Winter Wonderland

When I met Valerie and Trevor last summer, she talked about her dream winter wedding...snow, Christmas lights...a really festive holiday atmosphere.

Their wedding at the Westwood, Garwood, NY, was indeed a winter wonderland...created primarily by Valerie's own efforts. She made the centerpieces, the bouquets, the favors...all with a snowflake theme. I know it took lots of time...but it made it possible for the effect she wanted on her budget. It looked just like the vision she described when I met her.

It was a delight to meet photographer Flint Gennari, Weddings by Flint, when I walked in for the ceremony. We belong to an internet entrepreneurs' group on Staten Island, and we have talked about working together. I can't wait to see his work for Valerie and Trevor.

"...sleigh bells ring, are you listening...in the lane, snow is glistening..."

Manhattan Penthouse

Karen and Varian's ceremony began with their love story. When they reviewed the ceremony script about a month ago, they said they were "blown away" at how I "got them." I began their story talking about the "self-described laid back, quiet, computer guy" who met and fell in love with the "charming, cheerful, chatty psychologist."

With the Manhattan skyline featuring the Empire State Building as a backdrop...their ceremony was marked by warm emotion between the bride and groom and loving and supportive parents and grandparents.

This was my second ceremony at Manhattan Penthouse, and it was again a pleasure to be so supported by the staff there. Warm regards to Jeno Steiner of Green Mansions Catering!

So Karen and Varian are off on their honeymoon cruise...to come home to a new home, new jobs, and a new marriage. Bon Voyage!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

It Blew Us Away...

I keep writing about weather, because I do so many ceremonies outdoors...and the weather can make or break the event.

Last Saturday the weather was a challenge. It was so cold and windy at the pavilion at the historic Conference House on Staten Island! Just look at my hair standing on end as evidence of the brisk breezes...and I was lucky to have a coat on.

In the last light of day, April and Jeff spoke their vows with about 20 shivering family and friends around them. Their mothers "tied the knot" in a handfasting ritual. And everyone cheered when they were declared husband and wife. Perhaps the cheers were that they might then head for shelter.

License signed, hugs all around, and off to a party...it turned out to be a memorable day for the couple. I won't forget it!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Welcoming Baby...

What a priviledge it was to have a couple I married in 2007 drop me a note that they wanted me to create a baby-welcoming ceremony to introduce their son to their families!

About a month after Joanna and Scott's son was born, their two families gathered at their Upper West Side apartment. The little one cooperated with contented silence as he was formally named by his parents. His materal and paternal grandparents give their blessings, and his godparents made promises to be there for him throughout his life.

The highlight of the ceremony was the eloquent, amusing, and sentimental reading composed by Scott...reflections on having his first child in his life. It was wonderful!

The champagne bottles were popped...and this new child was the "toast of the town." He is so lucky to have loving parents, devoted grandparents, and caring godparents.

This was my first invitation to reunite with a couple on the occasion of introducing their baby to the world. It was indeed a delight for me!

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

Autumn in New York

Shayla and Ryan came from Kentucky to get married in Central Park. The wedding, originally scheduled for Saturday (a gray and rainy day), was postponed until Sunday. That was a great decision because Sunday was one of those Top 10 weather days in Manhattan.

The couple picked the rocky lakeside by the Ladies Pavillion for their ceremony. With the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, they exchanged vows and rings, and their four friends, who were sharing their NYC weekend, applauded with the couple's kiss at the end of the ceremony.

Ryan is about to be deployed by a private corporation to support US military efforts in Afghanistan. So Shayla and Ryan have about a month for their "honeymoon" and then they face real life...married but separated for the near future.

I can't wait to see the photographs their Lux Photos photographer,Yura,took. It was such a picturesque place that I will recommend it in the future to couples who want to get married in Central Parl.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Inspiration from Sculpture

This dramatic sculpture by J. Seward Johnson is located at a park in the Washington DC area. It is titled "The Awakening." The couple I married last Saturday were engaged by this sculpture.

Because it had meaning to them, I referred to this image in my remarks...likening the awakening of this person breaking through to the surface of the earth to the awakening of love for each other in their hearts.

