Wedding Blessing Ceremony and Reception An Island Theme—Back home on the Shore
By Bonna L. Nelson
 Under a brilliant blue sky and the canopy of gold-flecked trees that line the shore of Jack’s Cove in Easton, Holly Nelson (my
daughter) and Randy Travers professed their love for each other before family and friends. There were smiles, laughter, and
cheering when they walked down the aisle after the ceremony to Bob Marley’s “One Love.” My husband, John, and I walked behind Holly
and our new son-in-law with Randy’s mother, Anna. Actually, walked is not really accurate, because we all swayed down the aisle to
the beat of the reggae music while waving and smiling at our guests.
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One love, one heart Let’s get together and feel all right.
As it was in the beginning (One love.)
So it shall be in the end. (One heart.)
—Bob Marley
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Island Theme
From the time they became engaged in February 2006 (after dating for more than five years
and traveling around the Caribbean) Holly and Randy knew that they wanted an island destination wedding. In a throwback to
tradition Randy asked us for permission to marry Holly before asking Holly to marry him, while on bended knee under the stars on a
beach in Jamaica. He said to her, “We are on solid ground, like our relationship . . .. We are standing next to the sea that goes
on forever, as our relationship will . . .. See the stars? We will always have those no matter where we go. They are our future.”
Of course, she responded, “Yes, yes!”
An engagement party followed their return home. It was held at the island-themed Pusser’s Restaurant in Annapolis, complete with
pineapple-laden rum punches and Jamaican Red Stripe beer. Are you sensing their attraction to all things island?
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“At the service...the minister was so spiritual...I loved the mixing of the
colored sands and all the symbolism [that was] used. The setting was unbelievably gorgeous...having it at your parents’ home made
everyone feel like a part of the family...[it was] intimate and special...you can’t get that at a typical event
space.”
—Jennifer Mahran, New York, friend
“Dinner was delicious...everyone felt very comfortable...Friends still talk about it and say how cool it was and how kind everyone
was...No other weddings compare to it.”
—Randy Travers, Baltimore, groom
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Planning
Early planning is crucial to the success of any event, and especially to a wedding! At our first
wedding planning meeting, Randy, Holly, Anna, John, and I discussed a destination wedding and reception in Negril, Jamaica. It was
an idea we all loved, but what about all of the family and friends who, for whatever reason—work, children, finances, or other
commitments—could not join us in Jamaica? We wanted to share the joy of the occasion with them too!
We talked about planning another event after the wedding, and Holly and Randy thought that everyone would enjoy the beauty and
comfort of having it at our home, which is located on a cove off the Tred Avon River, in Easton. We all agreed to the plan for a
special April 2007 wedding in Negril followed by a Maryland wedding blessing ceremony and island-themed reception in May.
Traditionally the mother of the bride plays a major role in the wedding planning or hires a wedding planner, but with two mature
adults marrying for the first time, and with definite ideas about the type of celebration it would be, planning was much easier
than anticipated. That’s not to say that we didn’t have our differences of opinion; I must confess that we had our moments! But we
were all on the same path: to celebrate their love, bring enjoyment to the guests who joined us, and have the island theme uniting
most aspects of our planning.
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Save the Date
A May 2006 save-the-date invitation, which read “Make Waves to the Wedding Celebrations for
Holly Nelson and Randy Travers” included a photograph of Jamaica and details of both events. This early notice provided guests with
almost a year to plan for attending one or both events. Holly engaged a travel agent to make arrangements for rooms, the wedding,
and the reception at the Club Hotel RIU in Negril.
Selecting Wedding Professionals
We learned that to get the best Eastern Shore wedding professionals we had to reserve them a year in advance of our waterside
event—even with our home as the venue! Holly and Randy were sweetly insistent on keeping wedding costs, which can spiral out of
control, manageable for all of us. They set their priorities: delicious food, island music, beautiful flowers, and quality
artistic photography. Holly and I conducted Internet searches; read numerous wedding planning magazines and books; consulted with
friends and neighbors; and, along with John and Randy, interviewed caterers, musicians, florists, and photographers. In the end we
were thrilled with our choices—all Shore businesses that helped make our magical May event a dream come true.
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| Pastor Kevin Daniels tossed salt over the bride, Holly Nelson-Travers, and groom, Randy Travers, in a blessing of family unity.
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Parents Anna Travers, John Nelson, and Bonna Nelson led the wedding blessing processional on the lawn at the Nelsons’ home off the Tred Avon River, in Easton.
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With guests arriving from all over the country for several days of celebration we wanted to welcome them to town before the big
day. Like we did for the Jamaica wedding, Holly, Mylene (best woman—a modern day maid of honor!), and I prepared gift bags, with a
welcome note, a map, an agenda for each day, treats, beverages, seashells, mints, and lotions, and left them at the local hotels
and bed-and-breakfasts for our guests’ arrival.
A welcome cocktail party on Friday night kicked off the weekend.
On Saturday morning we had some decorating to do. Back in January I had thrown a decorations party with Holly, Mylene, and
friends Linda Meade and Rita Connolly. I played island music and served juice and strawberry margaritas while we made the reception
centerpieces. It was important to Holly and me that we add some personal touches to the event. My mother, Charlotte; Holly; and I
had collected many seashells on our trips to Florida, Mexico, and various Caribbean islands. Mother washed and sprayed polyurethane
on the shells and I bought a few special large ones as well as several dozen large, ivory-colored starfish. I had also begun buying
a variety of large, clear, glass containers months before.
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“For me the reception epitomized the values that were instilled in me as a child...the beliefs that I still carry
today...treat everyone equally and with respect, regardless of age, race, religion, economics, education, or disability...We had
black, white, Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, American, Dutch, Italian, Irish, Lebanese, Romanian... great-grandchildren to
great-grandparents, people of all ages, under one beautiful tent enjoying delicious food and drink, dancing, in peace and
harmony... An experience of love that gives me hope for peace around the world.”
