Your smug judgement of the beliefs and vows of those not of your faith is sickening. It is horribly wrong for you to belittle their happiest moment like this. Shame on you.

I am surprised that Anonymous found this article belittleing of the wedding of those "not of your faith." I saw the opposite in this article...a celebration of love and commitment in both situations. It is clear to me that this writer wrote lovingly of both weddings.

Did not Anonymous read the essay? There was no judgement given about the beliefs and vows of another faith. There were, however, observations made as to the beauty, sincerity and depth of commitment of the young couples and their families and guests. How wonderful! Thank you to the columnist for capturing the visual surroundings of the wedding settings, for understanding the unexpressed feelings of these parents' hearts--and for sharing these things with all of us, appreciative or not.

Nice to hear someone comment on the similarities, since we've all heard the dire warnings about marrying outside of the temple. I was faced with this choice, myself.

Many might say I made the "wrong" choice, but in my heart I will always cherish the joy of having my father walk me down the aisle, of having my husband's parents with us, as well, and having all my nieces cheering as we shared our first kiss.

All of that would have been missing if I had chosen the immediate temple route. For us, waiting just one short year was eternally worth the wait. After all, it IS (or should be) all about family.

Thanks, Scott, for sharing this with us in your inimitable talented style.

AS a notary public in Florida, I performed a wedding for a tremendously nice young lady that I worked with, and her prospective husband. The bride's two children (teenagers) from her first marriage were the witnesses. Went out to a point of land jutting out into the bay. The bride and groom were equestrians, the transportation from the parking lot to the point was horse-drawn hay wagon. In my remarks prior to the ceremony, I reminded the groom that he was not marrying just the bride, but also informally adopting the two teenage children into this new family. I reminded bride and groom that each of them was giving the other the promises of a lifetime, that I expected that they were both mature and responsible enough to provide a loving home for each other and the children, and I included the hope that they would have and cherish other children, born to them. After the little ritual ceremony, we all sat down at a rough-hewn picnic table and feasted on buckets of chicken from The Colonel! I still get birthday and Christmas cards from them.

Today's 'In the Village' was a very emotional remembrance for me - even the child we out-lived, and who will never get to see marriage . . . additionally we have experienced both of the other settings in our children's choices of marriage.
All were spiritual events and fit that particular young adult. Not all of God's places of spirituality and worship come beautifully decorated with a roof. Some have boughs or a lapping surf, even snow-caps.
What a wise Heavenly Father to provide 'cathedrals' for each of us.