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!)