Combining Wedding Traditions

As Matt and Sara made choices for what they wanted in their wedding ceremony, they asked me, as their wedding officiant, to adapt both Jewish and Christian wedding traditions for them.

Before their ceremony at Valley Regency in NJ, they had a formal ketubah signing ceremony with just close family and friends. They had Matt's Catholic godfather be his witness and Sara's Jewish uncle was hers.

The Jewish traditions in their public ceremony included the traditional escorting of the bride and groom by their two parents. The backdrop of their chuppah was Sara's grandfather's prayer shawl. At the end of the ceremony, Matt broke the glass to cheers of Mazel Tov!

Adapting the traditional Christian unity candle ritual, their mothers poured wine into two separate glasses representing their individuality and the families of their birth. Matt and Sara poured the wine from the two glasses into a larger engraved central glass from which they shared the combined wine...symbolizing their new life together in marriage.

This couple was a delight to marry, and I send my thanks to wedding planner Marissa Mortimer, friend of the bride, for referring them to me.

Their wedding announcement was in the Staten Island Advance.

Ceremony Idea: One of the readings they included in their ceremony was a set of comments from email messages Matt had sent to Sara while she was in England studying. In these messages he was reflecting on the philosophical meaning of happiness. I edited the material they provided to create their reading which was very personal and certainly one of a kind. Think "out of the box" for the sources for your wedding ceremony reading.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

For Everything There is a Season

John and Tina interviewed me to be their wedding officiant in one of last winter's worst snow storms. In contrast, their wedding was in the middle of a summer heat wave. For them, no matter the season, they are now together to take on life as it comes to them.

They included their two young daughters as Maid of Honor and Best Girl. The girls did a good job with the unity sand ritual, and I know they were so excited that Gianna's Dad married Megan's mother. The bride and groom gave each of them a heart pendant on a chain before the ceremony as a momento of the day.




In the love story I told about Tina and John, I made frequent references to their enjoyment of a shared glass of wine...to talk over the day's events and to plan their future. So they appropriately decorated their tables with wine. Their ceremony and reception was at Da Noi on Fingerboard Road in Staten Island.



Knowing there is a season for everything under heaven, it was with saddness that I noted the obituary of John's mother just a week after their ceremony. John had made sure someone videoed the ceremony for her to see. I hope they had the opportunity to tell her how wonderful their wedding day was for them.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Leaving the Nest Together

Karen and Joe were an unusual bride and groom for me to come across. It's the rare instance these days that I am the wedding officiant for a couple who are both leaving their parents' homes to get married. These two charmed each other during their student days, and with chutzpah and humor...they face the next stage of life as husband and wife.

They had their close friends and siblings in their wedding party. One of the bridesmaids did a wonderful job reading the popular e.e. cummings poem..."i carry your heart." Even though the wind threatened to blow their ketubah across the lawn of Alice Austen House...they managed to get the beautifully designed document signed.

Later at the cocktail hour at Island Chateau I enjoyed talking with Karen's Norwegian-American relatives. I forget there are quite a few of us in the Brooklyn/Staten Island area.

So as you leave the nest, I wish you all the happiness in the world, Karen and Joe.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Well Matched

Jodi and Mark met on an online dating service, and the matching algorythm was right on target. They are well matched to begin the second half of their lives together.

Their closest family and friends joined them at a Spigola Ristaurante in Hamilton Township, NJ, where I was their wedding officiant. (Yes, I didn't really understand it was so far away when they hired me...but I was glad I was their celebrant!)

After a generous cocktail hour, their guests took their seats for the ceremony. The wedding party and I were really right in the middle of their guests...quite intimate.

A memorial candlie was lighted, their selected reading was read, the vows and rings were exchanged...it was just right for them. At one point Mark gently removed Jodi's glasses, ones she'd put on to read a prayer when she lit the memorial candle with her mother and sister. It was such a sweet gesture. Later she did a spontaneous gesture when she kissed his hand just after they exchanged rings. Two really lovely moments I will always remember.


Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Garden Wedding for Outdoor Lovers

When she called to inquire about my services, I asked Katie the name of the groom. "Cody," she said. My neighbor has a nephew Cody, a somewhat unusual name, and sure enough...it was the same Cody. the kid I'd seen at family events next door over the years...now all grown up!

