Wedding Ceremony Weather - Rainy, Cool, Very Hot - A Few Important Planning Tips...

Ryan and Jennifer Bolz *

May 27, 2007, Parsons Garden, Seattle

"and the sun shined through...

I officiate at many outdoor wedding ceremonies.

And there is this thing called "Northwest weather."

In planning your outdoor ceremony here are a few ideas and thoughts to consider if you need to go to "Plan B" on your wedding day:

On the morning of your wedding ceremony: Don't wait until an hour or two before your ceremony to make a decision about the rainy or cloudy weather. To make things easier and more elegant your wedding day, make your best decision as early as possible as to the location of your wedding ceremony and stick with it.

Create a "weather team" - Yes, if a week or so before your wedding the weather forecast is looking iffy, assign a couple of people jobs and tasks if you need to go to "Plan B." This way, there is a plan in place with specific people to move the ceremony indoors, call a list of guests, etc., change venues, etc. And if the weather is looking iffy and you still want to hold your ceremony outdoors, reserve and rent a tent for the occasion.

"Rain" is one thing - "Heat" is another - In this work that I do, I've officiated in the cold and rain and more often than this, in the blazing heat. And here is what I know for sure: many of my couples get married in the hot summer months and being married in 90' degree sun isn't comfortable. If you are being married outdoors and on a very hot summer day, consider being married in the shade (makes for better pictures!) or under some cover so that you and your family/friends aren't melting.

Just thoughts for this cloudy Monday morning...

*** Beautiful photo by Sean Werner, Werner's Photography, www.weddingphotog.com

Welcoming & Seating Your Guests For An Elegant Start To Your Ceremony

Scott & Pamela Faulkner

May 20, 2007

Hollywood Schoolhouse

I had a surprise a week ago at Scott & Pamela's wedding!

Scott and Pamela had a fairly large community of family and friends at their mid-afternoon wedding ceremony - and not only did the group seat themselves without any prompting, but they were the most "on time" group of people I have seen in a long time!

Welcoming Guests: To elegantly welcome your guests, have two people at the door to greet people as they walk in. This gives guests an idea of what is going on - when things are starting, where to put a coat, where the restroom is, etc.
Seating Guests: Having been to more weddings than most, I can tell you that most guests like to seat themselves. While ushers are a nice touch and appreciated by some people, the majority of people tend to want direction on seating but prefer not to be ushered and formally seated. Considering this, have two people as "seating directors," offering seats to people so that the aisles are filled first and the seats in the front are also filled just before the ceremony starts.

** photo by Kate McElwee: www.katemcelweephotography.wordpress.com

Your Wedding Rehearsal - 3 Top Rehearsal Tips To Insure An Elegant Ceremony...

Ryan and Erin Bowles,

Married May 19, 2007, Tyee Yacht Club

Go Team Bowles!

In this work that I do, I've been to many rehearsals. And rehearsal parties come in many shapes and sizes: big and small, organized and chaotic, emotional and stressed, fun/festive and uptight/concerned, full of humor and a tad more serious.

A wedding brings up all sorts of emotions. It's a ritual of transition and transformation - from one stage of life to another. So, given that emotions are often all over the map at rehearsal and on a wedding day, here are three top tips to consider when planning your wedding rehearsal:

1) 30 MINUTE RULE. Often, people are late to rehearsal. So, to keep any dinner or afternoon/evening engagements and appointments, tell everyone to arrive at 5:00 p.m. if your rehearsal is at 5:30 p.m. By having everyone arrive "30 minutes early," you give people a chance to mix and mingle, take a breath and everyone is then unknowingly on schedule.

2) BRING YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE. I request that my couples bring their marriage license to rehearsal. This insures that I have the license for the wedding day and it's one last thing for you to worry about.

3) GET CREATIVE. When you are at your wedding venue for rehearsal, talk to your Officiant/Minister about 'staging,' i.e., creative placement of wedding party, how your Officiant may move around in the ceremony, etc. Often, your Officiant has ideas for making a ceremony more fluid and interesting once they get a sense of the venue and your best wishes for your ceremony. For instance, many of my couples now choose to face their family and friends instead of each other or me. This gives family/friends and opportunity to more fully experience a wedding ceremony and also makes for some very beautiful pictures.