The setting for their ceremony was also dramatic...the Manhattan Penthouse on Fifth Avenue and 14th Street. With view of the city from three directions, the family and friends of Lesley-Jane and Brad witnessed them exchange vows.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Fall...In Love

Yesterday the morning rain and grey skies gave way to a sunny autumn afternoon...so that Joni and Alex's wedding did take place in the newly refurbished garden at Nicotra's Ballroom - The Hilton Garden Inn. The folks at the Staten Island Hilton have created new and lovely photogenic gardens to accompany their stately gazebo for weddings.

Joni and Alex's adult children supported their parents in the wedding ceremony. Alex's twin daughters gave the invocation, Joni's son escorted her down the aisle, and her daughter sang a beautiful solo. Another of Joni's daughters was the Maid of Honor, and her daughter-in-law did a reading. Joni and Alex wrote their vows...loving words that came straight from their hearts.

The ceremony was literally accompanied by the keyboard talents of John Rotante, a recommended musician for Hilton Garden Inn weddings. John is not only versatile, he is nuanced and easy-on-the ears as a piano stylist. He provided music for the ceremony as well as for the cocktail hour yesterday.

With seasonal colors in the flowers and a bit of autumnal crispness in the air, Joni and Alex had their day...a day to fall in love all over again.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Nice Touch

It was a true New York City wedding setting...a landmark building, traffic in a terrible snarl, and the bustling Feast of San Gennaro at the back of the building.

In the middle of it all, Jillian and Alan found a quiet oasis of white flowers and lovely chamber music to have their wedding ceremony.

This wedding took place in the event space at The Puck Building. (Remember the opening scenes of the TV show "Will and Grace" where a brick building with a statue of a "puckish" figure is shown? That's The Puck Building!)

At the outset of the ceremony during a few moments of silence, Alan lighted a candle in memory of a good friend. Memorial candles at a ceremony invoke the presense of the departed loved ones. The glowing light of that candle reminded us all of the tenuous flickering gift of life...so let us live it well!

Jillian and Alan hired a dedicated, smart, unflappable, and focused wedding planner - Candice Benson from The Finishing Touch. Good sense of humor too! Whatever her fee, it was a well-spent part of their wedding budget. She and her staff were there for every detail, and the somewhat complex wedding event went smoothly.

Have you ever been to a wedding reception when you wished the cocktail hour wouldn't end? Well, Jillian and Alan's reception was a long cocktail hour...no formal sit-down meal. It was just perfect...good band, a variety of delicious food, and an inviting arrangement of informal tables and chairs that promoted the movement of guests from conversation to conversation. There was limited traditional seating at tables for family elders - very considerate. Great idea to make a reception one to remember!

As I was leaving, I glimpsed the wedding cake out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the icing on the cake was done in the image of Jillian's artwork...the flowers on the wedding program. Nice finishing touch!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

In the Secret Garden

It was a delightful surprise to enter Central Park's Conservatory Garden for the first time. You go through the Vanderbilt Gates and turn left and right...and there you come upon a lovely reflecting pool with seasonal plantings...just a charming spot for an intimate wedding.

Corine and David came to New York last winter to select the location for their ceremony in Central Park. They found The Secret Garden...and they loved it. So they invited family and friends from their home in Canada to come to NYC and share their wedding in this lovely setting.

With the music of a violin and cello in the background, Corine's father escorted her to her groom who stood in front of a circle of guests. I talked about "real love" in relationship to this bride and groom. They spoke vows, exchanged rings, and I declared them husband and wife.

This is the 13th year David and Corine are together...so it was appropriate for them to be married on the 13th. It was indeed a lucky day for them. The rain held off until the ceremony and the hugs and kisses were done...and everyone was off to a celebratory dinner at Ristorante Del Posto in lower Manhattan.

The Conservatory Garden does require a permit to have a wedding there. Check out the park's website for details.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Hurricane Hanna

Michelle and Craig had arranged for an NYPD launch to take us out in the New York harbor for their ceremony...in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. It would have been unique and moving, but Hurricane Hanna had her way that day...so we ended up inside for the ceremony. So all couples planning outdoor wedding ceremonies - know that you may desparately need to have a "Plan B."

At Plug Uglies, a self-advertized "drinking establishment," their family and friends from around the country witnessed Michelle and Craig speak their vows, and Michelle's daughter, Kaitlynn, serenaded the newly married couple.

The punctuation of the reception was provided by the NYPD Emerald Society pipe and drum band. It seemed like there were more than a dozen pipers and drummers in a small space...filling the air (and pounding on my ear drums) with their traditional music...making sure that Hurricane Hanna was drummed out of town. This was Michelle and Craig's day...not hers!

