The Importance of Family Weddings

By Roger Coleman

Often we think of marriage as the joining of two people. In reality, marriage is much broader. It is also the coming together and merging of family and friends. This is even more apparent when the bride and/or groom have children. With children present, the wedding ceremony is also the proclaiming of a new family.

Today, more than one in four marriages involves children. Many brides and grooms come together with one or more children from previous relationships. Other couples may already have children of their own. Family Medallion® resources were created to assist with "family weddings" and to provide resources for recognizing and supporting family commitments.

Until recently, few wedding ceremonies acknowledged the family nature of these relationships or the mixed emotions children may feel about sharing their lives with a new parent and perhaps new brothers and sisters.

Studies show that children accept a parent's remarriage more readily when they feel included in the wedding plans and are given a tangible symbol of being embraced by a new family. Presentation of the Family Medallion®, as a gift or during the wedding service, provides this message of love and affirmation.

The Family Medallion® symbol includes three equally merged circles. Two circles represent the marriage union while the third symbolizes the importance of children within the family.

All Family Medallion® jewelry is crafted from the finest metals using the "lost wax" method of casting. This technique guarantees that your Family Medallion® will always be of heirloom quality.

Couples may choose to present Family Medallion® pendants, rings, lapel pins or other jewelry during the wedding service or as a special gift. This presentation is appropriate for children of all ages, even adult children. From our experience, boys and girls will attach the same emotional importance to their Family Medallion® as the bride and groom place on their wedding rings.

When used during the wedding, Family Medallion® jewelry is given to each child after the couple is pronounced husband and wife. A special presentation ceremony, "Celebrating the New Family," comes with each product order. This resource is easily adapted to any religious or civil wedding tradition.

Brides and grooms may also choose to exchange Family Medallions® with each other during the wedding ceremony, or present the Family Medallion® to parents or grandparents.

Family Medallion® resources were created to support and celebrate significant family relationships. They have been used most often to recognize children and families created by marriage of a parent. Increasingly, these resources are used on other occasions including adoption ceremonies, a gift for the birth of a child, baptism or blessing of a child, birthdays, anniversaries, religious holidays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and leaving home for college or military service.

The Family Medallion® symbol of expanding circles signify love's willingness to include others. As you wear your Family Medallion® or share it with another, may your love for one another continue to grow. May you also reach out and embrace not only your family, but others who wait without hope and live without love's shelter.

Blessed be the ties that bind —Dr. Roger Coleman