Handsome Henry - A Rescue "Miracle" - From Blind to Sight...

HANDSOME HENRY, Blind & Neglected, Rescued 2/13/07

Eye Sight Restored in Left Eye, March 2007

Adopted to Loving & Forever Home, April 2007

While I love my ceremony work - and do this work full-time - another huge part of who I am is all about rescuing and rehabilitating abused and neglected companion animals.

Please indulge me - I'd like to share a little joy. No, alot of joy!

Working with two of my dedicated rescue pals, Barbara and Carl, we rescued a nameless blind cocker spaniel from certain death in mid-February. We named this furball "Handsome Henry" and under a ton of mats and hair, we found the most beautiful cocker spaniel.

Working with Barbara's small and mightly animal rescue organization, www.vipp.org, and through the generosity of several benefactors, Handsome Henry's eye sight was restored in one of his eyes on March 6th. He endured four weeks in an elizabethan collar (no fun for a dog) and repeated visits to and from the doggie eye doctor to insure the healing of his fixed eye.

And now, Henry can see!

He's gone from blind to catching biscuits and watching everyone and everything. It was amazing journey for us to be with a dog who was born blind and then one day woke up and saw the world around him.

And in keeping with Handsome Henry's good fortune, he has been adopted by a wonderful lady and now lives in the lap of luxury in a nice house with his choice of bedrooms!

Handsome Henry - and all the dogs that I work with in this rescue work that I do - help keep me in the present. The courage of these dogs who have endured so much suffering and abuse is an inspiration in all that I do. While I deeply love my ceremony work, nothing brings me as much true personal joy as helping to relieve a companion animal of suffering. Well, okay, perhaps watching a "wedding dog" walk down the aisle in pure delight, celebrating the wedding of his/her guardians!

Creating A "Gratitude Surprise" Within Your Wedding Ceremony

Brad & Leann Weiss, Lake Wilderness Lodge, Maple Valley, WA

Saturday, April 21, 2007 photo by: www.weddingphotog.com

A week ago, I had the honor of marrying Brad and Leann at the beautiful Lake Wilderness Lodge in Maple Valley. Within their ceremony, Brad and Leann chose to present surprise roses to Leann's Mother, Jean, and her Aunt Julie.

Creating and delivering a "surprise" of any sort within a wedding ceremony takes sensitivity and care. I occasionally suggest a surprise to a bride or groom and when it comes together, it's usually more poignant and memorable than we both thought it would be.

And a "surprise" can be anything you'd like to make your ceremony uniquely yours and memorable. For instance, in the past I've had:

- A groom get down on one knee and propose to his bride (he did not formally propose) and she was overcome with gratitude and tears.

- A bride flew in a "surprise guest" for her groom - a best buddy from the groom's recent days in Iraq.

- A couple "surprised" the bride's parents with a trip to Poland - a place they have always wanted to go in appreciation for unique help/support given to the couple in the past year.

So, consider a "surprise" in your ceremony. If it "feels right, " in my experience it usually is.

**My thanks to Sean Werner of Werner's Photography for this beautiful picture of Brad & Leann!

The Farm Kitchen: A Wonderful Venue For Your Wedding Celebration..

The Farm Kitchen, Poulsbo, Washington

www.farmkitchen.com

One of my very favorite places for a wedding ceremony and reception/celebration in Kitsap County and Poulsbo, Washington is a wonderful hidden gem: The Farm Kitchen.

Hollis Fay, Anna Joe and their wonderful wedding staff assist a couple in creating a memorable wedding celebration at their unique venue that exudes comfort, warmth and puts out some of the most fabulous food in Kitsap County.

So, if you're seeking to have your wedding celebration in Poulsbo (ferry rides are good!), you must make a personal visit to The Farm Kitchen. Oh, and they also have the most fabulous breakfast on the first Saturday of every month - their cinnamon rolls are to die for!

