Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘bridal attire’

A Woodland Wedding

Posted in Ceremony and Reception Locations, Outdoor Weddings, Themes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 22, 2015| Leave a Comment »

How do you create a ceremony in the round? With focus, intention and logistical magic.

Gee and Jen were one of the most creative and fun-loving couples I worked with last year. Their motto for life and love: Be Good, Do Good, Always try your best

While staying true to the inherent tradition of a wedding ceremony, they certainly made it their own.

With friends and family being so important to them, Gee & Jen wanted to feel surrounded in their love. What better way than in a circle? The beauty of Temecula Creek Inn created the perfect setting.

Fantastic Photography by Melissa Abiador

Photo by Melissa Abiador

Photo by Melissa Abiador

A program fan is a great way to share great information with your guests, and help keep them cool, too! Photo by Melissa Abiador

A program fan is a great way to share great information with your guests, and help keep them cool, too! Photo by Melissa Abiador

socks

Fancy feet! Photo by Melissa Abiador

ceremony trees

The majesty of the trees extended the ceremony circle in their embrace. Photo by Melissa Abiador

Wedding attendants create a beautiful human backdrop outside the circle. Photo by Melissa Abiador

Wedding attendants create a beautiful human backdrop outside the circle. Photo by Melissa Abiador

A ceremony table would feel a bit awkward in the circle. Ask your wedding party to bring the ritual to you! Friends held the time capsule while Gee and Jen placed their letters to each other inside, along with a bottle of wine, and hammered it closed, to be opened on their fifth anniversary! {Wood is the element of the five-year wedding anniversary}

Photo by Melissa Abiador

Friends hold the wedding ‘time capsule’ while Gee and Jen place their precious cargo of love letters inside. Photo by Melissa Abiador

timecapsule box

Hand-crafted wooden wedding ‘time capsule’. Photo by Melissa Abiador

With this ring, I thee wed. Photo by Melissa Abiador

With this ring, I thee wed. Photo by Melissa Abiador

I now pronounce you! Photo by Melissa Abiador

I now pronounce you! Photo by Melissa Abiador

Congratulations! Photo by Melissa Abiador

Congratulations! Photo by Melissa Abiador

Rustic love. Photo by Melissa Abiador

Rustic love. Photo by Melissa Abiador

"Gayle, Thank you again for officiating our wedding! It was truly a pleasure to have you be a part of our big day - we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!"~G&J- Photo by Melissa Abiador

“Gayle, Thank you again for officiating our wedding! It was truly a pleasure to have you be a part of our big day – we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day!”~G&J Photo by Melissa Abiador

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Not so fast

Posted in Beach Weddings, Ceremony and Reception Locations, Outdoor Weddings, Uncategorized, Wedding Ceremony, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 25, 2015| Leave a Comment »

I’m meeting with an engaged couple and they are telling me what is important to them about their wedding ceremony.

“We just want it to be short and simple.”

When you say “short and simple,” what do you really mean?

If you want to get it over with, you can easily pop down to the county clerk and make it happen today. Here’s all the info for a San Diego wedding: https://arcc.sdcounty.ca.gov/Pages/marriage-licenses.aspx

Short and simple.

Maybe what you really mean is that you don’t want to be bored, or to bore your guests. Maybe you don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable with flowery language or emotional vows. Or that the wedding ceremony seems like such a big unknown and it’s a little nerve-wracking to go exploring.

Or maybe what you really want is to be authentic. An opportunity to experience this momentous occasion in a way that feels natural and true to you.
I can help you with that.

An emphatic "I Do!". Photo by Cassidy Hall

An emphatic “I Do!”. Photo by Cassidy Hall

Because it’s not about how long the ceremony is. It’s about connecting to the experience. As a nondenominational minister and officiant of sacred ceremonies, I can help you find ways – through readings, rituals, and expressing your personal story – for your family and friends to connect, too.

When it’s authentic–truly you–every moment of your wedding ceremony will feel good and exciting and inspiring.

When it’s authentic, you will create a memory that is so vivid you will be able to describe it in detail for the rest of your lives: when your kids ask you about your wedding; when you celebrate your 50th anniversary.

Authentic is unforgettable. Photo by Cassidy Hall

Authentic is unforgettable. Photo by Cassidy Hall

 

 

Short and simple is ok. Authentic is unforgettable.

Read Full Post »

April 1st Wedding – No joke!

