Summer Weddings

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So what’s been happening over the last month?  Well, I have performed weddings indoors and out, far and near.  One of my favorite weddings was the wedding of Chelsea and Joshua.  They are a young couple living here in Ballard that contacted me many, many months ago for their Bainbridge Island wedding.  They rented the Seabold Inn, which is an old schoolhouse built in the 1800’s with a huge yard out back.  Chelsea and Joshua chose wedding favors from Archie McPhee and a friend made their beautiful wedding cake which was decorated with fresh seasonal flowers.  The ceremony was held inside the schoolhouse and was quite charming with it’s mis-matched chairs and wooden floors.  Everything about this wedding was charming actually, but especially Chelsea and Joshua with their great big smiles!  The couple celebrated outdoors with a big picnic including lemonade and yummy food.  Tables were decorated with vintage tablecloths.

And how about Chelsea’s shoes?  Wow!  Fantastic!

 

 

 

 

Why It’s a Good Idea to Have a Rehearsal

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Couples, parents, siblings, friends, and friends of friends can spend hours planning a large wedding: choosing a venue, caterer, DJ, flowers, cake, etc.  When it’s all said and done, the ceremony is sometimes the last thing to get addressed. I really feel for the bride who chooses her venue for her large August wedding in January but doesn’t start calling around for an officiant until May and we are all booked for her day.  But that’s an entirely different post.

In my experience, there are “smallish” weddings that include a small wedding party and “largish” weddings that include a large wedding party.  “Smallish” to me is when there is either no wedding party except the bride and groom — that’s pretty obvious — or when there are up to two attendants on each side (best man, one groomsman, maid of honor, one bridesmaid).  Any wedding party larger than the group previously described, however, should definately schedule an hour-long rehearsal at the venue where they are getting married.  Even the group of six mentioned above could benefit from a traditional rehearsal.

Here’s why.  When you sit down with your officiant to discuss your ceremony, take into consideration how the procession for your dream wedding will look if it hasn’t been rehearsed.  Consider your group of 6 or 8 or 12 plus your 3-yr-old niece or nephew who are your flower girl and ring bearer and how they are going to get to the front of your venue without knowing where to go, when to go, who to follow, etc.  Are the adorable toddlers who are dropping petals and carrying your rings (or fake rings) on a pillow going to know where to go or what to do when they finally make that long haul up the aisle?  They are going to need the smiling face of a mommy or daddy or other family member to go to in the front rows.  Think rehearsal!

And what about the first couple who walk up the aisle who actually end up being the farthest from the bride and groom — where do they go?  Do they just pick a spot and hope for the best and then the remaining bridal party just crams in next to them?  No! No! No!  You have to have a rehearsal so that these beautiful couples who have been involved in the planning of this beautiful event look polished as they walk down the aisle, arm in arm, and then gracefully take their place at their designated spot.  It is a beautiful site to see the wedding party that has rehearsed, fanned out from the bride and groom — groomsmen with no hands in their pockets and bridesmaids holding their bouquets in front of them.  Think rehearsal!

So please couples, if you want your wedding day to be dreamy and memorable, take into consideration everything — not just the food and music — think rehearsal!  You won’t regret it as you are lead down the aisle by your father or another honored family member, arm in arm, to the smiles of your stunning wedding party waiting for you so the wedding ceremony of your dreams can begin!

 

Delicious Cakes For Your Event!

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I just made a new contact with a baker by the name of Suzanne Rosellini.  It never ceases to amaze me how many hidden jewels there are out there — and Suzanne and her cakes are no exception!  Suzanne also bakes cupcakes, cookies, pies, etc. for parties and weddings, but so far I have only had the pleasure of viewing her cakes, which totally WOW’D me!!

A little bit about Suzanne’s products:  She uses organic dairy, her preserves are hand made and often made from berries that she has picked herself, and her lemon curd is hand made.   Everything is made fresh and from scratch!

I want my couples to take a look at the link I provided to Suzanne’s blog below because these cakes are worth looking at!  They look scrumptious and remind me of the cakes that my mother used to make.   Just think — a cake made from scratch decorated with flowers that match your wedding colors!  How devine!

