Including Community in Your Wedding
Loving hands supporting your union
Wow, there is nothing quite like a garden wedding in the summertime.
Children running around in the sunshine, the freedom and ease of being on your land, enjoying food, drinks, and desserts made by friends and family.
There is something so magical about having your wedding carefully crafted and created by the people you love the most on your special day.
When your community comes together to work towards creating something, especially to celebrate your love… nothing says “We love you and support you” more than that.
This is precisely the kind of wedding that Matt and Hillary had.
They chose to have all the people they love and trust at the forefront, preparing for and creating their wedding. Their friends and family were able to put all their love, best wishes, and good intentions that they had been carrying for them into every aspect of their big day - from the wedding planner, dressmaker, marriage officiant, and beyond.
Maybe you have a friend like Agata who makes delicious cakes and desserts. Consider asking them if they would like to prepare something for your wedding. They would probably be honored that you appreciate their gifts enough to ask them to be part of the biggest day of your life. Imagine how proud they will feel when you tell people that your talented friend made your wedding cake. And besides, we all know that food tastes better when made with love.
Maybe one of your close friends has a passion and talent for hair and makeup like Ixchel. Ask your friend if they want to help make you a beautiful bride. You can have practice sessions before the big day to perfect your look, which will also give you extra bonding time.
Maybe you have friends who love flowers, herbs, and plants—consider asking them if they would put together some flower bouquets harvested from wildflowers to decorate and beautify your space. You can responsibly gather all kinds of wild herbs like Chamomile, Lavender, Elderberry, Yarrow, Wild Sage, St. John’s Wort… anything native to your area. You can harvest wildflowers with your friends and family like Matt and Hillary did to make dried and fresh flower bouquets around your venue.
There are countless ways of finding creative ideas and activities to include your family, friends, and community in your wedding preparations so you all can put your prayers into every aspect of your celebration.
Hillary and Matt had their community prepare, make, and do these things:
-Marriage Officiant
-Wedding Planner
-Wedding Dress
-Hairdresser
-Flowers and candle decorations
-Food and appetizers
-Cake and desserts
-Herbal teas and drinks
-DJ
-Photography (by yours truly)
-Videography
So, if you are surrounded by people who can support your big day with their songs, talents, and hearts, you are incredibly blessed and I would recommend including them in your plans. It creates a deep bond between you all, memories that will last forever, and it feels so wonderful knowing that a tremendous amount of love goes into every detail of your wedding day.
It was an honor and pleasure to photograph the beautiful wedding of Matt and Hillary on 8.11.2022 - created with the help of their friends, family, and community.
