Getting Dumped By Your Wedding Officiant - What To Do When Your Officiant Cancels Or Is A "No Show"

As I was leaving Ryan and Angel's wedding ceremony at Volunteer Park yesterday, I checked my phone messages.

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A groom named Larry left a message saying their Officiant was a "no show" on this afternoon and they were in a panic to find someone to marry them. Fortunately, I was able to zip down to Pike Place market and marry them last night, in front of 40+ friends and family.

So, what do you do when your Officiant cancels at the last minute or is a no show? During the high season (March - October), finding an Officiant at the last moment is most often about "luck" or "good fortune" as many Officiants are booked. Sorry, no easy answer here. My best advice is to get on the phone and start dialing. Or as "insurance," make sure you have a copy of your ceremony and get a friend/family member ordained on-line so they can step up in an emergency. This is especially important when it comes to a destination wedding.

Seattle Wedding Nightmares: 4 Important Things To "Know" As You Plan Your Wedding Day in Seattle, Washington...

Weddings are a beautiful thing. Especially in Seattle, Washington during the popular summer months.

And, on the way to a wedding day in Seattle, there are "local/regional planning situations" that can create added wedding day anxiety, stress and the occasional wedding planning nightmare.

As you plan your Seattle wedding this summer, I invite you to consider these 4 planning tips if you want to want to move into your wedding day with more grace and ease:

1) Seattle's Seafair Weekend - Traffic! Each Summer, Seattle goes crazy for its annual Seafair celebration. This culminates on the first week-end of August (check the calendar for exact dates) with a 3-day weekend extravaganza which includes hydroplanes and aerial acrobatics by the Navy's Blue Angels. Due to hydro practices and Blue Angel practices, the two bridges over Lake Washington are closed for periods of time on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, creating traffic chaos in Seattle.

If you have other dates to work with before confirming a wedding date, I encourage you to select another weekend. If you already have your date planned, consider putting an earlier ceremony start time on your invitation as people are often delayed/late because of traffic. Also, depending on where your ceremony is located, you may have engine noise from overhead as the Blue Angels fly over!

2) The Seattle Mariners/Seattle Seahawks/Seattle Sounds (August/September traffic nightmare combo) - Again, this is a well-known event cocktail that can create serious local traffic snafus, particularly if a wedding is located in downtown Seattle. Each August and September, the Seattle Mariners, Sounders and Seahawks schedule a game on the same day - and as both sports facilities are only a block or so apart, this create monumental traffic jams in and out of Seattle.

If you can, check ahead and see when the Mariners, Sounders and Seahawks are scheduled and adjust your wedding start time as needed. If you have already booked your wedding date and both teams are playing, alert your guests and suggest they arrive early to enjoy a complimentary cocktail!

3) Be Careful About Booking Your Wedding At The Seattle Center Space Needle On Bumbershoot Weekend - Bumbershoot is a huge and very fun music festival hosted at Seattle's Seattle Center each Labor Day Weekend. If you are looking at The Space Needle for your wedding ceremony and celebration (a very cool place!), talk to staff about logistics and parking because of the high auto and foot traffic all over The Seattle Center grounds.

Also, beware that if you do hold your wedding high in the sky in The Space Needle, you may hear music from the bands playing below. For most couples, this only adds to the color of their wedding!

4) Timing It Right And Don't Get Left Behind: Catching A Ferry to Kitsap County In The Summer Months - Each year, hundreds of weddings are held across the Sound from downtown Seattle in the beautiful area of Kitsap County. From Seattle, you can drive to Kitsap County and it's most convenient to take a ferry from downtown Seattle to either Bainbridge Island or Bremerton.

If you are planning your wedding on a popular Summer Seattle day, beware that the Washington State Ferries are packed with autos and people and oftentimes, family and friends have to wait one or two ferries before they can get on.

To make things more convenient for your guests, consider having them walk-on the ferry and then plan to have a bus or shuttle on the other side to get them to your wedding venue. This way, your family and friends can just park on the "Seattle side" and enjoy a ferry ride with curbside service to your wedding!

Marriage License: How To Apply For A Marriage License in Seattle, WA/King County...

Okay, there isn't the most romantic of topics and here you go!

To be married in Seattle, Washington, you need a valid marriage license. Whether you are being married in three days, next week or next month, here are easy steps to obtain and use your license in Seattle.

If you are being married in Seattle, Washington, you need a valid marriage license issued by King County (or any County in Washington State).

To do this, you and your partner will visit a Marriage Licensing office in Seattle/King County during regular business hours. The cost for the license is $64, cash or debit/credit card. No blood test is required and both of you must at least 18 years of age.

When you leave the government office, you'll walk away with a packet of legal paperwork which you will give to your Officiant or Minister on your wedding day. The person who marries you must review this paperwork before your ceremony takes place and he or she will then get required signatures (both of yours and two witnesses) and return your signed legal document back to the County for processing/certification.

