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The family medallion is a wonderful piece of wedding jewelry that remains a fantastic symbol of eternal love and devotion. Learn a little about the history of this beautiful medallion to help you decide if it belongs in your wedding ceremony.
The Creator Reverend Roger Coleman is the United Methodist minister behind the popular jewelry item. "The so-called traditional wedding does not serve the needs of couples with children, whether their own, or children from previous relationships....The important role of children and the nature of family relationships is simply ignored," Coleman once remarked in an interview. The Necklace The necklace itself features three interlocking rings. Two of the circles represent love, while the third represents love that "reaches out" to include others. The same design is often seen on other jewelry pieces, such as charms, rings, and lapel pins. The Best Decision For Your Family The family medallion is a wonderful way of expressing your love and devotion to your new partner as well as your children and his. Consider purchasing a different piece of jewelry for each family member, such as a ring for your daughter, a lapel pin for your partner's son, and a necklace for you. If you would rather everyone have the same piece of jewelry, that is just fine and dandy too. Whatever you choose, the jewelry is something for all of you to cherish always. If you decide jewelry is not the way to go but still want to do something special for your children at your wedding, consider a unity candle or sand ceremony. Both speak to the coming together of two families in love and faith--faith that you will continue to evolve as a new family unit. No matter your final decision, ensure it truly represents your feelings and what you are looking forward to as a new family.
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Unity candle ceremonies traditionally involve the bride, groom, and their mothers. However, more and more couples are incorporating their children in this wonderful show of love and devotion. It is ideal for those who want to stress to their kids that just because they are marrying someone new, they are still a family.
Keep the following tips in mind to create a beautiful unity candle ceremony: Small Children Have little children hold onto their grandmothers during the ceremony. If they are big enough, have them hold the two tapers as the grandmothers light them before handing them to you and your groom. Blended Family Candles Use blended family candles (yep, they totally exist) to help your children feel even more involved in the ceremony. Each set comes with a stand for holding the unity candle, two tapers, and up to seven smaller candles for children to light. Get as creative as you want with your set, such as you and your groom holding the tapers while the children light the smaller candles, or two children (assuming you each have one) holding the tapers while the grandmothers light the smaller options. Practice Rounds Consider a few practice rounds with the candles to get your children used to working with open flames. If your kids are older, you probably can wait on this until the rehearsal dinner. Alternative Options Pick from plenty of alternative options to the unity candle if you simply do not want your children around fire. Pouring water or sand from different containers into a vase are both safe options, with the water ceremony based on the Native American tradition of a couple drinking from a vase with two spouts. If neither of these ideas interest you, consider those involving ribbons or even a "unity sandwich"! Enjoy coming up with a unique unity ceremony you and your family will remember always! Incorporating your children into your wedding ceremony is a fantastic way to show them that while things are changing, your love for them never will. Review three beautiful wedding readings for children to consider if you wish your kiddies to speak during the ceremony.
Love Is Giving (Author Unknown) Love is giving, not taking, mending, not breaking, trusting, believing, never deceiving, patiently bearing and faithfully sharing each joy, every sorrow, today and tomorrow. Love is kind, understanding, but never demanding. Love is constant, prevailing, its strength never failing. A promise once spoken for all time unbroken, Love’s time is forever. Selection From 'Winnie The Pooh' by A.A. Milne “If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” “Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered. “Yes, Piglet?” “Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.” “We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet. Even longer,’ Pooh answered.” “If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.” On Your Wedding Day (Author Unknown) Today is a day you will always remember The greatest in anyone’s life You’ll start off the day just two people in love And end it as Husband and Wife It’s a brand new beginning, the start of a journey With moments to cherish and treasure And although there’ll be times when you both disagree These will surely be outweighed by pleasure You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past When the secrets of marriage were spoken But you know that the answers lie hidden inside Where the bond of true love lies unbroken So live happy forever as lovers and friends It’s the dawn of a new life for you As you stand there together with love in your eyes From the moment you whisper ‘I do’ And with luck all your hopes and your dreams can be real May success find its way to your hearts Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys But today is the day it all starts Hope these readings inspire you! Whether your first wedding was so steeped in tradition you wanted to scream, was a quickie ceremony at City Hall, or otherwise had nothing to do with your creative vision, your second wedding is your chance to get exactly what you want in terms of the ceremony and reception (and in the relationship). Review the following ideas for customizing your second wedding so you can fully realize your dream:
The Kids If you and or your partner have children, your wedding is the perfect opportunity to help them feel included. Whether you designate them as members of the bridal party, have them help with a unity candle or sand ceremony, ask them to read favorite quotes, or want to incorporate the kiddies any other way, go for it. Get their input and have fun. They will very likely love it! The Ceremony Your second wedding ceremony does not have to be traditional...unless you want it to be. Feel free to have it at any applicable venue, such as a beautiful farm or garden, stunning banquet hall, or even your backyard. Go the church route if you want, but do not feel limited in any way. The Dress White dresses are perfectly acceptable for second weddings, however if you want a cream-colored or ivory dress, that's just fine too. Heck, you can even wear a pantsuit or cocktail dress if you want! Browse options online---Pinterest is a fantastic resource--to find your dream wedding dress. The Food Getting creative with the food is yet another fun way to customize your second wedding. Consider food and beverage "bars," such as a water bar with regular, distilled, and sparkling water as well as garnishes such as lemons, limes, and cherries. Food bars can include those for appetizers and entrees, as well as a dessert bar, such as an ice cream sundae option. Who doesn't want to make their own sundae piled high with toppings? Hope these ideas give you a great jumping-off point! Have fun! Whether going through a divorce or about to remarry, it is natural to feel a range of emotions. Help yourself navigate emotional waters with the following quotes about divorce and remarriage. Pull what you can from them to make the right decisions for you!
