Mere

Congratulations! Happy Planning! This IS a wonderful site-has given me so many ideas!

Congratulations and welcome! This site is so helpful! Happy Planning!

Congratulations! Happy Planning! This site Rocks!

Congratulations to you! Happy planning! This site is so helpful!

Congratulations and happy planning to you!

Congratulations to you! Good Luck with your speedy planning

Quote: Originally Posted by Laur13 we are doing a whiteboard and photo guestbook so I am going to have one of my BM go around during cocktail party and have guests pose for a picture and write a message in 5 words or less to the bride and groom. I plan on putting together a book when I get home This is what we plan to do at my shower and AHR. I found some UT Vols whiteboards-our colors are orange and white.

I found one description the other day that I liked-not sure if it is the same as this description: Starfish: In Christian symbolism the Starfish represents the Virgin Mary (Stella Maris which means Star of the Sea) who lovingly creates safe travel over troubled waters and is also seen as an emblem of salvation during trying times. The star as well as the Starfish are seen as celestial symbols and as such, they represent infinite divine love. In addition to love, the Starfish also holds characteristics such as guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance and intuition.

Thank you, Lady Trunck-I believe I will wear a tank top and shorts for my pic.

Here is our ceremony script in better viewing form: OPENING This beautiful setting should remind us that, like the ocean, human life is an ebb and flow.The life of the spirit and emotions- moves in cycles.To be in a relationship does not guarantee an eternal summer.To make a sincere and honest commitment does not promise, an end to all struggle. What a good relationship does offer, much like this ocean, is the opportunity for renewal.It recognizes the abiding, shared hope that after every fall and winter, spring and summer will come again. VOWS Jedd and Meredith, would you please face each other and join hands. Jedd and Meredith, Do you each promise to love, respect, and care for each other under all conditions and circumstances of life; to laugh with each other and comfort each other in times of sorrow and struggle; to love each other in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems difficult; to encourage, inspire, and support each other and be there for each other no matter what; to cherish each other and always hold each other in highest regard today and for all of the days of your lives? (In Unison say “I do") EXCHANGING OF RINGS May I have the rings. Notice that these rings are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. They represent the unconditional love that you have for one another. Let these rings serve as a bond between you and wear them with honor and pride, as they are a visible reminder of the vows and promises that you will make here today. Jedd, as you place this ring on Meredith's finger, you promise to be kind, patient, respectful, trustworthy, and supportive so that together, your dreams of a beautiful future can come true. Meredith, as you place this ring on Jedd's finger, you promise to be kind, patient, respectful, trustworthy, and supportive so that together, your dreams of a beautiful future can come true. Jedd and Meredith, May these rings always remind you of your never-ending love for each other, and may these rings always remind you of the precious treasure you have in each other. Wear these rings with joy for your love for one another has made you complete. (Engagement Ring) The engagement ring is a symbol of promise and intention. Now the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled. Jedd, please place the engagement ring on Meredith’s finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage. HAND CEREMONY The vows which have been exchanged are but words that are fleeting and the sound of them is soon gone. The wedding rings are an enduring symbol of the promises which have been made Meredith and Jedd, please join hands. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. Our prayer for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true. Together, with these hands, you will now pour the sand to symbolize your unity. SAND CEREMONY Jedd and Meredith, As you stand beside the ocean, may your love always be as constant as the tide; waves flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea.Just as water is the eternal force of life, so is love. Love is the force that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage. You have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings.But although you will be sharing one life, never forget that you are two separate people. Cherish and affirm your differences. Love each other. Keep your commitment primary. Together you will laugh and cry, be sick and well, be happy and angry, share and grow. Grow sometimes together, sometimes separately. To symbolize this union and the importance of the individuals within the marriage, two separate colors of sand will be combined. Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without need of anything else. However when these two are blended together they create and entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination. Please pour the sand into this common container to symbolize the union of your two lives. (PAUSE, for the pouring of the sand. Read the following passage as Jedd and Meredith begin to pour the sand together.) Jedd and Meredith, just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual container, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together forming one heart, one life, and one family. BLESSING Jedd and Meredith, Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth. Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives -- remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there.And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight. CLOSING Jedd and Meredith, Each of you has pledged your truth, one to the other, by giving and receiving your Love. May you strive always to meet this commitment, with the same spirit you now are now shining. We all bear witness to this ceremony you have just performed, and this bond that has been formed today can be broken by none. May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Meredith, you may now kiss your groom (bride and groom kiss) Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Jedd Swann

Thank you, Angel-in-law. We didn't want to have to repeat a lot of script-this way we just have to say a few words ourselves. A friend sent me her script and gave me that idea-WHEW-lol. I believe I will try to post it so that it looks better.

Thanks so much for the helpful info and the links! Much appreciated!

This story is absolutely wonderful!

I thought I had just found one, but it is no longer available

Can anyone tell me where I can purchase the blue starfish bling?

We are having an orange and white wedding. We are HUGE University of Tennessee Volunteers fans and I have UT orange jewelry to match. I will have an orange bouquet with a little bit of white in it. We are wearing UT orange flip flops too-lol. Basically-Bright orange and white. GO VOLS!