Posted in Ceremony and Reception Locations, Decor, Favors, Outdoor Weddings, Themes, Wedding Dresses, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

For their April 1 wedding celebration at Grand Pacific Palisades in Carlsbad, this couple playfully executed a fun springtime event with grace and whimsy.
From pinwheels in the arbor to argyle socks reflecting their gray & yellow theme, Katy and Troy were so fun and fun-loving!

Argyle socks reflect the fun spring-time wedding theme of yellow and gray

Cutest funnest blingiest bridal shoes ever!

Their creative execution of playful surprises throughout the wedding made this such a memorable event, and fun for their guests as well.
Friends and family got in on the act as well – Mother of the Bride created all of the centerpieces with florals from a wholesaler, and friends put set up a fun interactive Candy Bar for guests to take home goodies.

Katy & Troy: fun-loving and in love

“Gayle did everything we hoped she said she would and more. . . . it was absolutely the best choice we made in the entire wedding process. The fact that I could relax and enjoy my day with my new husband, family and friends knowing that everything was taken care of was invaluable.”

Wedding guests can make their own to-go bag favor of goodies from the candy bar!

Congratulations you two!

Wedding professionals:
Photographer
Natalia Cruz

The bride's bouquet beautifully displays her grandmother's jewelry

Bouquets & Boutonnieres
Robyn Foreman

Mother of the Bride created these sweet whimsical centerpieces. Yummy Cupcakes provided by SweetCheeks Bakery

Cupcakes
SweetCheeks

Hair & Makeup
Cassie Talamantez

DJ

Kenny Romans

Read Full Post »

No need to freak

Posted in Goddess Bride, Wedding Dresses, tagged , , , , on May 6, 2009| Leave a Comment »

One of my brides recently had an issue come up with her wedding dress. About a month before the wedding, the dress had still not arrived in the bridal salon and it was expected it would be another two weeks before it came in.

The sales person at the bridal shop, upon telling her the bad news, stated that the bride seemed so calm and was surprised the bride wasn’t freaking out.

Later the bride informed me of the situation and then asked, “Should I be freaking out?”

I would describe this bride as the ultimate goddess bride!

Just because many other brides might have freaked out, doesn’t mean that’s the best reaction.

I advised the bride to get all the information she could from the salon about tracking the status of the dress, backup options, turnaround time for fittings, etc. It’s all about assessing the situation and seeing what’s possible.

There was no need to freak out since the salon informed the bride of everything they were doing in their best effort to resolve the situation, and even offered her another beautiful dress already in their inventory that was similar to hers, as a backup.

Tips to Avoid Freaking Out:

~If in fact your dress has not arrived from the manufacturer as scheduled, get all the information about when the dress will arrive in order to make an informed decision.

~Decide on your boundaries – are you comfortable waiting or would you choose to try another salon or instead take their Option B dress?

~Ask about refunds, discounts, guarantees

~Ask for solutions. Sometimes the salon will come up with an idea you had not considered.

~Allow people to do their best for you.

Sometimes we freak out because we feel powerless. Empower yourself with all the information and then the decision is all yours. Freaking out doesn’t help anything.

Usually when we remain calm, situations are more easily resolved and it is almost unbelievable how many resources become available to us when we allow them.

In this case, the dress arrived in plenty of time for alterations and the bride was beautiful!

Read Full Post »

Running of the Brides!

Posted in Wedding Dresses, tagged , , , , , on February 20, 2009| 2 Comments »

It’s time again for the annual Running of the Brides! This infamous event at Filene’s Basement is an amazing opportunity to secure your wedding gown for as little as $250! If you have a strategy and a take-no-prisoners team on your side, that is.

Do know someone who’s been one of the lucky (crazy? fearless?) brides to find her dream dress in Filene’s – Drop us a comment – let’s hear the story!

I love this response on Filene’s web site under FAQs:
“Are men allowed in the store during the sale?”
Sure, if they dare.

Watch this homevideo of the madness as the racks are cleared in 2 minutes flat:

Filene’s Basement | Running of the Brides
Upcoming Bridal Events 2009 
Feb. 20th Boston, MA

Feb. 27 in New York, NY

March 20 in Atlanta, GA

April 3 in Rockville, MD

July 24 in Chicago, IL

July 31 Washington, D.C.

August 21 Boston, MA

October 16 in Cleveland, OH

Read Full Post »