A Circle of Love

Christopher and Tessa brought family and friends together at The Shakespeare Garden in Central Park to witness their marriage. They had friends create a circle of rose petals on the ground where they stood for the ceremony. Within that "circle of love," they said their vows and exchanged their rings.

Tessa entered the ceremonial space unescorted. It was a symbolic set of steps in her life's journey that she wanted to make on her own. This smiling bride circled her soon-to-be husband three times and then joined him in the circle of rose petals. To her, this symbolized that she finds her home in life with him.

They wrote their own vows...each of them using the phrase "I life you," in addition to the traditional "I love you."

Documents were signed, pictures taken, and very young nieces and nephews scampered about. It was a joyful afternoon in the circle of love!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

It Doesn't Have to Cost a Fortune

When a prospective client calls to tell me they want an officiant for a simple small ceremony, they expect that my fee will be less than it is for a large extravagant wedding.

Well, my experience is that small simple weddings are often much more work for me. So don't expect that an officiant you want to hire will be relieved to hear that you want something "short and sweet."

When a wedding ceremony is in a home or in a setting that doesn't handle weddings as a business, I often end up being the matre di, production manager, family counselor, and drill sargent.

This small and simple wedding ceremony for Jilian and Todd was an exception. Jilian made my preparation work easy, she agreed on the ceremony script with only minor changes, and she was resiliant when plans had to change. (Her Maid of Honor's father died a few days before the wedding...so Jilian did without a maid of honor at the last moment.)

For the reception, Jilian did much of the work herself to manage the costs of their wedding day. She made the programs, the favors, and the centerpieces.

They took advantage of their business association with a restaurant that is about to open...and got a favorable deal to have the ceremony and reception there before the grand opening. This also gave the restaurant a "shake-down" day as they tested their kitchens.

Jilian proudly told me of the deal she got on her wedding dress at a major upscale department store's sale. The groom and his best man saved the cost of tuxedo rentals by wearing white shirts, black pants, and matching vests.

So at their wedding ceremony Todd and Jilian pledged their love to each other for a lifetime...with close family and friends as witnesses. It was a rich moment...short and sweet!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

"That's How Strong My Love Is"

During Fred and Liz's ceremony, they were serenaded by Fred's uncle who sang the song made famous by Otis Redding, "That's How Strong My Love Is." This couple strong love is so important to them that they had this wedding to speak their vows and exchange rings in the presence of family and friends. For, you see, they had eloped in Europe a couple years ago...and it just didn't seem complete to have begun their married life without a formal and public ceremony.

So in the garden setting of The Foundry in Long Island City, Fred and Liz held their wedding rings over their hearts as they spoke their vows...this time for all to hear. With the 59th Street Bridge as the backdrop for the ceremony, Fred and Liz's family and friends stood in support as I expressed the good wishes of all present to the bride and groom.

Fred and Liz interviewed me last December...so I had ample time to write their ceremony and send edited versions back and forth several times so it was just what they wanted. When they OK'd the final version of the ceremony script, Liz said she knew she's cry at the wedding. In the end, it was Fred who was moved to tears during the ceremony....that's how strong his love is!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

You Can Do It Your Way

Nick and Charlotte selected the rooftop of the engineering building at Columbia University for the location of their wedding. He's in a graduate program there, and the views of the city gave a nod to Charlotte's field of study - architecture.

The ceremony I created for them was a platform for their creativity. Nick read a poem he'd written for Charlotte. They spoke the vows they wanted to say. A small group of friends surrounded them...with cameras, picnic baskets, and colorful parasols. Charlotte made her wedding dress.

They liked the ring warming ritual I suggested. Charlotte used the same color ribbons as her dress to tie the rings together. The rings were passed among all the guests who held the rings for a moment as they silently gave Nick and Charlotte good wishes and blessings on their day.

After the ceremony, the guests walked to Riverside Park for a celebratory picnic. Nick and Charlotte smiled throughout the day...and kept on hugging each other.

Photo credit: Thank you, Salome, for these pictures!

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

The Groom Wrote the Ceremony

As celebrants, we take pride in the skill, experience, and knowledge we inject into each wedding ceremony we create.

