The Anonymous Officiant: Use Your Gifts

This officiant reminds newlyweds to treasure their wedding gifts, and to treat every day as a gift, too

 

 

Listen now: 

 

 

 

“Use your gifts.” 

When my mom said it, she usually meant my creative gifts, or something equally as abstract.

As an officiant, when I say, “Use your gifts,” I’m talking about the coffee cups, tea towels, and all the nice things marrying couples are given as gifts to celebrate their new life together. 

I see a lot of wedding presents in the course of my work. But many times, the celebration never gets off the ground with the very items friends and family members have chosen so lovingly.

 

Illustrations by Jessica Levey

 

I went to an estate sale recently, and I noticed that many of the items appeared to be wedding gifts from the 1960s, still in their original boxes -- unopened, saved, and put away until later. The antique dealers who definitely came later in this departed couple's life were delighted. 

I wondered how many holidays, or just rainy Tuesday afternoons, might have been made more special if somebody had worked up the courage to break out a stack of dessert dishes or light candles in the silver candle-holders.

Use your gifts. Get them out, put them on the table or in the bathroom, and make them a part of your existence. Life is very, very short. 

Observe each day as if it is a gift, too."

 

- Anonymous 

 

 

 

• Read more from The Anonymous Officiant

 

 

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Are you the next Anonymous Officiant?

 

Tell your real wedding story in AMM’s The Anonymous Officiant

 

Hey, Wedding Officiants! Share your real wedding story, rant, or advice anonymously in The Anonymous Officiant.  

 

We’re accepting submissions of true stories, confessions, rants, and other revelations from the wild world of officiating. Do you have a secret, a cautionary tale, a wedding day disaster story, or exciting gossip? A true tale that's funny, heartwarming, scandalous, surprising, or informative? Something you want to confess, or get off your chest? 

 

Your secret’s safe with us! Submit a story or advice in 500 words or less to [email protected] or use the anonymous submission form linked below. 

 

Read our Submission Guidelines

 

 

 

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Read Next: 

 

• Gift Ideas for Your Wedding Officiant
   
• 3 Ways to Thank Wedding Officiants (That Don't Cost You a Thing)
   
• 7 Ultimate Engagement Gifts To Make a Couple’s Wedding Planning a Breeze
   

Give your favorite engaged couple a gift they can really use to make wedding planning fun and easy! Read the full article here. 

 

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