Sean Werner - One of the Northwest's Finest Wedding Photographers...fun, caring and creative.

Every once in a while, I run into a "wedding vendor" who just snaps my radish. I met Wedding Photographer Sean Werner at a wedding in Des Moines last September. What I immediately admired about Sean was his unique ability to put his bride and groom at ease and his great sense of personality and humor. Being a wedding photographer is a tough job. It's a "can't do over" kind of job. Sean brings to his job a joy for for his art, a very kind heart and a great sense of style.

This wonderful photo was taken by Sean on May 20th at The Salish Lodge where we celebrated the marriage of Cory and Teri Everhardt - a wonderful couple with a most beautiful love story and very deep bond of love and trust.

If you're looking for a great wedding photographer, I invite you to contact Sean at 253.307.4501 or send him an email at weddingphotog1@hotmail.com. If you want to check out his work, please go to: www.weddingphotog.com

Woof! More on Bailey the "Wedding Dog"

I got a phone call this week from a reporter at MSNBC who is doing a story on "wedding dogs." Of course, the animal lover in me was all over this possibility to share that more and more couples are choosing to have their beloved furry friend(s) in their wedding ceremony.

I love this picture of Bethany and wedding dog, Bailey. Bethany married her Sweetheart, Josh, in August of last year in Arlington and Bailey was a hit during the ceremony and lapped up all sorts of attention during the reception. If you are getting married and would like to include your dog in your wedding ceremony, please contact me with any specific questions.

I encourage creativity in a wedding ceremony - whether traditional or contemporary, big or small, casual or formal. Your wedding ceremony is a tribute to your love story - celebrate it!

Taiya & Bruce - A Class Act!

I have this thing. Okay, I have this big thing! I truly believe there is a sweet synchronicity to the universe. That is, a wedding day is a true defining moment and if I am to truly be with a couple during one of the most intimate moments of their lives, I will be. And what is also true as carefully you select an Officiant, I also select you. In this work that I do, I work with couples from all backgrounds and all walks of life. About a year-a-half ago, I married Bruce and Taiya at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Seattle. What I treasured about this couple was their elegance, class and how deeply they cared for each other. What I also remember about Bruce and Taiya's wedding was how happy people were for the two of them. At a wedding, there is all sorts of "stuff" flying around the room. At this wedding, it was all about the love!

Petals! Petals! The Joy of the Flower Girl...

In a more traditional or formal wedding ceremony, a flower girl frequently precedes the bride and her escort down the aisle. I get a kick out of flower girls - whether they be a baby in the arms of a Mom or Dad, a toddler who barely makes it down the aisle or a pre-teen who is over-the-top proud to be part of the festivities.

If you are having a flower girl in your wedding here are a few tips from this Officiant who sees things from a different perspective:

1) Freezing up. The younger the flower girl, the more chance there is that she may freeze up half-way down the aisle. If a flower girl is very young, I often place several adults in the aisle and they help the flower girl along. Or if needed, I walk down the aisle and escort the petal throwing young lady to her place.

2) Not Enough Petals. Make sure that the petal basket is large enough and has lots of petals. You'd be surprised how often I see a flower girl run out of petals before she is half-way down the aisle!

3) Smile! Please tell your flower girl to smile, make contact with certain people and enjoy the walk.

Petal on!

Dawn and Mike...A Wonderful Couple From Two Years Ago...

For every Officiant, there are certain couples that tremendously touch your heart. Two years ago, I had the privilege of working with Dawn and Mike who were married at the Cedarbrook center in August. While I believe that an Officiant and couple "choose each other," I got extra lucky here. Not only did Dawn and Mike want a deeply personalized wedding ceremony that celebrated their love story - but they had an elegance to them that just oozed a great love story. Here's to you, Dawn and Mike. Happy almost 2nd anniversary! Your Grateful Officiant, Annemarie

Selecting a Wedding Officiant...it's a weird and often wacky process...

Okay, I said it. Weird and wacky. Perhaps sometimes. Perhaps more than often. As a Wedding Officiant, I am hugely respectful of the process that a couple goes through to select their Officiant. Choosing a Wedding Officiant is often not that much fun. First of all, you've got to call/meet with an Officiant that you don't know to potentially invite him or her into one of the most intimate moments of your lives. In addition, you're giving this person control of your wedding ceremony. Yikes!

And here is what I know for sure in my years as a non-denominational Wedding Officiant:

1) Be very, very clear about what you want from your Officiant. Ask lots of questions. Yes, this process can be somewhat daunting and you can make it fun. Qualify your Officiant via email or phone and if they resonate with you, set up a meeting for coffee/tea, etc.

2) Selecting your Officiant is often a hugely personal choice and one from the gut. Bottom line: You like the Officiant. And the Officiant likes you.

3) You get what you pay for. Really. Truly. No kidding. When it comes to "wedding vendors," you want an Officiant who is excited to know you, honored to create a wedding ceremony with you and privileged to deliver your ceremony on your wedding day. I find that most couples spend money where their values are - and there is no right or wrong here.

Your Wedding Vows - traditional, contemporary, funky/fun - whatever you like!

When it comes to wedding vows, anything goes. Whether you are religious, spiritual or secular, your wedding vows can be anything you wish. Here is a wonderful website for wedding vow ideas: http://www.myweddingvows.com. If you have specific questions about wedding vows, please drop me or a line or call me at 425 922 1325. And if you have a wonderful set of vows that you'd like to share, pass them on and I'll post them!