Variety is the Spice of Life (...and a Match Game!)

I've been thinking about different things to blog about -- tried some ideas out, didn't get very far -- but after the variety of weddings I've had this month, it suddenly occurred to me -- rather than blogging about ONE wedding, I'd share the wonderful variety of weddings I've officiated!   

And, to add some interest, I'm going to post photos of the three weddings I'm blogging about, to see if you can match the couple to the description of their wedding -- let's have some fun!  

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- your wedding should be just that -- YOUR wedding -- so make it a true reflection of who you are and what you want, and it will be absolutely perfect!  One size or style of wedding definitely does NOT fit all!

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Sylvie and Tony's wedding at the beautiful Westin Lake Mary reflected their love of taste and elegance -- and their love of their children, who they included in their ceremony with a touching Family Unity Candle Ceremony.  

When Sylvie came down the aisle, Tony, who hadn't seen her yet, was overcome with emotion -- he couldn't stop telling her how beautiful she was, and kept asking all of the guests to look at her and see how beautiful she was  -- it was so touching!  Their faces glowing, their ceremony began, and it only got better from there -- when they brought up their children for the Family Unity Candle Ceremony, the beautiful reading they shared with them and their guests had everyone choked up!

Their reception space was beautifully decorated, with candles and flowers, and their cake was so unique!  

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Catherine and Joseph wanted a touching ceremony that would celebrate their love, and include their mothers.  They chose Harmony Gardens in DeLeon Springs for their ceremony and reception.  It's a beautiful outdoor gardens with a lovely ceremony spot!

Unfortunately, the day of their wedding was rainy and squally -- Mother Nature was not being cooperative!  However, right around their ceremony time, the rain stopped, and we decided to go for it!  

About halfway through their ceremony, the rains started again -- thankfully, some good friends held umbrellas over our heads, and along with the other guests who had umbrellas, we all stayed dry while their ceremony finished! Their mothers were beautifully surprised when they were asked to come up to give the bride and groom their last kiss as a single person, and I know for sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house!

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Cierra and Danny told me when we met to talk about their ceremony that it was going to be held on her mother's horse ranch, which was big and beautiful!  They spent a lot of time and effort making things absolutely perfect, and the weather cooperated with sunny skies and a wonderful breeze.  

Their guests sat on hay bales for the ceremony, which included a Tree Planting Ceremony that included their mothers, who added soil from the bride & groom's childhood homes to the tree that was planted -- what a tender touch! One of the horses kept poking his head through his stall window during the ceremony -- he loved Christine MacPhail's harp music!

The time and love that went into the preparations for the wedding were evident everywhere -- from the reception tent to all of the decorated farm areas -- and the cake was adorable!

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So, there you have it -- three completely different weddings, three completely different ceremonies -- all of them wonderful!  And here's the photos of the great newlywed couples -- can you match them to their wedding?

I'm sure from what I've told you about their weddings, that you know the answers, but here they are -- Catherine and Joseph are the first couple, Cierra and Danny are the second, and Sylvie and Tony are the third!

And, as you can see from the photos, each one had their own personality and feeling -- and each one had a completely different wedding ceremony -- which is the way it SHOULD be!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- I LOVE what I do, and making a wedding ceremony to fit each couple's personality is something amazing!

Until next time... 

Happy New Year (a little late........) !!

Well, at the beginning of 2013, I said I would try to blog more often -- while I can't say that I reached 100% of my intended goal, I was able to get a few posts out.

So -- should I promise, in 2014, that I'll blog more often?  Why not??

Okay -- so it's the end of January already, and I haven't posted a single thing! My excuse?  I had a very large family event that I hosted, with a lot of people -- several big dinners and an extremely large party -- after which I was booked solid with consultations for weddings for 2014 and beyond!  

So, stay tuned -- from here on out, I'm going to do my very best to post more often (after tomorrow's wedding and Sunday's two consultations, that is....)! 2014 is going to be a wonderful year!

Until next time... (hopefully sooner rather than later!) 

Renee

It was a Very Good Year.....

Wow, where did 2013 go?  It's hard to believe that in less than 6 hours, a new year will begin!  

