Austin Wedding Officiant: Giving Thanks for a Week of Thanksgiving Weddings

My partner, Ori, lending a hand.

It was another great week of weddings. A bit on the unusual side-- I performed two ceremonies on Tuesday. One was at Chapel Dulcinea, where there are ceremonies seven days every week. This particular wedding included a bride who speaks Spanish as a first language and so she wanted part of the ceremony delivered in Spanish. Mi Espanol es my mal, to understate the matter, but my partner, Ori, happens to be fluent, having lived in South America for a couple years. I asked him if he'd help out and thought for sure he'd decline. Instead he agreed, translating several sections and-- this was the really big part-- agreeing to not wear cargo shorts, which he lives in 365 days of the year. We had a great time and even swapped a smooch at the fountain 'o love out there.

The second Tuesday wedding was at a private home, parents of the groom. He no longer lives in Austin, but I guess everyone was traveling home for the Thanksgiving weekend, so it made sense for them to marry on a Tuesday evening. I love all kinds of weddings-- big and small-- but I have a special place in my heart for teeny-tiny backyard weddings.

Chapel Dulcinea, Wedding #1

Cakes for Wedding #2 -- check out the robots on the groom's cake.

Wedding #2, a backyard affair

Wedding #3 was also at Chapel Dulcinea, early in the morning after Thanksgiving. As with the two before it last week, this was a very small event, attended by the closest friends and family of the bride and groom, including their adult kids. The vibe was very Austin and, as is the case always with my job, I'm even happier to be alive after I say, "You may kiss!" than I am on the cheerful drive out to perform my duties.

Wedding #4, also the day after Thanksgiving, found me out at the Oasis. I've done several weddings at the Oasis and I know, I know, some people think it's touristy but there's a reason for that: Because IT IS Touristy! And that's something I love about it. You find people from all walks out there, the dining rooms on the lower levels are all abuzz, and then there I am, upstairs on the second or third level (second in this case) presiding over a wedding. It's very cool, actually. And the view-- despite the dropped water level-- is still really magnificent.

Oasis Wedding

Wedding #4, Oasis

Which brings us to Wedding #5, and a new-to-me venue: The Prairie, out in Round Top, which is about ninety minutes outside of Austin. The property and the old buildings are wonderfully funky-- it's owned by Rachel Ashwell, the English designer responsible for the Shabby Chic line of linens and home decor you can find at Target. The sky was so full and gray that day, and it was really, really cold. But the intermittent rain stopped in time for the ceremony, we all huddled close, and once I pronounced the couple husband and wife we all hustled inside for a toasty warm reception. I just loved discovering The Prairie and am already scheming for ways to hold a workshop out there. I certainly hope I'm invited to perform more weddings out that way.

Wedding #5 also brought together two new stepbrothers, both 11. And that makes me realize that all five weddings this past week included kids of the bride, groom, or both. Lots of new families coming together out there. So glad I get to be a part of it!

Here are some pictures from Wedding #5: