Ceremonies and Celebrations: Vows, Tributes and Readings

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Summary: Ceremonies & Celebrations
Review: As an Australian Civil Celebrant I have found this book a most valuable resource in my work and a marvellous tool for anyone wanting to create their own ceremony, whether it be a marriage ceremony, a namegiving ceremony, a funeral ceremony or any one of the many other transition ceremonies that are becoming popular and a part of people's lives in today's society. The book provides many ideas and guidelines on how to create a ceremony with easy-to-read sample ceremonies. It has a wonderful selection of some of the most appropriate poetry and music so essential to a ceremony. For marriage ceremonies - many sample vows, words to say while exchanging rings etc., and for other ceremonies, some very creative ideas. I recommend this book to professional celebrants and their clients alike, and to anyone wanting to create the most wonderful and meaningful ceremony of their lives. Kathy Hurley, Civil Celebrant, Australia [e-mail]

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Summary: This book helps you write your own wedding or any ceremony
Review: I'm proud to tell you that Australia leads the world in non-church ceremonies. In 1973, a visionary statesman, Lionel Murphy, Attorney-General of Australia, appointed selected citizens and gave them full legal powers to officiate at marriages "anywhere, any place, anytime". I was one of the lucky ones and have officiated at over 6000 weddings since then. Am I jaded by these experiences? No! I and my colleagues are more enthusiastic than ever. Weddings have led to Namings and Funerals and a range of other ceremonies people need. Australian civil celebrants now officiate at more than 50% of this country's weddings. We lead the world, and we get better and better. The best of poetry and prose, the best music, the best settings, the best "choreography" and "ceremonial theatre". This book is actually the fifth edition of a do-it-yourself book which has evolved over twenty five years. We celebrants encourage and assist people to write their own, compose their own ceremonies, to articulate their own values, their own ideals, expressed in the context of their own artistic taste. The book contains examples of a range of non-mainstream ceremonies - adolescence, dedication of a house, special birthdays (like my 60th and my daughter's 30th!), commitment ceremonies for same sex couples, career transitions, divorce, changing a name and a lot more besides. There is no better book around on ceremonies, I know it, because it is developed in the context of real experience of life and its necessary Rites of Passage. It was the renowned scholar Joseph Campbell who said "the level of civilisation is proportionate to the number of ceremonies in a society" or something very close to that ! Thanks world. Dally Messenger - practising celebrant.

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Summary: The Only Wedding Book You Need!
Review: If you're planning a wedding, this book is the one stop shop for wedding vows! My husband and I were recently married and wanted vows which were different from the stock standard ceremony. Dally's book offers so many alternatives and suggestions that it is almost impossible not to find something to suit. Not only does this book offer vows and readings, it gives you the courage to write your own words. There really is no substitute for Ceremonies and Celebrations for couples planning to have alternative wedding vows.

Good Luck with the Wedding!

Rating:
Summary: The Only Wedding Book You Need!
Review: If you're planning a wedding, this book is the one stop shop for wedding vows! My husband and I were recently married and wanted vows which were different from the stock standard ceremony. Dally's book offers so many alternatives and suggestions that it is almost impossible not to find something to suit. Not only does this book offer vows and readings, it gives you the courage to write your own words. There really is no substitute for Ceremonies and Celebrations for couples planning to have alternative wedding vows.

Good Luck with the Wedding!

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Summary: Helpful for Writing Wedding Vows:
Review: This book is specifically for Australians but most of the info is applicable for Americans as well. I ordered the book mainly for ideas when writing my wedding vows. The first half of the book is all about weddings, vows, wedding ceremonies etc. It provides many examples of wedding vows and readings (for bride & groom, officiant, bridal party etc.). There is a mix of more contemporary vows and readings along with some more traditional ideas as well. I am still in the process of writing my vows. I am confident that I will find everything I need for my vows in this book.