Thanksgiving and Gratitude.....

I could start off this blog post by apologizing for not keeping up with my blogging -- it's been six months since my last post -- but rather than that, with Thanksgiving coming up this week, I've decided to post about giving thanks for the wonderful life I've been given, and gratitude for the amazing profession that not only helps couples make their wedding ceremony dreams a reality, but brings me immense gratitude for my ability to be a part of their special day.  

Gee, that first paragraph sounds like something that could be said at an awards ceremony -- and I do feel as if I've been awarded in so many ways -- from a wonderful family, to awards from the wedding industry -- but in my career as a wedding officiant, nothing beats hearing from a couple after they're married, "Thank you -- our ceremony was exactly what we wanted it to be!"  

So, to the wonderful couples I've had the privilege and joy of working with, and to the future couples who may be reading this post -- I am thankful to YOU -- for allowing me to be a part of one of the most important days of your lives -- to entrusting me that your wedding ceremony will be meaningful and memorable -- and to getting your future off to a wonderful start!

Next blog post?  Maybe this evening -- I've got SO MANY wonderful stories to share!  Stay tuned!

Until next time.....

Yes, I've got a new profile picture!
Thanks to the wonder of laser eye surgery,
I no longer wear glasses!

Surprise, Surprise!

Yes, it's been a while since I last put up a blog post -- suffice it to say, I've been very busy!  It's all good -- since I love what I do, I'm not complaining - however, my social media output has been mostly what I can do "on the run," which are short posts on Facebook -- but today I promised myself that I'm going to post about a very special wedding from a few months ago that truly epitomizes how special and amazing a customized wedding ceremony can be!

When Brooke and Frank first contacted me about officiating at their Disney wedding, we connected instantly -- they were looking for a wedding ceremony that included stories of their love for one another, and also included lots of "Disney Magic" elements, since they were both big on Disney.  My kind of people!  We had a lot of fun working on their ceremony -- but they are both very, very busy people -- and as their special day grew closer, there was a special element that was very important to Brooke that hadn't been completed yet -- she wanted a part of their ceremony to include wording that each of them had written about what they loved about the other.  She had completed her wording, but Frank had been very busy, and hadn't completed his.  

Being considerate and thinking of Frank's feelings, Brooke understood that this was becoming stressful to him -- so she told me that we could leave this part of the ceremony out.  There were enough other wonderful elements that were already in their ceremony, and the most important thing to her was to have both of them relaxed and happy.  I could tell by her voice that she was disappointed, but was willing to compromise this part.  What a wonderful way to start a marriage -- because as anyone who has been married for a period of time can tell you, compromise and understanding is an essential element of a happy marriage!

A few days before the wedding, I got a phone call from Frank -- he realized how important it was to Brooke to have the part in the ceremony where they shared what they loved about one another -- and he had an idea!  He and Brooke had seen a sign in a gift shop that truly spoke to his feelings about Brooke -- and wanted to know if he could use that as a basis for what he loved about her. Of course, I said it could be used!  Here's what the sign says:

We spent a lot of time on the phone that afternoon as he told me details about each of these lines that explained his love for Brooke, and together we put together some wording that was just perfect!  And since Brooke had sent me the things she loved about Frank, in the hopes that they would be used, I had everything I needed to set up a wonderful surprise for her!

But wait, there's more -- as I spoke with Frank, I realized that there was a ceremony element that would add another surprise for Brooke, and include more Disney Magic -- the Major Domo making a surprise entrance with their wedding rings!  I suggested it to Frank, who had never heard of it, and his immediate response was "YES!"  Though it was only a few days until their wedding, he contacted Disney, and they worked their magic to add the Major Domo.  

Now, the stage was set......

Brooke came down the aisle, beaming, Frank held out his hand to her, and they stood in front of me with radiant faces.  

And as we went through their ceremony, the surprises began!  As I began to say the introductory words to "what they loved about one another," Brooke's face lit up with a surprised look, and then her happy tears began to flow!  Their tender, loving words about what they loved about one another were a true highlight of their ceremony!  

But the surprises for Brooke weren't over yet!  As we came to the ring exchange, I asked the ring bearer for the box holding their rings -- and as I opened it, I "noticed" that their rings were plastic!  Hmmm.....

There was a moment of confusion on everyone's faces -- how could this have happened?!  And then -- ta-da-da-da!  The trumpets sounded, the back door opened, and in walked Major Domo!

It took Brooke a moment to realize what was happening -- but when she did, she alternated between laughter and tears, and all of the guests were as surprised as she was!

Brooke and Frank also included a glass crystal blending ceremony, where they combined beautiful glass crystals into a center vase, symbolizing the blending of their lives.  The crystals were to be made into a beautiful glass bowl when they returned home, and wording was added to their ceremony to remind them to take care of the bowl, because, like marriage, it should be treated with great care so that it did not become broken or chipped.  

