A SPECIAL MOMENT WEDDING ceremonies can be performed by Minister Rev. John or Notary Joyce
Serving Pinellas and surrounding counties for over 17 years we realize how important your ceremony and other wedding day services are to you and we do our utmost to fulfill your desires.
Rev. John does not read ceremonies and his are approximately 15 minutes not including the processional and recessional. The following paragraphs apply to Rev. John's ceremonies. For those whose desire is to write their own ceremony Notary Joyce officiates and performs excellent written ceremonies. Her reading is superbly performed with expertise, emotion, and expression developed through her years of singing experience performed mostly on a weekly basis since childhood.
Writing your vows. If a couple's wish is to write their own vows they must conform to the English language definition of a vow which is: A solemn pledge or a solemn promise from one person to another. A vow does not include anything that depends on, requires, or orders the other person to do. A good basis to style your own vows can be taken from the traditional vows example: I (bride) take you (groom) to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, in richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, forsaking all others, so long as we both shall live.
A vow does not include remembrances nor
limitations such as "if" "unless" "when"
"or." Please keep in mind that a vow is a vow, an unconditional
promise
from one person to another. When couples have something delightful to say to
each other, it should not be a part of the vow
because it is not a promise, but can be in addition to the vow and asserted immediately
preceding or following the vow. Such as (preceding the vow) "I would
first like to say. . . . . . " (following the vow) "I would like
to add . . . . . . . "
Rev. Veleno's Ceremony Format which can be used to assist
in planning your program format.
(Insert extra) Can have memorial, or presenting mothers with roses
here.
Ceremony by Officiant: Reverend John Veleno
Scriptural Reading: The definition of love from 1 Corinthians
Officiant's Welcome
Elements for Making and Keeping a good marriage
The importance of having a friendship in a
marriage
Definition of a Vow
(Insert extra) Can have a reading or song by a relative or friend here.
see below
Prayer for Bride's and Groom's future
Exchange of Vows
Blessing of the Rings and Marriage
Exchange of the Rings
(Insert extra) Can have readings, unity candle, family unity, mixing of sand,
or other amenities here. see below
Closing
blessing
Presentation of the New Couple
Recessional music: The Wedding March traditional
or with Steel Drum - Mendelssohn
Readings and/or Vocalists
You
may wish to have a Relative or friend who would like to do a scriptural reading or a poem, or
someone who may wish to sing a song for the bride and groom
included in the ceremony. For those who wish to sing with background music
please furnish us with the background music about two weeks prior to the
ceremony, and there are those who acappela (without background music).
Mixing of Sand vs. Unity Candle
With Background musicFor the mixing of sand an empty center container and two smaller side containers with sand are usually placed on a table. At the sand mixing part of the ceremony the bride and groom pick up the side containers and simultaneously pour the sand into the center container representing the blending together of the couple, their families, and friends, etc. Variations of the sand can be two containers with different colors, sand from the ceremony location, or sand from where they grew up.
The center container can have engraving effected at some gift stores which an be kept as a remembrance. Prior to the ceremony the two side containers (representing the bride and groom) can be filled by the mothers or other family members and set up on a small table to the side. Instead of a table, a variation can be that the best man and/or maid of honor or children can hold the center container while the blending of sand is performed.
Keep in mind that when pouring from two containers into the center container it should have a large enough opening to accept the sand pouring from the two containers, however, if you need to have a special container with a narrow opening, such as a wine or champagne bottle, a funnel can be used to assist in this procedure. In keeping with the beach scene, two conch shells filled with sand can be the two side containers. Conch shells have a small opening on one end which can provide a narrow stream. A little practice before the wedding day can be helpful.
Wine
cup option
This option can be used
in place of a unity candle or sand mixing as it represents the similar meaning
of the joining together of the newlyweds.
Family
Unity (for including
Children)
Children of the bride
and/or groom can be included in
a "Family unity portion of the ceremony" and a family medallion
or ring can be presented to them at that time, but is not
necessary. The main purpose of this is to offer children the feeling of being
included in the new family.
Glass
Breaking
A traditional glass
breaking segment at the very end of some ceremonies can be included.
Our professional outdoor music system For beach and outdoor locations our music system transporter needs 36" width passageway without stairs.
Our music system does not play standard CDs or tapes. It is a sealed system using sealed read-write discs specially designed to withstand the usual outdoor and beach conditions of sand, salt, sun, wind and humidity. Our system is self powered and designed to accommodate from small to large formal or informal weddings up to 350 guests. It assists in overcoming typical outdoor distraction sounds from wind, surf, traffic, planes, etc., thus helping to make your special occasion more enjoyable and private. If you desire to have your own music selections please furnish it two weeks or so prior to the wedding so that it can be recorded on our system in advance of the wedding. There is a $30 charge for recording your music. It is recorded in the order you wish your music to be played. If you select our photo package with the wedding ceremony and music we also play music to keep your guests entertained at no extra charge while your posed photos are being taken after the ceremony. For beach weddings we usually play steel drum music. Types of music can be discussed beforehand.
Our separate PA system is also special constructed for outdoor weddings in the same way as our music system. We recommend using our PA system for outdoor weddings with 35 or more guests so that everyone can hear your outdoor ceremony and witness your vows over existing wind, surf, planes, boats, game playing, people cheering, dogs barking, cannons fired from pirate ships, birds laughing, and other distracting sounds often heard in outdoor locations, all of which we have experienced.
YOUR MINISTER
In 1980 Rev. John began his studies in the non-denominational Church of Gospel Ministry. He was ordained
for ministry in 1984. In 1990, recognizing the need for wedding
ceremonies to be performed by ministers outside the church at park and beach locations Rev.
John began performing location
weddings with ceremonies acceptable to all - Christians, Muslims,
Jews, Buddhists and other religious groups.
Following is a recent email from one of those couples with approximately 100 guests in attendance:
Rev. John,
James and I just want to thank you so much for marrying us 2 weeks ago on the
beach. Every guest commented on how beautiful the ceremony was. We loved it and
will never forget the feeling of becoming husband and wife out in the elements,
with your prayers and blessings. Coming from different religious backgrounds,
this was the perfect ceremony for us and our families.
Thank you so much and best wishes for you and your family.
Niki and James