As far as officiating, I must say, it's been my favorite year -- so many wonderful couples, so many creative wedding ceremonies -- each one different, each one special!  In fact, I could create the world's longest blog post if I wrote about all of them, so I won't do that here -- rather, I'll wish everyone and anyone who's reading this a heartfelt wish that 2014 will bring you good health, happiness, and peace -- and maybe even A Lovely Ceremony!  Happy New Year!  

And, as a P.S., above is my brand spankin'-new logo!  I wanted a little something to express the fun and happiness of what I do.  Please feel free to share your opinions! 

Delightful December Weddings!

There's something very special about a wedding during the holiday season -- each ceremony I performed was special, but there were four of them that were so amazing that I just had to write about them before this year ends!  

Trevor and Colleen wanted a ceremony that included wording about their love of dogs, and that would surprise their guests -- so as their ceremony began, I read a verse entitled "Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog" that got their guests chuckling -- followed by some beautiful Disney references (since their ceremony took place at Disney's Boardwalk Hotel) suggested by Colleen's mother.  Their ceremony closed on a tender note, and the joy on their faces was radiant!

Colleen's bouquet was absolutely gorgeous!

  I knew from the first time I spoke with Chelsey and Jason that their wedding was going to be lighthearted and one-of-a-kind -- they told me when we met not only about their love of Christmas (in fact, their tree had been up since October 25th!), but that their favorite movie of all time was The Muppet Christmas Carol.  We had so much fun working on their ceremony, which included several quotes from the movie, references to their kitties, and a family ring-warming that added a beautiful touch.  And, of course, their ceremony at the beautifully-decorated Dubsdread Country Club was held by the tree!

Chelsey & Jason used this photo to announce their marriage to their family and friends!

 Next up on the Delightful December weddings was Kyla and Thadd's ceremony.  They were married at the lovely Eagle Creek Country Club, and put their very special, personalized touches on both their ceremony and their reception.  The most touching part of their ceremony was the words of love they whispered to each other during the ceremony -- that no one else could hear but them!  Kyla's dress graduated from white to pink -- so unique and beautiful!

I fell in love with Kyla & Thadd's adorable daughter!

And, last but not least, was Nicole & Josh's nature-themed ceremony at the lovely Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont.  They included a tree ceremony that included their grandparents, parents, and themselves, and talked about how a good marriage must be nurtured, like a tree needs nurturing to grow. Each participant added soil to the tree, and Nicole and Josh watered the tree.  But no doubt, the most touching part of their ceremony was the vows they wrote to each other -- some of the most loving words I've ever heard.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the park!  

And -- a first -- at the request of the bride and groom (and no resistance from me!), I officiated barefoot!  What fun!

Nicole was barefoot, and Josh decided at the last minute to wear shoes!

How lucky am I to work with such amazing couples?  I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- I absolutely LOVE what I do!

Until next time ...

An Adventure-Filled Wedding!

In the 35-plus years I've been performing wedding ceremonies, I've never been bored -- because not only is every couple I work with different, but every ceremony I've performed is different!  Depending on the personalities of the couple, and the mood they wish to set for their ceremony, we work together until they are absolutely thrilled with the words that will unite them as husband and wife!

I knew from the first time that I met with Lauren and Chris that their ceremony was definitely going to be a great one -- one of the first things they told me about themselves was that they loved to travel, and had been to some amazing places -- and that they wanted to include their story, and those places, in their wedding ceremony.  

Over the next few months, as we worked on their ceremony, they were chock-full of great ideas, and actually came up with the exact wording they wanted to use in their ceremony to describe how they met, the places they'd been and the adventures they'd shared -- and how, one day, "at the super-fit age of 80," they planned to go back to the slopes of Colorado where they met, to "look back on an adventure-filled life spent with their travel partner and best friend."

They were married at an amazing venue in Orlando, Paradise Cove, which has a beachy, island vibe, and is right on a lake.  It's like a little slice of Hawaii in the middle of the Orlando resort district!

Chris and his groomsmen made their entrance via speedboat, jumped out when they reached shore, and ran down the aisle high-fiving everyone, including me!

