Hermenuetics

Comments

I am married and I'm greatly amused. In a good way, not a "What are they doing!" kind of way.

To be honest, I never could have pulled this off. My paternal grandmother would have flipped. And, well, my poor husband, he has no rhythm. But I giggled thinking of my wedding party.

The amusement aside, I don't have an issue with a processional of this nature. In fact, I took some heat because I had a beautiful rendition of Carol of the Bells (Christmas wedding) as my bridesmaids walked in and, GASP, that wasn't traditional enough for certain people. But we loved our wedding day.

More importantly, we love our marriage. That point, of course, if far more important than any aspect of the wedding ceremony or reception. I wish those two wild and crazy newlyweds a life of love.

And dancing.

Posted By: FireMom | July 28, 2009 8:33 PM

I think it's wonderful! I'm a church organist and I would never have thought of doing this on my own. I've had some churches not even allow anything butt classical church music (e.g., no secular music since this is considered a religious ceremony). But I think this is what is making us lose church members by the dozens. We need to think more about what the sacrament/event means to the people involved and allow them to express it in a way that is meaningful to them. So long as it is in good taste.

I say, "You go girl!"

Posted By: KateinIowa | July 28, 2009 8:45 PM

Many church weddings get reverence, but don't get celebration. Yes there should be some reverence, but this is primarily a celebration. This video shows celbration more than just about any other wedding I have ever seen.

Posted By: Adam S | July 28, 2009 9:10 PM

I flagged doing this years ago but got outvoted by my husband :) I've been shocked at a lot of comments from 'Christians'. One you tube comment even said 'I'm a Christian and God doesn't want us to laugh, he wants us to be holy and set aside'. What the?

A wedding is a joyous occasion. It's the creation of a new family. It's two people saying, publicly, I love you enough to commit to be faithful to you - regardless of what comes our way.

The goal for our wedding? To be a great big party! While we didn't do the entrance quite like this, we did things OUR way. It wasn't grandma's wedding, or aunty's big day. It was OURS. Everyone there still says three years later they could see us in all the little fun touches.

I even - GASP! - had black embroidery on my wedding dress! Turned a few heads to start with, but followed by comments of how great it was.

Marriage is a serious commitment, sure, one not to be taken lightly. But some brides and grooms should show they are actually excited about entering this chapter of their lives! I love this video.

Posted By: KP | July 29, 2009 12:27 AM

Why does this make me cry every time I watch it? I showed it to my 10-year-old son, who has never attended a wedding, and he wasn't a bit surprised--until the end. The part that he didn't buy was that "the pastor was a woman".

Posted By: Old Mommy | July 29, 2009 7:01 AM

Got to admit that I expected to shake my head in disapproval when I clicked on this video last week ... very conservative, traditionalist, non-dancer that I am! But I've got to say that the joy and celebration and sense of oneness was really contagious ... and I would have loved to have been there!

I think there's a way to mix in a sense of celebration with the seriousness and reverence of a covenant ceremony. The video has made me think a bit more outside the box ... which seems to be the story of my life in this season of being in my 50s!

Posted By: Linda Stoll | July 29, 2009 9:22 AM

This begs the question, obviously: what is the purpose of a wedding *gulp* ceremony?

Most answers sound like this: we celebrate oneness, how much they love each other, devotion and commitment to one another, etc. And, as several current articles at Christianity Today point out, this is more than indicative of American evangelical individualism. We want it all to be about us.

Fortunately, it isn't. Wedding is a celebration, yes, but a celebration and dedication before, of, and for God. We seem to forget that we don't go into a church for a seal of approval or to feel better about ourselves, but because we legitimately believe that God has some purpose for this new family BEYOND themselves. We ask God to bless us that we may be a blessing to others, that God might empower the couple to be others-focused, whether it means the spouse, the children, the church, the unchurched, or whatever part of the missio Dei that God calls us to take part in. Most importantly, we ask that God use this new social structure in our lives to strengthen the witness to the gospel, that it might be yet another tool in God's toolbox of witness.

