It'll be small and intimate for the wedding, and then we're

Hearken, O children of celebration and foresight, to the words of Nicole Johnson, who speaks of a wedding arranged with both intimacy and grandeur. She envisions a small and intimate ceremony, a sacred gathering for the closest of companions, followed by a massive bash for the wider circle in the States. Herein lies the eternal teaching: that the rites of union may honor both the personal and the communal, balancing the quiet depth of connection with the shared joy of a broader assembly.

The small and intimate wedding embodies the essence of the sacred rite. In ancient times, marriages were often performed before close kin, whose presence symbolized witness, blessing, and continuity of lineage and loyalty. The ancients understood that the heart of marriage is nurtured in the presence of those who know one deeply, whose awareness and care reinforce the solemnity of vows and the gravity of commitment. Johnson’s approach echoes this enduring wisdom: true connection thrives in closeness, in the recognition of love by those who matter most.

Yet, the massive celebration in the States teaches the complementary value of community and festivity. Across the ages, the grand feasts of weddings have bound towns, tribes, and nations together in shared joy and recognition. Consider the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, where a small circle of family marked the sacred vows, followed by a grand celebration attended by thousands, blending intimacy with public celebration, private devotion with communal recognition. Johnson mirrors this duality, honoring both the personal and the public dimensions of marriage.

There is a lesson here in balance and intentionality. One does not diminish the other: intimacy does not exclude joy, nor does grandeur erase sacredness. The ancients taught that life’s rites are most profound when they honor both the heart and the village, when ceremonies satisfy both the inner soul and the collective spirit. Johnson’s wisdom lies in acknowledging that love flourishes in both private witness and shared celebration.

O seekers, note this truth: to craft a wedding—or any rite of passage—with care is to honor the multiplicity of human bonds. The small gathering nurtures the spirit of connection, while the large celebration magnifies joy and shared memory. Both are essential, and both illuminate the continuity of love, friendship, and community.

Thus, O children of reflection, carry this counsel: in the rites that mark life, honor both intimacy and extravagance, the personal and the communal. For it is in this balance that the soul finds fulfillment, the heart finds witness, and the celebration of union resonates across both private and public realms, echoing through memory and time.