Friday, 25 July 2014

Young, Hip & Married & The Rise of Divorcée Parties

by Bobbi Salkeld

We at Young, Hip & Married think it can be better than this.*  

I (Bobbi) came across this Globe & Mail article - “Breakout blowouts: How the divorce party is coming on strong for young divorcées” -  floating around in Facebookland a while back.  And I gotta say, it bummed me out.  


As officiants, we meet oodles of couples in the glow of love.  It’s hard to believe that anything can stop love like that - love that’s poised to say “I do” no matter what comes our way.  


So what happens?  Does life just happen?  Are we all just careening for an inevitable end to love when it comes to marriage?  


Light a match?
Burn a dress?
Drink yourself out of that shitty feeling of failure?  

Or, can we dare to say “hold on!”  Hold on to your “I do.”


Life is going to be so much harder than we think.  So much harder.  But I think we can do this.  We can do this alone** or we can do this together.  


There is a book of prayer that says the union of two people is “for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity.”   


The promises we make on a wedding day aren’t for happiness alone, they are for
help,
comfort.

If you need help getting along, please get it.  
If you need to remember who you are again, you can do that.
If you need space to breathe and time to heal, oh my God,
please
do that.

We’re gonna stay pretty optimistic about love over here at Young, Hip & Married, keeping love alive in big and little ways, and celebrating our couples all summer long, for the love of it.  


Happy 2014 wedding season, everyone!  We’re doing this.  

:::

* Response note, to be clear: No one should be stuck in a relationship that is abusive in any way.  Getting out of that is important and to be marked, and yes, celebrated.  

** Stay tuned for the fall launch of our blog The Lonely Officiant, by yours truly.  

Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Mike and Ashley - May 31, 2014


Shawn had the amazing opportunity to officiate for Mike and Ashley's May 31st wedding at the beautiful Steamworks Brewery in Gastown, Vancouver.

Congratulations Mike and Ashley, you two are an amazing couple and we all wish you a life time of happiness together. 

The amazing photography was done by Sarah and Graeme.

Graeme and Sarah

Saturday, 12 July 2014

John and Hazel - June 28, 2014



Cory had the amazing opportunity to officiate John and Hazel's Rockin' Wedding at The Museum of Vancouver.  John and Hazel took the opportunity to really make their ceremony unique and meaningful for them.

John and Hazel included Handfasting as part of their ceremony.  Handfasting is a historical term for 'bethrol' or 'wedding'.  Handfasting has a long and beautiful history.
The best man, also named John, performed an ancient handfasting ceremony, while Leslie, the maid of honor did a reading about handfasting.

John and Hazel, along with their children, Risa and Cole poured sand from four individual containers into a frame to signify the unity of the family.  What an amazing idea to include their kids and have a lasting memory to keep in their house to remind them that they are united.

The couple included so many personal touches in their unique wedding, the handfasting, the sand frame, Hazel even made all the dresses, shawls and handkerchiefs.  It's such an honor to be able to be a part of such an amazing ceremony.

Thank you John and Hazel for really working with Cory to make this wedding true to the two of you.   And allowing Young Hip and Married to be part of your wedding day.





To find out more about handfasting and if it's something you would like to include your ceremony, visit, handfasting.org


Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Elizabeth + Derek = Stolen Kisses




Normally I don't get this teary eyed during a wedding ceremony, but on this blustery day, under a big old tree on the edge of the ocean, there was not a dry eye as Elizabeth and Derek spoke the most sweet words of love to each other.

The ceremony was a surprise for their families.  You see, Elizabeth is from Australia, and when her parents decided to come for a visit, it seemed to be the perfect time for a ceremony!  So, with a few of their family surrounding them, it was an honor to officiate this special moment.

Congratulations Elizabeth and Derek!  We wish you many more stolen lunch room kisses and a lifetime of love.

<3  Lani