Their ceremony ended with a heartfelt kiss, and as they walked back down the aisle, I do believe they were floating in air!  What true ceremony magic!

And as for my delight in helping pull off not one, but two, amazing surprises that made for an unforgettable wedding ceremony -- well, this photo says it all!

I want to give a HUGE shout out to David & Vicki Arndt of Arndt Photography for their AMAZING wedding photography, and for sharing these photos with me so that I could share them with you -- they caught all of the most important moments so perfectly!  They're the best! 

Until next time........

But How to Clone Myself........?!

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted -- it's certainly not because I haven't been busy!  In fact, that's the exact reason I haven't been posting on my blog -- thankfully, I've been so busy with wonderful couples and unique wedding ceremonies that there aren't enough hours in the day for me to do everything!  Therefore, dear readers, for now, I'm going to direct you to one of my two Facebook pages to keep up with my adventures -- yes, I have two Facebook pages under "A Lovely Ceremony," but that's a story for another blog post!  Here are the page links -- please "like" both, and hopefully you'll see my posts when they're done!  

facebook.com/lovelyceremony   or facebook.com/ReneeSilvermanLovelyCeremony

By checking my Facebook page, you'll be able to read about the incredible couples I work with, the fun we have creating their unique ceremony, and the amazing results on their wedding day!  

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- I LOVE what I do!

See you on Facebook!

Until next time...

A Magical, Movie-gal, Ceremony!

Happy October!  It's "Wedding Season" here in Florida, when the weather finally cools down, the torrential rains pretty much stop, and ceremonies can be held both outdoors and indoors!

I've got lots and lots of ceremonies this month, so this will be a short post -- but I just had to share a wonderful highlight video from Ingrid & Dwayne's amazingly beautiful ceremony at Disney's Wedding Pavilion in August!  Their ceremony had so many magical, personal touches that I'd have to post the entire ceremony for you to see them all -- but in respect for their privacy and the sanctity of their vows to each other, I'm just posting the highlights, so that you can see how a customized wedding ceremony is much different from a "typical" ceremony!

Ingrid and Dwayne are huge movie fans -- so listen carefully for the many movie references in their ceremony wording -- and watch their faces beam as those words are read!  Many of their guests may have thought that these were just ceremony words -- but they were much more!  And that's my goal as an officiant -- for your guests to enjoy your wedding ceremony, but for it to be truly special and meaningful for the two of you!  

Ingrid & Dwayne's Magical, Movie-gal, Wedding Ceremony


A special thanks to Bill Carnicelli of Unity Event Videography for this highlight video -- if you're looking for a wonderful videographer who's also an all-around great person, he's the one!  Here's a link to his website:  Unity Event Videography

Until next time.....

Magical Weddings All Around!

Oh, goodness -- I have been SO neglect in my blogging!  For those of you who are following me, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth -- there have been so many things happening in the past few months that blogging has been moved to the side shelf -- yep, it's full of dust, but I'm hoping to finish this post to let you know what's been happening!

First of all, and something VERY exciting, is the fact that I've become a "Preferred Officiant" for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings!  It's something I've been working on since 2007, and to have my name added to the list of other wonderful officiants is such an honor!  Not to mention, of course, the opportunity to work with couples who want to have the Disney Magic included in their wedding celebrations -- it's added a new layer of creativity to what I've been doing for the past thirty-seven years!  No job boredom for me, for sure!  

So, to catch you up with some of the amazing weddings I've officiated in the past several months, I'll start off with the amazing wedding of Ingrid and Dwayne, at the crown jewel of Disney properties -- The Wedding Pavilion!  

This is the entrance to The Wedding Pavilion
and also where the couple can exit to
flower petals or bubbles!

The inside of The Wedding Pavilion
can be decorated in so many
different ways, to suit the couple!

Ingrid and Dwayne are not only huge Disney people, but they also love movies -- so we incorporated both of those elements into their ceremony.  Much of the wording in their ceremony included Disney references and lines from movies that fit perfectly, and that only the two of them realized -- watching their eyes twinkling, and their smiles at each other as each of the phrases was used, was truly magical!  As they faced their guests after being pronounced husband and wife, they practically floated back down the aisle!

Presenting -- the new Mr. and Mrs!

What an exciting moment!

Disney weddings aren't the only ones that are magical -- Nicole & Adam's wedding at the amazingly unique Gallery J in Winter Springs was Rock 'n Roll Magic!  From the processional music by Def Leppard (everyone danced down the aisle, including me!), to references to The Hobbit, to the gigantic plastic 

diamond ring that Adam presented to Nicole, there wasn't a dull moment! 