Their wedding ceremony was at Snug Harbor's Tuscan Garden, a relatively new wedding venue on Staten Island. Their wedding party was large...involving their close family and friends...Cody's "posse," small nieces and nephews...it was wonderful.


When I told their love story mentioned their love of outdoors as being one of the things that brought them together. I described Cody's proposal...a lovely dinner, flowers, soft music, wine...and a dance together to music he'd especialy selected. Theirs was quite a romantic story.

It was fun for me to see Cody's aunts, uncles, and cousins in the audience. I usually don't see faces I know during a wedding ceremony. Here are my neighbors!

Ceremony Tip: Yes, it's about kids again! Young kids (4-5 yrs.and younger)in your wedding party don't understand the ceremony...how long it will take, where they are supposed to stand and be sort of still and quiet...what's being said. They want to move around, go to the bathroom, get out of their uncomfortable outfits, etc. You get the picture. Don't set yourself up for frustration...just designate someone not in the wedding party to be a kid helper when they need to just get out of hearing range. Katie and Cody's "kids" were great...but they lucked out!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Keep Calm and Carry On

Two major life milestones to celebrate...a 30th Anniversary and a 50th Birthday. What better way than to come to New York City from Wales to celebrate.

Sue and Mal met me under the portico at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. They had scouted out the park the day before, and they selected Wagner Cove for their vow renewal ceremony location. The skies were threatening, but their photographer suggested we could probably make it before the rain. Well, we didn't. We were caught in a major 20 minute thunderstorm. Against all common sense, we huddled under a large tree that we hoped would be unnoticed by the lightening strikes. Finally the strorm let up a bit and we walked over to Wagner Cove.

If ever the phrase meant something...Keep Calm and Carry On...it was for this ceremony. With great love in their eyes, Mal and Sue renewed their vows and rededicated their wedding rings...and many of their friends and family sent good wishes which I read to them.

The rain presisted throughout the ceremony, but they acknowledged it was kind of a metaphor for their marriage...especially when the sun came out just as the ceremony ended.



My husband Joe and I, both soaked to the skin, walked over to The Loeb Boathouse Restaurant for a well deserved drink!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

This Bud's For You, Really...Just for You!

When couples interview me about being their wedding officiant, I ask them to talk about their dream ceremony...who will be there, what words do they want to hear, who will be involved. When Jessica and Tom talked about their ceremony, they joked a bit about doing something with beer. That's all I needed to hear...and my imagination was off and running.



I designed a ritual just for them...using beer as a symbolic of all the love and commitment they bring to their marriage as individuals. As they poured the beer from their individual bottles of their favorite Budweiser into an engraved glass...their commitments merged into one. As they each sipped this unified glass of beer...they locked on each other eyes, their guests nodded in approval, and this ceremony took on a look and feel that was just for Jessica and Tom.

This ceremony was at the St. Charles Seminary's event space on Staten Island, overlooking the outer NYC harbor. Sad to learn that this wedding was the last one to be held here. The Seminary is shutting down its event space as they prepare to sell their required parking lot for residential building. No soul!



Ceremony Tip: Even if you think it may be as profane as using beer in your ceremony, do mention your mutual interests and hobbies to your wedding officiant. You may find that detail is just the key to unlocking a creative and personal element for your ceremony...one that has meaning for the two of you.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Australian Bride and Groom

When this Australian Bride and Groom got to New York, they checked out places in Central Park to have their wedding ceremony. They selected the Bow Bridge...excellent choice!

Kera and Al's wedding ceremony was private...sweet and emotional. They opted to have this moment just between the two of them before they joined friends for a celebratory dinner. Speaking their vows to one another was the highlight of this ceremony...the words came from their hearts with feeling.

Boaters, school groups, and tourists congratulated Al and Shera as they kissed right after I declared them husband and wife.


They met where they worked in Australia...his proposal was in Bali...and they got married in New York City. With the world at their feet, they begin the new adventures that married life will bring to them.



Most of the products and services that made their wedding day come to life were by New York City wedding folks...their rings, her dress and flowers, their wonderful photographer - Brian Friedman, and me, their wedding officiant.






And then they were off to have Brian take pictures of them with iconic NYC as the backdrop. It looked to me like they had the NYC destination wedding of their dreams!





Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Destination: NYC

An English couple, Craig and Michelle, engaged me as their wedding officiant for their NYC destination wedding. Michelle was so impressed with all the arrangements that Craig made...quite under-estimating the level of details required. But he succeeded in giving her the special day they both wanted.

