have a pagan wedding
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Do you want to get married but avoid the church? Do you consider yourself spiritual but not religious? Are you pagan, or marrying someone from a different religious tradition than your own? These days there are many reasons to design a new kind of wedding ceremony, one which expresses the love of the couple in a unique way.
Things You'll Need
- marriage license
- interesting readings
- friends and family
- party supplies
Instructions
1
First you will probably want to work out the legal aspects of your marriage. In a traditional religious wedding this is generally handled by the clergy person. For a pagan wedding, you may need to deal with it yourself. Contact your local courthouse to apply for your marriage license and find out who is allowed to perform marriages in your area. Your options may include using an open minded traditional celebrant, marrying yourselves, having a friend legally ordained online or going to a justice of the peace for a quick legal marriage before or after your wedding ceremony.
2
Write your vows. Designing your own ceremony gives you a unique opportunity to express your love on your own terms, so be creative. If you have trouble with this step, try not to get stressed about it--the most important thing is just to tell your partner how you feel, and to make any promises that you think are important.
3
Flesh out your ceremony. You could look to a variety of traditions for ideas, but some common elements include inspirational readings, prayers or meditation, music and of course kissing! Keep it simple and not too long, so that guests can stay focused.
4
Find a location. Many people who want pagan weddings prefer outdoor settings, but you should have plenty of options. One thing you might want to consider is picking a place where you can have the ceremony and the reception together, an option that is often not practical for church weddings.
5
After your wedding, make sure to follow up on the legal aspects of your marriage. Don't forget to sign and mail in the certificate that comes with your license, and consider calling the court house a few weeks later to make sure that the marriage has been legally registered. Congratulations!
Tips &- Warnings
If you are having a wedding ceremony without a legal marriage, consider whether you would like to incorporate any of the legal aspects generally associated with marriage, such as property rights, and talk to a lawyer about making these arrangements.
A common concern about pagan weddings is negative reactions from family members. If you are likely to deal with this, consider toning down the religious aspects completely and having a more or less secular ceremony. On the other hand, it is your wedding. If you feel strongly about certain aspects of the ceremony you may have to choose between the financial support of your family and the type of service you prefer.
Tags: legal aspects, pagan wedding, wedding ceremony, your marriage, your weddingSource: www.ehow.com