Yes, I danced down the aisle!

Adam presented Nicole with a GIANT plastic diamond ring,

which got a huge laugh from everyone!

Guy and Michelle had a unique ceremony at the Orlando Science Center in May -- their ceremony began with a most unusual and whimsical reading, "The Lovely Dinosaur," which got things off to a great start!  And since they're both big on cooking wonderful vegan dishes together, they included a Pepper-Blending ceremony, which included green and beige peppers, their wedding colors.  

All of us laughed during "The Lovely Dinosaur" reading!

The Pepper Blending Ceremony was truly unique!

And for the last wedding in this post, Allison & Jarrod had an amazing, fun ceremony at Timacuan Country Club in Lake Mary.  To choose their two marriage license witnesses, they tossed two roses into where the guests were seated -- and the two guests who caught the flowers were the ones to sign their marriage license!  Their great senses of humor added so many wonderful touches to their ceremony -- and since Allison loves selfies, of course they included a giant Wedding Selfie!  What fun!

With all of these wonderful weddings (there are many more, but I don't want this to be a book, so I'll share more later!), I'm going to end my post on a personal note -- my wonderful husband, Ron, and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in May.  We took a dream cruise to Northern Europe and had a wonderful time!  I guess that's why I love weddings so much -- I'm a big believer in marriage, and so blessed with a wonderful husband!

We had a special dinner on board our cruise ship!

Okay, I'm going to try (not promise) that I'll blog more often in the future -- there are just SO many wonderful weddings to share!  Stay tuned, and stay well!

Until next time....

Renee Silverman, Officiant
A Lovely Ceremony

Serving Central Florida

(386) 717-0303

www.lovelyceremony.com 

Make Good Choices!

Well, I guess I could apologize and make excuses for not posting anything on my blog lately -- suffice it to say, this has been a VERY busy time for me, and I'll share some of the things that are happening in a later post.

I've seen this article on several websites and blogs, so I don't know who should get the credit, but please, if you're getting married, read this -- it has so much good information about how to choose the best wedding vendors/professionals for your wedding!  

8 QUESTIONS YOU MUST ASK A WEDDING PROFESSIONAL BEFORE BOOKING THEM

Hiring the right team is critical to planning your dream wedding…and it can also be quite stressful.

How do you find the right match for you? How do you know who to trust? Where do you go for advice?

First of all, this is not an easy task and it’s totally normal for couples to feel overwhelmed, frustrated or confused.
It’s not like you plan a wedding every day! This is all probably brand new to you, so be patient with yourself.

A few tips to finding the right ones for you…

Do Your Homework. You’ll get much more out of a meeting or conversation with a wedding professional if you do a little background homework first.

Spend some time on the internet or talking to friends who’ve recently been married. Find out the average prices in your area and what services are available. Get an idea of what you like and don’t like. Wedding websites and chat rooms can be a great resource. This way when you meet with a wedding professional you’ll be able to ask better questions and have an idea of what to look out for.

Meet With Them. An in person meeting is the best way to interview a potential wedding vendor. It lets you get the full experience of their personality, style and professionalism. If that’s not possible, have a phone conversation.

Ask Questions. There are no stupid questions! Make sure you get clear, specific answers to your questions. If you aren’t sure what something means, ask them to clarify. Keep asking questions until you completely understand.

If a wedding vendor has a problem with you asking questions, they probably aren’t the one for you. The best wedding professionals are patient, understanding and take the time to help you make the best choices for your wedding.

Listen. Don’t just hear the words they say, really listen. Watch the vendor’s body language. Are they confident and comfortable with their response? Do they look and sound nervous? Do you get a “funny feeling” about them? Take all the sights, sounds and feelings into account along with their responses; if your gut tells you something isn’t right, it probably isn’t.

Check References. Portfolios are hand-picked to show off the best work, but they may not represent the “average” wedding performance. Videos are edited for the optimum presentation. But real referrals from satisfied clients are hard to fake.

Ask around and search the internet for reviews. Not just the good ones but the bad ones, too. Be wary of vendors that have only “perfect” ratings. Any business that’s been around awhile will have a healthy mix of glowing reviews and honest feedback. That’s how businesses improve. If there is a negative feedback, check to see if the vendor responded, or ask them about it. Just be sure it’s not a trend. Check the Better Business Bureau for any outstanding complaints against the business. Weigh all of this information into your choices.

So, here are 8 Must Ask Questions to ask ALL your potential wedding professionals before booking:

1. How many weddings do you do per year? How much experience do you have?
This is an extremely important question. Ideally, your wedding professional should have ample experience specifically with weddings. Not only will they be more skilled in their craft, this also makes them a valuable source of information and ensures that your wedding day goes smoothly.

