From One Generation to the Next

Aug sparked my interest when he called to find out if I was available to officiate at his wedding in two weeks. So I created their ceremony on rather short notice which is different from my usual way of operating.

Karen and Aug could have lived life as it was forever...but they were moved to make their long relationship legal when they learned that Karen's daughter was pregnant. Nothing like the coming of the next generation to give one pause to re-evaluate what is meaningful in one's life.

So several family and friends gathered at their home last Sunday. We needed lots of tissues to get through the ceremony, but the vows were spoken, their rings were warmed by all present, and everyone signed the keepsake certificate of marriage. Candles were lighted in honor of their parents and all the generations before them.

Life and love goes on...generation after generation.



Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Maine-ly It was Love

It was a first for me...serving as a wedding officiant in Maine. The groom is a friend of twenty years, so it was an honor to be the one that "tied the knot" for Todor and Heather.

My husband and I had been in Bar Harbor the week before this ceremony...as passengers on the Qeeen Mary 2. We strolled around the town and stopped at the Saltair Inn where this ceremony would be taking place. We were cheerily greeted by the innkeepers, Matt and Kristi. I got a sneak preview of the space where the ceremony would take place. It was easy to see why Todor and Heather were bringing their immediate families to this place for their wedding weekend.







For the ceremony, we managed to have everyone present do something...traditional ring bearer and flower girl, two readers for one reading...once in Serbian, once in English...the bride's brother-in-law gave the blessing, and everyone held the wedding rings before they were presented by the bride and groom to each other. And everyone wore something red!




The bride placed symbolic items on the mantel...a watch that had belonged to her grandmother and a lucky $2 bill. Around her bouquet of wheat she had a piece of tatting done by her mother. She also lit a candle in memory of her mother...and the light was a bright spot in the rather gray day on the Maine coast.

A champagne toast, a sip of 21 yr. old Scotch, and whoopie pies...a wonderful post-ceremony treat. As Todor served the Scotch, I noticed his Superman cufflinks. I always love symbolic gestures for weddings!

I've seen the pictures of this unusual wedding by their Rogier of Eager Eye Photography. His pictures captured the intimate nature of this wedding and the delight and love between Todor and Heather. (Just a note: The pictures on this blog were taken by my husband, Joe.)




Yes, they are tall!

Ceremony Tip: For a small family wedding, the meaning of the wedding ceremony words and rituals are enhanced when family participates. Heather and Todor carefully carved out roles for each sibling and each parent. It made for a joyfully teary event for all.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Sometimes Things Happen

At the last minute, the wedding officiant for Robert and Whitney could not be there. My friends on the Sales Staff at Nicotra's Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island called and asked if I could do their clients a favor...would I please do the ceremony. Without the support they consistently provide, I would have not taken on this work.

Fortunately my calendar was open, and I had just enough time to work with Robert and Whitney to personalize a ceremony for them. I wrote their love story, incorporated the readings they had already selected, recommended marriage vows, and wrote the ceremony's concluding blessings.

Their day arrived...sunny and warm for an autumn day...guest were seated, the procession went off perfectly. Who knew that this ceremony was all put together at the last minute!

Yes, sometimes things happen...and sometimes the solution works out just fine. I know Robert and Whitney were not disappointed in their wedding ceremony.

Ceremony Tip: Robert and Whitney chose several readings for their wedding ceremony. They asked three special relatives and friends to do the readings. These people did a wonderful job of conveying the meaning of the readings which added spiritual meaning for the couple. Choose your readings...and the readers...well.





Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

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!