When you first start out as a celebrant you tend to want to ensure that every part of a ceremony is carefully orchestrated. The first time I said "yes" to the request to have someone speak off the cuff at a naming ceremony I had no idea what would happen. Well, it is not often that I tear up during a ceremony, but, along with everyone there, I had moist eyes when the godmother spoke very movingly of all the children in the family, and of the wonderful relationship and parenting of the parents. It wasn't syrupy. She spoke in very matter of fact terms, which made it all the more moving because the message was accessible to everyone present.
Of course, one cannot control what comes out of people's mouths, but in my experience it is always positive, always heartfelt. Just the other day, the uncle, who was doing a reading, stepped forwarded, opened the reading folder and then said he just wanted to say a few words... Again, they were simple words, words which conveyed how much the extended family love the couple and their two boys, and how proud they are of them. It was wonderful.
So, don't try to control everything....what people are moved to say from the heart is better than anything even the most skilled celebrant can script...
Til next time
