www.marriedbyannemarie.com

My great appreciation goes to my Web Goddess/Designer, Min, for all of her amazing creative skill, technical knowledge, wise counsel and patience as we created this website from that very first day last September to this day.

To the wonderful and amazing local wedding photographers who contributed gorgeous photos of my couples from last year and past years – my deep gratitude.  Special kudos go to Jenny Goldberg-George, Kier and Mitzi Smith and Paul Dudley – to this fabulous three-some, you make me look so darn good and to heck with the touch-up!

As I move into 2012, I am excited for the many opportunities I will have to work with highly committed and excited couples to create beautiful moments within a wedding ceremony. 

And most of all, to Charlotte Eulette – Sweetie, I am because of you.  Thank you for bringing the art of Celebrancy to the United States – this is the most amazing work I have ever done.

My wedding running shoes laced up for 2012 and I’m ready to run! 

Photo:  www.firstlight-photography.com

Dolly & Matt Vielbig, Kiana Lodge

David & Lindsay Walz

Some photos are timeless.

Such is the photo to the right taken by Photographer Daniel Sheehan on New Year’s Day during Dave and Lindsay’s intimate wedding ceremony at Foxglove Guesthouse on Capital Hill.

There was a moment in the ceremony that was particularly overwhelming for Dave and this photo captures the sweetness of everything a ceremony is about:  trust, gentleness, compassion, appreciation and real meaning.

Dave and Lindsay came to Seattle from Minneapolis to be married and to share a honeymoon down the West Coast.  Recognizing how much Dave and Lindsay have been through in their life together, I was particularly touched to join them on this day. 

What I love about this couple is how that they are possibility thinkers.  Coming from great gratitude and appreciation for one another, Dave and Lindsay incorporated unique and sweet elements into their ceremony (a singing bowl, special gratitude to family, a remembrance for David’s Mother, Vivian, and more)  that celebrates their joy and anticipation of many years to come.

Dave & Lindsay - much joy and happiness to you!

Photo:  www.abeautifuldayphotography.com

Web:  www.wedbyannemarie.com

Clark & Amanda Buffam

Selecting your Officiant is indeed a big deal. 

And it must be a big deal to your selected Officiant as well. 

As you make your choice of Officiant, I encourage you to select someone who resonates deeply with you – in terms of personality, approach, work style, budget and the “intangibles.”  I know I’m a best fit for many couples and not a best fit for others.  It’s important that you choose your Officiant and your Officiant chooses you.

***

Personality Plus.  As you select your Officiant, you are looking for someone who feels “comfy” to you – someone whose personality and approach to creating ceremony appeals to you.   Officiants come in many sizes and packages.  Your quest is to do your homework to find someone who “gets you” as a couple, who is eager to know you better and at the end of the day, someone you feel will best celebrate your loving relationship with the ritual of wedding ceremony.

Guarantees – Nope!  In this work that I do, I am often asked, “what if something happens to you?”  Trust me, my worst nightmare is getting hit by a bus on the way to a ceremony or some other unexpected event that prevents me from showing up.  And in the nine years of doing this work, I’ve always shown up.  I work not to worry about things I can’t control.  My promise in this work is that I’ll move heaven and earth to get you married on time and with someone else if something does indeed happen to me. 

And the take away from all of this?

Selecting your Officiant is most likely an unfamiliar process to both of you - it’s not like you do this every day!  So, my best counsel is to interview several of us and ask your hard questions.  If you walk away from a meeting with a potential Officiant with a happy and peaceful feeling in your heart, you’ve most likely found your best match.

Congratulations to Clark and Amanda Buffam, married 1 year ago at Herban Feast’s SODO Park!   I fondly remember and honor this couple as they celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary.

December 3, 2011

Everything about Joel and Nicole sparkles.

On the evening of December 3rd, family and friends joined this wonderful couple for their wedding ceremony and celebration at Woodinville’s Hollywood Schoolhouse.

Planner Bobbi Roth and Photographer Jenny GG (two of my favorites!) partnered with me to insure that Joel and Nicole’s ceremony was seamless, elegant and yes, fun!

