The Small and Intimate Wedding Ceremony: 3 Tips For A Sweet And Memorable Moment

Andrea & Vivian ~ DeLille Cellars

photo by Tasha Owen

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes. The small and intimate wedding ceremony is a favorite for me. It offers a couple a sweet and personal experience with a tight group of family and friends. If you are planning a small and intimate ceremony, here are three wedding planning tips to consider as you move closer to your wedding day:

1) Consider A Weekday Wedding: Small and intimate wedding ceremonies are perfect for a weekday. By having your wedding on a weekday, you may save money with preferred pricing as many wedding professionals will be very happy to have a weekday booking.

2) Involve Your "Tribe" In Your Ceremony: Working with your Officiant, Minister or Rabbi, work to create a ceremony that sweetly involves everyone in the room. I am officiating a ceremony for Colin and Andrea this coming Sunday and we're having a "parade" of family and friends to the wedding site along with a group reading. Fun and elegant in all ways...

3) Plan A Special Surprise: A small and intimate wedding ceremony is a perfect size gathering for a special surprise during your wedding ceremony. Any surprise needs to be well orchestrated by the person leading your ceremony and if executed well, can create a lifetime memory.

A few months back, I officiated a ceremony for a wonderful couple. Brian had never formally proposed to Amy and I found this out while working to create/write their ceremony. I called Brian and after a little conversation, we landed on a perfect surprise for Amy. On their wedding day, and before their exchange of vows, Brian got down on one knee and proposed to Amy. If only you could have seen Amy's face.

Tasha Owen Photography: www.tashaowen.com

Ever Have One Of Those Life Moments That Are Beyond Precious? The Tale Of Mommy and Daddy's "Run-A-Way Boy!"

I don't know how she did it, but Seattle photographer, Barbie Hull, was "on it" during Michael and Lindy's wedding ceremony at Port Gamble Church in Port Gamble, WA ~ she exquisitely caught this perfect image of little guy Wake running toward his parents during their wedding ceremony!

Wake was supposed to walk his Mother down the aisle and changed his mind at the last moment. Instead, Wake rambled around the bottom floor and balcony of Port Gamble Church during the ceremony, entertaining himself as only little guys do.

As we honored Wake during the ceremony, we all turned and waved to him while he was peaking out from the church's small balcony area. And within a few minutes, Wake was running down the aisle to his parents for a big hug.

Crystal. Sweet. Perfect. Sometimes there are no words for a moment that takes your breath away.

The marvelous Barbie Hull: www.barbiehull.com

John and Lorna's Romantic Evening Wedding Ceremony & Celebration At The Willows Lodge

John and Lorna - you are so very, very married!

John and Lorna were married in front of their family and friends - including John's family who flew in from South Africa - at the Willows Lodge this past Friday evening, June 11th.

Jenn Wenman and her staff at The Willows Lodge again went over-the-top to insure every detail was beautiful and elegant for John and Lorna's sophisticated ceremony and reception.

One of my favorite women in Seattle photography, Tasha Owen, was doing her fabulous thing to capture sweet and exquisite "John and Lorna" moments, like the moment to the right.

John and Lorna's wedding ceremony was a mix of traditional and contemporary - including personal words which they wrote separately and shared with each other during their ceremony.

John and Lorna - I wish you a beautiful month's long trip and honeymoon and so appreciate the opportunity to know you over the past months and share in Friday evening!

Jenn Wenman/The Willows Lodge www.willowslodge.com

Tasha Owen www.tashaowen.com

A Seattle-Kitsap County Inter-Faith Wedding Ceremony - Travis & Margot Style!

I met Travis and Margot more than a year before their wedding ceremony on May 30, 2010.

And on this day, I had the marvelous opportunity to officiate their Inter-Faith wedding ceremony which celebrated their Jewish and Christian traditions/backgrounds.

The night before their Sunday evening wedding, Margot's parents hosted a beautiful sit-down dinner at their Mercer Island home before the casual wedding rehearsal (a bit cramped in a living room and it worked well!)

More than 150 family and friends traveled by ferry to Bremerton for this wedding day. Under a gorgeous Chuppah, Travis and Margot exchanged their vows and involved their parents and wedding party in the exchange of their rings.

Wedding Coordinator Alison Lum did a terrific job pulling together all details for a gorgeous ceremony setting and reception - Alison, you made my job extra easy!

Travis and Margo ~ Thank you. I loved being a part of your wedding day and one day I'd like to tell you about a sweet exchange I had with Margot's Grandfather after the ceremony.