The best time to decide whether you will live the rest of your life together is before you say “I do,” not after! So much miscommunication that takes place between people is because each person is coming from a different perspective. We assume that we know what the other person believes, thinks, and feels. Too often, our assumptions are incorrect. The clearer you can be about each other’s assumptions before marriage, the fewer number of surprises after marriage.--Bobb and Cheryl Biehl The first step to a healthy remarriage is you. Is this a surprise? Life wounds all of us. The losses, disappointments and hurts of life will not heal themselves—you must choose to heal. In fact, you will not grow until healing has taken place—and this takes time.-- Jeff and Judi Parziale Recognize what you did wrong in the first marriage and fix that immediately. You were not perfect, even if you were only at fault for 20 per cent of the problems in your first marriage. You need to spend 100 per cent of your time fixing that 20 per cent. Whatever dysfunction you had in the first marriage will not magically disappear in your second marriage. Negative patterns and behaviors have a way of repeating themselves. Your new marriage will have its own set of issues, so please do not bring in old issues.--Michael Smalley Much of your personal readiness for remarriage depends on the state of your relationship with your former spouse, whether they are deceased or you are divorced. What lessons from your first marriage will you bring into your second marriage? Is there unresolved pain in relation to your first spouse that you still need to work through? The point is that before reentering marriage, you need to carefully examine the baggage you are bringing with you.--Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott Hope these quotes help! Good luck! The unity candle is an increasingly-popular wedding ceremony option. Whether getting married for the first or fourth time, the candle symbolizes two families coming together in love. If you wish to incorporate this idea into your wedding but want something other than a candle, consider the following fun and funny ideas that demonstrate your commitment to each other.
Unity Sandwich How great is this idea? The unity sandwich can be any kind of sandwich, though one you both like is preferable for obvious reasons. Take a bite out of the sandwich at the same time to not only show everyone attending your wedding how much you love each other, but to provide a humorous moment you and your guests will remember for years. Bread Breaking The breaking of bread has long been associated with friends and family. Consider finding a delicious loaf from a local baker to enjoy during your wedding ceremony. Add toppings such as jam, honey, or butter if desired. The bread should also help settle your stomach if you are feeling nervous. Water A water ceremony is not terribly different from a sand ceremony in that both of you have glasses of water that you pour into a new glass or vase. As with the sand, the water represents the blending of your families in love. Unity Cocktail Another crazy-fun take on the unity candle concept, the unity cocktail blends ingredients from each party to make a yummy drink you both sip as a symbol of your eternal devotion. Find a drink you both love, such as scotch and soda or whiskey and ginger ale, and go from there. If you want to get a bit more creative with a complicated cocktail, feel free. It's your wedding, after all! Do any of these ideas pique your interest? Remember, you can always make up your own unity ceremony!  Let's face facts: weddings are stressful, whether it's your first, second, or eighth trip down the aisle. Rather than feeling like you could cry at any time, use the following tips to manage your stress level and enjoy the wedding planning process.
Ask For Help Don't be afraid to ask your friends and relatives for help. Perhaps you have a cousin who could easily design invitations or a bridesmaid who knows the best makeup artists and hairstylists in the tri-state area. Your bridal party is here to help you, and most if not all of your family is probably willing to assist. Form a wedding planning team to help you with whatever you need. Everything will go a lot smoother! Give Yourself Time Give yourself plenty of time to research vendors and venues. The more time you have, the more options you will enjoy. Waiting till the last minute could easily mean getting married in a venue you dislike with vendors who are less-than-reputable. Start the planning process early--you will be glad you did. Take Care Of Yourself Remember to take care of yourself! Stress manifests physically as well as emotionally and mentally, and getting sick in the weeks before your wedding is just plain awful. Take time every day to de-stress, whether it is through exercise, meditation, fun with friends, cooking, petting the cat, etc. Take care of your body and mind to stay healthy across the board--it will help you handle everything to do with your wedding with grace. Hire A Wedding Coordinator Hire a wedding coordinator if the process is too overwhelming and you do not have enough family and friends willing to help. The right wedding coordinator is a godsend who will take over the planning duties so you can rest and relax before your big day. Remember to breathe and have fun!  If you are in the midst of planning a second wedding but are lost as to what music to use for the ceremony, read on. The following ideas will help you create the full-spectrum wedding playlist you want for celebrating your big day.