Lauren had a more traditional entrance -- and their ceremony began.  Their guests were treated to hearing their story, which elicited many laughs -- and as their ceremony continued, their guests learned what they love about one another, along with their promises to love each other both in everyday life and in adventure.  

Their vows, in keeping with their unique ceremony, were said by taking turns, one line at a time -- and their ring exchange included a promise to keep each other's life interesting!  They, and their guests, were laughing one moment, crying the next!  

And -- do you know what the frosting on the cake was for me?  As I was leaving after their ceremony, Lauren's father ran up to me with a beaming face, and thanked me -- in the middle of all the celebration, he wanted to let me know how much he enjoyed their ceremony!  Yet another reason for me to say what I've said before, and will continue to say -- I love what I do!

Congratulations, Chris and Lauren -- may your great adventures in love and life continue to grow!  

Until next time....

Hobbits, Puns, Alligators and Mosquitoes!

When I meet with a new couple for the first time, after getting to know them and hearing about their wedding plans, my question to them is:  "Have you thought about what you'd like to have in your wedding ceremony?"  

Meeting with Carla and Matt, their answer was "something with Hobbit references and references to light; that includes our family, who are very important to us; and humor and puns."  Right up my creative alley!

Working on their ceremony, which was held under the beautiful arch at Kraft Azalea Garden in Winter Park, became a fun-filled process, because they were really involved in the construction of their ceremony -- their creativity and ideas made for a ceremony that was truly, uniquely theirs!  

As their ceremony began, Karla walked down the walkway to the beautiful arch where their ceremony took place....

Karla and her father walking in...

He gave her a sweet kiss....

And Matt watched, with happy
tears in his eyes!

They included a ring-warming ceremony, which gave each family member a chance to make a wish or blessing on their rings....

And then the fun, and puns, and gentle humor, began! 

One example?  I asked Carla if she was ready to step into the circle of "Matt-rimony," and then I asked Matt if he was ready to step into the circle of "Carla-trimony!" 

But my favorite humorous section of their ceremony was this:

"Before embarking on a great adventure, famous hobbit Bilbo Baggins once said: 'I should like to know about risks, out-of-pocket expenses, time required and remuneration, and so forth' -- by which he meant: What am I going to get out of it?  And am I going to come back alive?

Wow, what a great comparison -- the adventure of marriage is one of the greatest risks of all!  Out of pocket expenses: everything you have.  Time required: the rest of your lives.  Remuneration: no monetary gain is guaranteed.  But what are you going to get out of it?  The reward of a life filled with love and joy, the creation of a new family, an everlasting light to illuminate your days.  And will you get out alive?  Well, that may depend on how many times Carla has to ask Matt to turn off Grand Theft Auto 5 on their honeymoon!" 


Carla and Matt's vows to each other included both humor and touching elements -- and as I pronounced them husband and wife, I did so with not only the authority of the State of Florida, but also the alligators, mosquitoes, and Republicans that govern the state!

A dip for the kiss!

Thank you, Carla and Matt -- I can guarantee you that there won't be another wedding ceremony like yours -- which is exactly why I always say that I love what I do!

Carla & Matt's ceremony
was held behind the pillars,
close to the water.

And a huge "Thank You!" to the wonderful husband-and-wife team of Conan & Yaisa Segrest of www.fulllinestudio.com for sharing these beautifully amazing photos!  

Until next time...

Sharing is good!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and again, and again, and again...) -- I absolutely love working with creative couples to construct a wedding ceremony that is something truly unique and individualized to them!

Right now I'm working with an amazing couple, Jennie and Tan, who just so happen to live in Australia. They've written a blog post about working with me, how we met, and how much fun we're having, and I just had to share it!  

Here's the link -- enjoy!

http://jenandtanwedding.blogspot.com/2013/10/excuse-me-i-think-word-youre-searching.html?spref=fb

When you read their blog, this will make sense!

Creativity in your wedding ceremony?  Absolutely!
What better way to get your celebration off to a great start?!

Stay tuned for more details!

Until next time....