It’s now November and I move into my two months of “quiet time.”
As I do this, I look back on an incredible 2012, so very grateful for the couples who trusted me with their wedding ceremonies, tiny or big, casual or formal.
For me, it is never about the size of a guest list. It is about the joy and satisfaction I feel to be a part of a lifetime moment and to share in something that is big/huge for a couple. It’s about love. Lots of love.
So, I say “thank you” to each couple who invited me into their personal space to share in their love story.
Showing posts with label Seattle Wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seattle Wedding. Show all posts
Friday, November 02, 2012
Monday, February 28, 2011
February ~ Many Couples Are Now Planning Their Wedding Celebrations In The "Off Season" of February. Why?
What a sweet kiss!Moments after Peter and Hannah walked down the aisle, I managed to capture this intimate moment before they turned to greet family and friends.
At rehearsal, we weren't sure what was going to happen on Sunday, February 20th - snow, sleet, rain, sunshine.
And remarkably, Peter and Hannah got a cold and crisp day with lots of beautiful sunshine for their wedding ceremony at The Canal in Seattle.
More and more couples, like Peter and Hannah are being married during the month of February in Seattle. The weather is a tad more predictable than January - venue costs are value priced for couples - and couples find that family and friends love a celebration in this month as it brightens up a grey time of year.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Getting Married Outside Of The Seattle, WA Area? 3 Tips For Your "Destination Wedding!"
Each year, I travel to wonderful places all over Puget Sound and Washington State for wedding ceremonies - big and small.And over this time, I've had many experiences on the way to a destination wedding day. If you are planning your wedding outside of the Seattle area, here are three tips to help insure an easy and comfortable wedding ceremony:
1) Get Real About Timing Issues. If you are planning your wedding at a destination site that involves travel by car or ferry, your family and friends will appreciate sensitivity around the scheduling of your wedding day.
During a Northwest Summer, traffic and increased tourists can mess things up. As you work on a timeline for your wedding day (no matter if your guest list is 2 or 200), be overly generous with timing out the events of your wedding day so that you allow for traffic snafus, lost guests (or vendor), etc.
2) Shop Local For Vendors. Many couples hire wonderful wedding professionals out of Seattle/Tacoma and immediate areas for their destination wedding. And at the same time, don't forget to "look local" for vendors who may live in the immediate area. This can save your considerable money on travel fees and you have peace of mind that one or more of your wedding day vendors are "nearby!"
3) Be Extra Generous To Family and Friends. Don't underestimate the effort and expense it often costs to travel to a destination wedding - hotel, car, ferry fees, etc. If you are hosting a destination wedding, what a lovely thing it would be to throw a special party, dinner or barbeque for your guests who have travelled far or delight people who have made great effort to be a part of your wedding day with a special surprise or welcomed gift.
Fabulous Photo/Alderbrook Resort (Dustin & Erin) by www.jennygg.com
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Canlis Restaurant: A Sweet And Intimate Seattle Favorite For a Seattle Wedding Ceremony And Celebration...
I love driving my car up to the valet at Canlis Restaurant. It's such a fancy place and in all of the right ways.And for a small and intimate wedding ceremony, it's such a perfect venue with city and lake views.
Last night, I indeed did drive my car up to the Canlis valet for Christian and Kristen's wedding ceremony. It was small and sweet Seattle elopement - just the two of them and their witnesses.
The paradox of life plays out at a wedding ceremony: what is small is really big and what is big is really small. Last night, Christian and Kristen did something very big in a elegant and small way.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Jason and Kelly's Winter Wedding Day At The Salish Lodge ~ Snoqualmie Falls...
Jason and Kelly did The Salish Lodge proud!With their wedding designer and planner, Kevin Bradford, Jason and Kelly created a winter wonderland for their ceremony and celebration.
Yes, the wedding ceremony was beautiful and the reception was spectacular.
Yet, most inspirational is the love, commitment and devotion shared by Jason and Kelly and the intention they brought to their wedding day.
For Jason and Kelly, December 17th was all about their wedding day and this celebration was also about consciously envisioning their marriage.