A marriage is not an end in and of itself, but a structure that we believe God uses to draw the world to Himself. Until we understand the missional purpose of this awesome celebration, we will continue to think of weddings as ceremonies and not Great Commissions.

By the way, I love the JK Wedding entrance, and I sincerely hope that the rest of the celebration was dedicated to the glory of God and the dedication of J and K to their new work in the kingdom together.

Posted By: Eric | July 29, 2009 3:01 PM

In an age where (even Christians, even in church weddings) people wear saggy, baggy shorts and flip flops to the ceremony, where the photographer inserts him/herself during the prayer, or vows, or communion moment to get the best shot, where brides and grooms think it's funny to smash cake into each others' faces, where a presiding pastor continually refers to the couple as "you guys," it seems a happy, fun celebration like this one is....lovely! The pastor was an aunt/cousin of the bride. The bride was a dancer all through her childhood and youth. They seem like a loving, fun couple (there was a nice interview on the Today show a few days ago). Viva la difference!

Posted By: DKH Tchr | July 29, 2009 4:46 PM

i watched this at work with a numbner many of them criticized the fct that the people did not dance well enough to be doing that or that it was inappropriate.. i just said that this is a fun couple who are truly making a stamnet about themselves and the next chapter of their lives they got it right and as long as they keep dancing together and with their friends and family they will make it. In thios time of broken marriages this video shows that that can work together, play together and have a wonderful group of family and friends.
good luck and congrats to them.

Posted By: amy | July 29, 2009 4:57 PM

I am glad that the video has brought some lightheartedness to our thinking about weddings. However, a wedding is not the same as a marriage, so that the heart of the wedding is not the entrance but the vows, and especially the preparation of bride and groom to live into those vows. I am not suggesting this dance down the aisle is "wrong." It may have been very appropriate for this particular couple and congregation. However, let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the high divorce rate is going to be driven down by dancing down the aisle. It is going to take much, much more.

Posted By: MP | July 29, 2009 5:04 PM

I lOVE this! I've watched it at least five times--it makes me smile and get all teary-eyed every time. What a joyous way to begin their life together, and how wonderful of them to share this outside-the-box moment with the world. As a former contemporary worship leader who finally gave up in the face of so many who just don't get what church IS (hey, it's NOT a building), I think this is about as beautifully holy a moment as I've seen in a church building.

And for all who frown and say, "Harrumph! Not in church!" I say: 2 Samuel 6:14 "And David danced before the LORD with all his might..."

Posted By: misfitmimes | July 30, 2009 4:34 AM

Most interesting in the comments is the omission of the word "covenant". God ordained the institution of marriage. The covenant between a man and a woman is sacred; it is holy; it is ordained by God. It is solemn, for there is no other decision on earth more important, with the exception of one's decision to receive Christ as Savior. It seems logical that one's wedding should reflect the solemnity of the man and woman entering into this permanent covenant.

That being said, most of our ideas about weddings are like Tevye's, and based on tradition. So...one's criticism/approval of another's choices regarding the ceremony are not usually Scripturally based, but simply reflect one's opinion. (Bare feet for the couple? Oh my! No veil for the bride? Yikes!...etc.--you get the idea.)

Celebration is key to the wedding/reception and the people who witness the wedding. My own opinion is that this would have been great as a recessional. A wedding is to be a joyous occasion, and we are to celebrate with the couple. So how fun it would be, after the vows have been exchanged, and this couple is now married, to celebrate with the couple as they dance their way back down the aisle with all the energy and enthusiasm they displayed in their "processional". The video was fun to watch, and certainly got the attention of my children, who came from various rooms of the house to watch it. :)

Posted By: mmb | July 30, 2009 10:22 AM

This was the most joyful expression of love I've ever seen in a wedding processional and I love it! I've watched it too many times to count because it just makes me feel so darn good! I'm sure the solemn part of their ceremony came with the vows but this couple sure know how to celebrate.
May God bless their marriage.

Posted By: Sue | July 30, 2009 9:29 PM

I'm just so thankful that they shared the joy!
Genuine, total love and happiness...
Bless them, their family and friends who made this all possible!

