Posts Tagged ‘seattle wedding minister’

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It’s January Crazy Time for Seattle Wedding Planning ~ Strive To Become a Remarkable and Bonafide Bridechilla & Groomchilla!

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

Colin & Andrea's Wedding Day Extravaganza - Golden Gardens Park, Seattle, WA

 As engaged couples move into 2011, many are sitting down with pen and pencil and making real their wishes, dreams and expectations for their wedding ceremony and wedding day.

Having been to more than a few wedding ceremonies and weddings, I invite a prospective bride and groom to consider the following:
1)  It’s just one day.  Yes, it’s a huge day AND it is one day.  I am very taken with a couple who is focused on planning their wedding AND planning their marriage.  As one plans a wedding, use the engagement period to deepen the relationship so a walk down the aisle comes with comfort, ease and grace.
2)  A Pre-Wedding Freak-Out Is To Be Expected.  Many years ago, I freaked out before my wedding to my husband, Greg, and we now laugh about it.  Most brides and grooms do freak out before a wedding day.  A wedding is big/huge and a momentous ritual of transition.  If and when you freak out, hang on to your partner – have the intimate talks – chat up girlfriends and guy friends and be brave and look at what really is going on.
3)  Challenge Yourself To Stay On Budget.  Each year, I work with many wonderful couples.  The happiest couples I see are the ones who create a wedding day budget and stick with out.  Work to insure you don’t create post-wedding sticker shock.
4)  Be Brave And Create A United Front.  Sit down together and decide together what you want and what you don’t want for your wedding day.  Keep a united front with family and friends.  If things come up, deal with them…together.  Navigate the choppy and joyful waters of wedding planning with joint intention.
5)  A Wedding Is SO NOT About Perfection.  It’s about imperfection.  Most wedding days are imperfectly perfect and full of last minute juggling, snafus, funsy moments and unexpected surprises.  And in the end, I often find it is the imperfect moments that create a perfect wedding day.
6)  Bottom Line?  Strive To Become a Bridechilla and Groomchilla!  I was at a wedding last night at Willows Lodge and was chatting with band leader Michael Benson.  He was at a wedding last month where the bride was toasted as a “Bridechilla” – happy, peaceful, calm and with a “roll with it attitude.”  Here is to all of my Bridechillas and Groomchillas in 2011!
Fabulous Photo Collage:  www.jennygg.com

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Slowing Down For The Holidays ~ Stepping Into Days Of Reflection, Gratitude and Giggles…

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

Steve & Gabe ~ Islandwood/Bainbridge Island 2010

December 2010 ~ I’m going into slow mode for the next 10 days before stepping back into “all things wedding” for Keith and Sunrise’s wedding ceremony on New Year’s Day.

As I take a breath and a few steps backward, I am full of gratitude for an extraordinary and heartfelt wedding year filled with love, craziness, anticipation, a few “Dear God!” moments, huge amounts of over-planning, lots of laughs and a few big giggles.

Weddings are just so much fun.  Yes, they are a huge ritual of transition and are full of emotional challenge, great risk, eternal hope and lots of planning or little planning.

As I look back on this year, I smile BIG when I think of:

~ Wedding Dog Charlie walking down the aisle in style with his “doggie backpack” for Daniel and Amber’s wedding at Kiana Lodge.

~ Guido and Carrie’s “Skype wedding” and the computer that kept on turning off during the ceremony!

~ Tim and Christina – a remarkable couple with huge hearts who reminded me in this work that I don’t know everything…(darn!)

~ Clint’s remarkable recovery from near death (truly) to join his sweetheart Karen for their romantic and very fun ceremony at Thornewood Castle.

~  Little “Wake” ~ Michael and Lindy’s son who escaped a front few during the ceremony at St. Paul’s Church in Port Gamble and streaked down the aisle mid-vows into the arms of his parents!

~ Joining Juanita and Mark in the chill and mist at 9 a.m. (yes, 9 a.m.!) on a Monday morning in August at Ruby Beach/Washington Coast…and yes, everyone was dressed up!

~ The surprise “visitor” at Colton and Catrina’s wedding ceremony known only to Catrina…hankies all around.

Photo Credit:  Andrea Latham

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A Holiday Weekend Wedding: Steve & Antoinette at Seattle’s Doubletree Arctic Club Hotel

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Steve & Antoinette Ettinger ~ Arctic Club Hotel/Seattle

It was a holiday weekend wedding for Steve and Antoinette ~ who first met in their teens, shared junior college together and who after circling each other for 35 years, were married in front of 150+ family and friends in the gorgeous ballroom of Seattle’s Doubletree Arctic Hotel on Thanksgiving weekend.

It was so much fun for me to work with this couple to create and deliver their ceremony.  Steve and Antoinette included traditional pieces, contemporary elements and honored the five adult children in their lives.

A funsy highlight for me (and for a few other who know what was going on) was Steve and Antoinette’s ring bearer who delivered the rings to Steve attached to a transformer toy!

Steve and Antoinette ~ welcome back from your once-in-a-lifetime cruise.  I wish you much happiness as you move into this new phase of your life together.

And as always, my gratitude to Catering Manager Brooke Byrne at the Doubletree Arctic Club Hotel for her help and support around Steve and Antoinette’s ceremony moment.

Beautiful Photo by: Photo Guy Extraordinaire Tom Ellis:  www.tomellisphoto.com

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Creating Threads of Tradition in A Wedding Ceremony ~ Tricia & Tony At Manette Community Church, Bremerton

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

On a sunny day last month, Tricia walked down the aisle in the church her parents were married in 35 years ago and married the man of her dreams ~ the very wonderful and handsome Tony!

