Last night on NBC’s 30 Rock, Tina Fey’s lead character Liz Lemon got married. But this TV wedding had very little in common with most real weddings I’ve been to, and was unlike most TV weddings – period! As I watched and laughed I couldn’t help but think, like the Celebrant that I am, “These people could use a Celebrant!”
As the episode began, Liz and her boyfriend Criss made a spontaneous decision to get married at the courthouse. Liz is someone who abhors the whole wedding industry and she was determined to stay as far away from a traditional wedding as possible. So they intentionally dressed down for the ceremony and grabbed a couple of homeless men to be their witnesses. Yet, Liz could not escape the gnawing feeling that she did want their wedding day to be special, though definitely not traditional. Finally, after lots of the craziness that 30 Rock does so well, Liz and Criss got married on their own terms: Liz wore her Princess Leia costume, while Criss gave her a wedding ring purchased at a police auction. Tony Bennett sang “Just In Time” as the couple kissed, while the homeless men danced together. A perfect 30 Rock wedding!
Besides the fact that I’m a 30 Rock fan, why mention this? Well, if Liz and Criss were real people, and if they had contacted a Life-Cycle Celebrant® to officiate at their ceremony, then they would have been able to work with a ceremony expert who would have helped them plan their wedding in a way that was meaningful for them, but without all of the stress. And “drama.” Or comedy. Which is great for TV, but not nearly as much fun in real life!
So, congratulations to Liz and Criss! And for you other, real life couples who want your own ceremony to be as unique as you are, check out your local Life-Cycle Celebrant® who will help you create your own memorable and meaningful ceremony!