Posted By: Annie | July 30, 2009 11:10 PM

There's a good chance I would have walked out of this wedding if I were attending it. I don't mean to spoil anyone's fun, but the way that this wedding began demonstrates a lack of appreciation for the depth and gravity of what was taking place. Appearances quite often do matter, because they can reveal what is going on underneath the surface, which is what really counts.

Posted By: Steve Marquardt | July 31, 2009 12:36 AM

Why is reverence equated and limited to solemn boredom. Worship is celebration and celebration should be joyful. As a pastor I always encourage a couple to design the worship service to represent their view of worship and their marriage. This couple has done that. I may have offered a few suggestions on the choreography and a better introduction but those are minor points.

Posted By: john | August 1, 2009 8:28 PM

I notice you removed my July 31 comments regarding the aisle boogey plus the next lady who posted as "Virginia." Our comments were negative...hmmm seems like only warm and fuzzy opinions are wanted....we're only being truthful. And as a Christian blog, I now question your actual need for people's comments whatever they happen to be. Makes me think with all the other articles I've read, how much editing are you doing???

Posted By: Jan | August 1, 2009 9:18 PM

Jan brings up a valid point. I came back for a look-see at some further comments and noticed some missing. Why is that?

Posted By: Sue | August 2, 2009 7:03 PM

Jan and Sue, I looked into it and it appears we had some technical difficulties on Friday that resulted in lost comments. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Posted By: Laura Leonard | August 3, 2009 8:50 AM

Thanks Laura for acknowledging our comments! I appreciate it!

Posted By: Sue | August 3, 2009 11:47 AM

When I heard about this, I was prepared to criticize. I prejudged. But after watching it, I think it's creative and cute, a personalized celebration by a couple on their happy day.

Posted By: La Shawn | August 3, 2009 2:23 PM

Maybe I'm more of an old, um, fuddy-duddy than I thought I was. In my mind the ceremony is solemn (though not somber) and the reception is the time of celebration. I would have loved this as a recessional, though I recognize that wouldn't have served the purpose of engaging their wedding guests from the beginning.

But then, I'd like to think that the guests were all prepared to be engaged with the events of the day?

Posted By: Sheila | August 4, 2009 9:03 AM

You don't think the angels were dancing to that one? Yessir! People get caught up in their own style (i.e., confusing their preferences with God's) and then look down on others. At my wedding, I walked down the aisle with my groomsmen to the 'Theme from Shaft'. Why? Because it was funky and hilarious. My wife walked up the aisle to 'You And Me' by Rosie Thomas, a beautiful song by a beautiful artist. We 'recessed' to the theme from 'Dawson's Creek' because we watched that during our dating life. It was fun, it was entertaining and it was meaningful to us. And, in the middle of the service, we had our friends lead us in worship. My wedding was one day but, as noted previously, my marriage is my whole life. I was committed to my wife well before that specific day but it was a party to meet the state's requirements and for us to celebrate. Remember, some forms of marriage in the Old Testament only involved sex - no ceremony (i.e., law of levirate marriage). If you want a solemn ceremony, do that because it is meaningful to you. If you want to dance down the aisle, do it! People also told King David (who was naked, as I recall) that he should stop and be more solemn and serious before the Lord.

Posted By: Bart Wang | August 4, 2009 1:53 PM

I have watched this several times and also posted it on my Facebook. I cried the first few times watching. What great friends to work and put this together, what a joyous celebration. Life has many hard things - a wedding should be a celebration. Yes, it is also a commitment and a ceremony making a vow before God. I have been married 27 years, am a Pastor's wife and mom. I have also had a debilitating disease since age five and can't really dance. I look forward to dancing in heaven someday...with my friends.

Posted By: Becky Lightle | August 5, 2009 8:17 PM

The issue here is not the expression of joy--there are many ways to express joy, including both the "traditional" processional (there's a reason why baroque trumpet music is often chosen) and Jill and Kevin's dance. As has been noted, David danced (apparently quite wildly) before the Lord, and he was ridiculed for it by his own wife. The form of expression we choose will reflect our personalities, habits, deep rooted loves, and passing fancies.

