Ten-Ten-Ten

Every year there is a significant date that many couples want to have for their wedding day. This year that much sought after date was 10-10-10. I had many inquiries for that date, and it was my good fortune to have been hired quite early on by this charming, creative, and fully involved couple. They are a "10"!

Rebecca and Benjamin began planning their wedding day last year, and I could see that they were interested in making the day meaningful and putting a piece of themselves into every detail. They provided quite valuable input to the design and content of their ceremony. Because of they made a conscious choice to make their ceremony symbolic in many ways, it was a wonderful beginning for their entire celebration...and their married life together.


Being raised in different faiths, they incorporated rituals that had meaning to them from their background and from their mutuals interests. They selected two different rituals that involved circling. To begin the ceremony, they circled each other seven time...symbolizing that each is the center of the universe to the other. Then at the end of the ceremony they did another seven circles, this time together. Adapted from a Hindu wedding ritual, these seven steps around a "flame" (candle) symbolized the marriage pledges the bride and groom made to each other. Along with the vows and rings, the steps also sealed the marriage bond between Benjamin and Rebecca. You can see them taking the last step in this picture.

Just to make the ceremony all the more breathtaking was the backdrop of the working New York harbor and the Statue of Liberty outside the windows of Battery Gardens. Natural lighting in this venue is so dramatic. The ceremony was book-ended by bright sunshine at the outset and the colorful sky of sunset as they were declared husband and wife. (Just had to use the word "book" in this blog for this librarian bride!)



By the way, next year's date is Friday, 11-11-11. Be sure to book your wedding early.

Ceremony Tip: There are many wedding rituals that involve movement. Some of them involve the bride and groom moving. Others have the guests moving. As you select your favorite ritual, make sure the staging of your ceremony provides the space you need to do these movements. Don't forget to allow for the bride's dress. Rebecca and Benjamin worked this out ahead of time to make certain there was just the right amount of space to do the "circling."

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

The Bitter and The Sweet Together

On a cool autumn evening, Chris and Nicole invited a small number of family and friends to join them to celebrate their marriage. The banquet room at Bocelli Restaurant in Staten Island was lighted in warm colors and the fall flowers added to the mood.

The ceremony was held in a circle - symbolizing the relationship of the bride and groom to each one in the room. They declared their marriage vows and exchanged wedding rings. Taking sips of both red and white wine, they symbolically pledged to take all that will come their way together...both the bitter and the sweet.



Ceremony Tip: If many of your guests are somewhat older and a bit skeptical about a non-religious wedding ceremony, take the time to talk to them about what this ceremony means to you and what your ceremony will include. Many of the older guests at this wedding said how impressed they were with this ceremony that they had been wondering about. A civil wedding can have meaning, a spiritual feeling, and a personal touch.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Intimate and Heartfelt

It was a cool but sunny Sunday afternoon when a small group of family and friends gathered at Il Castello Restaurant in Woodbridge, NJ, for the wedding of Tanique and Thomas. This formally decorated restaurant had just the right space and lighting to facilitate the feeling of intimacy for this ceremony.

At the appointed time, Thomas and Tanique stood before their guests and declared their vows and exchanged rings. Thomas' daughter held the rings and presented them at the appropriate moment. The ceremony included the signing of the license and keepsake marriage certificate for all to witness.



Upon the declaration they were married, there was applause and cheering. And all present came forward to congratulate the newlyweds.

Ceremony Tip: This ceremony did not have a procession or recession. That added informality to the wedding, but it also reflected the wishes of the couple that their ceremony not be too stuffy. Beginning and ending the ceremony without a formal procession or recession works best if it is a small gathering.

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

Celebrating in Style

Amy and Tim gathered a large group of relatives and friends for their wedding ceremony at The Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, NJ. Grandmother, parents, siblings, fellow fire-fighters, friends of all ages, and even their little dog...all present to celebrate their wedding.

The ceremony included their love story, original vows, the exchange of rings, and a rose ritual. All of this took place in a lovely ceremony setting in this catering venue.

Before the wedding, I watched as the venue knocked down the set-up for a bar mitzvah in the afternoon and transformed the room into a stunning setting for a wedding. It was a one hour miracle! So the next time you attend an event, take a moment to appreciate all the behind-the-scenes work that folks did to make a wonderful celebration for their clients.