Note: There is a 3-day waiting period from the date your marriage license is issued. What this means is that from the date your license is issued, you must wait 3 full days before you can be legally married. Also, most people who reside in the Seattle area secure their marriage license in Seattle. If by chance you are being married in any other County in Washington State, the license you secure in Seattle/King County is valid in all Counties in Washington State.

For more information, please visit the King County Marriage License website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/marriage.aspx or call (206) 296 4021. All particulars are on this website (including office locations) and while most couples do apply for a license in person, you may initiate the process via phone and regular mail.

Once you have your valid license in hand and have exhausted the three-day waiting period, you can get married!

On Your Wedding Day, Take A Break To Create Sweet Personal Moments...

My wedding day was a blur.

I don't remember much.

What the heck happened?

I wish I could have relaxed more.

In working with couples, I often take pre-emptive action around the ceremony portion of a wedding day so a couple has some private time or quiet time immediately after their ceremony.

Yes, a wedding day is a huge/big experience. A smart couple consciously creates "moments" during a day where they are alone, quiet and can just "be."

As you consider "what to do" immediately after your ceremony, consider this possibility - take "quiet/private time" right after you walk away from your "we're married" moment.

Instead of a receiving line or turning around to greet family and friends, take 15-20 minutes alone together. You will never again have your "just married" moment so take advantage of this time to sit together, go for a short walk with your photographer or share some champagne and appetizers.

Also, while the words of your ceremony are very important, work with your Officiant around the "feeling" of your ceremony. This will help create moments within your ceremony that you will remember. Oftentimes, a couple doesn't really remember many of the words from a ceremony (really!). In other words, it's the feeling one remembers more than the words.

The key to sweet personal moments on a wedding day? Set them up - don't expect them just to happen.

Beautiful Photo: David & Rachel - http://www.tashaowen.com/

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.

A Soldier's Gift To His Sweetheart: A Planned Wedding Day...

A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from a soldier named Zach.

I quickly understood that Zach was taking it upon himself to coordinate a sweet and simple ceremony and celebration for February 20th, a gift to his sweetheart, Meghan.

We talked a bit and before you know it, Zach decided on treating a dozen family and friends to a celebration dinner at The Bark Frog in Woodinville, which is on-site at The Willows Lodge.

Of course, Zach would have to get married first.

And Zach's wedding wish came true. He exchanged vows in a park-like alcove at the Willows Lodge to the delight of a small group of family.

Photographer Ron Shaw from http://www.aaaamazingphotography.com captured the weight and seriousness of this moment in the photo above.

Zach and Megan ~ much happiness to you!

What Ruled On Valentine's Day 2011? Tiny Weddings that Were Big/Huge!

In the years that I have been doing this work, I've only had two weddings with big guest lists on Valentine's Day.

In my experience, most weddings on Valentine's Day are small in size and big in heart.

Erik and Sabrina dashed through the pouring rain for cover inside Salty's on Alki yesterday to exchange vows overlooking the water and Puget Sound.

The guest list was small, including Erik's parents from Sacramento, and the love in the room was BIG!

Photo: The Fabulous Jenny at http://www.jennygg.com/

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

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.

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

Jonmark and Emilie's Wedding Ceremony ~ At A Hidden & Little Known Park In The Center Of The Seattle Universe ~ Fremont!

It was a grey January morning last week and an email popped up on my screen.

I was delighted to see the note was from Jonmark and Emilie, a couple I married in the most wonderful and obscure park in Fremont last Summer!

Like Jonmark and Emilie, if you are looking for a hidden gem of a Seattle park for an intimate wedding ceremony, take a peek at the Fremont Peak Park ~ it's quaint with a lovely view and being a neighborhood park, it doesn't have alot of foot traffic.

Fremont Peak Park: http://www.fremontpeakpark.org/

"Annemarie - Six months in and the wedding seems a bit far in the past but the joy, laughter and warmth of the day are still very present. Thank you again for making the ceremony cheerful, simple and authentic to us." ~ Emilie and Jonmark

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Photo: Sacha Blue at http://www.sachablue.com/

A Fall/Winter Wedding Full of Style: Ryan and Karin's Wedding at Hidden Meadows, Snohomish...

Fall and Winter weddings have a much different feeling to me than weddings in the Spring or Summer months ~ particularly if a wedding falls close to a holiday.

There is something about the glow of candles in the darkness ~ the anticipation of the holidays ~ the cozy feeling to a warm indoor space~ and how wedding attire is different in style in the colder months ~ that wraps a beautiful bow around a Fall or Winter wedding date.

And better yet, oftentimes a couple can get more value and/or a preferred rate on venue/services in the off-season!

With this said, Ryan and Karin were married this past Thanksgiving weekend at Hidden Meadows in Snohomish.

