"...Caught Between the Moon and New York City"

Crystal and Scott had their wedding ceremony and reception at the Chart House in Weehawken, NJ. With the skyline of Manhattan as the backdrop...from the golden colors of the late afternoon sun to the moonlight over the Hudson...it was just the right setting for these two urban professionals. I was humming Chris Cross' song all evening..."the best that you can do is fall in love."

I often invite couples to include their pets in their ceremony, and this bride and groom took me up on it. In fact, they suggested it before I did. So Ula, a magnificant and relaxed Staffordshire bulldog (I think) was the mascot of the ceremony...tooting her pleasure, if you know what I mean! Great fun!



Ceremony Tip: Check out the ceremony space your reception venue has to offer. Will it hold all your guests? Is there a lighting problem that will make your photographer's job difficult...like backlighting? Will you need a sound system for the ceremony? Will the venue staff help with the staging of the ceremony...welcoming your guests, managing the procession, and checking to see that your musicians and officiant's have everything ready to go.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

From Engagement to Wedding

It is always a dream come true to have wonderful weather for your outside wedding. Tarrah and Jim got married in the dramatic gazebo at Nicotra's Ballroom at The Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, NY. I think it was just the wedding ceremony they envisioned having.

Their engagement story is unique. Jim took a book of poems he'd purchased for Tarrah, and cut a heart-shaped niche out of several pages...just enough space for the book to conseal the engagement ring. He wrote his own poem which he positioned in the front of the book...a poem that ended with "Will you marry me?" And then he suggested she look at page 196...where she found the ring.

For one of the readings in their ceremony, the included a reading from that book of poems.

Ceremony Idea: Think of ways to link your engagement story into some part of the ceremony. It could be a ritual with your engagement ring. It could be incorporating some of the words you shared that on your engagement day into your personal vows. It is fitting to acknowledge the end of your engagement in the ceremony...because a new phase of your relationship begins on your wedding day.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Wedding Ceremony Venue Change

What a nail-biter! Chris and Karen had to change the venue for their wedding ceremony and reception just 5 days before their big day. It was not a problem for me...but you can only imagine all the work they had to do to get flowers, food, guests, etc. to come together at a new location...in just a few days.

They ended up having their wedding at The Vanderbilt, a beautiful wedding venue overlooking south beach on Staten Island. This new venue made it easier for me to talk about the unity ritual using sand that Karen and Chris wanted in their ceremony.

Ceremony Idea: If you are having your wedding on or near the water and a beach...or if the beach has been a major part of your life...consider doing a sand ritual in your ceremony. Typically there are three vessels...usually glass...two on the side and one in the middle. The side vessels symbolize the individual lives of the bride and groom; the center vessel symbolizes their new blended life as a married couple.

You can use sand from a familiar beach...or from a craft store. Parents or significant people in your life can pour sand into the side vessels. The bride and groom alternately pour the sand from the side vessels into the center vessel.

The center vessel becomes a keepsake of the wedding ceremony. And as sand on a beach shifts, the sand in your keepsake vessel wills shift and change over the years.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Wedding Ceremony Options

I was invited to be a guest blogger for The Finishing Touch, a wonderful wedding and event planner company. Candice Benson and her staff are terrific...and they have linked me with delightful clients...like Alan and Jilian seen above.

So click here to check out my blog on wedding ceremony options.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

After 31 years...it's legal!

Eileen and Rose have been together for 31 years. This year, recognizing they weren't getting any younger, they got married in New Haven CT, one of the states what recognizes same-sex marriage.

After making elaborate plans for months, they had their family and friends attend a reaffirmation ceremony and celebration last Saturday at Nicotra's Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, NY.

Even though they didn't get to be outside in the hotel's beautiful gazebo, they did have a warm and intimate ceremony indoors that included a chupah, sharing wine, regifting of their wedding rings, and a "shower" of blessings from Christian, Jewish, Irish, and Native American traditions.

With Beethoven's Ode to Joy and lots of bubbles...Eileen and Rose walked hand in hand out of their ceremony to their reception...at last!

Ceremony Idea: When you are a couple from different faiths, use the most wonderful traditions from each religion in your ceremony. Ask your celebrant to adapt the traditions you love most, and infuse them with that which is meaningful to you. For example, these two women both did the breaking of the glass from Eileen's Jewish background. It was the perfect way to end their ceremony.




Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Their Crowning Moment

Michael and Carrie's wedding ceremony included a wonderful ritual...the stefana ritual from Michael's Greek heritage. The ritual was lead by Michael's paternal grandfather, who has done this ritual at several of his grandchildren's weddings...using the traditional crowns that were from his own wedding sixty years ago. It was the highlight of the ceremony - made even more meaningful because it was Michael's grandfather doing it.

After the ceremony, I was talking with the photographer, Kella Macphee. We agreed to cross link each other on our blogs. So check out her photographs of this wedding.

The ceremony was held at sunset on the deck at the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank. The harbor on the Navesink River was picturesque. The weather was pleasantly warm. And all the family and friends were in a celebratory state of mind. And best of all, Carrie and Michael really seemed to enjoy the wedding they'd carefully planned.

Ceremony Tip: If you have talent and traditions in your family, like this groom's grandfather and the crowning ritual, by all means, tap into that wonderful opportunity to make your ceremony really personal. The guests loved it...and I would guess that Michael and Carrie will not forget it.




Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!