Everything's Up to Date in New York City

After a heartfelt serenade from one of their friends that told of "the long and broken road that lead me straight to you"...Tom and Lori spoke their vows and exchanged rings. It was a metaphorical long road that lead them from their Kansas City home to one of their favorite destinations - New York City - for their wedding day.

The ceremony took place on the rooftop of the Midtown Loft & Terrace...with views of the city in all four directions. It was warm (well, HOT) and breezy as their guests heard their love story, two appropriate readings, and the music from a string quartet.

This was the first time in one of my ceremonies that the bride got two rings...one for each side of her engagement ring. So I had the groom say some "I give you his ring" words twice.

It was my pleasure to work on this wedding with the wedding planners at Juliet Events. They kept me informed and they gave me lovely compliments on the first draft of the ceremony script. Thank you, Alida and Angela.

I'm always fascinated by wedding photographers...just when you think there isn't possibly another creative shot...you see them doing something unusual and cool. Check out the blog for this wedding by the talented team from NicoleMarie.


After the ceremony, it was cocktails on the roof as the sun set to the west and the lights of the Empire State building came on...the signal to start the celebration!

Ceremony Tip: Destination weddings are not easy to arrange. You may not know typical prices here, and you may be concerned about how to mesh NYC culture wity yours. Tom and Lori came to NYC a couple times to meet with their planner and vendors. My meeting with them was a huge benefit to me as it facilitated my getting to know what they wanted in their ceremony more clearly and deeply than we could have done just by email. I think their ceremony was greatly enhanced because we had some "face time" well before their wedding day.


Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

Paul and Tina's Wedding

It was my honor to officiate at the wedding of Paul and Tina at the Monmouth Battlefield State Park, and here's why. The NJ Chapter of the Association of Bridan Consultants recruited several of us wedding service providers to donate our products and services for this couple. While Tina had encountered some problems making arrangements for her wedding, the most compelling elements of her story is that she is courageously battling Stage IV breast cancer.

You might think it would be difficult to create a personal wedding ceremony for a couple in this situation, but Tina and Paul joyfully shared their hopes and dreams with us all as we prepared for their wedding. With their openness about their love story, they made it easy for me to create a wedding ceremony tailored just for them.

Their photographer Timothy Glenn captured the spirit of the day beautifully. I used his photographs for this blog...thank you! If you read his blog on this wedding, he did a wonderful job of acknowledging all the vendors who participated in this wedding.

There were flowers for the wedding party and to decorate the ceremony space in the park. There was relaxing music before the ceremony, and loud and joyful music for the reception. The printed materials were elegant and beautiful. And all throughout the day there was the caring support of wedding planners from The Finishing Touch. Everything seemed to come together as a gift from the heart from all of us for Tina and Paul.

Just as I was leaving the cocktail hour, I heard the D.J. announce what would have been the bride and groom's first dance...but this was different. Paul serenaded his bride...he had a stunning powerful singing voice, and his message to Tina was of his unconditional love for her and all that is to come in their life together. I was blown away, and of course in tears.

Click here for a write up of this wedding in the Asbury Park Press.



Ceremony Tip: Tina did not want to enter her wedding ceremony in a wheelchair. We spent time brainstorming options for Tina...and one was found. The solution to this problem was found at a store that rents "props" for international weddings, specifically Indian weddings. So the men in the wedding party carried Tina in a sedan-like chair. Don't think there is any unsolvable situation for your ceremony...engage your professionals, and we'll come up with a creative solution.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

First Wedding Ceremony at the NYPL

Avery and Will consciously chose to be surrounded by books and immortal words for their wedding ceremony...as symbolic of the seriousness of declaring their marriage vows. So, appropriately, the setting was the third floor rotunda of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.

The music was devine...thank you, Steven and La Belle Musique, Inc. The florist created arrangements that were in scale for this grand venue...and with a subtle, elegant color palate. The entire design of the wedding celebration, it's execution with a very high degree of professionalism, and ultimate magic all around was husbanded (nice word for a wedding blog, no?) by Francesca, of Francesca Events.



The NYPL staff member who heads their special events department told me this was the first wedding ceremony at the main library. Note that a major requirement of weddings held at the NYPL is that the ceremony be exclusively a civil one...no religious references or rituals.


Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

It Translates to Love

Bernd and Anna bring at least three languages to their marriage...American, German, and Russian. Then layer their cherished religious backgrounds, Jewish and Lutheran, and you have a wonderful cultural and spiritual melange.

At Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, their parents witnessed a ritual-filled ceremony that gave a nod to their backgrounds...lighting a unity candle, blessing the challah bread, and breaking the glass. It was all joyful!

To engage the various family and guests, two translators worked side by side with me to speak portions of the ceremony in the language guests would understand...one in German and one in Russian.

This physician and university professor are blessed with good fortune and strong family ties...Mazeltov and Viel Gluck!

Ceremony Tip: Here are the bridesmaids after the ceremony...wilted. Don't forget to think about the ambiance of your ceremony location when you make your plans. If it could rain, or be hot or cold, or noisy...prepare for the worst case scenario and you will be glad you did. And yes, I wilted too!





Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!