| Wouldn't it be nice to have a tangible reminder of your | | | | - Have crafty friends standing by to string the beads |
| community's love and support once the wedding was | | | | onto wire as your guests arrive. (You may want a |
| over? Here's the great thing: You can! Help your | | | | central beaded piece that friends have created in |
| community to create a string of beads that symbolize | | | | honor of your marriage. You may also want a plastic |
| your love for them. Then when the community offers | | | | holder to use, rather than tying off the strands, |
| their promise of support, pick a couple whose | | | | because some people may have mailed them.) |
| relationship you revere and ask them to wrap this | | | | - During the statement of support, ask your two |
| strand around the couple's shoulders. After the | | | | couples to retrieve 1) the basket containing the cards |
| ceremony, the bride and groom can take the strand | | | | and 2) the strand of beads. |
| home and hang it in their house over the entrance | | | | - The cards can be delivered as an offering. |
| door. | | | | - The strand can be wrapped around you as a symbol |
| What do you need? | | | | of your community's support before you take your |
| | | | wedding vows. (Put it on so that the pendent or the |
| 1. Beads for each invited guest (and maybe 50 percent | | | | center is toward the crowd when you turn and face |
| more in case people forget their beads.) Choose | | | | one another) |
| interesting beads that match your wedding colors. You | | | | - Finish the wedding ceremony wrapped in the loving |
| may need filler beads to make the strand long enough. | | | | blessings of your community. |
| Do a good guestimate before the wedding so that the | | | | - Place it on the table at which you're eating as |
| people string for you can do what they need to do | | | | decoration. |
| quickly and easily. | | | | - Take it home and hang it over your entry door as a |
| 2. Wire to string the beads on. (Enough wire to encircle | | | | symbol of your continued support from your |
| the two of you easily) | | | | community. |
| 3. You may want an ornament to dangle from the | | | | - Place your cards either by the guest book (which |
| center of the strand that represents the two of you. | | | | you can use or not depending upon whether you |
| 4. Two couples who love you and who love their | | | | asked your community to sign your cards) or on the |
| partners extremely well to serve as your marriage's | | | | cake table so people can see what others wrote. |
| godparents. | | | | - Place the cards with their messages in your home. |
| What do you do? | | | | - Consider offering a bowl of beads in case someone |
| - Send enough beads for each person in the invitation | | | | wants to take home a memory of your day. That |
| along with and equal number of blank cards | | | | way when they encounter your bead they will smile |
| - Instruct the guests to think for a while about their | | | | and wish you well. |
| wish for you as you embark on your marriage. | | | | These two things will keep you remembering your |
| - Ask them to write their wish on the card. | | | | wedding ceremony and your wedding vows long after |
| - Ask them to bring the card and the bead to the | | | | your wedding day. They will remind you of your |
| wedding. | | | | community's support and their wisdom about you and |
| - Collect the cards of well-wishes in a basket or bowl | | | | marriage. Altogether, it's a beautiful thing! |