While I was working on the ceremony, I was trying to find a way to honor our parents. We’re so lucky that all seven of our parents and step-parents are supportive of us and our marriage, and I wanted to express publicly how much that means to us. Since I’m not into rose ceremonies or unity candles, I thought that reworking the Jewish tradition of reading seven blessings would be perfect. We aren’t comfortable with the original text, so when I found this beautiful reinterpretation written by Rabbi Allen Secher I knew right away that we should ask each parent to read one. After some light tweaking, we ended up with these:
Officiant: As our children find partners and build their lives as adults together, each family is enriched and enlarged. Would the parents and step-parents of Emily Kate and Lynn please stand. This occasion is a special celebration for you who brought these children into the world, and who have nurtured them into adulthood. Today you are witnessing another stage in the lives of your daughters. Emily Kate and Lynn count themselves as truly fortunate to have you all standing beside them today, and have asked that you be the first to bless their union.
Lynn’s mom: We wish for you the special joy of being a couple, making decisions together, sharing ideas, hopes, and dreams, celebrating life’s joys and confronting life’s difficulties hand in hand.
My mom: We wish for you the freedom to explore, to imagine, to create. And we wish for you endless discovery of the world’s treasures as well as the vision to appreciate the treasures of yourselves.
My dad’s wife: We bless you with our promise of continuing friendship and love to support you, encourage you, and enrich your lives.
Lynn’s stepdad: We wish for you days filled with blessings as you embrace new family and friends in the days to come.
My mom’s wife: We wish for you the wisdom to remember the community around you, to share the richness of your lives with others, to work toward justice and to contribute to the creation of a better world.
Lynn’s dad: We wish for you the strength to celebrate your uniqueness, honor your individuality, and complement each other in your differences.
My dad: We bless you with a life filled with pleasure and warmth, humor and beauty, peace, friendship, and love for each other!
I’m starting to think that it might make sense to hand out little individual packets of tissues instead of flower petals…
My mother had a very traditional Jewish wedding. The 7 blessings were used, but most of the people recited them in hebrew. I don’t know why but it never occured to me that is was possible to alter them. I love that you have, it makes so much sense.