So last spring when a groom called me asking if I would conduct the wedding ceremony he wrote himself, I was hesitant. Would I be willing to speak words that weren't my own? After all, what people see and hear when I conduct a ceremony is one of my marketing strategies. It is my work on display!

But I was charmed by this groom, Joe, and the ceremony he wrote because it represented all the love that comes from his heart for his bride, Doreen. He agreed to some fine-tuning that I did to his script, and all three of us were pleased with the final draft.

During the ceremony, one of the unique things Joe and Doreen did was to read their vows in unison. Even though their vows were longer than most...their words were relevant, meaningful, and spoken with feeling.

So on the auspicious date - 08-08-08 - Joe and Doreen were united in marriage at the newly renovated Island Chateau on Staten Island. This facility is run with the wonderful warmth and care that comes from a family-run business...and the lobby, bridal suite, and main reception hall are smashing!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Up on the Roof...

Outdoor weddings can be so beautiful and romantic. But they are also nerve-wracking when the weather is too hot, too windy, or too stormy. This summer had brought several weekends of dicey weather to challenge outdoor wedding plans.

Last weekend, the folks at Ariana's Catering Hall on Staten Island, really made it come together for Jay and Nicole...for their outdoor ceremony on their spacious rooftop. The gray clouds were there...but the ceremony went off as planned.

Jay and Nicole spoke their vows and exchanged wedding rings. Her young cousins assisted me in a "handfasting" ritual...to really "tie the knot."

Here's to sunny days for you, Jay and Nicole!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Sometimes I'm Part of the Family

Last Friday evening, it was my pleasure and honor to unite Nick and Viktoria in marriage. The groom is the son of my husband's first cousin. The groom's grandmother is my husband's godmother. So there were hugs and kisses all around.

The ceremony and reeption took place in The Grand Palace (formerly Passage Palace) on 18th Avenue in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn. This formerly Italian area is filled with memories for my husband. It is where he grew up. In fact, it is where his mother and her brother, the groom's grandfather, grew up too.

Nick and Viktoria wanted their ceremony to be just right for them...not too formal, not too stuffy, not too tedious. The final draft of the ceremony script was OK'd by them, and I was ready to "stand and deliver."

Well, getting to a catering hall on a Friday evening in the summer is a traffic nightmare. Some of the guests were hopelessly tied up on the Belt Parkway, and the bridal party was stuck in traffice coming back from taking photographs on the Brooklyn Bridge. So the ceremony started about an hour late.

I quickly adjusted the words I was to say...deleting a reading, for example...because the guests were getting antsy. The role of the celebrant is to be flexible on the day of the wedding because you never know what will happen. There is hardly ever a ceremony that goes 100% according to plan.

The highlight of the ceremony for me was seeing the groom's brother come down the aisle escorting his grandmother. He is recovering from a terrible auto accident...and the entire family was bursting with joy that he was there...walking in with a big smile.

The picture of Nick and Viktoria above shows the part of the ceremony when they signed the legal documents...much like couples do in a civil ceremony in the Ukraine where Viktoria and her family are from.

So I toast Nick and Viktoria! May they join the numerous couples in the family whose marriages are long-lasting and filled with love...."in good times and in bad."

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Renewing Your Wedding Vows

Whether it is your first anniversary or your fiftieth...it is a wonderful moment to renew the promises you made on your wedding day.

Tony and Stephanie celebrated their first anniversary by coming from Florida to New York City. In addition to shopping and going to museums and shows, they took time on the exact date of their first anniversary to renew their vows.

They selected The Bow Bridge in Central Park for the location...it is romantic and there are wonderful cityscapes from all directions.

To personalize their ceremony, I used words from the Aerosmith song, "I Don't Want to Close My Eyes," which was the song for their first dance at their wedding reception last year..."Forever and ever." So their vow renewal ceremony was linked to their wedding day.

During the ceremony it seemed like people were all over the bridge...talking on cell phones right next to us, calming weary infants, and chattering in other languages. But for Tony and Stephanie...they were in a world by themselves...remembering their wedding day and the reasons they have pledged their love to each other for life.

My husband and I took some pictures of them. The crowds that had been so evident during their ceremony disappeared so it looks like The Bow Bridge was their private domain for just a few moments...a small gfit from New York City to these Floridian lovebirds!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Central Park and Bon Jovi

Last Saturday Central Park was dominated by the activity surrounding the mega-event...the Bon Jovi concert on the Great Lawn.