I get to meet Suzanne for a tasting next week and I’ll be sure to take some pictures of the cakes she brings!   To be continued…

Link to Suzanne’s blog:  http://rosellinisweets.blogspot.com/

Add a classical guitarist to your wedding day!

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I am happy to announce that I now have a classical guitarist, Geoffrey Klok, available to play at your wedding!

I heard Geoffrey play at a wedding I performed about a year ago and I was so impressed with his magnificent talent that I wanted to be able to tell all my couples about him.  He is a master at classical guitar and will make your small or large gathering much more unique and special as he plays something for your guests.  I have included a clip of Geoffrey’s music for you to listen to:

Capricho Arabe clip – Geoffrey Klok

Geoffrey knows hundreds of songs but can easily learn a new one if he doesn’t already know it.  Check out more information about Geoffrey on my Wedding Packages page.

Dr. Seuss-like Wedding Vows

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I did a wedding last week that was so sweet.  It was last minute as the couple were going to different parts of the country in a few short days — military situation.  They made their ceremony so adorable though and I want to share it with you.

Vows

Officiant: Will you answer me right now these questions, as your wedding vow?

Bride & Groom Reply together: Yes, I will answer right now your questions as my wedding vow.

Officiant: Will you love all your life?

Both:  Yes, I’ll love her/him all my life.

Officiant: Will you have, and also hold just as you have at this time told?

Both: Yes, I will have, and I will hold, Just as I have at this time told, Yes, I will love her/him all my life

Officiant: Will you love through good and bad? Whether you’re happy or sad?

Both: Yes, I’ll love through good and bad, Whether we’re happy or sad, Yes, I will have and I will hold

Just as I have already told, Yes, I will love her/him all my life,

Officiant: Will you love your spouse if you’re rich? Or if you’re poor, and in a ditch?

Both: Yes, I’ll love her/him if we’re rich,

And I will love her/him in a ditch,

I’ll love her/him through good times and bad,

Whether we are happy or sad,

Yes, I will have, and I will hold

(I could have sworn this has been told!)

I promise to love all my life

Officiant: Will you love when you’re fit, And also when you’re feeling sick?

Both: Yes, I’ll love her/him when we’re fit,

And when we’re hurt, and when we’re sick,

And I will love her/him when we’re rich

And I will love her/him in a ditch

And I will love through good and bad,

And I will love when glad or sad,

And I will have, and I will hold

Ten years from now a thousand fold,

Yes, I will love for my whole life

Officiant: Will you love with all your heart? Will you love till death you part?

Both: Yes, I’ll love with all my heart From now until death do us part,

And I will love her/him when we’re rich, And when we’re broke and in a ditch,

And when we’re fit, and when we’re sick, (Oh, CAN’T we get this finished quick?)

And I will love through good and bad, And I will love when glad or sad,

And I will have, and I will hold, And if I might now be so bold,

I’ll love her/him my entire life,

Officiant: Then if you’ll love all your life,
And if you’ll have, and if you’ll hold,
From now until the stars grow cold,
And if you’ll love through good and bad,
And whether you’re happy or sad,
And love in sickness, and in health,
And when you’re poor, and when in wealth,
And if you’ll love with all your heart,
From now until death do you part,
Yes, if you’ll love her through and through,
Please answer with these words:

Bride and Groom: I DO!

Officiant: THEY DO! … YAHOO!

Spencer: To you my dear, I give this ring,

for it is special, not just bling,

wear it proud, as you have vowed,

for you are mine, till the end of time.

[put ring on brides finger]

Taylor: To you my love, I give this ring,

for it’s your sweet love, that makes me sing,

Now I give my heart, so true,

The rest of my life, to be with you

Officiant: By the authority vested in me by the State of Washington, and those in attendance, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.

You’re married now! So kiss the bride, but please, do keep it dignified.

Do you need help planning your wedding?

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Do you have your officiant all picked out but you still don’t have the DJ lined up?  Check out the Seattle Wedding Show at the Convention Center in January.  If you get buy your ticket on line now, you get VIP status, which allows you to bypass all the lines, and there are lines galore!

Please check out the link below to find out about the show and all the vendors that will be there:

http://www.weddingshow.com/