Plans to Resolve Wedding Committee Issues

As far as I can see, there's none. At least there's none, thus far.

It all started early this year when the group head, Bro. Orlando called for a meeting among the lectors and commentators who volunteer for roles in the church weddings. All those involved voiced out their opinions on issues that seem to plague the weddings.

Wedding Schedule Change Without Notice

The schedule for my wedding service today as commentator was 2 pm. I rushed to the church. I knew I was I was early. After all, I was there with 20 minutes to spare.

But then, there was nobody at the parking lot.

Taking Over a Lector's Scheduled Service

Being scheduled and asked to be commentator for the wedding and then later being asked to go home instead is quite upsetting to say the least. That's how I felt when a scheduled wedding was cancelled suddenly for reasons unknown to me.

In today's wedding, something similar happened, and I was told to go back home.

Attention to Sequence in Wedding Program

I suppose I was a bit lucky in today's wedding because the wedding coordinator was very cordial and called the two mass readers to immediately see me. Since the mass readers were on time, i.e., earlier than the rest of the entourage, the orientation for them was quick and easy.

I didn't realize though that there was a third reader who just popped up at the Liturgy of the Word itself. He took upon himself the Responsorial Psalm. Since he wasn't at the orientation, I had to constantly cut him off after the Verses because he wasn't supposed to say "Response".

Interfaith Mixed Marriage Wedding Muslim-Catholic

Today's wedding is one of those unscheduled "just came up" kind of a wedding. It was late when I was called to be wedding mass commentator. I was actually wondering why or how the parish accepts these late insertions in its wedding schedule.

Unbearable Heat during the Wedding

The month of May is still, arguably, the hottest month of the year. And it befuddles me how men would wear suits and ties in this 36 degree Celsius weather.

It was so hot that everyone inside the church was fanning frantically. This is despite all the industrial wall fans inside the church were in full blast. During these times, I'm so happy that as a commentator, I have not one but two fans to keep me cool at the commentator's lectern.

Wedding Ministry Seminar - Part 2

(This is the continuation from Part 1)

2. Wedding coordinators who take over the tasks and functions normally done by the church workers. The diocese would rather limit the intrusion of wedding coordinators on the roles of the mother-butlers, usher-greeters.
   

Wedding Ministry Seminar

For some reasons, the diocese asked for representatives from the parishes under its jurisdiction to attend a Wedding Ministry Seminar. What the seminar was all about, I had no idea.

I think neither did our adviser. But he asked me to attend for a look-see. I wasn't particularly keen on attending. I was about to resist, but it seems all his other prospects beat me to it with their own excuses for not going.

The Worst Wedding Ever - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 1)

This is the sense of entitlement that I see in weddings nowadays. These folks arrive late with a "We're the stars of the show" attitude. They know they have reservation for the use of the church and have paid for the services of the church. They somehow think this entitles them to arrive at their own sweet time and make everyone else wait.

The Worst Wedding Ever

That is in terms of tardiness.

Some people seem to think that going to a Catholic wedding mass is more of a social event than a religious one. I thought today's wedding exemplified that.

When I arrived, the assigned lector was there and so were the mother-butlers. However, there were only a handful of wedding guests and wedding entourage inside the church. You'd think the whole afternoon in the church would be uneventful.

How to End the Wedding Mass as Commentator

When does the wedding mass end? Well, just like with the regular masses, it ends when the priest says "The mass is ended, go in peace..." or something similar. The congregation responds with "Thanks be to God!". Usually, the priest asks the groom to kiss the bride, much to the delight of the attendees, of course. Sometimes there is no wedding kiss for the bride and groom.

Based on the church's wedding mass program, there's nothing more expected from the commentator. It's like something zaps and the commentator disappears.

Why I Prepare and Keep My Own Wedding Program

In a recent article, I wrote about my customized wedding program guide or missalette. I discussed most of the changes I made to the church's own wedding program.

My Customized Wedding Program Guide

Only a few of my co-lectors know that I prepare and keep my own versions of the wedding mass program guide which the church provides. There are just a handful who know because, for one, there are only few lectors who happen to be wedding mass commentators also.

I have copied the church's wedding mass program and, over the years, edited it to suit my own style. I have noticed that the instructions could be better reworded so they're easier to understand by the wedding mass attendees.

Children in the Wedding Entourage

As usual, I was early in today's wedding. The entourage was supposed to have their own mass reader. Well, someone was at the ambo early and I assumed it was the mass reader.

"That's so proactive of her", I thought. So, I approach her at the ambo to check if everything was fine. It turned out that the mass reader used to be one of the parish's regular commissioned lectors.

Welcoming the Wedding Mass Attendees

A big part of the mother-butler (church assistants) responsibilities at the wedding mass is in the wedding processional or march. This starts with the orderly formation of the wedding entourage for the procession near the church entrance doors.

This continues with the entourage marching down the aisle. The mother-butlers then guide and usher all the part of the entourage to their respective seats.

Importance of the Wedding Program Script

There must be something about today's date that would be wedding couples are attracted to. I remember being assigned to a wedding on this date last year. I had to beg off and had someone relieve me because I had a friend getting married on the same date.

It's either wedding couples simply like the date (being a holiday) or it's the last available date for the month and couples scramble to get married on the last date.

Groom and Bride Exchanged Seats in Wedding

Coming to church this afternoon as wedding commentator, I felt a bit tired. Maybe it's the Christmas novena masses (Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo masses) that were taking a toll on me.

Groom's Parents No-Show at Wedding Rites

Today's wedding was typically tardy.

When I arrived at the church, there was a lone elder gentleman who seemed to be waiting patiently. He would walk and pace and then go back to his seat. The other parts of the entourage started trickling in only much later.

Sloppy Wedding Attire and Fashion for Men

Maybe you've seen them, or maybe not. But I've seen enough to want to write about them. I know, the word "sloppy" is quite subjective. Perhaps anything that isn't conservative or traditional might be branded as sloppy for some individuals, me included.

When a Wedding is Cancelled

It's a wet rainy morning today when I went to the church for a 10 am wedding as the wedding commentator. Since it was raining, I opted not to use the bike or else I'll just get my pants wet even if I wore a jacket. It's the thigh part of the legs that would get wet from the rain as I pedal the bike.