I had a wedding on my schedule for the Bow Bridge...lovely couple from Australia. The Bow Bridge is not particularly close to the Great Lawn, and the concert was in the evening...no problem. Well, not so fast. The park above 72nd Street was declared a "frozen zone," and the Bow Bridge was in that zone. We needed a "Plan B."

So the savvy couple picked me up at 72nd Street in their limo...and we drove to an "unfrozen" section of the park - The Pond, just a short walk from the Fifth Avenue and 59th Street entrance. It was still crowded...but we found a bit of shade with a lovely bridge as the backdrop.

The handsome couple said their vows, I read greetings from their friends and family back home, and their friends took lots of pictures.

So the moral of this tale is that there will be things on your wedding day that are out of your control. The best thing to do is not let anything get in the way of your having the best day you can have. I take my hat off to Paul and Georgie...they went with the flow and enjoyed New York City as their destination wedding site.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant

Overlooking the New York Harbor

Eileen and Tom came all the way from Chicago to celebrate their wedding with family and friends on Staten Island. They worked with me "long distance" to make sure their ceremony included a reading they liked and the vows they wanted to say. They wanted just the right tone for their ceremony...not too serious...quite happy...and totally appropriate for their situation. From their smiles and verbal feedback, I think they had the ceremony that they wanted.

The South Fin Grill and it's adjacent venue, The Vanderbilt, overlooks the New York Harbor...and the gazebo on the boardwalk is a delightful place to "tie the knot." The staff there is attentive, efficient, and really interested in making your special day go well.

Make Your Wedding Ceremony Personal

If you have a civil wedding, you have the opportunity to put your personal stamp on your ceremony.

Last week, Amanda and Mike, who got married at The Seawane Club wrote their own vows with some humor, selected a reading that had meaning to them, and incorporated the "breaking of the glass" ritual from Amanda's Jewish background.

They included a variation on the chupah by having an arch of yellow sunflowers - yellow being the color of the day. And they had their parents stand with them during the ceremony. As you see their parents, you know they are the special witnesses to this wedding. They stand as loving sentinals of the two families that are united in this marriage.

It was a lovely evening wedding...marked by laughter, some tears, and the glow of yellow, reminding us of the bright future that Mike and Amanda will share.

Pick Your Date...06-07-08!

When you pick your wedding date, you may be looking for a date that corresponds to your lucky number, a date that is the same as your parents' anniversary, or you might want a date that is easy to remember.....like last Saturday's date: 06-07-08.

It's kind of neat to have a wedding date that has some significance to you.

Steve and Cristi selected 06-07-08 last year when they started planning their wedding. It seemed to me that all their plans came together beautifully on Saturday as they said their vows before their family and friends at a private yacht club overlooking the Kill Van Kull on the north side of Staten Island.

The one thing they probably didn't plan on for an early June wedding was the HEAT! So in addition to their special date...they won't forget how hot their day was.

Their wedding gave me the opportunity to work for the first time with a fellow member of a group of small business owners who do business on the internet. Donny Brusca of Sound Sensation was the DJ for Steve and Cristi. It was a pleasure working with him. You can find more about him on his web site: http://www.sound-sensation.com/.

While you are at it...check out my website at http://www.julielaudicina.com/.

June Brides and Flowers

This weekend begins the month of June - the traditional wedding month..the time for "June Brides!"

June is also a month when we think of the abundance of flowers. In a wedding ceremony, flowers can play a part in highlighting the traditions and wishes of the couple.

The bride may select specific flowers for her bouquet that have symbolic meaning. For example, she may choose the favorite flower of her deceased grandmother as a way to remember her, or her bouquet may be composed of the same kind of flowers that her mother carried at her wedding.

The exchange or presentation of flowers during the ceremony can be quite meaningful. Here are some for including flowers in your wedding ceremony:

• The bride and groom may exchange roses as symbolic of their first gift to each other as a married couple.


• The guests may be given single flowers when they arrive, and during the ceremony they can each place their flower in a keepsake vase to create a bouquet of flowers...symbolizing their collective good wishes for the couple.


• The bride and groom may present roses to their parents in appreciation for all they have done and for being role models of married life.

Beautiful and Elegant at Snug Harbor on Staten Island

This last Sunday it was my priviledge to join Hannah and Steven in marriage on the grounds of the historic Snug Harbor Cultural Center on the North Shore of Staten Island.

