Amy and Jeremy contacted me to photograph one of the most unique ceremonies I’ve ever been to. What was unique was that there was no one presiding, no sermon, no justice of the peace, so sacraments, no formal prayer. Atop the roof of the Gaia Arts Center in Berkeley, was a Quaker ceremony! What was especially unique was that while there was a congregation of friends and family, they gathered in silence. Quakers hold that each person has the ability to access their spiritual live without the necessity of an intermediary – through worship and revelation, the lessons may be seen within each of us. What was beautiful about it was that when someone was moved by God to do so, any member of the congregation would stand up and speak to share their thoughts, a prayer, a message of praise or gratitude, or a story or lesson. It was a very simple yet very enlightening ceremony. At the end of silence, Jeremy and Amy recited their vows to each other and exchanged rings.
Following the ceremony, all the friends and family gathered in the Art Center Theater for a Dim Sum cocktail hour followed by a multiple (can’t remember how many) course Chinese banquet catered by Ginger Cafe from Sunnyvale! Their first dance was especially beautiful in that all the guests were viewing from high above in the mezzanine of the theater while Amy and Jeremy were at the orchestra level. Jeremy then surprised Amy with some unique dancing of his own!
Congrats to Amy and Jeremy!
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