Fun Things Happen On The Way To A Wedding: Giggles From 2010 Ceremonies...

As I take a deep breath of gratitude for a wonderful wedding year in 2010, I can't help but think about the fun moments, the wacky moments, the "oh dear," moments and the many moments that took my breath away in awe.

So, as I take this week and next for rest and play, I think about these moments from 2010 and giggle:

~ The moment Michael and Lindy's young son escaped from a front church pew and made a beeline for the back of the church - to run with glee down the center aisle of St. Paul's church to his parents during their vows!

~ The moment Betsy the dog started howling during a sentimental song in a wedding ceremony (very funny and memorable for all!)

~ After reminding Best Man Brad about the rings 3 times, he still forgot the rings!

~ When Jeff and his wedding party rode in on a golf cart to start the wedding ceremony ~ and it stalled half-way!

Joy, joy and more joy ~ you've got to love it. Here is to a fun-filled and very meaningful 2011!

Getting Married "Holiday Style" in Seattle ~ A Big Tip For A Pre-Holiday Wedding Ceremony...

John and Cassie ~ I had so much fun with you on your wedding day at Port Gamble Church!

Just look at the photo to the right - John is proud and so handsome on this wedding day and Cassie was over-the-top stylish and gorgeous, too. Best of all, at their core, this couple is all about graciousness, kindness and loving commitment.

John and Cassie took advantage of off-season rates and discounts for their December wedding.

Big Tip: A holiday wedding is all about timing: you'll find great deals from wedding vendors and many venues if you schedule your wedding between the weekend immediately after Thanksgiving thru December 15th.

This three-week window is often "downtime" for many of us in the wedding business and while some take this as vacation time, many wedding professionals offer sweet discounts and added value to provide products and services during this time.

Planning Your Seattle Wedding Ceremony? Three Quick Tips To "Remember More..."

A funny thing may happen to a bride or groom on the way down the aisle ~ or when a wedding ceremony begins...wedding ceremony anesthesia!

Really!

A wedding ceremony is a big emotional event. Knowing this, I often write for "moments" as moments and the "feeling" of a ceremony are what a couple and their family and friends will remember in the coming years, not the actual words.

As you plan your ceremony, here are three quick tips to "remember more..."

1) Slow Things Down. Elegant humor in the first minute or two of a ceremony relaxes everyone and "grounds a couple" to remember more of their ceremony... Memo and Kristin (in the photo above) are a great example of this. They mixed the sacred with elegant humor and created great ceremony memories for their wedding day at Shilshole Bay Beach Club.

2) Don't Over Practice. Rehearsals are terrific and at the same time, spontaneous moments create lifetime memories that "planning tactics" can't replicate.

3) "Focus On Each Other" ~ I encourage a couple to "focus on the other" during the ceremony - and by doing so, the rest of the world hopefully fades away a bit.