Lisa and Matt - Mr. A's

This past Monday I receive an email asking if I would do a blessing for a couple celebrating their 10th anniversary. They were going to be having a special dinner at Mr A's that Friday night (yes, four days later), and wanted to know if I could join them for a blessing - and it would only be the two of them. Well, I am always up for helping a great couple celebrate their relationship! But how to do this? I had done renewal of vows ceremonies, in front of their friends and family, and I had done elopement weddings, where it was just me and the couple, and maybe a photographer to capture it, but I'd never done what I began to refer to as a elopement renewal of vows!

So, what did that look like?

This couple, or at least as communicated from the husband, was more religious than normally come to me, so it was important to find the right feel of what they were looking for, while still being true to me.  The only request that he had was for a piece from the Book of Common Prayer, which he sent to me. 

As I usually do, I wanted to help them celebrate their relationship - both where they had been and where they were going.  To do that, I had to know more about who they are together.  So, like all of my elopement couples, I sent them my "homework" assignment, with questions on their relationship, even though it wasn't going to be shared with any guests. For elopements, it is just a great exercise for my couples to go through, and it definitely helps me to get to know them.

So, I ended up including a hands blessing, which they both told me afterward was really special and meaningful, as I helped them to think about the gift they are to each other.  I also included a piece from the Apache Marriage Blessing, the traditional Corinthians piece (as I expect it had been used in their original church wedding, so I loved the tie-in of it), the piece from the Book of Common Prayer (as requested), and I ended it with the Irish Wedding Blessing.  I also reminded themof the vows they made to each other 10 years ago, as they still stand, but then gave them a chance to speak from their heart, with any thoughts or vows or wishes for this next chapter in their life together.

It ended up being a really meaningful and special moment for all three of us.  And it was really an honor to help them celebrate their relationship!

Lisa and Matt - thank you for that honor!  And wishing you many more years together, with each additional ten years even better than these first ten were!