—Holly Nelson-Travers,
Baltimore, bride
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| As Holly and Randy each poured their uniquely colored sands together into one vessel Pastor Kevin Daniels said, “As the sand is blended together your lives are now joined...”
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Guests dined and danced well into the night under the tent, under the stars, and by the light of the moon.
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“Overlooking the water was very special...the garden flowers were beautiful...the glass, sand, and seashell centerpieces
that we made with so much love also made it special. Both families enjoyed the gathering...[and] danced the night away after the
peaceful, spiritual ceremony. [The] Friday night cocktail party and Sunday brunch gave us a chance to be intimate and
reminisce.”
—Mylene Kempers, Annapolis, best woman
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We partially filled each container with sand and inserted a large ivory pillar candle. Then the creative spirit kicked in as we
selected the perfect shells with which to decorate each one. We made centerpieces to place on the reception tables and to use to
decorate my home as well. Surrounded by ivory starfish, seashells, ivory votive candles, and ivory silk gift bags filled with
brown-and-white M & Ms labeled H & R, the centerpieces turned out to be charming and personal.
Friends hung balloons on the light posts, directed traffic, and greeted guests and walked them to the receiving area under a
shady grove of trees. Early arriving guests were treated to lemonade, bottled water, mints labeled Thanks for sharing our special
day, a laptop computer slide show of the Jamaican wedding, a gift table covered with my wedding gown train (Holly’s idea), and a
matted wedding photograph of the bride and groom. The guests signed the mat and it is now framed and hanging on the couple’s wall.
Nearby, for another personal touch, were wooden trays we had filled with sand and seashells and Holly’s handwritten place cards.
Guests picked up their cards and placed them on the appropriate table in the tent during the cocktail hour.
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Before the ceremony Anna and I each lit a candle used later by Randy and Holly to light the unity pillar, with some wind challenging the flames. Dr. Kevin Daniels of the St. Martin Church of Christ in Baltimore, Holly and Randy’s spiritual leader, conducted the ceremony, which touched the hearts of all in attendance. After praying and welcoming guests, the pastor guided the unity candle ceremony and then the sand ceremony beneath a tropical-flowered arbor.
Holly and Randy each poured a small glass vessel of sand—hers green, and his purple—together into one large glass vessel as the pastor said, “As the sand is blended together your lives are now joined . . . representing the coming together of your friends and family through your marriage into one.”
Next the pastor tossed salt over the bride and groom, the family, and guests and shared a blessing: “Thousands of years ago salt was used as a commodity to bless the wedding union and preserve unity . . . the blessing of the salt represents the families joining together . . . also honors those that went before . . . blessings go in all directions . . . blessings honor those present . . . long life to all.”
Just before swaying down the aisle to “One Love,” Randy turned to the guests and Holly and said, “We are here today uniting all of you who have shared moments in our lives, laughed with us, cried with us, encouraged us, guided us, and shared in our happiness . . . and now in our blessing ceremony.” And Holly added, “Everything is better with the love of my life.”
During the cocktail hour, accompanied by—what else—island music and rum punch, guests enjoyed coconut shrimp, fresh skewered pineapple in rum, Brie with apricots, quesadillas, and cream of crab shooters. Next we strolled into the cathedral-like tent decorated with tiny, white, shimmering lights and candles aglow on the tables. The menu was a blend of island and Eastern Shore treats, beginning with a first course of fresh spring greens and backfin lump crab cake followed by the main course of jerk chicken in spicy Jamaican red sauce, rice and beans, grilled vegetables, cornbread, and coconut muffins.
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From the beginning of our planning, a chocolate fountain with strawberries, pineapple, pretzels, and cookies had been on the top of my list. From the look of the guests with chocolate dripping down their chins it appeared to be a big hit with many. The bride chose a delicious banana and pecan cake with cream cheese filling, buttercream icing, and butterscotch sauce for dessert, with the groom’s favorite, chocolate chip cookies, also available.
We danced the night away to music from the ’40s through the ’90s as well as the latest hits, line dances, and island music. The DJ stayed later than planned to continue the merriment. The evening ended with tears of joy when Holly surprised us by arranging a special dance for John and me, to celebrate our May wedding anniversary and presented me with a bouquet of flowers that replicated my wedding bouquet.
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“A blending of souls, cultures, and overwhelming joy, love, and peace between Holly and Randy and among the guests . . . like Mother Teresa said so beautifully, “A joyful heart is like the sunshine of God’s love.”
—Shirley Rollins, Baltimore, friend
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Keys to a Successful Event:
- Planning: Start planning major events as early as possible; engagement party, showers, invitation selection and mailing, gown shopping, wedding and reception, etc.
- Organizing: Buy colorful binders and files and set up one for each professional and vendor. Develop contact lists and keep copies in your purse, at home by the phone, on the computer, and on your cell phone. Wedding planner books are helpful too.
- Research: Consult wedding magazines (like What’s Up?), books, the Internet, and family and friends for wedding professionals and ideas.
- Book: wedding professionals and venues early, early, early.
- Creativity: Add some personal touches, such as handmade centerpieces or flower arrangements, family heirloom pieces, etc.
- Assistance: Don’t try to do it all, accept offers from family and friends to help. They want to personally participate and it really takes the pressure off.
- Breaks: Occasionally step back from the planning; take a break, a breather. Plan some social events with a commitment to not talk about the wedding plans and then get back to the planning with a fresh perspective. Holly and I planned luncheons following this tip and it was very effective.
- Enjoy: Savor every moment of one of life’s most special events!
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