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Have you ever attended a Quaker wedding?
There is no preacher. There is no structured service.
Instead the group sits silently for an hour together. |
Throughout the hour anyone can stand if he or she feels moved to speak.
And always there is silence again for a minute or two before another shares an inspiration, quote or song. |
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I found it very moving, very authentic and very community oriented. It was as if all of us were collectively hugging my cousin Matthew and his wife Carrie.
At the end of the ceremony, Matt and Carrie signed a large wedding poster, and all 150 of us signed as witnesses before we left the meeting hall.
They will keep it framed at home. |
From the 250-year-old Hopewell Friends Meeting House in Clearbrook, VA, we drove to an outdoor reception at my cousin Beth Ann's farm in Upperville, VA, where my aunt and cousins had cooked lots of tasty food.
Simplicity is an important theme for Quakers and everything at Matt and Carrie's wedding and reception echoed the simple goodness of the bride and groom.
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The wedding was not a show of wealth but rather a simple show of love. Almost everything, from the venue to the catering, to the music, and even the photography, was lovingly contributed by family members and friends.
I've seen a lot of weddings, but this one stands out for its refreshing simplicity of spirit. |
The party continued through the night, long after I left, with a large bonfire and camping out in the field behind my cousin's house.
Have a great week,
Todd
P.S. I apologize if I have not yet replied to your email from the last newsletter. Thanks for your patience. |
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