On The Lawn at Alice Austen House

Today Feona and Felicity joined hand, hearts, and lives in matrimony on the grounds of Alice Austen House.

With a breath-taking view of the Manhattan skyline on one side of them and their close USA friends and family on the other, they spoke their vows and exchanged rings. As the wedding officiant, I got to see the delight on their faces up close.

For this ceremony, they included friends as readers, and Feona's young teenage sons were the eager ring-bearers. One unusual element of their ceremony was that they spoke well-planned words of appreciation to family and friends.

There were cheers and nods of heads when I mentioned NY State's same sex marriage law...all in support of Feona and Felicity's new legal marriage.

This coming summer they will have a parallel ceremony with family and friends in the UK where they live.

It was a bit chilly and windy as we stood by the New York harbor...but warm hearts were all about. A line from one of their readings is "What a Blessed Life." A blessed life indeed!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Something Old, Something New

A gray and cool day yesterday was warmed by a wedding ceremony for which I was the wedding officiant...at Bridgewaters in South Street Seaport.

The something old part was the use of Tara's mother's lace mantilla on the ceremonial table. I referred to the veil as a symbol of the threads, hundreds of delicate threads, that will link Tara and Eric's lives, families, and their future.




In the picture of this veil, you will see a wine glass. I adapted the unity candle ritual of Eric's Irish/Hispanic Catholic roots with the traditional wine sharing with a Jewish kiddush cup. The result was a wedding ceremony ritual that reflected the two faiths that are at the root and heart of their families' traditions.



I met Tara a year ago, and I did not meet Eric until yesterday, but I feel like I've known them a long time. I enjoyed meeting their families and learning all about how they met. It was my honor to be their officiant.

A word of thanks to their wedding planner, Shawn Rabideau...you made my work so easy, and I appreciated all your efficient and cheerful responses to each request or question I had. And most remarkable of all - you got that long procession lined up and started ahead of schedule!