Weddings with Pop Culture Spirit By Malayna Dawn l Modern Weddings l Wedding Ideas

Our pop culture influences are the symbols that reflect who we are at a deeper level. In traditional weddings, we step into the roles of bride and groom, wearing the clothing that fits our image of what those roles should look like. But is it a true representation of who we are?

For more and more of us, whether religious or spiritual, atheists or agnostics, our pop culture obsessions have become more like our religion than our religion is to us. The passion we feel for the things that make our hearts sing is the same type of devotion seen in worship.

Pop culture has the potential to transcend religion or ethnicity and bring everyone involved in any wedding together, with something they can all agree upon - love.

Infusing your wedding with pop culture elements can help capture your true spirit as a couple. Here’s how:

A Celebrant with a Sense of Humor

Your wedding officiant can be dressed in the theme of your wedding or may be willing to recite words consistent with it. You can even be married by a celebrity! Weddings by Erika Eleniak is where to go to be married on the beach by a former Baywatch Babe, or in Beverly Hills by one of the Beverly Hillbillies. Or you can have your celebrant address those gathered with a quote from your favorite TV show or movie. For example, if you’re a fan of the Princess Bride and have a celebrant who’s up for it, dress them impressively and have them say:

"Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam. . . . And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva. . . . So tweasure your wuv."

Readings

While most readings in Christian ceremonies tend to be from the Bible, you may find that quotes from your favorite books and movies, or meaningful song lyrics, are a good way to connect your real future with your imagined one. Having a friend or family member reading it while you gaze into the eyes of your beloved is like having a voice over narrating your love story.

Like this one from The X-Files: "It seems to me that the best relationships, the ones that last, are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is… suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with." – Dana Scully

Vows

When you write your own vows, you can say whatever you want. Traditional concepts can be infused with your own personality, or, you could borrow a team of professional and successful writers who have written some of your favorite lines and lyrics.

From the TV series BONES, said by Angela to Hodgins: “We’re gonna live together, and we’re gonna love together. And we’re gonna have so much fun. And a little pain. And… we’re gonna live a life that’s just gonna make other people die with jealousy, wishing they were us.”

Jack Skellington sang these lyrics in Nightmare Before Christmas: “My dearest friend, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you by your side. Where we could gaze into the stars, and sit together, now and forever. For it is plain as anyone could see, we're simply meant to be.”

Love Confession

Use this confession of love for your vows, written by Neil Gaiman and delivered by fallen star Yvaine to the young shopboy-cum-swashbuckler in the film Stardust:

But when I see the way that mankind loves... You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable, and …my heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me anymore. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no gifts. No goods. No demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine.