Archive for the ‘Life as a Wedding Officiant’ Category

Dave & Katie: A Sweet Mix of Elegance, Sweetness & Spunk and A Truly Goofy & Wonderful Dude!

Monday, October 17th, 2011

Dave & Katie.

He’s a truly wonderful and goofy guy.

She’s a gem of a lady with a huge heart and sensitive soul.

When the clouds parted on Sunday, October 9th, Dave and Katie got their wish to be married outdoors at Clise Mansion at Marymoor Park, surrounded by 100+ very happy family and friends.

Dave and Katie got it right.  They made a call to have their ceremony outdoors because all of the planets aligned well:  sunshine, not too chilly, a beautiful outdoor venue space. 

Some couples fail to do this.  They are so focused on having their wedding “outside” that they fail to consider the comfort of their guests and the overall ambiance

Seattle’s dynamic duo, Brian & Jennifer Hartman from Photo Elan captured this wonderful photo mid-ceremony just outside of Clise Mansion.

So, as I write this, Dave and Katie are on their last honeymoon days in Maui.  I wish this beautiful couple much “Aloha” in their marriage adventure.  Dave and Katie – thank you for the wonderful memories!

Photo Elan:  www.photoelan.com

1 Tiny Wedding Ceremony Tip – Plan For An Elegant Start To Your Ceremony

Monday, October 10th, 2011

I had such a lovely weekend.  Congratulations to Scott and Tonya (Sorrento Hotel) and Dave & Katie (Clise Mansion) – married in style over this glorious Fall weekend.

Okay, here’s a tiny tip and most important to those of you who have yet to print your wedding invitations.

TIP: If you are planning for a 5:00 p.m. ceremony, put 4:30 p.m or 4:45 p.m. on your wedding invitation.

I am a big fan of a prompt start to a ceremony – or within 5-10 minutes of the appointed hour.  Not only is this respectful to the couple, their family and wedding party but it keeps a wedding day on track. 

So, depending on your venue, travel considerations, weekend events and road closures, consider putting an earlier start time on your invite.  This insures your ceremony will start elegantly and promptly and gives your Officiant and/or Planner “fudge time” to insure everyone and everything is taken care of.

I’m A Lucky Gal. Sweet & Poignant Updates From Couples Of Years Past…

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Smooch!

Just look at this face.  Welcome to the world, Sylvia Helene!  I married your Mommy and Daddy (Guido and Carrie) and I happily remember their fun-filled and sweet wedding day at The Corson Building in Seattle.  You are one lucky girl to have such wonderful parents and your two big sisters!

Using the excuse to “vote for me” via KING 5′s Best of Western contest, I’ve been reaching out to my couples from the past year or two and loving the stories and updates.

Jen & Keith are new parents to Clare Madeline.  Kelly and Jason are thrilled to celebrate their 1st anniversary in December.  Luke and Amanda shared they were at one of my weddings 2 weeks ago.  LeeAnn and Brad are enjoying their new home in Phoenix.  Annie & Ethan have a new little one. 

Jean & Larry are happy and well on Bainbridge Island.  Jackie and Andrew are working together and loving their daughter, Nichola.  Jen and Craig are lucky parents to Mitchell.  Brian & McAulay are “still giddy in love.”  Kristin & Max have two sons now!  Scott & Sarah just celebrated their 4th anniversary with a special meal.  John & Jennifer are busy and finally at home. 

Isaiah and Mercedes are living happily in Sammamish with their two daughters. Steve and Gabe are over the moon for their son, Connor.  Fred and Jennie are about to have a baby.  Katy’s husband, Matt, is deployed and she is home with their son, Max.  Alexa is happy to report that she and Cesar are happy and living in Issaquah and she is grieving the loss of her Father.  Jeff and Ai welcome their 2nd child this December.

Call me a most lucky gal to be a huge and happy part of this wonderful, chaotic, joyful, challenging and sweet tapestry of life!

Kevin & Amy Ullrich – Pure Joy, Fun & Grace From Our 1st Meeting To Their Wedding Day!

