Sunday, February 22, 2009

It's All About Family



From the time we started working on their wedding ceremony, Bob and Yelda made it clear that family is an important and shared value between them. Their ceremony included family, honored family, and was enjoyed enthusiastically by family. And when it was over, their families expressed warm appreciation to me. What lovely people!

The ceremony was held at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. This venue is so professional, helpful, and welcoming...it really made it easy to do my best for Yelda and Bob.

Ceremony idea: If there are two languages spoken in either or both of your families, you have the opportunity to acknowledge your heritage and to show respect for your families by having a reading that is done in both languages. Many of Yelda's family are from Turkey, so she had a reading that was read in Turkish by her aunt and then in English by Bob's aunt. By the way, the reading was a poem written for the wedding by her grandmother. The equally poetic English translation was done by Yelda herself.

Bob and Yelda: Thank you for welcoming me into your extended family for your wedding!


Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Friday the 13th - Their Lucky Day!



Joe and Sue were pleased that I thought getting married on Friday the 13th was lucky! It turned out to be true...no blizzard, everyone got there, no glitches.

The ceremony in the Mediterranean Manor, Patchogue, NY, was notable for the large wedding party. Sue and Joe said everyone in the party had a significant role in bringing them together...so there were ten bridesmaids and ten groomsmen.




Ceremony Idea: If your wedding party is large, consider having them stand around you in a semi-circle,facing the guests, during the ceremony. The celebrant and the Bride and Groom, along with their Best Man and Maid of Honor, stand at the center of the semi-circle created by the wedding party. This staging for the ceremony helps if your space is limited, but more importantly, it symbolizes that you are surrounded by those you love during the moments when you become a married couple.

This was also a family wedding - my husband's cousin's son was the groom. We enjoyed the reception and all the little kids, the next generation, who seemed to be having a great time.



Good luck always, Sue and Joe!


Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Winter Lights



Pochron Studios....at the foot of Jay Street in Brooklyn! This is unique event space...small and inimate inside - grand and sweeping views of Manhattan's skyline outside.

The groom, Anthony, made about 25 light fixtures to symbolize their winter season wedding. With guest gathered for a cocktail hour and then moving to bench seating for the ceremony, the bride and groom entered separately to be joined together among twinkling lights and representations of snow.

I do believe I saw the mother-of-the-bride and the mother-of-the-groom give each other a "high five" as I mentioned the couple's teenage romance which required that their parents chauffer them about until they were old enough to drive.

Befitting a winter wedding, their guests "warmed" their wedding rings...passing them around the room before they were placed on the bride and groom's fingers. These rings will forever be embued with the good wishes of all present.

To contrast their winter wedding, Emily and Anthony left a couple days later for the warmth and relaxation of Bali. They are back at home now...real married life has begun.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Celebrant Ceremonies Demo Event



The four of us celebrants who comprise Celebrant Ceremonies hosted a wedding ritual demonstration event at Amanti Vino, Montclair, NJ, on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009.

Our purpose was to acquaint couples and wedding planners about the concept of a celebrant-created wedding ceremony and to demonstrate some wedding rituals for 21st century couples.

Several merchants in Montclair donated flowers, make-up and hair styling, printed programs, and wedding attire. Our stunning bride and groom for the day were Erika and Peter Daddabbo - actors in real-life, which greatly helped!

This was our first "production" as a group, and we look for ways to take this show on the road!

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!