At our own New American Wedding, Frank and I asked Peter Hamlin, our photographer, to set a make-shift studio in the field of our Connecticut farm. His Grant Wood inspired portraits of guests, which became our wedding album, is not only original and fun, it is the greatest gift we could have given ourselves. And the framed portraits became the wedding favors.
Everything about the fresh and powerful Rocky Mountain celebration Diana McSpadden and Rick Todd staged for their wedding, was authentic and true: from it’s location -- the top of a mountain in Vail, Colorado; to what the bride wore – a green wood-nymph dress; to the ceremony itself - which had the wedding couple answering their friends and family rather than an officiate. Drinks were served in mason jars and plates were spatterware tin. While tradition seemed to be newly minted, it was rich in detail and full of joy. Most of all, it was an honest celebration of true love that illuminated so many very personal values the couple held dear.
This Colorado wedding, and the many other glorious examples from my book, The New American Wedding,Ritual and Style in a Changing Culture, illuminate the way trailblazers have begun to redesign rites and celebrations to reflect their own very distinct voices. A movement, I believe to be a healthy and generous sign for our changing society of blended families, religions and cultures.
We created a country fair atmosphere with sack and egg races, horseshoe tossing, apple bobbing and country music. Frank wore a dinner jacket and blue jeans and I wore taffeta gingham. Not what you would expect? If you knew us, you might feel differently. And that’s the point.
This kind of fresh thinking can begin many ways -- but one of the best is with a place: a city skyline, a country farm, a clambake on a beach – or the glorious mountains of Colorado. Your "sense of place" begins to tell the world where your heart is – and that authentic start is the beginning of A New American Wedding!
You can learn more about The New American Wedding at: www.newamericanwedding.com. Please join the community, you are invited to share with us your challenges and solutions to creating authentic ritual – your own New American Wedding!
Photographer, Peter Hamlin, is based in Colorado Springs
719 351 5983
Author, Diane Meier Delaney runs MEIER, a NYC basedmarketing firm. She is married to Frank Delaney – BBC broadcaster and NYTimes bestselling author of Ireland, a Novel – a book which also graced the Rocky Mountain News best-seller list for months, just two years ago. His new book, Tipperary will launch in November.