Comments on: The Humanist Wedding

By: Duane Brown

Duane Brown — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:34:30 +0000

Anthony,

I’m glad that I could point that wedding place out to others. Most everyone I know around here is religious to some degree as well — that is why I figured I would put the word out upon reading this entry that yes, a dignified, non-religious wedding place DOES exist in the Stafford, Va area.

Ok, maybe there isn’t a church every 1/2 mile, but depending where in Stafford you are, it sure seems like it. I’ve lived here my entire life virtually and seen churches pop up all the time. Best thing about them is the church signs — quite humorous and/or just weird.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:31:46 +0000

My wife and I were married by some friends of mine in a humanist ceremony that I wasn’t even aware was a humanist ceremony when I wrote it. (That was back before I was aware of what humanists were!)

It was lovely. One of the things that’s always annoyed me about religious weddings is how much emphasis is placed on god, while almost none is placed on the couple who are getting married, and for our wedding, it was all about us.

The best thing? My wife actually allowed me to use the wedding march from Flash Gordon as we were walking in.

By: stephanie

stephanie — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:24:16 +0000

I’m turning into such a sap in my old age. Even reading this sort of thing gets me all moopy.

My husband and I were married by a historic docent who’d been deputized to perform weddings so the little landmark they volunteered for could make a little money from small private weddings. There are lots of wonderful ceremonies every day that have very little to do with religion. Hrrm, I’d guess you’d call church centered vows the original fairy tale wedding.

By: nile

nile — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:18:39 +0000

Well, if you feel you really to need a ceremony to live with someone, and to have it all written down on a piece of paper, which lawyers can dismantle with the flick of a pen, the words used are way better than most. Looks like you had a fun day, and I bet it was a corker of a party!! Congratulations to you both.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:56:01 +0000

I would spend my whole summer at Camp, living on a diet of really bad camp food, and getting eaten alive by bugs if I could. Unfortunately camp is only a week long. I was sad the whole week before my wedding because camp is over. I deserve no admiration, because working with these kids is simply something I love doing.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:38:50 +0000

Congrats Bjorn! Those were some beautiful vows.

I am going to be a bridesmaid in a wedding next March that is being held at a Unitarian Church. The couple is not particularly religious. It would thrill me if they wrote such lovely vows and had such a godless ceremony.

By: Ghost of Minnesota

Ghost of Minnesota — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:34:54 +0000

In the highly unlikely event that I ever get married, I’d want it to be something like this.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:34:17 +0000

Geez Duane, that’s crazy, we live in Stafford like a couple miles from that place. Granted most everyone I know here is religious, but I’ll keep that place in mind in case anyone who’s not is interested. Thanks!

By: Duane Brown

Duane Brown — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:09:00 +0000

My wife and I (both atheists in Virginia) got married two years ago in a small, local nice environment that wasn’t religious at all, but beautiful and caring. It definitely wasn’t Justice of the Peace style, either. Trying to find a really good, nice place for two atheists to get married around here (where there is literally a church every 1/2 mile) is not a very fun task. We would NOT have gotten married in a church, even if it was the last place on earth. We would rather go to the courthouse first. I am just glad that we didn’t need to go that far.

If there are any atheists/agnostics in the Fredericksburg/Stafford, VA or surrounding area, I/my wife highly recommend http://www.countrycharmchapel.com as a location to get married.

By: Bjorn Watland

Bjorn Watland — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:21:14 +0000

The bridge was an accident. Jeannette and I were both really calm all day. It was just too much fun to get stressed over. Jeannette’s mother was a different story, but that was contained. Stress in a group can spread like a virus. Luckily, we had fun, and everyone else did too, except for the teenage boys around.

Oh, and we also recruited the Freethought Band to perform at our ceremony. It may be worthwhile to see who in your local atheist or humanist organization has skills which can be put to use. That’s one of the benefits of being in a community, after all, giving and sharing.