Product Description
If you’re like the many couples that have needs and desires that cannot be met by conventional ceremonies, I DO was written just for you. Whether you’re celebrating an interfaith or intercultural union, a second or third marriage, a same-sex marriage, or a commitment ceremony, you can make your special day a walk down the aisle less traveled. Drawing on the author’s experience designing and performing wedding celebrations, I DO is a creative, accessible guide that h… More >>
I Do: A Guide to Creating Your Own Unique Wedding Ceremony
Tags: accessible guide, Ceremony, commitment ceremony, couples, Creating, desires, Guide, marriage, same sex marriage, Unique, unique wedding, walk down the aisle, Wedding, wedding celebrations, wedding ceremony
#1 by Carol on April 8, 2010 - 11:40 am
Let’s look at page 7. The author states that because traditional ceremonies often subordinate a woman’s role in marriage, one might adapt the vows to highlight the symmetry of the relationship between husband and wife. As an example, she compares the standard Episcopal ceremony from the Book of Common Prayer 1945 with a modification that “still holds much of the tone of the original” I beg to differ. The former is a religious ceremony specifically mentioning God and Christ. The later is not at all religious and does not mention God or Christ. Thus, the tone of the original is completely lost on the modified version. It is interesting to note that there is not one mention of subordination of a woman in her role in marriage in the Book of Common Prayer example given. If the author wanted to give an example of taking religion out of the ceremony for the non-religious, that would have been fine. But calling the non-religious version a modification of a traditional ceremony to “meet the needs of modern times” was a farce. She needs to say “to meet the needs of the non-religious”. The author needs to say exactly what she means. There are many religious people including same-sex couples who want a unique ceremony that is not completely stripped of all religious meaning.
Ok, so I understand that some reviewers are angry because they believe this book is clearly for atheists and that athiests could easily give a religious ceremonies book the same two stars. Not at all true. Let’s look at who the BOOK says it is written for: “whether it’s to celebrate an interfaith, intercultural first union, a second or third marriage (including one or both partners’ children), a same-sex marriage, or a commitment ceremony.” I am sorry, but it nowhere says this book is for non-religious people only or atheists only. The book purports to be for ALL different types of people, religious, non-religious and atheist who want a unique ceremony. I feel the book is very clear that it is written for the above groups of people. My beef with it is that it takes religious ceremonies and mangles them and calls it good. Surely the non-religious or atheist can come up with unique ceremonies without resorting to stripping down religious ones to be completely meaningless, then declaring the resulting mess to “still hold much of the tone of the original”.
Rating: 2 / 5
#2 by M. Gillespie on April 8, 2010 - 2:05 pm
I bought this book because I want to incorporate innovative ideas and special traditions into my wedding ceremony. This book offers irrelevant information like, “A photographer or videographer can record the event for you so you can relive the memories. If there is a reception afterwards, you will need to hire a caterer.”
I didn’t buy this to be a wedding planner. I bought it to be inspirational. It tried to do too much and misses the mark on the subject that it’s supposed to be about. If the author had posted the title above their keyboard, we might have a book worth reading now.
Rating: 2 / 5
#3 by Margaret Swift on April 8, 2010 - 4:23 pm
The book is very readable, although I have not finished reading it yet. My reason for buying the book was that it was required reading for a Celebrants course I am doing.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by R. Byrd on April 8, 2010 - 6:01 pm
This book is a combination of advice and worksheets for planning your wedding/commitment ceremony. It includes sample services with an
emphasis on intercultural ceremonies.
It’s … okay. The author seems to concentrate so much on the types of ceremonies she’s lead in her work, that this book is a bit more of a departure from the type of guide I was hoping for. While she’s got some good ideas, I think the book’s main strength is the author asking you about the parts of the ceremony she outlines, asking you what you find important. The rest of the book … well, wasn’t necessary to me.
Rating: 3 / 5
#5 by Rudolfo Cicco on April 8, 2010 - 6:03 pm
This book is comprehensive and easy to use. I had no idea how many options there could be for a ceremony or how to put one together. Metrick, has provided a step by step guide with wonderful examples. I’ve seen reviews of her work as an officiant on the Knot, and apparently she’s draws from many traditions with ease and is great to work with. I loved the excerpts of ceremonies that she includes in the book. What a good way to see possibilities.
Rating: 5 / 5