Good morning!  After I posted last night, I decided that there was NO way I was "wasting" a whole 4 hours of wedding planning with nothing to show.

 

I kept chugging along and (1) picked out the favor (we’re doing candy) and (2) wrote the ceremony!  More details at the end….

 

But first, BREAKFAST!  Yesterday’s Coconutty Oatmeal was such a success that I incorporated coconut into today’s breakfast as well.

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I added three tablespoons of coconut to 3 beaten egg whites, and dredged two pieces of WW bread into the mix.  Then, onto the griddle these babies went, and viola – Coconut French Toast! 

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The coconut came through more as a texture to the French toast than a flavor addition, but it was still divine!  It gave the toast a nice chew.

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On the side, I had my usual sliced banana + maple syrup.

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And last, but certainly not least, a nice, warm cup of coffee in my inspirational sisterhood mug (I don’t even have a sister)…

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Wedding Details – Who Says What, When!

 

Future Husband and I are spiritual, but not religious, people.  Future Husband’s stepfather has served as his spiritual and professional mentor ever since we was 16 and moved to America.  My future father-in-law (FFIL) is very intelligent and runs a holistic clinic that Future Husband will one day take over.  Since FFIL is also an ordained minister, we asked if he would perform our civil ceremony, and he agreed–which just excites me so much! 

 

So… that means that we have to write the ceremony ourselves, from the opening line to the ring exchange! We’ve asked two of our close family members to give "readings,"" and FFIL will also do what he does best and say something inspirational. 

 

We both agreed that we didn’t want to surprise each other with self-written vows.  I just don’t think I could say something so intimate in front of 100 people without bawling my eyes out! Future Husband agrees!  So we’re going to a do a "repeat after me"-style of vows with all the traditionally favorite lines.

 

Here’s what we’re going to try to say without crying hysterically:   "I, Future Husband, take you, Caitlin, to be my wife. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful husband and friend from this day forward for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part."  (I like the part about being a husband and a friend).

 

Did any of you married folk write your own unique vows for the ceremony and surprise your spouse on your wedding day?  Could you say what you wanted to without getting all choked up?

 

What’s your favorite part of the ceremony?  I like watching the groom as the bride walks down the aisle, and I love the part where they exchange rings — someone’s hands are always shaking in a cute, nervous way! 🙂

 

Enough of the mushy stuff… gotta go to work!

{ 19 comments }

 

  • VeggieGirl October 9, 2008, 4:51 am

    If I make the long trip to Florida, will you serve that Coconut French Toast dish?? Thanks ;0)

    Your wedding plans sound so delightful and well thought-out so far!! Fabulous!!

    My favorite parts of the ceremony = the “I Do’s” and the vows :0)

    Happy Thursday!!

  • Kath October 9, 2008, 5:01 am

    Brilliant idea on the french toast!!

    Matt and I wrote our entire ceremony as well. We included hand-picked passages and wrote the welcome, vows, (stole the ring vows from Father of the Bride 🙂 ) and flow ourselves. I’d be happy to share the whole document with you if you want to see it 🙂

    We did get married in a church, but our wedding was about as non-religious as you can get with a minster and pews. I would say our ceremony was more literary/historical than anything else. I chose passages such as “Victorian Marriage Advice” from the 1800s and an Apache wedding blessing for the closing. Even the “prayer” was very interpretative. We wanted it to feel very open.

    I LOVED writing it myself. I knew every word was there because we wanted it to be and not because of some tradition that dictated what marriage was. It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it in the long run.

  • RhodeyGirl/Sabrina October 9, 2008, 5:24 am

    we are doing a very traditional church service. my fiance is armenian and has served on the altar for years, so it is only appropriate. also, their church is really their family and home, in every sense of the word. a good friend (bishop from dc) is marrying us!

    my favorite part of wedding ceremonies is watching the groom’s expression as his bride is walking down the aisle… so precious!

  • Elina October 9, 2008, 5:30 am

    My husband and I used the traditional lines as well… pretty close to what you have there. We also agreed that we couldn’t share something super intimate in front of so many people and I was afraid I wouldn’t even be able to repeat after our JP (I was fine!). I think if you want to say something special to your husband, do it right after. We had a few minutes to ourselves before the pictures and it was really nice to just hug and be ourselves for a minute. We were both trying to hold our tears during the ceremony…
    I’m so excited for you, Caitlin! My wedding was the best day of my life 😀

  • shawna October 9, 2008, 5:34 am

    We didn’t write our own vows, but we did write the “flow”, since we were married in a non-religious ceremony. DH is not comfortable in front of crowds – he had a tough time just repeating things he was so nervous.

