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My theory is that there is no such thing as an ugly bride and this has held true for me over the past seven years and several hundred weddings. As a wedding officiant I see brides in all shapes, sizes, ages and ethnic origin. I see women who have irregular facial features, bad teeth, unruly hair, big noses, eyes too close together or too far apart – whatever you want to describe as less than beautiful. I have seen short brides and tall brides, brides who were too fat or too thin or who thought they were too fat or too thin. I have seen pregnant brides, old brides and very young brides. All were beautiful. Read the rest of this entry »

The search for the perfect wedding song has always been one of the difficult tasks for Christian married couples. As an occasion full of love, liveliness and promises, good wedding songs not only set the mood of the crowd, but also describe the couple’s feelings and emotions for that moment and expectations from their life to come. Read the rest of this entry »

There is something to be said about buying a unique wedding gift. First of all, it better be unique and creative enough to go beyond the traditional gift of money. Most couples prefer cash as it helps with wedding expenses and the honeymoon. However, if you have it in your head that you want to give a truly unique gift as opposed to money, here are some ideas that you might consider. Read the rest of this entry »

Hey – it’s all about you; take back your ceremony!

It is a ritual – time honored and sacred – but that does not mean your wedding ceremony has to be like every other…yawn. Of course, some couples choose to be extremely original and opt for exchanging vows on a roller coaster, while bungee jumping or even dressed as trekies. I say – good for them for such uninhibited displays of originality. But even if you prefer a more traditional and “scream-free” wedding ceremony, you can still find creative ways to infuse your ceremony with elements that are distinctly you. Browse my favorite ceremony ideas: Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to weddings, the focus is usually on the bride. Everyone thinks of it as her special day, that event she’s been looking forward to since she was a child and the time when she’ll be the center of attention as she embarks on a new life. But what about the groom? It’s his day too, and one that he should plan just as carefully as the bride. Ideally it will be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for both bride and groom, so they should share the planning and the enjoyment of that magical day equally! Read the rest of this entry »

Depending on where you live, the average wedding can cost thousands of dollars. While some are in a position to spare no cost when planning the perfect wedding day, others simply can’t afford to or would rather see their hard-earned money used for something more permanent, like a new house. Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone hopes to have a picture-perfect wedding day. Getting to that point takes untold amounts of time, money, energy and patience. Even the tiniest detail cannot be left unchecked, if we have any hope of eluding Murphy’s Law. These days, brides-to-be must even consider potential allergic reactions to their flowers, in addition to the more traditional details. It’s enough to crush the faint of heart. Read the rest of this entry »

“We’d like our dog to be the ring bearer,” she said and he nodded. “You want your dog to be the ring bearer?” I echoed in a wobbly voice. “Yes,” she said with a perfectly straight face.  “It is because of the dog that we are together and we want him to be in the ceremony.” Inside my head I was hearing a voice screaming, “No. No. Not a dog in a wedding! No, that just won’t work.” But my mouth said calmly, “What kind of dog is it?” The groom responded calmly, “A Rottweiler.” (My life flashed before me along with the image of this big Rottweiler’s mouth around my throat as I tried to pronounce them husband and wife.) Read the rest of this entry »

While there are many important elements to planning a wedding, the wedding cake is certainly one of the most important.

After all, the wedding cake is the centerpiece of the wedding reception, and certainly the most important of all foods at the wedding. Read the rest of this entry »

I hear it all the time. Couples come to me after going through every other marriage improvement method under the sun and tell me they experience a brief sense of relief from a certain program, but with passing of time, they fall back into their old ways. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you skeptical that preparing for a wedding can be a spiritual experience, rather than a stress-filled journey of details? Put our timeline to the test and watch your engagement become the most spiritual time of your life.   Read the rest of this entry »

Marriage is a partnership. Is yours going to be an equal one?

All partnerships exist because each party brings something to the other that is needed and desirable. No partnership is exactly equal because the issues are so complicated that it is impossible to figure out their relative values. But the degree of respect each partner gives to the other can be pretty close to equal with a little care and love. Read the rest of this entry »

Most of us have some strong negative feelings about “do’s and don’ts” just like we dislike other people telling what we must and must not do. But sometimes knowing where the pitfalls are keeps us from falling into a hole we can’t get out of. And sometimes knowing what others did that did or did not work for their wedding helps us make our  wedding even more special. As an officiant some of my recommendations are: Read the rest of this entry »

You’re getting married, right? Congratulations! And, you want your wedding day to be as perfect and beautiful as you’ve always dreamed. But, if you choose the wrong photographer, your day may be a lot less than perfect and you may not be satisfied with the images your photographer captures. Bummer. So, how do you choose the right photographer? Read the rest of this entry »

You’re planning your dream wedding and instead of a traditional church wedding, you and your fiancé have decided on a beautiful plantation for your ceremony. You can’t believe your luck! The date you selected was open and the caterer, the photographer, the videographer, the florist, your favorite band and everyone in your wedding party was available for your special day.  Everything was planned to the last detail. It is a month or so before the wedding and everything is in place. The day is almost upon you and all you have left is to get that marriage license. With great anticipation you walk into the Clerk of Courts Office to acquire your license and you suddenly realize that you haven’t contracted anyone to perform your ceremony! Read the rest of this entry »