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Posts Tagged ‘nondenominational wedding ceremony’

What to do About Your 2021 Wedding

Posted in Beach Weddings, Ceremony and Reception Locations, Outdoor Weddings, Park Wedding, Uncategorized, virtual wedding ceremony, Wedding Ceremony, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 6, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Did you say, “Yes!”?


Though things are still a little tricky for planning your 2021 wedding, what with uncertainties around vaccinations, variants, etc. you can still have a beautiful wedding celebration.

CONSIDER THESE OPTIONS FOR YOUR CEREMONY

*“Just Us Two”: enjoy an intimate ceremony now, just the two of you, and your big celebration at the end of 2021, or next year.

These two said “I Do” at Sunset Cliffs!⁠ Photo by @matolikeelyphoto

*Virtual “I Do“: Hold a Virtual Wedding Ceremony!
With the right elements in place, your ceremony can still feel intimate and sacred. And with the virtual option, everyone will be able to attend. Learn more in my guidelines.

*Small & Intimate
If you want your immediate family and besties at hand, a small intimate social-distance ceremony is a great option. And you can still plan for a big bash later.
Be sure your venue has clear protocol and procedures in place. Even better, hire a professional wedding planner to make sure it all runs smoothly. Photo by True Photography. Professional coordination by Holly Kalkin Weddings.

Remember to get your marriage license!

This is the LEAST ROMANTIC but MOST IMPORTANT part of your wedding ceremony!

  • Find your County Clerk where you will marry.
  • Make your appointment!
  • Your marriage license is generally valid for 90 days
  • These days due to Covid protocol, find out if the San Diego Marriage Hut is still in place with social distance to acquire your license.

I tell my clients when they pick up their marriage license, make a day of it! Walk along the San Diego boardwalk, visit the tall ships, or have lunch in the park.

MORE TIPS TO PLANNING YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY:
Wedding planner extraordinaire Tahnie @ivy_weddingsandevents and I talked wedding ceremony tips! Including navigating some Covid-related challenges that may still apply.⁠ Check out the full interview here!

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Intimate Social Distance Wedding 2020

Posted in Ceremony and Reception Locations, Outdoor Weddings, Uncategorized, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Dresses, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 21, 2020| Leave a Comment »

My final wedding ceremony of the year took place at one of my favorite venues under the trees.
Gratitude to Asha Bailey Photography for beautifully capturing the day.

Like many couples trying to get married in 2020, these two had their share of struggles, including trimming their guest count considerably, eliminating reception, even challenges acquiring their marriage license due to restrictions at the county clerk.
Still they maintained a great attitude and made their special day extra special for their guests – gift bags greeted everyone.

This intimate social distance wedding ceremony at Milagro Winery was a beautiful wrap to a challenging year. Milagro staff did a fantastic job of setting up the ceremony chairs with social distance seating and guests did their part wearing masks during the ceremony.

And I stood back 6 feet away from the couples and wedding party.

Here we are awaiting the arrival of the bride.
Love this custom color Groom’s suit!

  • Lisa and Brandon shared their vows in front of this gorgeous creation of natural wood and florals.
  • Wedding ceremony under the trees at Milagro Winery
  • Mom and Dad escort the beautiful bride (can you even with that gorgeous chapel train??!)
  • Even Dakota got in on the act as adorable “flower girl.”

We had Gayle officiate our wedding … and she was sooooo amazing! The whole process was just a great experience overall! Gayle, really took the time to get to know us as a couple and it showed at the ceremony. It was really special.”

~Lisa & Brandon, Dec. 2020
A small but important act – I always step away for First Kiss so their photographer can capture that perfect moment.
Congratulations Mr. & Mrs.!

Since a formal reception was not allowable, Best Man and Maid of Honor gave their toasts at the arch!
Earl Henry of @mydjsevents made it possible as the professional emcee with mic and sound system on tap:

Into the sunset . . .

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Intimate Outdoor Wedding

Posted in Ceremony and Reception Locations, Outdoor Weddings, spiritual not religious, Uncategorized, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Ceremony, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on November 12, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The gorgeous setting of Paradise Point lent itself perfectly for an outdoor, intimate, social-distance wedding ceremony.
This couple, like many others, had the disappointing experience of having to reschedule their wedding multiple times due to pandemic challenges. When it finally all came together, with a much smaller guest count, their very apparent love for each other was even stronger.

You did a fabulous job with our ceremony! Thank you so much for working with us and making it very much our own story. We received many compliments about how lovely the readings were, how well you presented the ceremony, and your comic relief during the sand ceremony! We loved it all! You are wonderful!”

Photographer Avalon Richards caught the gorgeous light and this happy couple’s lively style. All photos by @truephotography

Great to work with these incredible professionals!

  • Holly Kalkin @hkweddings
  • Maribel Beltran @paradisepointsd
  • Elegant Touch Floral Designs / sdweddingflowers.com
  • DJ David Cutler @DjDavidCutler
  • Concepts Team @ConceptsEventDesign

Holly Kalkin and the Paradise Point staff did a great job of setting up the ceremony chairs with social distance sections.

