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Q: My fiancé and I
both have children from previous marriages. How can we include them in our
wedding?
A: The best way to include
your children in the wedding is by having a Unity Ceremony. This will
include the entire family. Usually the bride and groom each have a tapered
candle, which represents their individuality. Together they light one big
pillar candle, which will symbolize their unity as one. In your case, have
your children stand next to you during the unity ceremony, each with a
tapered candle of their own, then all of you will light the pillar candle,
symbolizing your unity as one family! This is a very heart warming
ceremony. I’m sure you, your children and your guests will be a bit teary
eyed!
Best Regards,
Andi
Q:
My fiancé and I would like to write our own vows. Are there any
restrictions in doing this?
A: Your wedding vows are
expressions of your commitment to one another. Most officiants are willing
to allow this, as long as the basic principles of the traditional wedding
vows are expressed in one way or another. In most religions, these would
include the promises of being true to one another; to love and honor one
another; in good times and bad; in sickness and in health; until death do
you part. Make sure your vows express your beliefs. Make your words
personally meaningful, keeping it simple and brief. Even though you will
have these vows memorized, make sure that you (or your officiant) have a
written copy, just in case you draw a blank and need a little help. Best Regards,
Andi
Q:
I need help finding a place to get married outside! Thanks so much!
A: First things first! Before
you and your fiancé start looking around at different ceremony and
reception sites, you must determine the size of your guest list and the
size of your budget! Since I don’t have this information, I can only
suggest some sites for the two of you to consider. Have you ever thought
about a country inn, a vineyard, or maybe a riverboat? Do you have family
or friends with large backyards? Is there a local club, (with a lot of
outdoor space), that would love to host your wedding? Are there any
historical sites, art museums, botanical gardens, parks or conference
retreats within a reasonable distance? As you can see the possibilities
for an outdoor wedding are endless!
While doing some research myself, I found some very interesting venues,
right here at Pittsburgh Wedding.com. Look under Locate Wedding Vendors,
click on
Banquet & Reception Facilities. I am sure many of them would
accommodate you nicely. They are all very different, each one having their
own unique qualities! If you find one that appeals to you, set an
appointment to visit and discuss your wedding plans. Make sure you look at
several places before making any final decisions!
While conducting your search there are a few things to keep in mind. How
comfortable will your guests be? How accessible is it for your guests? You
may need to hire minivans, a bus or even valet parking. (The tab and tips
would be on you!) Find out if there are any restrictions you need to know
about. Are there sufficient rest rooms? How easily can tables and chairs
be set up? Is there any place for the wedding party to change? Will you
need a place for coats? Is there room for the gift table, the cake table
and the chocolate fountain? Will your vendors have easy access, and enough
room to perform their services comfortably? Is there adequate lighting? Is
there adequate wiring for your sound system, DJ, or band? Find out if a
liquor license is needed, and who is going to assume liability if a guest
becomes inebriated and has an accident. Find out if there are any
restrictions on decorating, and how much time before and after the wedding
you will have for everyone to set up and break down?
If you find the perfect yard and the perfect host, you may want to
consider having a tented reception. Tents these days range from very
simple to very extravagant! They have arches for entryways, stained glass
panels, and even chandeliers! You can get a colored tent to match your
wedding colors. They come with generators for heating in the winter, and
cooling in the summer months! Be sure to check around for pricing, it can
differ greatly between suppliers. A 60-foot by 60-foot, or a 40-foot by
100-foot are adequate sizes for about 200 guests. (This would include the
dance floor, too!) Whatever you do, order the tent in person, not over the
phone! You want to see exactly what you are getting before your big day
arrives!
Best regards,
Andi
Q:
My mom and dad have severed ties with me due to the person I am marrying.
I was wondering if it is okay to have a cousin or uncle walk me down the
aisle and give me away. A:
It used to be only the father of the bride, or in his absence an older
male relative or close friend, could serve as an escort to the bride. Your
cousin or uncle would be perfectly acceptable. In today’s day and age, it
is even acceptable for the bride to walk alone! Not knowing your age, I
will say this; if you are an older bride, it would be acceptable for one
or two of your children to escort you. On the other hand, if you are a
young bride, an aunt or even a friend can escort you. This decision is
entirely up to you.
During the ceremony, is the minister going to ask “Who gives this woman. .
.?” If so, you might want that rephrased to, “Who will support this
marriage?”, or you may want to leave it out completely. Best regards,
Andi
Q:
I am interested in having my wedding in Pittsburgh because I am from
there, but I live in Maryland. I am looking for a church to have the
ceremony in, any suggestions?
A: Although there are many, many churches in Pittsburgh, the
one that stands out in my mind is Bellevue Christian Church. Not knowing
your religious beliefs, I thought a non-denominational church would be
appropriate. It is a beautiful church, and it is about 110 years old,
which really gives it a unique character! I think the location is pretty
close to what you are looking for, only twelve miles from Pittsburgh.
Right here at PittsburghWedding.com, you can find more information about
Bellevue Christian Church in the wedding directory, under Ceremony
Locations. I hope this information is helpful, I know it is hard to plan
things from afar! Best regards,
Andi
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