Ceremony Tip: If your wedding ceremony is going to be in a large venue that may hold several events on your wedding day, work with them to make sure your schedule meshes realistically with their work load. For example, if you plan on having a walk through at the site on the day of the wedding...make sure your room will be available or there is some other provision for a day-off rehearsal.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Love with Accents of Blue

UK citizens Lyn and Mark started interviewing their wedding vendors last year on a visit to New York. They returned in the spring to make final arrangements. Each time I met them, we worked hard, made good decisions, and had great fun. We became friends.

So it was a special for me to officiate at their wedding on the rooftop terrace at Kitano New York. The weather was wonderful, their guests from around the world were excited, and Mark and Lyn saw all their careful planning come together just as they hoped it would.

In their ceremony I told their love story, they included two readings, and they used traditional vows. Like wedding ceremonies in the UK, they signed the legal documents as part of the ceremony.

Most of us at the wedding wore some shade of blue in honor of Mark's favorite football/soccer team. Come to think of it, I never did ask him the name of the team!

It was a surprise and pleasure to cross paths again with photographer Brian Friedman. He is truly fine person in addition to being a skilled and artistic photographer. I like that he respects his clients so much. I think that his respect and affection for them as people makes for great photographs. Here are a couple of his pictures from this wedding.











Ceremony Idea: You don't have to have your wedding party stand with you during the ceremony. You can see in the picture at the top of this post that the wedding party was seated in the front row. This freed up space for the bride and groom in a rather narrow area. And it nicely placed the focus where it should be...on Mark and Lyn!

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

Centerstage at the Cherry Lane Theatre

Beth and Patrick wanted a simple and meaningful wedding ceremony. They wanted their closest family and friends around them, and they wanted it to be a real "Manhattan" day.

So they arranged for their ceremony to be in the West Village on the stage at the famous Cherry Lane Theatre, the oldest continuously operating off-Broadway theatre in New York. Recent renovations made the space inviting, and the stage was just the perfect size for them to be surrounded by their guests for the ceremony.

Because they come from different faiths, they wanted a ceremony that was reverent, but not denominational. We opened with a moment of silence during which I invited everyone to become spiritually present for the ceremony. The two sets of parents did a reading in unison, and the bride and groom wrote their own vows.

As I do for many small and intimate ceremonies, I had their wedding rings passed to all present...to imbue them with symbolic warmth and good wishes for the couple.

After breaking the glass at the end of the ceremony, it was time for a few pictures and then off to lunch at a restaurant next door to the theatre. From my perspective, this was indeed a "Manhattan" wedding!

Ceremony Idea: Having a small group of guests offers flexibilty as your work with your officiant to design your ceremony. You can probably find ways to involve all present. Your family can be physically very close to you. You can be informal as you like...loved that Patrick didn't wear a tie! You can take time with the elements of the ceremony that mean the most to you.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

They Came From New Zealand

My first contact with the groom Stuart was a telephone call from New Zealand...yes, New Zealand!

Stuart and Sarah wanted to know if I could perform their wedding ceremony on the top of the Empire State Building because Sarah always wanted to do that after having seen "Sleepless in Seattle." I explained that the Empire State Building is only open for weddings on Valentines Day..and would Central Park do?

They agreed and then sent the information I needed to write their ceremony. They liked the first draft of the ceremony...so we were set to go. They called me from the road between California and New York to confirm they had actually arrived in the US.

With four friends and a proudly displayed NZ flag, Stuart and Sarah were married in Central Park by the Bethesda Fountain. There were several intimate and emotional moments...as they exchanged vows and wedding rings.


I think Sarah was pleased with her New York City wedding. And their limo driver whisked them all off to go to the top of the Empire State Building after the ceremony to recreate the spirit of Sarah's dream of being at that spot on her wedding day.

Ceremony Tip: If you are thinking of a destination wedding ceremony in New York City, know there are many options for an outdoor ceremony at an iconic spot...Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, and Battery Park to name a few. But do check that the place you have in mind is one that is not closed to ceremonies (even small and short ones).

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!