Planner Erin Lindeman took her signature black and white motif and crafted a beautiful design for the ceremony and reception areas, capturing Ryan and Karin's contemporary style.

Photographer Kristen Honeycutt didn't let Ryan and Karin down on their wedding day. In fact, she went over the top! In addition to gorgeous images from this wedding day, Kristen also created lifetime momentos with funsy and eclectic photos from her "crazy cam" photo booth at the reception.

Ryan and Karin ~ I wish you much happiness in this new year - and bring on those "love trips" to Costco!

Erin Lindeman: http://www.lindemanweddings.com/

Kristen Honeycutt: http://www.kristenhoneycutt.com/

Life Of A Seattle Wedding Officiant: Why I Would Love To Marry You And Why I Say "Check Others" Out...

Getting married - getting hitched - is a big huge deal.

When I meet with a couple, you won't find me "pitching a package" ~ i.e., the emerald package, the gold package, the pearl deal.

Instead, most often, when I meet with an engaged couple who is seeking an Officiant, I suggest that they meet with a number of Wedding Officiants.

Yes, I love this work that I do. And I love booking a couple for a wedding - especially one I am crazy about. Yet at the same time, I know one thing for sure. I'm the right Officiant for many couples and not the best choice for others.

Selecting an Officiant for a ceremony is a very personal decision and often a daunting decision for engaged guy and gal. When I meet with a couple, I don't arrogantly assume I'm the "right choice." I want a couple to talk or meet with a number of Officiants and to do their "selection homework." Then, when I am happily the best choice, I know that I have a couple who truly appreciates my personality, approach to this work and my heart and spunk. And I fully get that I am the best choice for them.

My thanks to Ann Pallesen for the gorgeous photo of her on her wedding day with a vintage camera. Photographer Sharlane Chase took this photo and it's one of my favorites - it's sweet, mystical and so very unique.

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.

Jim & Holly's Wedding Ceremony ~ Sweet, Simple & Memorable

Jim and Holly's wedding ceremony on the deck of a waterfront home in Des Moines as the sun was setting was a truly "happy moment."

Wedding Photographer Sean Werner joined me to get this wonderful and fun couple "hitched" at sunset ~ and with a couple of their closest friends as witnesses, Jim and Holly exchanged vows with big smiles and a few laughs.

To me, it doesn't matter if a wedding ceremony guest list is 2 witnesses or 200 people.

It's all about the "feeling" and energy of the moment. Yes, I know this sounds "woo-woo" ~ and it's true.

Few couples or family/friends remember the words of a wedding ceremony. What people do remember is the "feeling" and for Jim and Holly on that waterfront deck at sunset, the feeling was pure joy.

Sean Werner: www.weddingphotog.com

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!

Life Is All About Change - Missing Our Beloved Dog Huckleberry And What I Learned From "Huckie" About Weddings...

We have unexpectedly lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel ~ the most Handsome Huckleberry ~ to a fast growing tumor in his abdomen.

Greg and I rescued Huckleberry 3 1/2 years ago from a life of abuse and neglect and we loved this sweet little gentleman so very much.

Huckleberry was kind. He endured a life of neglect for many years and yet he saw the world with loving eyes and a huge heart.

Huckleberry would most often rest on his bed near my desk as I would work. Sometimes I would ask Huckie for a little inspiration while writing a ceremony. Most often, he snoozed through my questioning and today, missing Huckleberry, I offer these three wedding nuggets which remind me of Huckleberry.

~ When it comes to a wedding, lead with kindness and gratitude and on a wedding day, live in the moment with happiness. Guests often take their cue from a couple ~ family and friends love a ceremony and celebration oozing with appropriate gratitude and graciousness.

~ Everyone is beautiful and handsome on a wedding day. Everyone!

~ Wag more. Bark less. Huckleberry stole this from a car bumper sticker and it's true beyond measure.

We miss you, Huckleberry. So very much.

Love, Annemarie & Greg

Robb and Ann's Sweet And Intimate Wedding Ceremony At The Edgewater Hotel ~ Sunset, Ferries, Very Happy Faces!

Robb and Ann traveled from California to downtown Seattle to be married waterside on October 22nd at the wonderful Edgewater Hotel on Alaskan Way. They exchanged personal vows that were a surprise and it was truly a hankie moment.

The Edgewater Hotel is a favorite of mine for a wedding ceremony and reception - whether the guest list is 2-10 happy people or 200+ happy people.

The weather was iffy during Robb and Ann's wedding week and on Friday afternoon/early evening, the clouds parted and we had beautiful sunshine on the "wedding deck" overlooking the Puget Sound!

Photo Guy Kier from Firstlight Photography was on hand to capture the moment ~ isn't the smile on Ann's face to the right just fabulous?

Robb and Ann ~ How wonderful to have a "place" to return to celebrate your wedding day and future anniversaries!

First Light Photography (Kier & Mitzi) www.firstlight-weddings.com