Ceremony Program

So, in an attempt to put together something that others can help me with before final crunch time, I've started designing the program for the church ceremony.  There are thousands and thousands of designs out there: multi-paged, multi-folded, funny shaped, be-ribboned creations.

Upside down creation

I want to keep our design fairly simple - one page (if double sided).  I'm debating the use of ribbon (because that means someone is going to have to tie these ribbons!) vs. a square with our initials gluing the two layers down. Another ribbon option sans the tying of a thousand little bows would be like the second picture, where it's pulled through to have two loose, but not necessarily tied into a bow. In such an instance the loose ends would be much shorter, probably where my finger is pinching the ribbon.

Bow option

Loose ends option

I'm partial to two layers as I've always liked the vellum paper (as anyone who has seen past invitations I've made can tell you) - hence the need for the ribbon or paper anchor.  One design I've come up with has the wording printed on the vellum, over a white cardstock with our initials printed in the center.  I've also bought a corner punch with various designs to cut out of the corners of the white page. 

Initials under the vellum

Corner that I like the most

Corner option 2

Corner option #3, although not done correctly...wasn't centered when I punched it...

I'm also playing around with a no vellum option.  It would have our initials at the top, then the wording underneath with the corners cutoff to avoid being too plain.  The colors of the no vellum option would be mostly purple, as the cardstock would be on a purple base.  The hint of teal would be in the initials at the top of the page. 

Before I can complete the programs, I would also have to figure out the songs and such for the ceremony, and I would have to know the schedule of events ... unity candle, bouquet for Mary, etc...

Bouquet for Mary

I have to remember to go to the florist to add a bouquet for Mary to the flowers we're ordering.  Either that, or I'm going to use my toss bouquet...and then toss my actual bouquet...which would be fine with me because I'm probably not going to dry and keep my bouquet forever and ever (more clutter).

Oops, forgot about this as a possiblity for reading 2

1 Corinthians 12: 31-13: 8

 

Set your mind on the higher gifts. And now I am going to put before you the best way of all.

 

Though I command languages both human and angelic -- if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.

 

And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains -- if I am without love, I am nothing.

 

Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned -- if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

 

Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited,

 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances.

 

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth.

 

It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.

 

Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; and if knowledge, it will be done away with.

Choosing Readings and Psalms

From the book given to us at the pre-Cana course, here are some choices of readings that I've selected for the mass. 

 

First Reading

 

The Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16; 8: 6-7

 

BELOVED: I hear my love. See how he comes leaping on the mountains, bounding over the hills.

 

My love is like a gazelle, like a young stag. See where he stands behind our wall. He looks in at the window, he peers through the opening.

 

My love lifts up his voice, he says to me, 'Come then, my beloved, my lovely one, come.

 

'My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the coverts of the cliff, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.'

 

My love is mine and I am his. He pastures his flock among the lilies.

 

BELOVED: Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is strong as Death, passion as relentless as Sheol. The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of Yahweh himself.

 

Love no flood can quench, no torrents drown. Were a man to offer all his family wealth to buy love, contempt is all that he would gain.

 

Responsorial Psalm

 

Psalm 103: 1-2, 8, 13, 17-18

 

 [Of David] Bless Yahweh, my soul, from the depths of my being, his holy name;

 

bless Yahweh, my soul, never forget all his acts of kindness.

 

Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger and rich in faithful love;

 

As tenderly as a father treats his children, so Yahweh treats those who fear him;

 But Yahweh's faithful love for those who fear him is from eternity and for ever; and his saving justice to their children's children;

 

as long as they keep his covenant, and carefully obey his precepts.

 

Response: The Lord is kind and merciful, or the Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

 

Psalm 112: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9

 

Alleluia! How blessed is anyone who fears Yahweh, who delights in his commandments!

 His descendants shall be powerful on earth, the race of the honest shall receive blessings:

 

Riches and wealth for his family; his uprightness stands firm for ever.

 For the honest he shines as a lamp in the dark, generous, tender-hearted, and upright.

 

All goes well for one who lends generously, who is honest in all his dealing;

 for all time to come he will not stumble, for all time to come the upright will be remembered.

 

Bad news holds no fears for him, firm is his heart, trusting in Yahweh.

His heart held steady, he has no fears, till he can gloat over his enemies.

 

To the needy he gives without stint, his uprightness stands firm for ever; his reputation is founded on strength.

 

Response: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands

 

Psalm 145: 8-9, 10, 15, 17-18

 

Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger, full of faithful love.

