Jeff and Antonia's Wedding Ceremony ~ "Plan B" Was The Best Plan!

I loved every moment of Jeff and Antonia's wedding ceremony.

Even the wacky weather!

On this wedding day we had clouds, great sunshine, light rain, a downpour, a rainbow and more sun.

And while the wacky weather forced us to move the ceremony inside, in hindsight, "Plan B" was actually the best plan for this couple.

As you can see from the glorious photo at the right taken immediately after their ceremony, this day was hugely joyful and such a celebration for Jeff and Antonia who planned their Kitsap County wedding from Canada!

Jeff and Antonia were fortunate to have Photographer Catherine Abegg capture this moment and more ~ Catherine, you totally "got this couple!"

Here's what I took away from Jeff and Antonia's wedding day: 1) do what is important to you as a couple; 2) when things don't go one way, let it go and move on to the next plan; 3) I still want to know where Antonia got her gorgeous wedding gown!

Catherine Abegg: http://www.calimaportraits.com/

Tricks From An Officiant's Goodie Bag ~ Three Best Suggestions For An Elegant Wedding Ceremony...

In this work that I do, every couple I work with has a different vision for their wedding day.

So, indulge me while I take a minute or so so share a few of my hard-learned tips to creating a more elegant wedding ceremony:

1) Give Your Guests A Job ~ Before your ceremony begins or before pronouncement, have your Officiant/Minister tell your family and friends what is "going to happen next." This way, guests know what to do immediately after a ceremony and this creates a more elegant transition from ceremony to party/reception.

2) My Half-Hour Suggestion ~ If your wedding ceremony is starting at 6:00 p.m., put 5:30 p.m. on the invites. This "fudge time" allows for a little extra time for a bride/groom and wedding party and also creates a more easy and elegant welcoming for family and friends.

3) Put your Intention On Creating An Imperfect Wedding Day ~ Perfect Wedding days are "perfect' because they are imperfect. This is the paradox of a wedding day. Focus on the key ingredients of a beautiful wedding day: love, appreciation, gratitude, anticipation and peace. I love and treasure the imperfect moments of a wedding ceremony as they are spontaneous, often fun and joyful and handled with ease and care, they creates lifetime moments.

Mark and Donna Winningham: The Court In The Square And One Very Amazing Couple...

Mark and Donna "On The Roof" At Court In The Square

Seattle, Washington

I left Mark and Donna's wedding ceremony on May 2nd with a happy bounce in my step. It brought me great joy to know a couple so incredibly suited to one another and to create and deliver a ceremony that was truly about the two of them and their closest family and friends.

Mark and Donna worked to create a ceremony that celebrated their "tribe" - their children, grandchildren and closest friends. We had tears, we had laughter and there was so much gratitude in the room.

Mark's son, Rob, flew up from Oregon on the morning of the wedding and returned immediately after the ceremony as his wife was expecting their child "at any moment." I got a happy email from Donna the following day letting me know she and Mark were thrilled Grandparents once again!

Photographer Craig Larsen exquisitely captured Mark and Donna during their ceremony and on the "roof" of Court In the Square. I absolutely insist that every couple I marry at Court in the Square take a "roof top photo" - such a delicious memento immediately following a ceremony!

Craig Larsen: www.craiglarsen.com

You've Got To Love Seth & Amy! A Unique and Fun Wedding Ceremony At Point Defiance Aquarium With Sharks As Company!

Amy and Seth ~ Point Defiance Aquarium

Take a look at the photo above. The "left" side of the photo. See the shark swimming by?

Seth and Amy were married in front of their family and friends (and sharks!) at the marvelous Point Defiance Aquarium. Photographer Bob Carter captured so many great images from this wedding ceremony and did a spectacular job, considering the lighting challenges.

Yes, you've gotta love this couple! Seth and Amy are fun, fun and more fun. They created a very personalized ceremony, complete with a "25 places we will travel" keepsake box to be treasured and experienced for years to come.

The Point Defiance Aquarium staff were on hand and greeted guests with a few "permanent residents" who squawked and entertained on the arms/hands of staff.

I left Seth and Amy's wedding ceremony on this glorious Spring Saturday evening with a big smile on my face - fun was had by all!

Photographer Bob Carter: www.amomentunveiled.com

Moments of Joy In A Wedding Ceremony ~ What I Know For Sure About Tears, Hankies and Those "Unexpected Moments..."

Chris and Sarah ~ April, 2010

Port Ludlow Resort

There were moments during Chris and Sarah's Saturday evening wedding ceremony that were funny. There were moments that were poignant, sweet, sentimental and a few that required a hankie. And Chris and Sarah were truly elegant and present for all of this.

I'm fond of saying a wedding is an event AND it is an emotional event. At a wedding, I've come to learn that people are listening AND they are not listening.

Because a wedding is an emotional event, a couple, wedding party and family and friends are most often "in feeling mode" - and officiating a ceremony so that the "feeling of the moment" is captured is both an art, a science (sort of!) and something learned over time.