Isaiah and Mercedes Paradise - March 24, 2007, The Sorrento Hotel

Isaiah and Mercedes Paradise, March 24, 2007

Sorrento Hotel, Seattle, WA
Photo: Photo Elan www.photoelan.com

The Sorrento Hotel is one of my favorite places in Seattle for a small or medium size wedding. And on March 24th, I married Isaish and Mercedes in an intimate and sweet ceremony before 60 of their family and close friends. Jennfer and Brian Hartman from Photo Elan took some amazing photos of Isaiah and Mercedes and you can take a peak at the work of this creative and artistic couple at their blog: www.photoelan.com/blog. Congratulations, Isaiah and Mercedes!

Planning A Very Small & Intimate Wedding Ceremony? If So, Here Are Some Tips To Create A More Beautiful Moment...

On St. Patrick's Day afternoon of this year, I was honored to marry Darren and Julie in a small and intimate ceremony in the Penthouse Suite of The Sorrento Hotel.

Darren and Julie did everything right. We worked together to create a ceremony that fully included their children - one that appropriately recognized the beloved young adults in their lives and at the same time a ceremony that celebrated their unique partnership and bond.

If you are planning a small and intimate wedding ceremony, here are a few tips to consider:

• 1) Consider being married on an "off day." Plan your wedding on a day early in the week - you'll have more choices for a venue and you'll also save money.
• 2) Use your ceremony as a ritual of celebration and joy. Yes, this is true for hopefully all wedding ceremonies. However, with a small gathering, there is more opportunity for personal recognition of all gathered for the moment.
• 3) Enjoy a fabulous meal afterwards. In lieu of a wedding reception or larger party, I married a couple today at The Willows Lodge who took their 15 guests across the street for a marvelous and memorable evening dinner fest at The Herbfarm. So, whether it's brunch or dinner, and in lieu of a larger party, splurge on a fabulous meal and fully enjoy the experience.

My Great Good Fortune: To Be Invited To Officiate Your Wedding Ceremony When You Don't Even Really Know Me!

Beni "The Bride"

Trying Out Wedding Veils For Pure Joy & Fun!

(I am so honored to marry Beni & Rick on September 30th)

________________________________________

When Benita (aka Beni) sent me this photo of her taken trying out wedding veils, I couldn't help but smile big. You see, Beni's style doesn't include a veil and the look of pure joy and glee on her face is one for the books!

So, this post is really a "thank you" to the wonderful couples who come my way. Couples who trust me and invite me to create and deliver their wedding ceremonies - many times often at a point in the wedding planning process where they still don't know me and are flying on faith.

So, if I could list all of the wonderful engaged couples I'm working with this year, I would...and here is a short list of couples who have said "yes" to a deeply personalized wedding ceremony - "yes" to trusting me with their wedding ceremony - and "yes" to fun, creativity and creating a lasting and life long memory with a thoughtful and poignant wedding ceremony...

Jacquee and Chris; Jessica and Steve; Linnea and Tony; Stephanie and Jon, Kristin and Andy, Mary Ann and Craig; Kathryn and Nick, Andrea and Brandon, Becky and Terren, Amy and Brad, Steven and Lauren, Jeremy and Rhonda, Lisa and Shawn, Becky and John, Kandis and Charles, Amanda and Larry, Suzi and Craig, Steve and Pauline...to you and all of my couples, my deepest thanks and gratitude.

Annemarie

Tips for A Happy and Fun Wedding Rehearsal - Especially When Family and Friends Aren't Fully Listening!

Bride Bethany Rolstad (right) and Wedding Dog Bailey

In my wedding work, wedding rehearsals can be a lot of fun.

And first of all, nobody is fully listening.

On rehearsal day, emotions are all over the map. So to insure a smooth and fun rehearsal - and that everyone remembers the "action parts," here are a few tips to consider:

Give Yourself A Buffer Day - If you are being married on a Saturday, have your rehearsal on Thursday. If you are being married on Sunday, have your rehearsal on Friday. By giving yourselves a day between rehearsal/rehearsal party and the full wedding day, you have more room to breathe, to take care of last minute items and perhaps even take just a few hours away from everyone just for the two of you (imagine that!).

