Blending Families
Many couples who are planning weddings have children from previous relationships. Blending two separate families into one is never easy. It is very important that the children feel welcomed by their new step-parent; a wonderful way to do this is to include them in the wedding ceremony.
There are several ways to involve children in the service, depending on their age. A teenage boy could escort his mother down the aisle, for example. Not only does it make him a part of the ceremony, but it is a good way to acknowledge that his role in the new family will be as a young man, not a little boy.
Certainly young girls could serve as flower girls in the wedding. Be sure to make a fuss over them, give them special flower girl jewelry, and let them know how important they are to the wedding. An older daughter might prefer to stand at the altar as an honor attendant for her mother or father. Be sensitive, though, because if she is ambivalent about seeing her parent with someone new, she may not be comfortable in such a prominent role. Let the child's feelings be your guide.
Jewelry is customary to mark milestones in life, and this could be a special way to make a young girl feel like an important part of her new blended family. Choose something dainty, along the lines of flower girl jewelry. A wonderful option would be a sterling silver locket with family photos inside it. Her parent and step-parent could present the locket to their daughter just before the ceremony, or if it is a more intimate service, they could jointly give her the locket as part of the wedding ceremony.
Some couples choose to involve their children in the marriage ceremony to an even greater degree. A very sweet idea is to have a special part of the service after the wedding vows are exchanged. The child is invited to come and stand between the newlyweds, and personal vows are made about the new family. This is a beautiful way to show a child how important she will be in the blended family. If the child from a previous marriage can be included in the wedding ceremony, she is less likely to feel pushed aside by her parent's new marriage.
One final suggestion on getting a blended family off to the right start is to involve the children in the honeymoon. It is very important for newlyweds to have some time alone after the wedding, so I wouldn't advise bringing the kids along from the beginning. It could be very nice, though, to tack a little family vacation onto the end of the honeymoon. What a wonderful way for the new family to start creating happy memories.
Getting a blended family off to a good start is critical. Involving the children from a previous marriage in the wedding day is one idea to help them feel happy about the new marriage. If the child is old enough, it would also be fun to ask for their opinions on the details of the wedding. It is a great way to make sure that the child is excited about the new family, and to make the blended family a happy one.
Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into planning one,Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. At Silverland Jewelry.com you can find a wide selection of flower girl gifts and junior bridesmaid jewelry.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Added: June 21, 2008
Obama girls to face dramatic changes when the family moves into ... - Atlanta Journal Constitution
CBS News Obama girls to face dramatic changes when the family moves into ... Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - CLAIR CHICAGO The American Girl catalog couldnt write a story more compelling than Obama family s upcoming adventure. Malia and Sasha Obama find their ... Video: Raw Video: Obama Girls in Washington All eyes are on Michelle Obama The FABULOUS First PETS! -Boscov's Receives Court Approval for Sale of Company to Family ... - MarketWatch
The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com Boscov's Receives Court Approval for Sale of Company to Family ... MarketWatch - "Working with the Boscov Lakin families and supported by the Official Creditors' Committee and our lenders, we were able to complete an agreement that ... UPDATE 1- Court approves Boscov's sale to family -led group Boscovs sale to family group OKd Miracle maker Boscov can buy back family firm -