With their parents by their side, they declared their vows, exchanged rings, and, of course, had the ceremonial kiss as they were declared husband and wife. Central Park's Ladies Pavillion provided the perfect setting for a real New York City wedding.

It was a pleasure to make this happy celebration happen for them...along with my friend and photographer, Brian Freedman. He makes magic with his images.



I suppose since I watched this summer's royal wedding with intense interest, I became fascinated by "fascinators." Both mothers of the couple wore them...quite lovely...and fascinating!


Ceremony Tip: Getting married in a very public place means there will be folks you don't know walking around during the ceremony, and the hum of activity in the park is inescapable. Craig and Michelle did the right thing...they blocked out the movement and peripheral noise. They focused on each other. Their doing so made their ceremony a private and meaningful moment for them.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

21st Century Business Women's Conference

As part of my ongoing learning about managing the business part of my wedding officiant practice, I have participated for several years in the annual "21st Century Busines Woman" conference sponsored by the Business Outreach Center Network at the West Brighton Community Local Development Corporation.

Yesterday's conference provided me with ideas, networking opportunities, and inspiration. I was pleased to be among the small business owners who helped sponsor the event.


Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Marrying the Next Generation

Four years ago I created a ceremony for a couple's 25th anniversary. To my delight, their son and his fiance chose me to the be the wedding officiant for their ceremony last week. Both these ceremonies were at Nicotra's Ballroom on Staten Island...just perfect for family celebrations of all kinds.



Good friend and wonderful musician, John Rotante, did the processional and recessional music for the ceremony. We brought our spouses with us, and we enjoyed socializing after our work was done.

Anthony and Kimberly included a large number of family and friends in their wedding party, and everyone was excited. The ringbearer stood in the center of things for some of the ceremony...even asking me questions. What an experience for him...and fun for me!

Because this couple's parents have long and happy marriages, they had their parents do the readings. The subject of each reading was a definition of marriage..quite appropriate.

Kimberly purchased a sand ritual set online, one I'd never seen before. It was easy to use, it was beautiful, and it worked more smoothly than most sand rituals I have done. They didn't have a connection to sand in their story, but the colors of the sand had meaning for them, so that's the train of thought I took.

Well, maybe they do have a connection to sand...they are happily celebrating in the Bahamas this week!

Ceremony Tip: If you are thinking of including a sand ritual in your wedding ceremony, take a look at this sand ceremony set you can purchase online. You have the option of selecting the colors of sand you wish to use.

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!
A Civil Wedding Officiant

It's a Small Private Ceremony

On rare occasions by my choice, I serve as the wedding officiant for small, very private ceremonies that make a marriage legal. Often these couples plan a more formal ceremony to which their larger circle of family and friends will be invited.

Sometimes the matter at hand is health care insurance, immigration, or child custody issues. All good reasons to step into a legal marriage that brings with it many privileges and responsibilties.

I did such a ceremony last Saturday for a couple who will be formally married at a later date. It was an intimate and elegant ceremony with their very immediate family members present. The documents were signed, and champagne was popped.

I hope they didn't miss the view outside the hotel suite windows. Here's what I saw:


Ceremony Tip: When your ceremony is private/"secret," do include those close to you who will know what is happening and can be trusted, don't eliminate all trappings of a ceremony...make this moment special too, and find some way to acknowledge this day in your journey to getting married...a ring, a rose, or a formal portrait.


Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!
A Civil Wedding Officiant

They are Quite a Match!

Amy and Matt selected me as their wedding officiant because they sensed I got how important it was to them to incorporate pieces of their diverse backgrounds into their wedding ceremony.

To honor Matt's Jewish heritage, the ceremony has several traditional elements. His parents both escorted him into the ceremonial space. The men in the wedding party held a chuppah over the bride and groom. I offered the couple seven blessings, and the groom broke the glass to the joyful response of "Mazel Tov!"

In a nod to Amy's Slovak and Eastern Orthodox background, the bride was to my right and the groom to my left during the ceremony, the more Christian staging. The Best Man and the Maid of Honor assisted me with the crowning ritual. Matt and Amy's crowns were made of ivy which symbolizes fidelity, commitment, and married love.