Half-Hour Rule - Tell your wedding party and family/friends that your rehearsal will start at 11:30 a.m. - but you and your Officiant/Minister know it will pretty much start at Noon. By giving yourselves a half-hour buffer, you are allowing for late-comers. And people are often late to rehearsal so as I am very fond of saying, bribes are good!

Action Parts Only - In my rehearsals, I keep the words sacred for the wedding day. My goal when we are rehearsing together is to make everyone comfortable with what, when, how and where - this way everyone involved in your ceremony is more fully present throughout your wonderful ceremony on your wedding day.

Rehearsal Dinner/Party - Schedule your rehearsal dinner/party for family and friends after rehearsal at a location near the actual rehearsal venue. By keeping travel distance down, you will make things easier for people - and traffic is always a consideration for people not famliar with the Puget Sound area.

What Makes Me Crazy? "The Perfect Wedding..."

TED & PALLAS DAME, JUNE, 2006, REDMOND, WA

"A truly fabulous couple!

Okay, I'm going to get on my wedding soapbox for a few minutes.

What makes me crazy? It's how the wedding industry markets "a perfect wedding, "a perfect day."

I've seen a lot of "behind the scenes stuff" at weddings and here is what I know for sure: if you're planning your day as a "perfect wedding," you are setting yourself up for possible disappointment.

In this work that I do, it's the imperfections that create a memorable and sweet wedding day. When I hear back from couples that I have worked with, I often hear about the wonderful details of the day - and I also hear about the "snafus" or the imperfections of the day. And these imperfections are many times woven into the memory of the wedding day with a smile, a grin - even laughter.

Why? Because a wedding is a wedding - and as much as we strive to create moments that are breathtakingly poignant and memorable - a wedding also creates moments that are silly, funny, a tad embarrassing and perhaps even odd.

So, two things to consider on your way to your wedding day: 1) a wedding brings up emotional "stuff." Keep your boundaries and prepare for a day that is joyful and perhaps has a few quirks, too. 2) The sweetness is in the imperfections - a wedding day goes so quickly. During your wedding day, create moments just to be and absorb - it's not so much what is said on this day, it's the "feeling" from the wedding day will be your sweetest memory in years to come.

A Wonderful Wedding Resource - Laurie Sue Brockway's Book, "The Wedding Goddess"

Thad & Kristin's Wedding Day, August 26, 2006, Alderbrook Resort

If you are bride looking for a fabulous "comfort" read on your way to your wedding day, I invite you to purchase a copy of Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway's book, "The Wedding Goddess."

Laurie is a wonderful and contemporary non-denominational Minister on the East Coast and her perspective, strategies and words of grace will sooth your way to your wedding day. You may visit Laurie's website at www.weddinggoddess.com

Handsome Hogi - The Joy & Loss of Caring For An Older Special Needs Dog...

My husband, Greg and I, have lost two of our beloved dogs in the past four weeks. At the beginning of the year, we lost our 16-year-old, Ms. Aimee, and on the last day of January, we lost our sweet Handsome Hogi.

Like Aimee, Handsome Hogi came to us just over a year ago after he was at a shelter for eight months. A special needs gentleman, Hogi came with a boatload of challenges - tumor, bad teeth, an enlarged heart and very bad kneecaps that made it difficult to get around. Oh, and he was also deaf!

And for a year, he was a big light in our lives.

We loved taking care of Hogi. It was a privilege for us to be guardians to a furry one who had suffered so and we hope we made his last year a comfortable and happy one.

Our home doesn't feel the same without Hogi. In this rescue work that I do, I'll never become accustomed to the loss of a dog. Hogi showed the two of us such courage and resolve. He had many challenges and he was ever joyful - every day.

We miss you, Hogi. And we love you dearly.

Annemarie & Greg

Jeff and Julie Barnett - An Intimate & Wonderful Wedding At The Sorrento Hotel

Jeff & Julie Barnett, their Wonderful Two Girls
and Maid of Honor/Best Guy!

