It is wonderful to include family and friends in the wedding ceremony. They are often asked to do a reading or a blessing. Sometimes, they can surprise you with what they do.
The Billings Estate is one of the most popular venues for outdoor weddings in Ottawa. This was the first outdoor wedding of the year for me, and we were blessed with warm sunshine. The bride was of Italian descent, and the groom is Brazilian. In our planning session, they indicated that they would like some family members to give some readings and blessings. Because of my experience in singing Italian Opera, they asked me to deliver a few lines in Italian, as well.
Everything was going as planned when I started the wedding. I said my first few Italian lines with favorable responses from her family. His brother recited a poem in Brazilian Portuguese, reading from his iPhone. Her uncle, who had travelled from Hawaii, was next. To their surprise, he presented them each with Kukui nut leis. Symbolically, the giving of Kukui nuts represents the holy union of two lights from two spirits who intermingle to become one.
Couple with Kukui nut leis. Courtesy Alan Viau
There were two blessings. One of the bride’s family members delivered a beautiful blessing in Italian. She was followed by a family friend who had a real comedic bend. He stated that this union was a long time coming and that their love is obvious to all who meet them. He joked that we would all remember their wedding day since it was also the last day to file our income tax. Then he got all 100 people up from their seats to join hands in a huge circle. He got everyone to exclaim long life and love for the couple from this circle.
Nice thing about outdoor weddings. You can form a huge circle. Courtesy Alan Viau
They all got seated again, and I had the bride and groom before me. The bride looked at me pleasantly stunned and said, “I had no idea he would do that!†I said to the audience, “How can I follow that?†Well, I followed it by declaring them married.
It brings home that all sorts of surprises can happen at a wedding, even during a well-planned ceremony. This couple had unplanned things happen that will enrich the memory of their wedding. Long life and love to you. Oh, and I was complimented on my Italian.
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