On the wedding day, the bride opted to have the ceremony inside Nicotra's Ballroom (Staten Island, NY), not outdoors in the gazebo. It was a wonderful decision on behalf of her guests to be in comfortable air-conditioned space for the ceremony. To not be wilting in the heat helped their guests fully listen to all the detailed aspects of this ceremony that Matt and Amy so carefully planned.

This couple met on match.com...and they are truly a match!

Ceremony Tip: When the children in the wedding party are young...especially younger than 5 years old, plan on having them sit with relatives in the front row after they enter. They will be happier...and so will you.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Gray Skies are Gonna Clear Up

For the last two weeks, couples who have scheduled outdoor weddings in the NY/NJ area have just crossed their fingers and hoped for the best. For Bonnie and Alan, it worked! Their wedding ceremony in the relatively new Brooklyn Bridge Park was held under sunny skies.

With the lower Manhattan skyline as the backdrop and the majestic Brooklyn Bridge anchorages in view too, Bonnie and Alan said their vows...witnessed by their parents and their sisters, all here from the UK.


I appreciate it when couples infuse their wedding with symbols of their own. Bonnie's bouquet was constructed from a collection of sparking pins, brooches, and a coin from Antiqua, where Alan proposed. A couple of the pins were heirloom pieces from their families.

Ceremony Tip: Find that special connection to family heritage to include in your ceremony...a favorite poem, reusing vows your parents used, a flower in bouquets from your parent's garden, or jewelry worn by your great-grandmother. Have your celebrant incorporate words about this symbol into the ceremony.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!
Wedding Officiant for Personalized Ceremonies

Sweetish...No, Swedish

Central Park...down the stairs to Wagner Cove...it was a lovely spot for Sofia and Fredrik to get married. I was the wedding officiant for this couple who arrived with over fifty of their family and friends from Sweden, Norway, and the US.

Sofia and Fredrik spoke their vows in Swedish. It was the first time I have officiated at a wedding when I didn't know what the couple said to each other. But I could see that the words came from their hearts as I watched their faces. It was a very sweet moment.



With bubbles all around, the license was signed, and I declared them husband and wife. It didn't rain, the filming of a commercial nearby was out of hearing range...nothing got in the way of this marriage. The ceremony turned out perhaps better than they expected...I hope!

Ceremony Tip: The couple had a permit to have their ceremony at Cherry Hill. We arrived at that spot to find it filled with trucks that were part of a filming event. I don't know to fail safe everything when the park clearly didn't check their permit list when they allowed one of these two events. So just know that "stuff happens," and the solution may make the wedding even better.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!
Wedding officiant for personalized ceremonies

The Beautiful Two

As their wedding officiant, I worked with Diane and Michael to write their wedding ceremony in a way that would reflect their interests and values. They were drawn together by a mutual interest in books, and they took care to select the readings for their ceremony. One they especially liked is by Alice Walker who described marriage as two people who do not melt into one, but rather two persons becoming a "council of equals...the beautiful two."

As these words were read, it was symbolic that Michael and Diane stood on a mosaic depicting cranes...a beautiful twosome of birds who mate for life. Surrounding the cranes were symbolic interlocking circles...maybe wedding rings! This mosaic is visible in this picture of their ceremony at the Chinese Scholar's Garden in Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island.




The celebration following the ceremony was at The Noble Maritime Collection, a familiar place for me having worked there some years ago. Michael's company had done the electrical work on our family room renovation, and I know Diane from our work on a planning committee for an annual Staten Island business women's conference. It's not often I have so much connection with a couple outside of their wedding ceremony itself.

For their reception, they had a great live band, and wonderful food, featuring treats from Diane's homestate of Maine...all catered divinely by Framboise. I rarely stay for a reception...this one I couldn't miss! And what did they give for favors as we left...yes, books!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!
Wedding Officiant for the wedding ceremony that is about you

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

The bride and groom were excited...they'd done such good planning...all their ideas were incorporated in their ceremony and reception at The Lake Club on Staten Island.

As their wedding officiant, I carefully wove their ideas into the ceremony...the words to their processional song ("Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"), setting up the Dr. Seuss reading they selected, telling their love story in delightful detail, and declaring them husband and wife at the conclusion...just before they recessed with bubbles and their selected tune - "All Things Keep Getting Better."