If you are planning a holiday or Winter wedding, here are a few tips to consider:

1)  Maximum use of candles and lighting.  There is nothing that makes a December wedding ceremony more cozy than the best use of candles, twinkly lights and lighting.  It softens the darkness and creates and intimate atmosphere.

2)  Maximum use of light.  If you are being married in the Winter months, plan the start time of your ceremony to insure you have plenty of time for photos before it gets dark.

3)  Maximum driving directions.  In the Winter months, I notice that more people are late than early to a wedding ceremony.  Don’t know why – just seems to be. So, if this is the case, provide detailed driving directions to your venue as it is often more difficult to find certain places in the dark.  Also, consider putting an earlier arrival time on your invitation for a prompt ceremony start.

Nick Steier and Kim Callahan were married this Fall on a sweet and cloudy Seattle Sunday afternoon surrounded by very happy family and friends.

As I was pondering this post, I remembered that Kim is crazy about Christmas.  Knowing this and as I was preparing and writing their ceremony, I sent Nick an email asking if he’d like to present an early Christmas gift to Kim during their ceremony. 

Nick thought this was a terrific idea and during their ceremony, we appropriately set things up to present a surprise and early holiday gift to Kim.

I like surprises during a ceremony.  However, they must be appropriate and authentic.  There is a certain sweetness that comes with a surprise moment and working with your Officiant to incorporate a surprise that is meaningful and uplifting is a way to create a lifetime moment.  And for the beautiful Kim, Santa came early!

What made this ceremony extra special was Steve and Kristine’s desire to include each person at their ceremony in their Thai water ritual.

Over the years, I have conducted a Thai water ritual and it can be written and/or facilitated in a number of ways.  For this ritual, Steve and Kristine were seated and with their hands over bowls, family and friends (starting with immediately family), poured water over their hands, starting from the wrist to the fingers – offering words of blessing and best wishes.

When orchestrated well, this ritual creates a lasting memory for family and friends of inclusiveness and leaves a couple with a great sense of community, friendship and support.  And my appreciation to Kristine’s Mother who was with us from her assignment in Thailand with the Peace Corps who gave me some extra special tips around this ritual and it’s tradition.

Photo:  Daniel Sheehan – www.abeautifuldayphotography.com

Cory & Paige Balph

On Sunday, October 2nd, Tim and Maple exchanged vows in front of a wonderful group of thrilled family and friends – there was just so much joy in the Woodmark tent on this beautiful October morning!

As I fondly recall Maple and Tim’s ceremony, I remember these things:

1) Maple’s beautiful and glowing smile as she walked down the aisle to Tim.

2) Laughter. This was both a traditional and contemporary ceremony – and lightness worked at times.

3) Parent Remembrance: Maple’s Mother, Lily, and Tim’s Father, Bell – we created a sweet ritual within the ceremony to remember these beloved parents who have passed on.

4) In honor of Maple and Tim’s Chinese culture, we designed “8″ blessings around the ring exchange…it worked perfectly!

Maple & Tim: You lead with joy, laughter, grateful hearts and much kindness. It is such a joy to know you.

I walked into Georgetown Ballroom to find all guests dressed up in their best Halloween garb. 

John, Tressa and their wedding party were in gorgeous wedding attire and it was a hoot to officiate this fun couple’s ceremony with 100+ people in the most fun costume and outfits.

I immediately found the lighting was a bit too low in the ceremony area.  Thankfully, wedding planner Megan Keller scrambled at the last moment to get some light for my 50-year-old eyes and to insure that photographer Barbie Hull would get her best shots. 

I further fussed with a few elements in the ceremony area for best effect and with a live band to accompany elements of their ceremony, John and Tressa exchanged vows during a “tears and giggles” kind of ceremony that was perfect in all ways.

John and Tressa – you truly out-did yourselves last night. You created a wedding day that truly brought out the best of who you are as a couple and a family.  Kudos to you!

(Photographer) Barbie Hull:  www.barbiehull.com

(Wedding Planner) Megan Keller:  www.akurantevent.com