Wedding Articles by Rev. SJ Burns, MD/DC/VA Wedding Minister & Wedding Officiant

Reverend Starlene Joyner Burns

DC VA MD Officiant

202.253.3629

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The Art of Starting A Wedding on Schedule

While Killing the Monster Called CP Time

It is time to inter the idea that African American weddings start late; because, this is not true. Colored Peoples Time (CP Time, CPT) should not equal tardiness. When your guests show up late for your wedding, their actions prove a lack of interest in your ceremony, no respect for your nuptial, or for time. If you start your wedding late; it is because you may lack organizational skills, or you have taken on a project that is over whelming, or you have hired a wedding planner who lacks experience.

The truth is organized brides start their weddings on time. These brides are meticulous planners and plan everything right down to the last detail.

Ancient wisdom tell us that we create our reality, because like attracts like. With that said, it would be a good idea to take a long hard look at yourself and what you have shown people throughout your life. If you have never cared about being on time for your family or friends; parties, cookouts, baby celebrations, graduations, reunions, etc; then expect to receive back what you have sent out into the Universe.

You have created a mark in the annals of time that reads, I Am Not on Time for Anything. This record sends out a vibration that will attract a like frequency. This frequency will draw to your plans anything to cause a delay.

I performed a wedding recently at Brookside Gardens in Silver Springs, Maryland. The bride was more than 1 hour late for her rehearsal. However, she was not the only one. Her mother, sisters and other bridal party members were late as well. They arrived about 10 - 15 minutes before her.

So the day of her wedding, everyone was early and ready to start on time. However, the ceremony was delayed 1 hour 20 minutes because the chairs had not arrived.

If you want your wedding to start on time, you first have to change your vibration within the Universe. Therefore, you should become an I AM on Time for Everything and I AM Organized." This is done not only with words and thoughts, but also with action.

In addition to that, here are some tips to help you start your wedding on time.

Get organized,

Created an itinerary for everyone (wedding party, parents, vendors, etc.) to follow,

Pack everything for your ceremony weeks before the rehearsal day and double check the contents against a list of items you need at the ceremony site,

Hire an experience wedding planner or day of coordinator,

Check the arrival times of your vendors: caterer, decorator, photographer, DJ, videographer, soloist, musicians, dancer, limousine driver, makeup artist, hair stylist, florist, etc. (including your minister);

On your invitations, create a false start time for your ceremony to begin,

Send your guests clear directions to the venue. For returning home, send them directions to the beltway,

Do not allow anyone into the wedding that arrives after the procession begins.

There will always be late comers. However, they should not determine the start time of your wedding nor have the opportunity to disrupt it. This is your day, so take back the power to control the outcome.

Final tip: if you want a ceremony to remember, dont forget to bring and setup the ritual items (sand blending, unity candle, four elements, jumping broom, etc.). Otherwise, you will not be satisfied with your final production.

By using the above tips, collectively we can put and end to the monster called CP Time. And we can create something new called Black President's Time (BP).

Article Written by Rev. Starlene Joyner Burns July 8, 2008

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SJB Ministries LLC