Ceremony Tip: When you have specific ideas you want for your ceremony, it will be a richer and more meaningful ceremony. Nicole and Matt were especially good at describing what they wanted in their wedding ceremony. However, for some couples, they are genuinely clueless about what to ask for in their ceremony. Here are some things you can think about before you meet with the officiant: what song do you want playing when you enter, think about things you have seen in other weddings that you liked, let your officiant know what is important to you (for example - involving your family, having a reading in a different language, doing a traditional ritual like breaking the glass). Don't forget: Your ceremony sets the tone for your wedding day!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Celebrants Sharing Wisdom

The Celebrant Foundation & Institute is celebrating their 10th anniversary this weekend with the graduation of this year's class and a professional development day, a day of wisdom sharing.

I was honored to be asked to talk about a wedding I did last year, a wedding for a special couple. The bride was terminally ill with breast cancer. The NJ Chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) enlisted wedding vendors to donate their services for her wedding. I was asked by the president of the NJ chapter of ABC to be the officiant. My presentation was a case study/story about how as a celebrant I approached working with Tina and Paul.

Candice Benson, the NJ chapter president of ABC, caught the attention of the national president of Wish Upon A Wedding, a national organization that works with couples when one of them is terminally ill. Candice was recruited to establish a NJ chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding,and the chapter was launched last winter with a gala event.



So I asked Candice to join me in telling the story of Paul and Tina's wedding and to let celebrants attending this conference how to get involved in becoming a Wish Granter for Wish Upon a Wedding chapters in their area.


Always a pleasure to work with Candice...and her wedding and event planning company is first rate too....The Finishing Touch .





Good luck to all the 2011 celebrant graduates!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Getting Married in Central Park

It felt like the opening game of the season...officiating at my first 2011 wedding ceremony in Central Park. It was the last day of spring break for NYC public school kids and it was the first sunny day after several rainy ones...so the park was buzzing.

London residents Karen and Mark arrived at the popular Central Park wedding spot, the Ladies Pavillion, for their wedding ceremony. I don't think they expected it would be as crowded as it was, but the bystanders respectfully watched and applauded at the end of the ceremony.

I told their love story, reminded them of what they love about each other, heard them declare their vows and watched as they exchanged rings. They signed their NYC marriage license and keepsake certificate. I'm not sure they even noticed all the on-lookers.

Their family sent greetings for me to read to them...warm reminders that the ones they love were thinking about them on their wedding day.

Karen and Mark met at work...sometimes a difficult way to start a romance, but they built a solid relationship based on trust and respct. They also have a spirit of adventure between them...getting engaged on top of the Eifel Tower and getting married in NYC's Central Park.

I wish them every happiness and joy as they begin married life together.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Spring Wedding Ceremony

Today I officiated at a lovely wedding ceremony for Fred and Adrienne, who wanted their ceremony to be heartfelt and meaningful to them. They read carefully selected poems to each other and exchanged vows & rings. As I announced they were now husband and wife, their family and friends started blowing bubbles. Quite a festive way to begin their marriage!

The folks at Celebrate at Snug Harbor were flexible with the rainy weather as they moved the ceremony from the Tuscan Garden to cosy and ceremonial interior space. I am sure the couple were disappointed to not get married in the garden, but I was reminded of something my mother-in-law often said..."It is good luck if it rains on your wedding day."

Ceremony Tip: The most difficult moment of the day for the wedding officiant is getting everyone lined up to launch the procession. The wedding party today was quite attentive to me durig the critical pre-ceremony monents. When I placed them in a line - they stayed there. If you don't have a rehearsal, be sure to tell your wedding party what you expect of them during the ceremony, how the ceremony will be staged, where they will stand, and what will be happening during the ceremony. The more they know, the more they will do just what you want them to do.



This wedding kicks off "wedding season" for me in 2011. It's been nearly four months since my last wedding, and I've missed officiating at ceremonies, meeting new people, and doing the creative things I get to do in this work.

So I toast Fred and Adrienne...may the sun shine on all their days together!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Meet the New Celebrants!

Last evening it was my priviledge to ordain the newest wedding celebrants in the NY/NJ/CT/PA area...soon to graduate from Celebrant Foundation and Institute.

The ordination ceremony, under the aegis of The Universal Brotherhood Movement, Inc., was solemn and happy, humorous and tearful, and, most of all - meaningful on many levels.

Each candidate for ordination spoke about their hopes and vision for their emerging wedding celebrant practice and ministry. As they spoke, they placed an object on the ceremonial table...an object representing the inspiration for their new work. There was a mother's necklace, a special tea, a heart-shaped box, a treasured fleur-de-lis piece of porcelain...to name a few.


