My Bad -- But Not Sad!

Boy, oh boy, have I been neglecting posting on my blog!  Between the busy December wedding season and the January "newly engaged inquiry" season, things have been super-busy, and I'm so thankful for that!  So -- sorry for the delay in posting -- but it's been due to so many wonderful things happening!

Let me start by saying that late December brought two of the most creative wedding ceremonies I've ever performed, both of them in the Walt Disney World areas.  The first wedding took place in Disney's crown jewel venue, The Wedding Pavilion.  Stephanie and Mike wanted a ceremony that included their Marine careers, some Wiccan Elements (they had her mother read a "Blessing of the Directions," which was beautiful), and a touch, of course, of Disney magic.  I'm happy to say, all of these elements were included in their ceremony -- and along with Harpist Christine MacPhail's magical music, their ceremony was truly unique! 

The big surprise was Stephanie's wedding dress, which was absolutely breathtaking -- here's a photo, because words just wouldn't do it justice!

 

The color, bling, and detailing on her dress was so amazing!

 

 

Colleen & Chris' wedding at the end of December, at Disney's Swan Hotel, was truly one of the most creative ceremonies I've ever had the honor of performing!  When Colleen first contacted me from Massachusetts long before their wedding date, she told me that they were huge Buzz Lightyear fans -- and that Chris had proposed to her with a Buzz Lightyear cupcake, with Buzz's finger holding the ring -- see the picture!

 

 

What was very important to Chris and Colleen was not only a one-of-a-kind ceremony, but the inclusion of their family and friends in their ceremony, most of whom had traveled from Massachusetts to be there. 

 

Working on their ceremony was such a fun and creative process -- and they not only promised to love each other "To Infinity and Beyond," but I also asked their guests to stand and offer their support "To Infinity and Beyond!" 

 

The day of their ceremony was a very chilly and breezy one, but the warmth of Chris, Colleen, and all of their guests made for a very warm ceremony, indeed!

 

 

 

Now it's January, and "Engagement Season" is in full bloom -- I'm getting lots of calls and bookings for weddings in 2013 -- so, although it's late, I'm wishing you all a Healthy, Happy New Year -- stay tuned for more posts about wonderfully unique weddings!

 



 

 



 





12-12-12!

What a magical day 12-12-12 turned out to be!  So many couples decided to get married on this numerically-lucky day, and I was honored to officiate at one of the best (if I do say so myself!) and most love-filled ceremonies ever!

Nadia and Marcell met when she was only 14, and he was 18 -- she had a crush on him, but at that time their 4-year age difference was too much for anything to ever develop.  Well, their love was meant to be, because ten years later their paths crossed again, and love blossomed! 

December 12th arrived, and the weather prediction was for thunderstorms, but the weather held out for their beautiful outdoor ceremony on the dock at Gemini Springs, which included a "Mother's Kiss" and heartfelt vows.  Their faces were just glowing!

The two of them are truly a match made in heaven, and one of the sweetest couples I've ever worked with!  Even if they hadn't been married on a lucky date, I know that they will have a wonderful marriage!

Congratulations, Nadia and Marcell -- you're going to share a wonderful life together!

And "thank you" to Celeste
Sheaffer of Celeste's Photography for these great
photos!

Weddings, Weddings Everywhere!

Wow, this Fall has been really busy with outdoor weddings!  We are blessed in Central Florida with so many beautiful spots for wedding ceremonies, and in the Fall, the weather is just perfect!

Some of my favorite wedding ceremonies this fall were held in the lovely outdoors -- as we get ready to go into Winter, here's a mini-review of some favorites!

Aaron & Carmen had a backyard wedding that included home-brewed beer (two varieties!) and wonderful, creative table settings, each table different -- the vibe at their ceremony was laid-back and happy!

I had a sip of St. Rogge's Saison, and it was delicious!

Carmen is a crafter, and did the decorating herself!

Jordan & Tuesday were married on Flagler Beach, and although it was a bit on the warm side, there was a lovely breeze!  They included a Sand Ceremony, which is always great for a beach wedding.

One of the coolest, most creative weddings I've ever officiated was Jackie & Chris' wedding at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel.  Their ceremony included a verse about roller coasters, references to The Haunted Mansion (where they got engaged), a Dr. Seuss verse -- and Jackie's dress and bouquet were AMAZING!  What a fun, fun couple!