When I look at the happy faces in this picture, I remember Jeff and Julie's wonderful wedding ceremony a few months ago.

What I admire about Jeff and Julie is that they wanted their wedding ceremony to be the centerpiece of their wedding day.

And it was on a crisp and beautiful October day last Fall.

Jeff and Julie were married in front of their dearest family and friends - and Jeff's two amazing and beautiful young daughter's - in warm and intimate ceremony in a suite at the Sorrento Hotel.

While the setting was truly beautiful, what struck me was the great joy in the room....a tone set by Jeff and Julie.

Jeff and Julie worked to with me to create a ceremony that celebrated their love story, acknowledged special family/friends and also sweetly and appropriately included Jeff's two young daughters. There is a gentle balance to including children of any age in a ceremony and together we created a ceremony that celebrated their new family and at the same time, honored their own very special and unique love story/partnership.

Jeff and Julie - thank you giving me the opportunity to be with both of you on your wedding day. I wish you great joy in your future together!

Annemarie

What I Know For Sure About Using a "Day Of" Coordinator For Your Wedding...

Because of the uniqueness of my work, I have probably been involved with more wonderful weddings than most Wedding Coordinators or Consultants.

And here is what I know for sure about the possibility of hiring a "day of" coordinator for your wedding day:

- If you are having a wedding with more than 75 guests and you do not have a dedicated friend/family member who oversee all details and activities of the day, seriously consider selecting and hiring a Day Of Wedding Coordinator. This wonderful person can assist you with specific pre-planning details but most importantly, he or she is your "air traffic controller" on the day of your wedding - absorbing all tangible and intangible tasks to insure that as a couple, you don't have to worry or fret about who, what, where, when and why.

I fully recognize this is an extra piece for the budget. And in my personal experience, I would invite you to cut costs in other places that really don't matter as much so you can have more joy and peace of mind on your wedding day - and perhaps before!

Is you would like a referral to a Day Of Coordinator, please email me at anne@annemariejuhlian.com

And a big hello to Gabriel and Jaime Angeles in the picture above! I was so fortunate to marry Gabe and Jaime last May at Thornewood Castle - truly an amazing couple in so many ways!

Annemarie

A Big Tip: The "30 Minute" Start Rule For Your Wedding Ceremony...

Michael & Christi Vacarro, Alderbrook Resort, 2006

Even if we never work together, here is significant wedding ceremony planning tip that will hcreate more ease and elegance around the start of your wedding ceremony.

If your wedding ceremony is to start at 6:00 p.m., put 5:30 pm. on your invites.

If your wedding ceremony is to start at 3:00 p.m., put 2:30 p.m. on your invites.

Why?

By creating a 30-minute buffer around the start time of your ceremony, you are immediately doing a couple of things:

- Since many people aren't personally familiar with wedding venues, they often show up right at the start time of a ceremony or a little late. This creates stress all the way around.

- By creating a 30-minute buffer, people arrive and are greeted in a more relaxed manner - rather than rushing in and finding a seat.

- And most importantly, by creating some wiggle room of time, a bride and groom immediately create a more welcoming environment where everyone is more relaxed. Plus, when you start "on time," this also protects the integrity of your food which in most cases you have spent good money on.

If you have any questions on this, please email me at anne@annemariejuhlian.com

What Our Beloved Dog, Ms. Aimee, Taught My Husband and Me About Love, Courage and Grrrr...."

Ms. Aimee, February 9, 1994 - January 5, 2007

My husband, Greg and I, lost our Aimee 10 days ago.

Beautiful Aimee came to us from neglect and abuse when she was about 2-3 years old. And she lived with us for 13 years.

Aimee was a ferocious little dog. She was a cocker spaniel/lhasa aphso mix and her big job was not only guarding us, but guarding the house. She loved her walks and car rides.

For me, Aimee brought much joy to my life. And she taught me so much about the courage to live, being protective and that several "grrrrrr's" a day are a very good thing.