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Kevin & Amy Ullrich

I remember the first day I met with Kevin and Amy.
It was a full and long work day (yeah!) and I was a bit stressed because my husband and I had a beloved special needs dog at home with unexpected health challenges.
If you know anything about me, dog rescue and rehab is my heart and soul work – with this wedding work, I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful life.
So, when I sat down with Kevin & Amy, I shared a tiny bit of what was going on with me rather than the typical, “I’m fine,” which really isn’t me.  With their gracious and kind response, I knew we were a fit to share in the intimate and sacred moment of a wedding ceremony.  Funny how life works, isn’t it?
And so, working together to create a beautiful ceremony – with the orchestration of a lively rehearsal – and the beauty of a well-thought out wedding day, Kevin and Amy exchanged vows in front of a full room of thrilled family and friends at Court in the Square this past Spring in Seattle.
Joy – Fun – Grace.  These 3 words amplify the heart of this couple and it was a joy for me to share in this day. 

A Sunrise Ceremony On The Kirkland Waterfront – Wade & Jessica Style!

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Wade & Jessica Hopkins

I love a paradox of life.
What appears to be big is small.
What appears to be small is big.
Wade and Jessica celebrated their loving relationship with the commitment of marriage in a small and intimate early morning ceremony witnessed by their parents and two close friends.
We gathered on the Kirkland waterfront last Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and with the sound of gentle waves, Wade and Jessica exchanged some of the most gorgeous vows I have ever heard.  The vows were a surprise and shared with a few tears and a few laughs.
What I truly love about this couple is their conscious intention to co-create a spiritual partnership for today, tomorrow and always.   This isn’t about “you complete me,” rather it’s about bringing your best self to a relationship and choosing every day to consider ”how do I show up?” and “how can I love myself by loving my partner?”
Wade and Jessica – I am profoundly touched by your story and so look forward so staying in touch as you move forward in life together, with your two children and unexpected and wonderful surprises/blessings!

Take A Page From Ed & Jenelle’s “Wedding Playbook” For A Well-Done Wedding Celebration At A Family Home!

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

I loved everything about working with Ed and Jenelle Tirado.  I got to know them better through our pre-marriage coaching work and had the grand joy of joining them on their wedding day, hosted by Jenelle’s mother at a family home in Auburn.

August 27th was a gorgeous day for this wedding ceremony and celebration, held on a lawn overlooking the water of this lakeside home. 

When I arrived for the ceremony, I was immediately taken with the careful and sweet detail woven into the planning of the ceremony and the day.  Taking a page from Ed and Jenelle’s “wedding playbook,” here are 3 best tips if you are planning your wedding day at a home:

1)  Hire An Air Traffic Controller – That’s right – most home weddings would thrive and do best with a day-of planner or wedding consultant.  Because the home host or hostess most often tends to be an immediate family member, having someone on-site to coordinate all day-of details allows family to “relax in their home” and truly enjoy the day.

2)  Parking Valet/Coordinator – Place a parking coordinator outside the home to assist guests with parking.  This not only is a best welcoming gesture, it also insures cars are properly parked and neighbors are happy campers.

3)  A Tent Is A Smart Option…And A Pretty One!  For most home weddings with 50+ guests, it often works to have a tent in the back yard.  This allows a decorating focal point – serves as shade on a very hot day – and in the event of rain, provides cover.  The cost can be spendy and having been to many home weddings, a tent is often wise and best insurance for a fabulous wedding day!


Jeri and Amy’s Sweet & Memorable Wedding Day At Seattle’s Historic Corson Building…

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Jeri & Amy Andrews

In this work that I do, I am deeply grateful for the intimate opportunity to know two loving people and share in their wedding celebration.

Sometimes, I think this work may get old for me.

And Honey, I am 9 years into this “officiating biz”  and am as much in love with my work as I am in awe of Jeri and Amy – the two smiling faces at the right!

I had the profound opportunity to officiate Jeri and Amy’s wedding ceremony on August 12th at Seattle’s historic Corson Building in Georgetown. 

With 100+ family and friends – more than a few hankies – and so much joy and laughter, Jeri and Amy exchanged vows and celebrated their commitment of a lifetime.

Jeri and Amy represent and model in so many ways what I cherish about a loving and spiritual partnership - the opportunity to love and be loved, the push to grow and stretch, the profound giggles and fun moments – and for Jeri and Amy, this includes their day-long walks, loving their family and friends, their unhealthy obsession with real estate and most of all, their grand devotion and commitment to one another.