2. How much do you cost?

Price is often relative, especially when you factor in experience, reputation and expert skill. Generally, the most talented professionals have a higher price tag because they are worth it.

3. How much is the deposit?

4. What specifically is included in that cost?

 Because packages often vary, it’s likely that you won’t be able to compare one vendor exactly to the next without doing a little figuring. The lowest cost isn’t necessarily the best deal; some higher quotes include services that you have to pay extra for in other packages. Make sure you take this into account.

5. What happens if I cancel? What happens if you cancel? 

Find out if your deposit is refundable under any conditions. Does the wedding professional have a back up plan if something happens to them?

6. Do you use a contract? 

If the answer is No, RUN! A contract is designed to protect both you and the wedding professional. Don’t settle for a verbal agreement that won’t hold up in court.

7. Are there any additional fees?

Taxes, service charges and travel fees can add up quickly. Make sure you understand exactly what is included and if there are any other fees you’ll have to pay. This should be clearly defined in your contract.

8. Do you carry liability insurance?

The answer you’re looking for here is Yes. This protects you in case an unfortunate accident should occur on your wedding day. It’s also a sign that this is a reputable business, since most “fly by night” operations don’t invest in insurance.

If chosen wisely, with the right wedding vendors you'll have a wonderful wedding!

So, that's my short and sweet post for this time -- stay tuned for another one, hopefully soon!

Until next time ...

Hitting the Target!

Oh, how I love what I do -- working with couples on their wedding ceremonies is always interesting, because each couple has their own story of how they met, how they realized they loved each other, how they decided that they wanted to be married, and how, of course, they want their ceremony to be -- no two are ever alike!  

Kimmy and Adam had a particularly funny story -- they knew each other in high school -- and although they didn't date, they had a lot of mutual friends. Fast forward to six years later, and as both of them were getting into their cars at Target, they looked across the parking lot and recognized each other -- but Kimmy didn't want Adam to see her, because she was very casually dressed and didn't think she looked "presentable" -- and Adam didn't want to see Kimmy because he was in a hurry!  

Well, as fate would have it, they got into their cars, and as both of them looked up at the same time to make sure the other was gone, their eyes locked -- there was no way they could ignore the other -- and the rest is history!  

Naturally, we HAD to include the Target story in their ceremony -- and as I held the rings, I made a joke about the fact that I was surprised they weren't red, which made everyone laugh.  But that wasn't the only surprise in their ceremony!

On my way to the ceremony, I got a frantic call from Kimmy's Maid of Honor, who asked me whether the marriage license could be signed the next day -- unusual request -- yep, the license had been left at Kimmy's mother's house, about an hour from where the ceremony was taking place -- and it was rush hour!  

Well, the only way I can pronounce a couple husband and wife at the end of a ceremony is if I see that they have a valid marriage license -- and Kimmy and Adam certainly didn't want to be pronounced anything else but husband and wife -- so I put on my thinking cap and thought out of the box -- and it came to me!  When the person who went to pick up the license arrived at Kimmy's mother's house, I had him take a picture of the license with his phone -- was able to verify the license was valid -- and although the ceremony ran a few minutes late, things were able to proceed!  What a relief!

But wait, the story's not over yet!  Kimmy and Adam's ceremony was held at the Winter Park Farmer's Market, a wonderful venue that has a great covered open porch where ceremonies are held.  The location of the venue is in a beautiful area -- but also right next door to railroad tracks.  And yep, just as Adam started to say his vows, the warning bells began to clang, the gates went down...

...and down the tracks came the SunRail train, which is currently undergoing testing before it begins to make runs!  

Well, thankfully both Kimmy and Adam have great senses of humor, and their guests were wonderful as well -- rather than the noise creating a bad situation, it turned into something that everyone laughed about.  Adam stopped talking until the train passed and finished his vows.  Then Kimmy began hers...

...and, once again, the bells began to clang and the gates went down -- and back down the tracks came the SunRail train, which had turned around!

Well, I don't have to tell you how hard everyone laughed -- and when Kimmy finished her vows, I made a joke about how I'd better finish up their ceremony and pronounce them husband and wife before we were interrupted again!  It brought down the house!

Thankfully there were no more trains, and Kimmy and Adam were pronounced husband and wife, to thunderous applause and cheering -- even louder than the train!

And the marriage license?  It arrived right after the ceremony -- so all ended well!

Congratulations, Kimmy & Adam -- the two of you are going to have a laugh-filled life together, and you'll always stay on Target!

And as an added treat, I'm adding a few photos from their gorgeous reception setup -- the Winter Park Farmer's Market is an amazing place!

Kimmy's bouquet was gorgeous!

Their cake was adorable!

The Winter Park Farner's Market
allows you to create your own seating space!

What a cute Sweetheart Table!

Until next time ...