For me it was a delight to meet these eight inspiring men and women. Each one of them is prepared to become a couple-focused, human-hearted celebrant. I wish them every success and satisfaction in their new work, and I welcome them into the fellowship of Celebrants.

Many thanks to Charlotte Eulette, the international director of Celebrant Foundation and Institute, for her hospitality and good cheer.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Valentines...Forever and Ever

It's one of the best times of the year for a wedding officiant - Valentine's Day! This year I had the honor of officiating at a vow renewal ceremony for Matt and Robin who have been married for 31 years.

They selected a wonderful site for their ceremony...a charming and intimate wine cellar at "il Buco" in the Village. Of course, they included a wine ritual in their ceremony.

Both Matt and Robin collaborated with me privately so they could surprise the other with a gift. They each selected music that they played on their indidivual ipads for the other one. And they each wrote their new vows.

This couple were high school sweethearts who married pretty soon after high school graduation. In spite of their being young at that time, they have made their marriage work over the years...in good times and bad...mostly good! They raised two wonderful children who are doing well. They figured out how to conquer the challenges of life...relocation, tight budgets...the usual stresses of modern living. They are indeed Valentines forever and ever to each other.

As Robin said when she presented Matt with a new watch..."It's our time."

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

Announcing Bride's Choice Award 2011

I am pleased to share this press release from WeddingWire with you:

{New York, NY} – {February 3, 2011} - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce "Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!" has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 in the wedding officiant category.

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Julie Laudicina stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Julie Laudicina for her professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that "Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!" is among the very best of wedding officiants within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating Julie Laudicina to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 and our WeddingWire Storefront, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

On the Campus at Yale

The wedding ceremony was at the Dwight Chapel at Yale University. The air was crisp, the candlelight made it cozy, and the music was inspiring as it reverberated throughout the gothic chapel.

Dave began by lighting a candle in memory of his father. I told their unique and charming love story which elicited laughter and tears. Close family members read such meaningful passages. Christina and Dave held their rings over their hearts as they said their vows. It was what you'd hope for every wedding ceremony...people at their best, beauty, happiness, and authentic shared moments.



The bride is an equine vet and the groom is a zip line consultant. They met at a rowing class; they got engaged in Key West; they are dashing and smart...but also kind and unassuming. It could be said the wedding was glamorous...but that would trivialize the genuine love and respect that this couple has for one another.

I'm so grateful for my friends Ray and Susan who brought me to Christina and Dave. My first wedding ceremony in Connecticut...unforgetable!

Julie Laudicina,Celebrant!

It Would Take More than A Blizzard to Stop Them!

Liz and Geoff came from Sidney, Australia, to renew their marriage vows in New York City on Monday, Dec. 27...and what did they encounter - a crippling blizzard.

But those of us whom they had engaged to make this celebration come together - photographer, restaurant, and me - arranged a postponement that worked for everyone. Thanks to the gods of the calendar and holiday good will...and this resilient couple...we were able to reschedule the ceremony for Dec. 30.

Last Thursday was a beautiful, warm, sunny day at Battery Park...full of exuberant tourists and New Yorkers trying to shake off cabin fever. Liz and Geoff had their ceremony in front of floor to ceiling windows at Battery Gardens, overlooking the New York harbor. They rededicated themselves to one another...for another 37 years and more. Their granddaughters, Allison and Guilia looked on with affection.

Their familiy and friends send an array of greetings to be read during their ceremony. From hilarious to sentimental to loving...these remarks were received with surprise, laughter, and tears from Liz and Geoff.




The Battery Garden folks brought out champagne and cupcakes. Just the right amount of sweetness and bubbly to puntuate the event! So it all worked out...the blizzard changed their event, but what happened was just right for them...beautiful, meaningful, and oh, so New York!

Brian Friedman was taking pictures of the ceremony and the champagne toasts. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he recorded every detail. I can't wait to see his shots. Hope his professional touch makes the image of the Statue of Liberty come through the haze in the background. I know his eye will have certainly captured the spirit of this delightful couple from Sidney!

Ceremony Idea: When you have a "destination ceremony," try to bring in a connection to that which you treasure from back home...your flag, a stone from your garden, a picture of family...or like this couple did - have messages from family and friends read to you by your officiant.

Snapshots by Joe Laudicina


Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!