Prelude Suggestions Prelude music refers to music played about a half hour before the wedding ceremony begins. It is when you guests are arriving and taking their seats. Find music that helps set the mood you are trying to create, whether it is traditional, contemporary, religious, or anything else. Classical music ideas include 'They Prayer' by Andrea Bocelli, 'Ava Maria' by Schubert, 'Fireworks Suite' by Handel, and 'Romanza' by Mozart. Contemporary music ideas for the prelude include 'Everything I Do, I Do It For You' by Bryan Adams, 'The Rose' by Bette Milder, 'Always' by Atlantic Starr, and 'When I Say I Do' by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black. Processional Ideas Wedding processions generally involve the bridesmaids and bridegrooms, the flower girl and ring bearer, and finally the bride. The same music is generally used for the bridal party, while different music such as the traditional 'Here Comes the Bride' played as the bride walks down the aisle. Classical processional music ideas include the aforementioned song, as well as 'Romance From Spring Quartet' by Mozart, 'The Wedding Brides Piano' by Roy Todd, 'Spring From The Four Seasons' by Vivaldi, and 'The Day Has Come' by Roy Todd. Contemporary ideas include 'At Last' by Etta James, 'Storybook Love (Theme from The Princess Bride)' by Mark Knopfler, 'What A Wonderful World' by Louie Armstrong, and 'Can't Help Falling In Love' by Elvis Presley. Unity Candle Lighting Options If you choose to incorporate a unity candle lighting in your wedding ceremony, consider the following song options: 'When You Say Nothing At All' by Allison Kraus, 'When You Say You Love Me' by Josh Groban, 'Amazing Grace' (traditional American hymn), 'Me & You' by Kenny Chesney, and 'Beautiful In My Eyes' Joshua Kadison. Hope these suggestions help! Good luck!  The coming together of two families following a wedding is a complicated business, but one with many rewards. If you have children and are getting ready to marry someone who also has kiddies, keep the following tips and advice in mind to navigate the often-complex waters of family blending.
Take It Day By Day Forget feeling anxious about the future because nothing is working out as quickly as you hoped right now. Take things with your new family day by day and celebrate small breakthroughs and triumphs as they come, such as being asked by your stepchildren to help with homework or decide on an outfit. Stay Patient Remember to stay patient, as difficult as it can be sometimes. The blending of two families is something that takes time--it is rarely, if ever, an overnight process. Remind yourself how lucky you are to have found your soul mate to help you focus on staying patient, as doing so can be a godsend on days when you feel your patience running out! Dismiss The Idea Of Perfection Stop thinking things will be perfect by next week, next month, next year, etc. It is never, ever going to happen, and that's okay. The kids are not always going to get along, the house is going to get messy, and it's probably going to be loud a lot of the time. Rather than striving for perfection, feel lucky to have more children in your life. After all, you will get to help them become amazing adults. Be Supportive Stay supportive of your partner's parenting decisions. If you disagree on something, talk about it in private rather than arguing in front of the kids. Remember, barring death your partners' kids already have a mother. It is not your job to replace their mom, but it is your job to be a supportive role model. Keep these tips in mind....and keep working at it!  Make planning your second, third, or fifth wedding easy and fun with the following tips and tricks. This isn't your first rodeo, er, trip down the aisle, so you know how the process goes. However, you still might have a few questions, which hopefully the following tips answer! Have fun!
To Wear White Or Not To Wear White A white wedding dress is not the symbol of virginity it used to be. Queen Victoria was the first woman to rock a white wedding dress, and it became a representation of innocence. Since this is simply not true anymore, feel free to wear white. If an ivory wedding dress or any other color appeals to you, go for it. Sarah Jessica Parker famously wore a black dress for her wedding to Matthew Broderick and looked amazing! Vows Perhaps you wish to stick with traditional wedding vows, and that's just dandy. Yet many second or third-time brides prefer to go a different route, whether they write their own vows or look up non-traditional options. The internet is loaded with vow ideas for couples who have been married before, and they are just as beautiful and wonderful as their "traditional" counterparts. Get as creative as you want! Involving The Kiddies Many second or third marriages equal children from previous unions. Involving the children in such weddings is an increasingly-popular trend that lets the younglings know they are loved and cherished. Blended family weddings can be absolutely beautiful, as they represent two groups of people coming together as a unit and starting a new life. Sand ceremonies, unity candles, and readings are just some of the way to involve "yours and mine" in your wedding. Another option is to ask them to be bridesmaids and groomsmen! Enjoy planning your dream wedding--you deserve it! |
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