The second segment of my 10 Steps to a Perfect Wedding cere­mony is the Invo­ca­tion. Tradi­tion­ally, this has been under­stood only as a calling on God.

But to invoke means simply to call. This segment does best when it invokes 4 different areas:

1. History: you are not the first couple to stand in front of your commu­nity to proclaim your Love. Your love is not the first to trans­form lives. There is power in those connections.
2. Commu­nity: Who are the people who have gath­ered? What do you want from these people at your wedding cere­mony and beyond?
3. Place: Why have you chosen this venue? What’s signif­i­cant about it to your family, or your lifestyle.
4. Blessing: Every marriage requires blessing. The only ques­tion is from whom are you seeking that blessing? Many people will choose to ask for a Divine blessing. Others will be more comfort­able with a commu­nity blessing. Still others will leave it up to the guests and offer a place of silence.

Tip: Keep adding in the impor­tant segments of your cere­mony and it’s going to lead you to a wonderful wedding cere­mony AND the marriage in which you want to live forever. Hang around we’ll look at some of this. My book, Promises to Keep: Crafting Your Wedding Cere­mony can help you build the wedding cere­mony of your dreams and the marriage of a lifetime.