[Magdalen] Wedding Advice

[Grace Cangialosi]

My granddaughter was married last year, and there were two churches involved--his for the wedding and a very light cake and punch reception for everyone, and hers for a reception for family and close friends. Everyone knew from the beginning that that's what was going to happen.
Could you do something similar, even though both will be in the same location...have kind of a light pre-reception for anyone for whatever time you designate and then the more formal and private event slightly later.
Or have something like "lemonade and cake on the lawn" with your receiving line immediately after the service.
Just some thoughts...

> On Sep 4, 2015, at 1:28 PM, Jo Craddock <jocraddock at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 09/04/2015 10:28 AM, Rick Mashburn wrote:
>> As y'all know, Alex and I were married in a civil ceremony in Santa Fe in
>> May. We're planning our church service for November. Currently, the liturgy
>> that is approved calls the service the "Celebration of a Lifelong Covenant"
>> but I'm hoping it can be the "Blessing of a Civil Marriage" by the time the
>> bulletins are printed. We've requested permission from the Bishop to call
>> it that
> I'll be interested to hear how the details work, Rick, in both regards, and I'm very excited for you and Alex!
> 
> I'm old-fashioned enough to think the ceremony invitation is one thing, and the reception another. Or, to avoid any awkwardness, open the reception and have a private dinner celebration another time.
> 
> It was my understanding the sacrament of marriage doesn't "officially" open until Advent 1. This also requires some detail work, I imagine; we have some married-elsewhere couples at St. James who have held off the current options (while others have opted for them). Does the blessing of an already-performed civil marriage open to equality before Advent 1? I don't know that we have any couples chomping at the bit, but I expect some dates may be requested by early next (secular) year.
> 
> Peace,
> Jo