They Eloped to the Big Apple

Faced with family on widely distant continents, London residents Kerri and Thomas decided to keep their wedding plans simple by eloping to New York City. Yesterday, they exchanged vows and rings at 230 Fifth, a lively bar with a rooftop garden...and soon-to-be-completed event space for larger weddings.

Rain and wind forced the ceremony to be held inside...but as the couple kissed at the end of the ceremony, the sun came out. A heaven sent sign for the newlyweds and their photographer to go out on the rooftop and take pictures.

Jack Toomey, Director of Special Events at 230 Fifth, couldn't have been more accomodating, and the photographer, Corrine Botz seemed to be taking quite creative shots before and after the ceremony. I can't wait to see her work. I thank them both for being witnesses and signing the marriage license.

Ceremony Idea: For a destination wedding in New York City, I always invite the bride and groom to share my email with family and friends who can't be there. I read the greetings at the close of the ceremony and the couple usually tear up as they hear words from the people they love. It's a way to create a connection between the ceremony and home. Kerri and Thomas' each had a sibling write a greeting...in secret from the rest of their families. It was quite meaningful for them to hear words of affirmation about eloping and getting married.

Good luck, Kerri and Thomas! Come back to New York City, and keep in touch when you move to New Zealand.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Best of Time

Yes, it was the "best of time" at Melissa and Radley's wedding at Battery Gardens last Sunday. The phrase, "best of time," was the title of the poem written for this wedding by the bride's aunt and read before the procession as a message to set the tone for their ceremony.

Before the ceremony, there was a flurry of activity to get all the final touches in place...cameras placed to get intimate shots, adjustment of curtains and floral bouquets, lighting tweaked to make certain the shadows were just right. This meticulous attention to detail was provided by the folks from Shiraz Events, the coordinators for this wedding. What an energetic team - with a real eye for the aesthetics of the ceremony setting. I'm sure they carried that spirit through all the other aspects of Melissa and Radley's wedding day.

During the ceremony, I knocked over one of the cameras...how embarrassing. But I had observed the careful set-up the photographers had done, so I just asked them to come forward and reset the camera so their work would not be lost because of me!

The best part of the day for me was to see the groom just smile and smile. Melissa is a lucky woman to have a man so obviously excited and happy.

Battery Gardens provides a dramatic setting for the ceremony and the reception. On Sunday, the weather was fine...so for the cocktail hour, guests could linger on the patio overlooking the NY harbor and the Statue of Liberty.



Ceremony Tip: Think of honoring your parents, grandparents, or someone who has been part of your life by wearing something of theirs during the ceremony. Melissa wore her mother's veil for the wedding ceremony. It was a perfect compliment to her modern-day dress...and the sentimental gesture of wearing this veil was lovely. Other ideas of "heritage" items you could add to your wedding day outfit: cuff-links, bracelet, religous medal, watch, or earrings.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Wed at Noon

Nicole and Thomas had their wedding ceremony at Island Chateau on Staten Island last Sunday...at noon! That's an early start time for a ceremony, so I had to schedule some of my "prep" work for the previous day. I kind of liked it!

Sunday was a rainy day...but the set-up at Island Chateau is bright and cheery so no one's spirits were dampened. I always marvel at how the staff there manages the transition between the ceremony and the reception...all in the same room.

I wrote a few remarks for the ceremony on the keys to a successful marriage...respect, commitment and love. I gave the couple three keys tied together with ribbons that matched their wedding colors. They can use these keys as a Christmas tree ornament...or whatever they want.

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

Autumn Ceremony at Fiddler's Elbow

The pastoral setting on the lawn of Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, NJ, was perfect for Pam and Paul. They wanted to exchange their vows surrounded by nature...and of course, their family and friends.

Several of Paul's family and friends arrived from the UK...many from Wales. His sister and her friend said they would wear the trendy sculptured hats worn in English and Welsh weddings these days. Paul told them not to...American women don't wear hats to weddings. But the charming women wore their hats anyway to spoof the groom...and they looked stunning in them!




It was fun to reunite with Shira Weinberger, their photographer. We did a wedding together last winter...and Shira remembered the names of that bride and groom in a nano second. Take a look at her engagement photos of Paul and Pam on Shira's web site...edgy urban shots taken in the meat packing district of Manhattan. Then check out her wedding pictures of them in a couple weeks. The contrast between urban and country should be eye-catching.

The staff at Fiddler's Elbow took comand of the ceremony staging made my pre-ceremony life so stress-free. Thank you, Kristine.

And finally, the young harpist, Violetta Norrie, performed the processional and recesisonal music beautifully. What a talent!




All the best to you, Pam and Paul!

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

Links, blogs, disclaimers...

The F.C.C. has announced that it will be revising rules about endorsements and testimonials in advertising...particularly as the rules relate to blogs and tweets.

So I hereby make it known that any links to other wedding vendors or venues on this blog, any comments I make about their services, or any pictures of their work...none is related to any payment from them to me. I don't ask for it, and I wouldn't accept it if offered.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I do hope the vendors I mention will create a link to my blog or web site on their blog, and sometimes I ask if they will do so. My experience is that a reciprocal link rarely happens.

Know that if I mention another wedding industry supplier on this blog, it is not connected to any direct financial or economic gain to me.

I'll be looking for the new F.C.C. rules that come out on Dec. 1...and see if this disclaimer is on target. Now I'm going to create a link to myself below, which I think is OK to do...and go make lunch!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!