In the chaos of planning a wedding, planning a marriage can get lost among the chaos and gentle tension of all things wedding. One of the gifts a couple can give themselves on the way to a wedding day are "time-outs" to focus on partnership, marriage covenants and opportunities to explore/expand intimacy and trust.
Beautiful Photo: www.azzuraphotography.com
Monday, December 20, 2010
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!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
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.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
2011 ~ Looking Ahead To A New Wedding Year And A Few Inside Planning Tips....
Greg and I are back from a wonderful two week vacation in the Caribbean ~ rested and excited to re-engage for a new year.Much like a bride and groom may feel at the end of their wedding day, is how I often feel at the very end of a 10-month wedding season - happy, worn out and so glad it's over.
Glad it's over?!
Yes ~ absolutely. It's a wonderful feeling to know that my weddings for the year are complete and well done (hopefully my couples agree). What I'm not shy about sharing with my couples and colleagues in the wedding world is the gentle tension I often carry and hide around every wedding.
The challenge of creating and officiating a wedding ceremony is this: you can't do it over. So with this work comes a level of attention and performance that demands a high degree of dedication and planning to insure a beautiful and memorable result - i.e., an authentic weddding ceremony.
As Kelly and Ryan worked to create a beautiful wedding day experience, thousands of couples in the Puget Sound area are now planning their weddings for 2011. Let me humbly offer a few hard earned "planning tips from the frontline of all things wedding..."
~ Keep It Real: If you want to be married on Alki Beach with 2 witnesses ~ do it. If you want to be married at Villa Academy like Kelly and Ryan with great pomp, do it. This is your wedding and keeping it real means doing what is right for you. Tune out all "do this/do that" wedding noise and stay true to what is important to you.
~ Plan Not Only A Wedding, Plan A Marriage: Your engagement time is not only for wedding planning, it is a remarkable moment in time to grow deeper in your loving relationship. Ask the big questions, create your covenants, road map your vision/desires for your marriage - use your engagement time to grow deeper in love and understanding so you may walk into your wedding day with grace and ease.
Here's to a wonderful 2011!
Sunday, June 06, 2010
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.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
One Of My Most Favorite Venues For A Wedding Ceremony & Reception - The Monte Villa Farmhouse in Bothell!
The Monte Villa Farmhouse, Bothell, WA If you are looking for a charming and sweet venue for your wedding ceremony and celebration, consider the marvelous Monte Villa Farmhouse.
Leigh Henderson and Angie Gooding do a wonderful job working with an engaged couple to create a "master celebration plan" for the wedding day - whether your wedding is on the smaller side or larger - casual or more formal.
Not all venues are created equal. Leigh and Angie consistently deliver a high level of service with their couples and I see this first hand when I officate a ceremony at The Monte Villa Farmhouse.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Congratulations to Derek and Amy Warren! A Most Intimate & Beautiful Ceremony At The Sorrento Hotel, Seattle, WA.
The Wonderful Derek and Amy WarrenSorrento Hotel, 2009
Marvelous Photo by Jenny GG: http://www.jennyggphotography.com/
Derek and Amy's intimate and wonderful wedding ceremony at The Sorrento Hotel on February 28th went off without a hitch!
One of the sweetest moments during the ceremony was when Derek presented Amy's daughter with a beautiful necklace and whispered a few private words.
Jenny GG of http://www.jennyggphotography.com/ captured this evening beautifully and Kristen Leah at the Sorrento Hotel added touches to insure the evening was beautiful, memorable and most of all, flawless!
Congratulations, Derek & Amy!
Annemarie
********
425 922 1325
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Getting Creative With Your "Presentation Of The Rings" - Kick It Up A Bit!
If you have having a wedding with a processional or an intimate gathering, consider a unique way to present your rings.
I encourage a couple to ask a special relative or friend to contribute an item on which to present the rings. This could be a book, a beautiful old-fashioned pillow w/a story, a crafted box, in a special shell from a sentimental place or perhaps looped around the neck of a stuffed childhood animal. This way, instead of the "usual pillow," you have a beautiful memento to take home from your ceremony and you have honored a special person in your life.
Annemarie
www.annemariejuhlian.com
425 922 1325
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