 Yahweh is generous to all, his tenderness embraces all his creatures.

 

All your creatures shall thank you, Yahweh, and your faithful shall bless you.

 

All look to you in hope and you feed them with the food of the season.

 

Upright in all that he does, Yahweh acts only in faithful love.

 He is close to all who call upon him, all who call on him from the heart.

 

Response: The Lord is compassionate to all creatures.

 

Second Reading

 

Colossians 3:12-17

 

As the chosen of God, then, the holy people whom he loves, you are to be clothed in heartfelt compassion, in generosity and humility, gentleness and patience.

 

Bear with one another; forgive each other if one of you has a complaint against another. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.

 

Over all these clothes, put on love, the perfect bond.

 

And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together in one body. Always be thankful.

 

Let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God;

 

and whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through him.

 

Alleluia

 

1 John 4:16

Those who live in love, live in God, and God in them.

 

Gospel

 

John 15:9-12

 

I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

 

If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

 

I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.

 

This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.

 

John 17:20-26

 

I pray not only for these but also for those who through their teaching will come to believe in me.

 

May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.

 

I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one.

 

With me in them and you in me, may they be so perfected in unity that the world will recognize that it was you who sent me and that you have loved them as you have loved me.

 

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see my glory which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

 

Father, Upright One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me.

 

I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.

 

Marriage license and Church stuff

Called to schedule our appointment to apply for a marriage license.  It's at 9 AM on March 21st (what would we do without spring break?!).

Got some paperwork from Veronica for our interview with Father Joven.  He wasn't in today, so she couldn't see if he was free on Thursday.  There are four affidavits for marriage that I think our parents have to fill out?  I guess we'll find out from Veronica.

I also need to figure out who is reading the reading(s) at Mass, what songs to sing, etc.

A busy Saturday

So we started at Gazebo Flowers for a second quote on flowers. We didn't get the paper with the breakdown, but it cost $2600, which was $200 more than the last place, and we had even cut back on some of the more costly centerpieces. I was trying to maintain eye contact with the lady and eyeball the prices to see how they were different from the first place, buuuut couldn't do both. Next time while I maintain eye contact, Eddie's in charge of scoping out the prices. From what I saw and remember:
Bridesmaid bouquets were the same price
Boutonnieres were cheaper
The pew decoration were $200
The centerpieces were way more expensive! $65 and $85

And Lydia said I chose expensive flowers, which Leslie said was not true because all it mattered was how much you bought in bulk...

I think Eddie liked the really tall glass vases, which I also like because they do add some dimension in the room.

After our stop at the flower shop, we headed to Etiwanda Gardens to see how the room was decrated this time around. It was a simple black and white, with votives floating in a bowl - which Eddie thought was too simple.

I'm wondering what to do with the walls still. They have that hanging fabric...but I've only seen it in white...and that also can be overdone... Maybe using lights or having pictures. Also, I do want to have a projection screen to do a slideshow/video of our pictures.

We also saw a blue and gold room, which Eddie liked the diff colors.

I think our colors are going to be a pastel green and orange. Although, those colors make me think of pumpkins...

We also went to the Doubletree to see what it would look like set up in the ballrooms... But we didn't see much set up because it was early still.

We made our way to Rowland Heights to meet with Fr. Killeen. Eddie was having flashbacks to an Everybody Loves Raymond episode where Raymond was traumatized by having to meet with a priest before marrying Deborah. It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Fr. Killeen was looking old, but healthy. And Eddie likes the way he talks. I'm interested in this test he was talking about that was given to the couple about variius issues that would affect married life to see if they were on the same page. Its graded by a computer and then you're given your results to see what you may still need to work through.

I think we're going to check out the flower district next weekend.

Meeting with Veronica

So I went to St. Christopher to ask about what all needed to be done...

I need to get my baptismal (Singapore), communion (St. Elizabeth), and confirmation certificates (already at St. Christopher). Eddie needs his paperwork. We'll meet with Fr. Jo Jo for an interview and can block out some dates on the calendar.

In order for Fr. Kileen to celebrate the mass, some paperwork needs to be filed, and so I'll talk to him about it when we see him tomorrow.

Done and done...

Next: Florist appt. at 6:30...

Soooo... we're meeting with Fr. Kileen this Saturday at 3. We still don't really have a date set... and I need to ask if we do the pre-Cana classes in Rowland Heights or if we can do it in MoVal.

We're also going to visit the U of R on Thursday, 09/10/09 at 6 p.m.