  • Meghann October 9, 2008, 6:15 am

    Can I have my candy now? 🙂

    I like the idea of writing your own ceremony, I want to do the same thing when I get married one day. I can’t wait to see the whole thing in person. I will be sure to judge and critique whatever you guys come up with. 🙂 All of course while I’m balling my eyes out myself since I know its going to be beautifule!

  • just me October 9, 2008, 6:20 am

    wanna take a vaca to cali and make me all your wonderful varieties of french toast?

    and your wedding plans sound great! my parents did the same thing and love to flaunt the fact that their ceremony took 12 minutes, including all the walking, talking, AND a song. LOL!

  • emily October 9, 2008, 6:23 am

    we wrote our own vows and also were lead through a short set, I really like doing both. I found it easy not cry, it’s funny how quickly the ceremony goes once you are actually up there! However, I also mentioned Scrubs and pizza in my vows, so perhaps I wouldn’t have cried either way! 🙂

  • Meg October 9, 2008, 6:28 am

    Love the French Toast!

    Love all the wedding updates.

    My husband and I wrote our own vows and we both got choked up when saying them…I am getting teary just thinking about it now.

    My favorite part is the bride walking to the groom…I will remember that part of my wedding forever!

  • Bridget October 9, 2008, 7:18 am

    I’m also having a Catholic ceremony, I grew up Catholic and it was really important to my family that I was married in a church, my FH isn’t very religious so he didn’t mind either way. But I dont think I could of written a whole ceremony!!

    My favorite part is the vows, even though you hear them all the time, everytime it gets me teary.

  • Allison October 9, 2008, 7:29 am

    We didn’t write our own….I would never have been able to get through them. Although we did sit down with our Pastor and got to “personalize” the traditional wedding vows.
    I refused to have the word “obey.” in my vows!

    my husband, bless his heart was so nervous putting my ring on my finger, that he tried to put it on the wrong hand. it made me smile. and then my uncles cell phone rang out loud. classy. 🙂

  • Krista October 9, 2008, 7:42 am

    We did the traditional Catholic ceremony at our wedding. I was SO nervous then that when I think back to it now, I don’t even remember saying my vows! Mind you, that was a little over 10 years ago! I bet if we wrote our own, I would remember what I said!

    Your breakfast looks divine!

  • tfh October 9, 2008, 7:45 am

    It’s wonderful that FFIL will perform your ceremony! I was so sure I was going to sob during my wedding but when the time came I was so calm. A bride’s tears are beautiful though! We had a Hindu ceremony so it was very different in terms of vows: my poor husband is going to be stuck with me for a few more lifetimes. 😉

  • Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) October 9, 2008, 7:46 am

    What a yummy breakfast!

    Your wedding plans made me smile! I love weddings!

    My favorite part of the ceremony are the vows. I’ve only been to two weddings- I was 5 at one, and an alter server at the other. As the alter server, I BURST into tears at a stranger’s wedding!! It was embarrassing but it made the bride and groom smile, ha! It was too sweet for me to handle.

    I don’t know if I could read vows I had written in front of all those people! I cry at EVERYTHING and there is no way I could hold myself together!

  • Jewels October 9, 2008, 7:59 am

    Candy is a great idea and is always a hit! I like watching the groom’s face when he first sees his bride 🙂

  • runningwithfood October 9, 2008, 9:01 am

    Awww … I love weddings! We went with the traditional wedding vows when we got married. I was so nervous that I would never have been able to remember my own! It was hard enough to remember to repeat after the minister. 🙂

    Your breakfast looks great!

    When are you leaving for Miami? I love Miami!!

  • whatiateyesterday October 9, 2008, 9:20 am

    we did candy too, chocolate covered sunflower seeds in te wedding colors inside tiny old fashioned candy jars.

    My fav part of our own wedding was the sand ceremony. It was unique and fun.

  • Caitlin (see bride run) October 9, 2008, 9:41 am

    i loved hearing about everyone’s weddings. a few of you even e-mailed me your vows, so THANKS!!!

    runningwithfood – i’m leaving tomorrow!

  • eatingbender October 9, 2008, 12:42 pm

    Wow, awesome combination of coconut and French toast! Seriously, that’s just pure yum.

    I loved reading these wedding details! I’m always impressed by how many possibilities and decisions go into a wedding. It’s fun to follow your journey :o)

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