Jackie's roses were a special type that
had black edges -- and in the middle of
her bouquet was a Haunted Mansion key!
Chris also had a Haunted Mansion key in
his boutonniere!

Check out this super-cool photo taken
by the Haunted Mansion!

Have you ever heard of a bride & groom arriving by seaplane?  Miranda & Brian did exactly that, at The Duncan House in Tavares!  The venue is on a lake, and the house itself is such a perfect place for a wedding!  Their ceremony included both tradition and humor.  I fell in love with Miranda's father -- what a cutie!  

Thankfully, the weather cleared so that they
could arrive by seaplane!

Miranda made her beautiful bouquet
out of brooches and pins!

Not only was Miranda's father a cutup,
but his English accent was charming!

 Timi & Dave had a beautiful ceremony at Harmony Gardens in DeLeon Springs.  They decorated their ceremony space with white origami birds, and it was such a unique touch!  Their ceremony was full of humor and references to the fact that they were finally tying the knot after 13 years together.

I believe this was the part where I said that
their lengthy courtship was finally coming
to an end!

Not all weddings are formal affairs -- sometimes the most heartfelt ceremonies are the ones that are more casual and simple!  Lucus and Allison were married on the dock at Airport Lakes Park in Orlando -- I had to stop the ceremony twice while planes flew over, but that only added to the happy atmosphere!

Yes, that's a plane in the background!

 

 

 

Well, this post has certainly turned into a long one!  I'll close with a photo and a funny story about Catherine & Ryan's wedding at the Lake Mary Events Center.  They had written their own vows, and were keeping them a secret from each other --but I found out the day of the wedding that his vows were very serious, and hers were of a much lighter nature, including a reference to a certain body function that's humorous, but certainly not serious!  My dilemma was whether to tell her that there was going to be a big difference in the wording of their vows to each other.  After much hand-wringing, I decided to let her know.  Imagine my relief when she told me that she had already informed her groom that she would be including humorous references in her vows, including the one I was really concerned about -- and that he was absolutely fine with it!  Their ceremony went wonderfully -- including a tear-producing verse written and read by the bride's mother -- and when it came time for the vows, everyone had a great laugh!  It was almost as if the wording was expected -- the bride is known for her offbeat humor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And yes, the groom is VERY tall!

There are more Fall weddings that I could write about, but I'll close for now by saying this -- each ceremony I perform is different -- but all of them are customized to the bride and groom, and every single one is a joyful event!  Yep, I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- I just LOVE what I do!

I'm planning my next post around Disney, and Disney-area, weddings -- stay tuned!

Happy Holidays to all!  

I Wanna Hold Your Hands!

Fall is certainly a very busy time for anyone connected with weddings, including me!  I must admit, it's not only my favorite season, but also the best time (in my opinion) for a wedding in Central Florida!  

Right now, on Facebook, Pinterest, and all of the social networking sites, there are so many photos of wedding ceremonies, and I enjoy looking at each and every one of them.  As I looked at the most recent photos, I noticed something that I thought was blog-worthy -- hence, the subject of my posting today!  

One of the things that I feel is essential during a wedding ceremony is that the bride and groom feel very connected - after all, this is the very moment when they're being joined in marriage!   How do you make sure that they make this connection?  

There are two ways in which I assure that a couple's attention is focused on each other -- first of all, prior to their ceremony, when I speak with them, I remind them to look at, and focus on, each other, not on me, while words are being spoken -- to allow my voice to be their guide, but to concentrate on each other.  This is their special moment in time -- and it's something to be shared with each other and cherished!

Second, once their ceremony begins, I ask them to face each other and to join their hands.  This completes the connection!

Now, I realize that usually a bride has a beautiful bouquet -- and those flowers, of course, should be on display while she's walking down the aisle -- and, of course, back up the aisle when she's walking with her new husband.  BUT -- during the ceremony -- as pretty as they may be, the flowers are decoration -- the couple, and their focus on each other, should be where the attention is paid!

So, hand off those flowers -- and savor the sweetness of your ceremony by doing something that hopefully you'll do for your entire married life -- hold hands!

Wow, what a wonderful month!

It's hard to believe how fast October flew by -- what a busy month!  When the weather starts to cool down here in Central Florida, couples plan outdoor weddings, and I, as an officiant, get busy with creating amazingly different ceremonies for each of them!

If I wrote about all of the ceremonies I performed in October, this blog post would go on and on -- so here are some of the highlights!