This is probably a silly question, but what do we wear in our before and after shots? Do we wear the same clothes for each pic? Do I have to show my FAT belly-LOL. Any suggestions?

I finally booked Mike Cantarell with Wedding Cancun Video-good luck

p.s.-I think it would be neat to see a total % weight loss of the group each week-motivate each other to get the total % loss of all of us as a group higher-just a thought.

I definitely want to join in! The sooner the better for me. I am getting married in July, so I need some MAJOR motivation to lose some weight before then. April 16 sounds great to me-any day works for me-Much rather do it on Friday than Monday-lol. Thanks so much for hosting and getting Season 9 started-WOOHOO!

I thought I deleted my post-I was going to condense it to make it smaller-oopsie.

I love this thread. Great inspiration. I believe I have my ceremony script completed and we only have to say 2 words-WHEW-LOL. This is kind of long, but here goes: Opening (Officiant) "This beautiful setting should remind us that, like the ocean, human life is an ebb and flow. The life of the spirit and emotions- moves in cycles. To be in a relationship does not guarantee an eternal summer. To make a sincere and honest commitment does not promise, an end to all struggle. What a good relationship does offer, much like this ocean, is the opportunity for renewal. It recognizes the abiding, shared hope that after every fall and winter, spring and summer will come again." Links: Files: | | Vows (Officiant) Jedd and Meredith, would you please face each other and join your hands. Jedd and Meredith, Do you each promise to love, respect, and care for each other under all conditions and circumstances of life to laugh with each other and comfort each other in times of sorrow and struggle to love each other in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems difficult to encourage, inspire, and support each other and be there for each other no matter what to cherish each other and always hold each other in highest regard today and for all of the days of your lives?" (In Unison say “I do”) Links: Files: | | Exchanging of Rings "May I have the rings. Notice that these rings are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. They represent the unconditional love that you have for one another. Let these rings serve as a bond between you and wear them with honor and pride, as they are a visible reminder of the vows and promises that you will make here today." "Jedd, as you place this ring on Meredith's finger, you promise to be kind, patient, respectful, trustworthy, and supportive so that together, your dreams of a beautiful future can come true." "Meredith, as you place this ring on Jedd's finger, you promise to be kind, patient, respectful, trustworthy, and supportive so that together, your dreams of a beautiful future can come true." "Jedd and Meredith, may these rings always remind you of your never-ending love for each other, and may these rings always remind you of the precious treasure you have in each other. Wear these rings with joy for your love for one another has made you complete. (Engagement Ring) "The engagement ring is a symbol of promise and intention. Now the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled. Jedd, please place the engagement ring on Meredith’s finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage." Links: Files: | | Hand Ceremony (Officiant) “The vows which have been exchanged are but words that are fleeting and the sound of them is soon gone.” “The wedding rings are an enduring symbol of the promises which have been made” “Meredith and Jedd, please join hands.” “These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. “Our prayer for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true.” Together, with these hands, you will now pour the sand to symbolize your unity" Links: Files: | | Sand Ceremony (Officiant) "Jedd and Meredith, As you stand beside the ocean, may your love always be as constant as the tide; waves flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea. Just as water is the eternal force of life, so is love. Love is the force that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage." "You have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings. But although you will be sharing one life, never forget that you are two separate people. Cherish and affirm your differences. Love each other. Keep your commitment primary. Together you will laugh and cry, be sick and well, be happy and angry, share and grow. Grow sometimes together, sometimes separately." "To symbolize this union and the importance of the individuals within the marriage, two separate colors of sand will be combined. Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without need of anything else. However when these two are blended together they create and entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination. Please pour the sand into this common container to symbolize the union of your two lives." (PAUSE, for the pouring of the sand. Read the following passage as Jedd and Meredith begin to pour the sand together.) "Jedd and Meredith, just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual container, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together forming one heart, one life, and one family." Links: Files: | | Blessing (Officiant) "Jedd and Meredith, Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth." "Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives -- remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight." Links: Files: | | Closing (Officiant) "Jedd and Meredith, Each of you has pledged your truth, one to the other, by giving and receiving your Love. May you strive always to meet this commitment, with the same spirit you now are now shining. We all bear witness to this ceremony you have just performed, and this bond that has been formed today can be broken by none. May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Meredith, you may now kiss your groom" "Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Jedd Swann"

thanks, crystalandmatt, for the info-much appreciated

Awesome review-can't wait to see your photos.

Quote: Originally Posted by Oryx I feel I didn't do as well as I could have this season (well I KNOW I could do better!). I'm really looking forward to starting up a season 9 too. I'm available to host this time -- unless someone else wants to do it. Should we start a new thread to see who's interested and pick a start date? I am new to the forum so someone that has been here longer would be great to host. I wouldn't know exactly what to do, but I AM ALL IN TO START ASAP-lol. My wedding is in July-need to lose some weight. This is a great motivation tool for me. I am in for Season 9.