The ceremony included a unique set of readings...the most memorable was read by the bride's parents. As they read The Canticle of St. Francis, their words invoked a reverent tone for the ceremony.

This venue is under new management : "Neptunes at Snug Harbor." They took charge of the pre-ceremony rehearsal with careful attention to detail. The newly refurbished bridal room was lovely. The set-up for the cocktail hour was beautiful on the lawn of a garden, and each of the varied cocktail morsels were delicious.

Their website isn't fully up yet, but keep watchng for it. I predict Neptunes will shortly be the sought-after venue for weddings on Staten Island.


Just a note about the music for the ceremony and cocktail hour - a group of highly-regarded Staten Island musicians formed a brass ensemble that played first rate classical processional and recessional music...and jazzy, fun, popular selections for the cocktail hour. Their contact is Joseph Loposky, Chairman of the Music Department at Xaverian H.S., email: jloposky@xaverian.org. Like I wrote, "First rate!"

Hannah and Stephen, it was my honor to be your wedding celebrant...your elegance, grace, and generosity of spirit will color my memories of your wedding ceremony!

http://www.julielaudicina.com/

Destination Wedding - Central Park

Couples from around the world find me in the internet and ask me to officiate at their destination wedding in Central Park. For some couples, it is a vow renewal ceremony.

There are many locations for a romantic wedding...The Shakespeare Garden, The Bow Bridge, The Cherry Hill Fountain, Wagner Cove, and The Pool...just to name a few.

You don't need a permit to get married in Central Park unless the number of people at your wedding exceeds 20. A good source of information about Central Park and their requirements is http://www.centralparknyc.org/. A permit is not expensive and it is fairly easy to obtain.

There is very little shelter in the park, so it is wise to have a "Plan B" in case of bad weather. The alternate location could be a restaurant or your hotel lobby. Your hotel may even let you use their penthouse suite for a half hour.

Folks who pass by a ceremony in progress in Central Park often stop and watch...and those present at the end of the ceremony almost always cheer, applaud, and call out good wishes to the bride and groom.

The couple in the picture above came from France to renew their wedding vows on the iconic Bow Bridge. The photograph was taken by Something In Blue. (www.somethinginblue.com)

At the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island

The weather, a recurring theme in this blog over the last few days, did not cooperate for Katie and Will's ceremony. A brief ray of sun gave hope that the ceremony could be in the lovely gazebo at Staten Island's Hilton Garden Inn. But it was not to be.

With very little time and a great deal of patience and customer service, the Hilton staff moved the ceremony to an indoor room...and the guests were probably pleased to be dry and warm.

The groom's infant nephew, dressed in a perfectly sized tuxedo, was carried in the procession by his parents who were attendants to the bride and groom. It was so cute, and apppropriate as Will is this baby's godfather.

If you are twondering how to include young children in your wedding...consider having them in your procession and then have them be seated with a family member.

Will and Katie...they say that rain on your wedding day is good luck.

Jersey Shore Wedding

It was sunny, warm, and breezy as the 200 guests witnessed Korey and Shana get married at Jenkinson's Inlet, Point Pleasant, NJ. My worries about rain were wasted energy - the day was perfect.

When you are invited to a wedding on the beach, you have to think of footwear. I saw everything from flip-flops to 4 inch heels to sandals to men's dress shoes. The three ringbearers got it just right...they were barefooted.

Korey and Shana wrote their own vows, and they were spoken right from the heart. "I will love you for who you are and what you will become," said Shana. A good promise for any human being to give to another.

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

I know the weather forecast for this weekend calls for showers and cool gray days. I have two outdoor weddings on my calendar. But I have hope, and I'm doing a virtual "sun dance" on behalf of these two couples. They have such dreams of their beautiful wedding on the beach and the other in a gazebo.

Couples who plan on outdoor weddings need two things:
1. A viable "Plan B" in case of bad weather.
2. A resilient spirit that let's them give up their vision when the odds are their day will be rainy, windy, and generally uncomfortable if they have the ceremony outdoors.

As for me, I am prepared to be cold and damp sometime this weekend...because it's their once-in-a-lifetime day, and it is THEIR decision where to get married.

(Picture above taken by photographer Tonesha Housen. The wedding was for an Australian couple who got married outside Belvedere Castle in Central Park. This bride was indeed soaked to the skin...as was I! But her happy smile after the ceremony was worth it!)