In the rescue and rehabilitation work that I do with dogs, many animals have passed thru my life. Aimee was supposed to stay for a day or so and move on. That was 13 years ago. She passed peacefuly with grace and dignity after deteriorating from kidney disease and a tumor on her left hip.

I miss you, Aimee. So much.

With love forever,
Annemarie

YOUR WEDDING VOWS - Traditional, Contemporary...Or Very, Very Unique!

Chris & Ponzi, Bellevue Harbor Club, December 9, 2006

There was no better place for me to be on the evening of December 9th but at the Bellevue Harbor Club to officiate Chris and Ponzi's wonderful wedding ceremony.

Not only was this couple lovely to work with but one of their close friends playfully shared with me that this was the "geek wedding of the year!"

And keeping true to their passion for technology, Chris and Ponzi shared their wedding vows from small laptop computer screens - to the laughter and delight of their 200 happy family and friends! And while it made for a very appropriate and fun presentation of the vows, the content of of the wedding vows that Chris and Ponzi shared with each other was indeed very poignant and beautiful.

Here's what I know for sure about creating beautiful wedding vows:

- There is "no right or wrong." I work with couples of all faiths and traditions and encourage my brides and grooms to share vows that "feel" best for them. And there are many ways to do this - some of my couples write their own vows or I often write and create a unique set of personalized vows for my couples.

- Long or short doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how long or short your vows are. What matters is that the content is yours and yours alone and that your vows reflect your genuine intention and commitment to each other and to yourself.

- Vows don't "trend" like other pieces of a wedding. There are so many "trends" within the wedding industry but one piece that rarely trends are the wedding vows. While I have been upfront and personal to some very unique vow presentations (wedding vows by song, wedding vows in a comic voice), my couples tend to lean toward what I call "traditional contemporary," i.e., a unique blend of wedding vows that are familiar/traditional and comfortable - and often with a twist of uniqueness. Yes, it sounds like a cocktail of sorts but I think you have a sense of what I'm talking about! If not, please email me at anne@annemariejuhlian.com with your specific questions and let's chat.

Mementos - Creating a Living Legacy Of Your Wedding Day

In this wedding work that I do, I love to work with a couple to create a living memento - a living legacy - of the wedding day.

At Thad and Kristen's fabulous wedding at Alderbrook Resort on August 26, 2006, I orchestrated a group photo immediately after our ceremony was over.

Thad and Kristen led the procession out of the ceremony area to a grassy area where wedding photographer Marie Clare took a group photo from a second story balcony and voila! A fabulous memento of Thad and Kristen's wedding day - and this reduced size doesn't do the photo full justice!

As you plan your wedding ceremony and day, consider ways to create mementos of the day - whether it may be a special group photo, planting a seedling and watching it grow as you move into your married life together or perhaps the handprints of all of your guests on the border of a frame...or several frames. I saw a series of framed wedding prints with the hand prints of all guests at Justin and Terri's Kramer's home (married June 18, 2006) just last week and I was amazed at this contemporary and creative approach this couple put into showcasing their wedding day thru unique framed mattes and photos.

Each couple that I work with is very unique. In this very personalized work that I do, I encourage you to consider unique ideas that will create a memento(s) for years to come!

Scott and Chaz - A Magnificent Wedding at Lakewold Gardens

Sometimes in this work that I do, I hate to admit it but I have so much fun during a wedding ceremony. It's probably not the politically correct thing to admit but when I think of Scott and Chaz's wedding at Lakewold Gardens, a smile breaks across my face.

Some couples are purely festive. Some couples are more traditional. Some couples are simple and easy. Some couples are a mix of everything.

With Scott and Chaz, there was so much joy and laughter during their wedding ceremony. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but this beautiful photo by one of Seattle's best photographers, Michael Rosenberg, captures this couple's essence.

As my 2006 wedding season winds down, I find myself reflecting on the weddings of past years. Many come to mind. And when I pass a certain exit on I-5 near Lakewood, I often think of Scott and Chaz and know that the joy and authenticity they brought to their wedding is serving them well in their married life.