The issue is the heart issue: "From whom do we draw our joy?" Is our joy rooted in our love for Christ and our recognition that we are God's adopted children because "Christ has died, and Christ is risen, and Christ will come again"?

Or is our joy rooted (if at all) merely in the satisfaction of our temporal desires--loving His gifts but not the Giver?

I hope that Jill and Kevin's dance reflected their joy in Christ, and not merely pride in being "different." I know that last Saturday afternoon, when I slowly walked my daughter down the aisle of our colonial-style church building to her (now) husband, accompanied by the joyous strains of baroque organ music with the trumpet stops out, that was "most real" walk I have ever taken with her. And our joy was full because we knew that both Katy and Eric love Christ; that Eric loves Katy unconditionally, as Christ loves his Church; and that their wedding was, among other things, an expression of their love for and joy in him.

Posted By: Chip Watkins | August 6, 2009 12:35 AM

Chip, I am thrilled that you had such a wonderful experience with your daughter and new son-in-law. Your questions are great; my only concern is that we apply them to each other instead of ourselves. I have to ask that question of myself. You should be believing the best of me right away and not asking those questions of me (unless we are in close, intimate relationship).

I see no problem in loving God's gifts. In fact, we need to, especially when His gifts are people. Eric better have been reveling in the gift of your daughter, both from her parents and from Jesus! We should recognize the inherent spiritual value in accepting God's gifts. I find that we, Christians, can too easily ignore the gifts and make it some gnostic exercise in which we denounce the physical and focus on the spiritual, which is dishonouring to God.

My wedding day was an amazing celebration of the relationship between my wife and I. We celebrated our love, we celebrated the relationships we had with our friends and families, we celebrated that God had brought us together and would sustain us going forward. We also celebrated good food, music and so many other wonderful things in life. Whether Jill & Kevin are Christ-followers or not, the joy on their wedding day was an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak to them of the love that Jesus finds in them, His children. A whisper within their hearts coming from heaven. Amazing.

Posted By: Bart Wang | August 6, 2009 8:35 AM

This was nothing short of completely fantastic! We have no way of knowing if any of us outside ourselves, truly know HIM, but I do know this, I'm excited for Jill & Kevin and wish I could have been in attendance @ their joyous event.

Posted By: Lisa | August 8, 2009 7:23 PM

I am nigerian, any wedding where you dont have a dancing competition (and i REALLY mean a serious -sweating - from - every -pore dance off) between bride and groom will be considered doomed fromt he beggining, because dancing means joy, plain happiness and relief that you actually got to this point. At our wedding we danced with the choir, after the sermon, through the offering, while signing the Licence and all through the reception (well it felt like it!). We had sore feet the next day...but it was fun. David danced to show his joy ...... for the couple in the clip...nice moves, but i dance better!Lol!

Posted By: utty | August 10, 2009 8:14 AM

I read that Jill and Kevin had cleared it with the pastor to do their wedding processional in this fashion, and her father posted it for their relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding. Who knew that others would view it on Youtube and enjoy it so much? I thought it was fun and joyous. May the Lord bless Jill and Kevin's marriage.

Posted By: pearl | October 25, 2009 7:01 PM

I liked it at first, and do not see a problem with it. But then I thought: Oh, no! What if this catches on and lots of people are doing this in 5 years? Will I have to dance at a wedding some day, with my fish-out-of-water, shocked-by-an-electrical-outlet type of dancing, which makes people die of laughter and/or horror? Now I don't like it so much.

Posted By: Tim | October 25, 2009 11:22 PM

I loved it! Cried as I watched. Life is tough. Marriages hit rocks. How nice to start out with a joyous celebration. May they keep that joy through the good times and the not so good.

I love Utty from Nigeria's comment. It shows how much custom enters into what we consider acceptable. Maybe seeing our African friends dance down the aisle to give their offerings helped me understand this.

Posted By: Pat Kashtock | October 26, 2009 7:26 PM