A Spiritual Wedding

Posted by on Nov 29, 2013 in Uncategorized, Venues, Weddings | 0 comments

A Spiritual Wedding

 Dear Engaged Couple-  
 Last week I attended what for me was one of THE most spiritual weddings ever.  It is difficult to pin down why something is spiritual.  In its essence, something is spiritual because it is of the spirit—it is not human made.  Call it gift, call it surprise, call it miracle. 

   The wedding was at a chapel—a chapel in Richmond, called the Bishop’s Chapel which is part of the Roslyn Retreat Center.  That may have had something to do with it.  A chapel has you thinking right away about God and things not-of-this-world.  Add to that, that it was a simply decorated chapel—no stained glass windows, no fancy

The wedding chapel in Richmond in the Spring

The wedding chapel in Richmond in the Spring

carvings, no silver or gold ornaments—just a simple A frame chapel, with a white wood and glass exterior and interior, both.  There was plenty of room for the spirit to do its thing, free from human suggestion. 

  No stained glass widows, fancy carving or silver and gold ornaments to decorate this simple wedding chapel  

   The place, in all its simplicity was absolutely lovely.  The wedding took place at 6:30 p.m. in November.  The chapel’s clear glass windows were, of course, dark since it was dark outside.  The couple had placed luminaries leading up to the place.  Those definitely set the mood.  I was ready for the spirit to move me even before I stepped inside.  Oh my!  The inside!  The simple light wood table at the front of the chapel was covered with white candles.  Other candles lined the center aisle.  These were in tall glass containers (vases, maybe?) .    The whole effect was breath-taking. 

   My visual senses were definitely aroused.   My olfactory nerves were, too.  The place was heavy with the scent of candle wax, which has a soothing, comforting effect.
Simple candles illuminated the wedding ceremony

Simple candles illuminated the wedding ceremony

   That’s only the half of it, though.  The groom is a musician, so everyone was treated to violin music (while the guests arrived) followed by piano music (for the seating of the families and the entrance of the wedding party)  followed by trombone, clarinet and trumpet music for the bride’s entrance.  Awesome.  Somehow even the horns came off as holy.  Don’t know why but it’s true.  Oh, and the groom wrote some of the music for the service—which made the service unique.

 
    The bride and groom had chosen two readings—or perhaps their family members chose them?  One was by  Thich Nhat Hahn—about miracles.  I have included it below.  The other was from the Book of Ruth—I have included it below, too.  These readings, were the final coup de grace to a beautifully orchestrated service. 
 
    There are lessons to be learned here, for sure:  only remember.  You can’t replicate the presence of spirit.  It is beyond our human capabilities.  Still, we must try. 
 

Your Wedding Preacher for Hire

 

 
From Thich Nhat Hahn:  “People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle.  But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth.  Every day we are engaged in a miracle, which we don’t even recognize, a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes.  All is a miracle.  Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” 
 
From the Book of Ruth, Old Testament:  “But Ruth said, Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you!  Where you go, I will go;  where you lodge, I will lodge;  your people shall be my people and your God my God.  Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried.  May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even

Bride after the wedding service

Bride after the wedding service

death parts me from you.”

 

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