Social-distance ceremony seating

Jewel-tone shoes for the bride!
“First look” before the ceremony is a great option to have that exciting moment,
while reducing the stress of walking down the aisle.
(This is a nice time to share personal vows as well, for the particularly shy!)
Want to honor someone special? Pinning keepsake mementos to your bouquet keeps them close.
A proud moment walking with his groomsmen.
I printed their vows for them on beautiful gold-trimmed, heavy stock paper (doesn’t flap about in the breeze!). And, sometimes I bring my Italian glass paperweight to keep the vows secure.
With this ring
A great way to include someone in your big day – ask them to read a special poem. And, have your DJ provide an additional mic and stand to the side so your reader is all set to go!
Blending of the Sands is a meaningful ritual symbolizing two individual lives, joining together. Perfect for waterfront weddings, too!
Always great to work with a professional DJ, and David Cutler is one of the best! Makes me sound great, too. 🙂
How much do you love the pineapple aisle decor?

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Honoring Your Mom

Posted in Ceremony and Reception Locations, Outdoor Weddings, Park Wedding, Uncategorized, Wedding Ceremony, tagged , , , , , , , on November 13, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Every year my mother – who lives in Tucson – comes to San Diego for about 6 weeks to escape the summer heat of the Arizona desert.

She stays in a wonderful VRBO down near Balboa Park, and in my free time she and I play tourist in San Diego.

My service as a ceremony officiant takes me all over San Diego County, to beautiful and unique event venues. This past summer it was my pleasure to officiate the wedding ceremony for Joe and Lori at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park.

ceremony site

under the Pagoda by the Koi pond

Since I always attend wedding rehearsal, I invited my mother to meet me at the Gardens after I had completed the rehearsal with the couple. Mom and I had a wonderful time touring the Gardens, enjoying the peace and quiet, and the stunning landscape design.

japanese friendship garden

A view from up top, of the extensive gardens and pathways

For me, it’s special to include my mother in my life this way and she has a better appreciation and understanding of my work.
We can easily take our mothers for granted or we might not even realize how much it means to them when we include them in our lives, even in a small way.

japanese friendship garden

On the bridge with my mother, the rock-lined stream flowing from the top of the Gardens

Traditionally in a wedding ceremony, a father escorts his daughter down the aisle, and mom doesn’t always have a particular role. After nearly 20 years in the world of weddings I have seen, suggested and encouraged many opportunities to include BOTH parents.

Opportunities to honor mom in your wedding ceremony:
~Many more couples are inviting BOTH parents to escort them down the aisle.
~Your mother escorts you down the aisle. Many moms have played the role of both parents in their child’s life, and this is a beautiful way to acknowledge that.
~A Rose of Gratitude: at the beginning of the ceremony, the couple presents a single rose to each mom (stepmothers, too!), in a gesture of gratitude for all the support and love they have received.
~A Reading: invite mom to read a special poem or verse during the ceremony
~Maid/Matron of Honor: there is no reason why your very own mother can’t serve in this very important role as well.
~In Memory: if you mother has passed, there are many ways to honor her in memoriam. Your officiant can acknowledge her during opening remarks. You can leave an empty chair at the front row, perhaps even with a single white rose on it. You can include photos of her at a special “In Memoriam” table at the ceremony.

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A wedding in paradise

Posted in Outdoor Weddings, Uncategorized, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Dresses, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 14, 2019| Leave a Comment »

So many aspects of this wedding I love. This wonderful couple met in high school, went their separate ways, then rediscovered each other as adults. A beautiful love story.

Thank you to Arash of Rugger Productions Photography for capturing the day
Holly Kalkin for incredible planning expertise
DJ Earl Henry
Paradise Point staff for their help and support

ceremony long view

Paradise Point is just that – a paradise oasis in a paradise city

arch detail - flowers

Beautiful arch detail by Thistle Dew Floral thistledewfloral.com

bride - parents - holly

The bride is beaming as she gets ready to walk up the aisle. And the amazing Holly Kalkin always behind the scenes hard at work, even straightening the gown at the last minute.

bride smile

blue shoes

Look at these shoes! Sassy splash of blue.

bride wiping groom brow

A really sweet moment. I had given the bride a few tissue to dab at tears, and she used one to attend to the brow of her man (it was a VERY hot day!)

her vows

Sharing personal vows

with this ring

With this ring . . .

sand_vows

I brought a little paper weight from home to hold their vows at this breezy spot.

sand thumbs up

Unity Ceremony Blending of the Sands: colors of blue and silver to represent the ocean. And together they created this keepsake for their home.

signing license

Whom will you choose to witness and sign your marriage license!?

earl on dance floor

DJ Earl Henry is one of the best in the biz. Not only is he incredibly professional – I can always count on him during the ceremony – he’s a lot of fun, too, at reception.

sunset pic

A practically perfect day

 

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