As a wedding officiant, I am often asked how to include children in the ceremony. If the children belong to one or both of the partners getting married and they are under 18, then it is important to use the opportunity to reinforce that they are part of the new family being created, not part of an old one being left behind.
Sand ceremonies and unity candles are great options, but at a networking meeting for wedding vendors the other evening, I discovered a wonderful way to “gift” the children during the ceremony: not just any jewelry, but handmade jewelry.
Sometimes people are worried that the children may lose expensive jewelry given as part of the ceremony or they are concerned about the costs. Local bead store Just Bead It (which has stores in Surf City, North Beach Haven, and Stone Harbor, making them a perfect choice for Long Beach Island or Jersey Shore weddings!) not only lets you make your own jewelry, they give classes to show you how to do it! During the winter, they are flexible about which classes they offer.
Whether you make taking the children along and share in the creation of a necklace or bracelet or make them in advance, handcrafted, do-it-yourself wedding jewelry is a unique way to show how much you care without breaking the budget.
I’ll cover other ways to use handcrafted jewelry to make a statement, save your budget, or bond with friends in another post.
For now, imagine a ceremony where you affirm your love for your children in your new blended family and mark the occasion with a handcrafted necklace or bracelet. I like it much better than the “Family medallion” that seems more commercial and expected.
What do you think?
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