment of their lives with.

This means anyone may share stories, songs, readings, etc. as they feel moved. Feel free to plan ahead, but trust your heart to know when or if you should speak. Unless the weather is uncooperative, we will be having the ceremony outside.