Patricia Lynn Rose

ABOUT THIS WEDDING

"Jeff and Sonya's wedding was my very first officiating experience! They were referred to me by a mutual friend who knew that I had just received my ordination from AMM. We met on a Sunday afternoon, 2 days after my minister package arrived in the mail, and on the Friday of the same week the couple was married in their beach house! I have to admit I was nervous! I have been a wedding photographer, I have even created wedding cakes, but officiating was an entirely new experience, especially due to the legal implications and requirements of a marriage.. I was grateful that my first wedding was performed among a few friends in my hometown on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. I followed the basic script for a simple ceremony but added a sand ceremony. I had no pebbles but gathered shells on our own beach the morning of the wedding and gave a shell to each guest in attendance, asking them to think of a special blessing to offer to the wedding couple. After the ring ceremony, each guest placed their shell into a glass container that I provided and pronounced a word of blessing for the couple. I had also prepared two small sand pails for the bride and groom, and after the shelves were placed in the container the bride and the groom jointly poured their sand over the shells and the container. We all reflected on the blessings of love and friendship that were now intermingled in the container. The bride and groom and the guests commented that the sand ceremony was such a lovely touch to the wedding. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the guests remarked that no one would have been able to tell that it was my first wedding, they stated that the words seemed to just flow easily throughout the ceremony. Truly, I had prayed for such an outcome and was grateful to hear such kind words. Now, I am excited and look forward to the opportunity to officiate my next wedding. I feel blessed and edified by my experience as a wedding officiant! Gratefully, Patti Rose "

Patricia Lynn Rose