Plan B: Tips For Making Quick & Big Unexpected Changes On Your Seattle Wedding Day…

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Eric and Charene were beautifully married on a Sunday morning last month and Photographer Paul Dudley exquisitely captured this gorgeous photo of this family immediately after “I Do!”

What you don’t see here is a what happened after I arrived on-site.  Eric and Charene planned an outdoor ceremony at a family home however Mother Nature wasn’t cooperating.  When I arrived, it was lightly raining and the couple, family and wedding party were gathered under a rented tent (smart move!)

After consulting with the couple, family and Paul, we all decided that the smart move would be to re-set the tent for the ceremony. Sure, we could have taken the chance of going on as planned for outside and the smart move was to flip things quickly to insure comfort and peace.

Here are tips if you get to a wedding day and need to get to Plan B:

1)  Just Do It.  If you are at a venue, chances are you’ll have to make a decision 2-4 hours before your ceremony.  At a private home, you can do anything you wish.  Be pro-active and go for the conservative decision.  The key?  You want to insure that your family and friends are comfortable – rain and wind don’t create a warm and romantic atmosphere to enjoy a ceremony.

2)  Appointment A Spokesperson.  If the weather looks challenging, appoint a spokesperson who will be the “air traffic controller” around last minute changes and decisions.  This person is the intermediary between a venue/home host and the couple.  Oftentimes on a wedding day, a couple is taking photos and otherwise engaged and needs someone to make decisions on their behalf – and to run interference!

3)  “People Won’t Remember What You Say – They Will Remember How You Made Them Feel.”  Nothing rings more true that this statement when it comes to a wedding ceremony.  If you and your guests are comfortable and peaceful, you’ll remember more of your wedding moments.  A wedding is all about creating a legacy of “feeling.”  So knowing this, make your difficult decisions as soon as you can on an inclement weather day and get on with it!

Photographer Paul Dudleywww.pauldudleyphotography.com

A Wedding In A Torpedo Warehouse? You Betcha! Erik & Emily’s Country Wedding at Manchester State Park…

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Erik & Emily - July 2011

When Emily first contacted me about officiating their wedding ceremony in a “Torpedo Warehouse,” I was immediately intrigued.

And after meeting with Emily and her sweetheart, Erik, I just knew I was up for the drive to Port Orchard to be part of this wedding extravaganza!

The Torpedo Warehouse is a years old structure with great history located in Manchester State Park.  It is a perfect setting for a wedding ceremony and celebration and the great weather on this day only added to the beauty of the moment.

Erik and Emily celebrated their loving partnership with a very thoughtful wedding ceremony and very unique and personal joint vows.  I loved the extra touches that included pies for dessert and “jam favors,” canned by Emily in the weeks before her wedding.

I had the great good fortune to meet Photographer Katie Cann-McTaggart of Red Sparrow Photography and the photo to the right is a favorite of mine.  Erik is a strong and steady guy and I love this image from the moment when Emily just took a breath put her head on Erik’s chest.

I invite you to take a wonderful look at Katie’s work at www.redsparrowphoto.com

Erik and Emily – thank you for the opportunity to “road trip” to Port Orchard and I wish you great adventure as you move into this new phase of your life together…

One Of My Favorite Parks in Seattle For A Wedding Ceremony – Capital Hill’s Volunteer Park…

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Matt & Andrea Vanni - Summer 2011

If you want to be married at a beautiful park in Seattle, Washington, where do you go?
Honey, you make your way to one of my favorite places here in Puget Sound – Volunteer Park!
Located in the Capital Hill area of Seattle, this Park is a favorite of mine for several reasons.
Volunteer Park has lots of different “looks” – whether you want to be married at The Seattle Asian Art Museum, at the magical fountain with The Space Needle in the background, under the 100+ year Willow Tree or at the funsy and funky Conservatory, you’ve got lots of choices.
Seattle Photographer, Jenny GG, took this gorgeous photo of Matt and Andrea on their wedding day a few weeks ago at Volunteer Park.  The ceremony was in the Dahlia Garden and a reception afterwards at the marvelous Blue Ribbon Cooking School.
So, if you’re still searching for that “best venue,” take a trip up to Volunteer Park and check it out.  Oh, make sure to have breakfast or lunch at the nearby Volunteer Park Cafe – some of the best food in the neighborhood!
Jenny GGwww.jennygg.com

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