I must say, my absolute favorite was Jackie & Chris' amazing ceremony at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel.  Each couple I work with is different, but this wonderful couple was truly one-of-a-kind!  Their ceremony included a verse about love being like a roller coaster (since they're roller coaster nuts), along with a Haunted Mansion ringbox (they got engaged while riding through the Haunted Mansion), a Dr. Seuss verse -- you get the idea!  And Jackie's dress -- amazing!  Her flowers, and Chris' boutonniere, had Haunted Mansion keys in them!

Carmen & Aaron's ceremony was held in their beautiful back yard, and the atmosphere was laid-back and happy --due in part to the beer that Aaron hand-brewed for the occasion!  (I had a small sip of the light beer, and it was delicious!)

One of the most dramatic entrances ever, occurred at a wedding at The Duncan House in Tavares -- Miranda & Brian arrived by seaplane!  
 

Other ceremonies in October included the Lake Mary Events Center wedding of Jamie and Joe -- the Lake Mary Marriott wedding of Evelyn and Marcos, which included a guest who was a dead-ringer for Lionel Richie -- the 25-year vow renewal of Fiona & Brian, who flew in from England with lots of family members who participated in the ceremony (lots of fun and so touching!), an elopement for a wonderful couple from Ireland, a beach ceremony, and a Gemini Springs wedding.  It was a busy month, indeed! 

Each ceremony different -- each ceremony wonderful -- I wish every single couple a lifetime of good health and happiness together!
 

Hooray for October!

October's arrived in Florida, which usually means cooler temperatures and less rain -- however, this year that hasn't been the case!  It's been hot and humid, with rain showers almost every afternoon.  I think that anyone associated with weddings will tell you that they're looking forward to a change in the weather sooner rather than later!

October is also one of the busiest months of the year for Florida weddings, and this month is no exception!  Over the weekend, I officiated at two wonderful weddings -- both outdoors, both very different, and both wonderful in their own ways!

Tuesday and Jordan's wedding on Flagler Beach was small and sweet, and very laid-back -- they rented a beach house and brought down just a few family members and friends.  Although it was warm and muggy, a nice ocean breeze made things a little easier.  They chose a ceremony that was a bit on the longer side, and during it, they smiled and whispered to each other -- it was truly warm and wonderful!

Tuesday's bouqet, and their Sand Ceremony colors, reflected the Fall Season -- so pretty! 

The second wedding of the weekend, Carmen and Aaron's, had a completely different vibe -- they had about 50 guests, and the atmosphere was casual and festive!  Aaron brews beer for a hobby, and had crafted two special brews especially for the wedding!  He remodeled a refrigerator to hold two brewing kegs and their plumbing, drilled holes in the door, and put two taps in to dispense the beer.  I had a little of the "St. Rogge's Saison," and it was darn tasty!

Carmen runs a craft site, and her creative side showed in the amazing table setups under the reception tent!



At the last minute, they decided to write their vows to each other rather than using the ones they had chosen originally -- Aaron read a "list" of promises that had everyone laughing out loud, and Carmen's heartfelt vows had everyone smiling! 

And the best part, of course?  Being pronounced husband and wife -- and sharing a joyful kiss!

Two ceremonies, each very different -- that's why I LOVE what I do -- thank you, Tuesday & Jordan, and Carmen & Aaron, for choosing me to be a part of your celebration!

Getting Ready for October!

If you live in Central Florida, you know how hot and humid our summers are -- not only that, our afternoon thunderstorms are the stuff of legend!  Weddings, especially outdoor ceremonies, certainly slow down during the months of July, August and September, but once October rolls around, things finally start to cool down, and the weather (for the most part) is perfect for an outdoor wedding.  If you talk to anyone associated with the wedding industry, they will tell you that October is one of their busiest months!

While most couples begin planning a Fall wedding well in advance, others wait until it's too close to their wedding date to start looking for their wedding vendors (of course, in my opinion, choosing an officiant is an important decision that should be one of the first things on their list!) -- by then, for the most part, the vendors that they'd really like to work with are booked, and they're left with limited choices.  

Rich and Andrea, pictured above and below, married at the Mission Inn last October.  They planned their entire wedding from Pennsylvania -- no easy task, but because they began their groundwork well in advance, they were able to choose from a great variety of wedding pros to insure that their wedding day was well-planned, joyful and flawless!  

My advice for today?  Start to plan and book your wedding professionals as far in advance as possible.  If you snooze, you may lose!