Tricia & Tony ~ November 2010

Over the Summer and Fall, I loved working with this couple.  Tricia is a bundle of positive and radiant energy and was so enthusiastic to create a  romantic and loving ceremony in a church that holds such sweet memories for her parents and family.

As one creates a wedding ceremony and/or decides on a venue for a ceremony, family history or tradition may play a part in a final selection decision.  And then again, it may be time to start a new tradition for you, your Sweetheart and family!

Remember ~ there is not “right way” or “wrong way” to “do” a wedding ceremony.  At the end of the day, it’s truly about the two of you and what you want/desire for your ceremony and celebration.

Fabulous Photo: The Marvelous Catherine Abegg ~ www.calimaportraits.com

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The Hidden Joy Of Working With Engaged & Married Couples: Babies, Children, Family Twists ~ The Circle Of LIFE!

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

Beautiful Olympia Rose

It’s Thanksgiving Week ~ one of my most favorite holidays.
In this work that I do, one of my hidden joys is sharing life “beyond the wedding” with many of my couples. 
A number of weeks ago, I received an unexpected and very happy email note from Joe and Christine sharing big news ~ the birth of their daughter, Olympia Rose, and the joy they feel in loving such a beautiful bundle of joy.
As the years roll by, it’s remarkable and humbling for me to not only share in a marriage day but to be a tiny part of a family’s history and life experience - perhaps in a blessing of a baby or the passing of a beloved family member.
Marriage is part of the circle of life and I treasure this photo of Olympia Rose and the many that encircle a big bulletin board in my office. 
Joe and Christine ~ my very best to you and your beautiful family!

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Kim and Ben’s Wedding Ceremony at the Intimate & Posh Sorrento Hotel ~ Seattle, WA

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Kim & Ben ~ October 2010

Kim and Ben + Sorrento Hotel = Life Moment!

You know, there is often a paradox in life that I often see come true.

What appears to be small is really big.

What appeals to be big is really small.

On a sweet October Sunday, Kim and Ben were married with their closest family and friends in a fireside ceremony in the penthouse of the Sorrento Hotel. 

The wedding guest list was small.  The guest list was mighty.

In front of their dearest people, Kim and Ben exchanged vows.  We had laughter, a few tears ~ I loved this couple who incorporated a mix of untraditional with a few threads of traditional.  Most of all, this ceremony had sacred weight which is a key component to any ceremony whether religious, spiritual or secular.

Ben and Kim ~ Your wonderful Photographer Jenny GG sent me some of your photos – you need to wipe those huge smiles off your faces!  I am so happy for both of you – yeah!

Photographer – The amazing Ms. Jenny at www.jennygg.com

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5 Simple Ways To Make Your Northwest Wedding Timeless Without Breaking The Bank!

Sunday, October 17th, 2010

Mike and Kristin Pavon ~ Blue Ribbon Cooking Co.

Mike and Kristin Pavon worked from their hometown of San Diego to design and coordinate a most beautiful and memorable wedding day in Seattle.   Their venue – The Blue Ribbon Cooking Company – on Lake Union was the perfect site for their wedding – in all ways this wedding was elegant, gracious, fun, contemporary and so very enjoyable.

If I didn’t know them better (Kristin is a planner!), I would have thought they had read Seattle Wedding Planner Bobbi Roth’s definitive guide to creating a memorable and unique wedding day.

If you are in the middle of planning your wedding day, I invite you to visit Bobbi’s site and download her guide which offers you “5 Simple Ways To Make Your Wedding Timeless Without Breaking The Bank!” 

Go to:  www.bobbirothweddings.com

Beautiful Photos:  www.redfishphoto.com

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3 Unique Ideas For A Remarkable “I Do!” Moment

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

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The dress has been selected. The cake is ordered. The invitations are out. The venue is reserved.

Now, your focus as an engaged couple is working with your Officiant or Minister and creating the “wedding ceremony” portion of your wedding day.

Yikes! Where to begin?

Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of couples from all faiths and traditions on their way to their wedding day. Many people have not been to a joyful, contemporary and uplifting ceremony where the focus is on the couple and their family and friends.

So, as you work with your Minister or Officiant to craft, create and write your ceremony, please remember that you have flexibility to design and orchestrate your ceremony as you wish. This is particularly so if you are working outside of the religious walls of a church or religious tradition.

As a Non-Denominational Wedding Officiant & Minister, I invite you to consider these three possibilities to personalize your wedding ceremony and make it truly your own:

Joyful, Fun and Innovative Ideas For Your Wedding Ceremony:

1) Nix the Unity Candle. The unity candle is a beautiful ritual and it comes from many traditions. AND it is overdone in a wedding ceremony. If you desire the unity candle, kick it up a bit and ask your Officiant or Minister to more deeply personalize this ritual. If you are lighting a unity candle, consider involving your entire wedding party in some way or as you are lighting the candle, invite family and friends to share their wishes for you.

2) Jazz Up Your Ring Exchange. Before you and your Sweetheart exchange your rings, have your Officiant or Minister pass the rings to each member of your wedding party – or perhaps to your immediate family members – and request that they each hold the rings for a moment and send a best wish, prayer or blessing. This way, your wedding rings are sweetly infused with the energy of people who love and appreciate you.

3) Give Your Guests a “Job.” Yes, a job! Before your Minister or Officiant shares the final blessing and pronouncement, have him or her make a brief announcement to guests about “what to do next” immediately after the ceremony. By giving your family and friend direction on photos, cocktail hour or whatever, you are taking care of your guests and making way for an elegant tradition from your ceremony to your reception/party!

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