Hello 2013! We Are Off to a Great Start!

Well my first wedding of 2013 was beyond magnificent. It was a teeny-tiny affair, at a venue I just love-- The Inn at Wild Rose Hall. The couple, high school sweethearts, were totally chill and totally focused on each other and getting hitched. As it should be! And most all of the dozen attendees read something meaningful about marriage and commitment. The readings ran the gamut but every one was terrific-- the father of the bride gave a particularly moving speech. Bride and groom read super heartfelt personal vows and, not that it's a competition, but when the groom gave a detailed analogy between the '85-86 Boston Celtics and how his new wife makes him feel-- let's just say those were some of the most amazing, creative vows I've ever heard. Congratulations, y'all. Thank you so much for the honor. What a great way to start the year. And then it was on to....

Wedding Number Two for 2103 was at Chapel Dulcinea, which I like to call my office since I perform so very many ceremonies out there. This wedding, at sunset, was brrrrrrrrr super chilly-- 47 degrees but felt like 40 with the windchill. Not my coldest wedding actually-- my third coldest. The coldest was 39 degrees. Weather-- it's always something to consider in Texas, right? But if you're planning an evening, outdoor winter wedding in the Hill Country, you might let your guests know that it is perfectly acceptable to bring blankets. This couple helped warm up the event with a muy caliente mariachi band-- Mariachi Relampago, directed by Adolph Ortiz. OMG-- I LOVE MARIACHIS! And these guys were fantastic. Great singers, a big band, and really cheerful. I want to have them at my next birthday party. Heck, I want to just have a party so they'll come and play at my house.

Gearing up for the busy season now which seems a bit far away but I know it's not. Since January 1st I must've received at least forty requests to perform weddings. All those holiday engagements I guess. Looks like March/April/May are going to be super busy. Can't wait.

Want to book me for your wedding? Check out details at Custom Hitches Weddings. Thanks!

Unsolicited Advice-- Book Now!

When I meet with prospective clients, I like to emphasize that I try hard not to issue unsolicited advice. I then usually wind up offering at least a few bits of unsolicited advice over the course of the conversation. Okay then, I guess I still need to practice.

The reason I try to bite my tongue unless asked is that I think a lot of couples get hit with tons of advice from well-meaning but overzealous friends and family members. It can feel like too much, and in some cases it can feel like downright pressure is being exerted. You know, it's YOUR wedding, so you should, as the old BK commercial went, Have it Your Way.

That said, since I'm in this business, I've amassed an awful lot of helpful information over the course of performing 300+ weddings and commitment ceremonies. I know some really great vendors and musicians. I know the inside scoop on PA systems and what you'll need. I know shortcuts. I know how to run interference in tricky family situations. So I offer, as an added extra (which I do not charge for) to field questions that come up, make references, and show up a little early to just be an extra pair of hands the day of. Sometimes, I go crazy and really get involved-- like driving dogs home after the ceremony so they don't get overwhelmed at the reception.

Today, I have a few bits of unsolicited advice-- yours to take or leave. If you are getting married in April or October 2013, HIRE YOUR PROFESSIONALS NOW. This is not a ploy for me to get business. My April is nearly booked full (though I have a few openings) and October is getting there. Also, with global warming wreaking havoc on the weather, I find that these days more couples are looking at March and November (used to be that April and October were the "June of Texas," since June can be pretty warm). I think I've had about 15 requests for October 6th. I perform up to four weddings per day (though most often three is my max) and even still, that means I had to turn away nearly a dozen couples.

Another thing-- consider the heat. Seriously. I am totally down with doing outdoor weddings in summer, I do them all the time. And I'm pretty sure you can save a bit of money booking venues in the dead of summer. But if you're going to ask your guests to endure the heat, especially if they are from out of town, it's a very good idea to have water set up beforehand, water they can take to their seats. Fans aren't a bad idea either. I did a wedding the night it hit 109 degrees-- honestly, it was pretty nuts. You might also consider keeping the ceremony short so you can all get into the A/C quicker.

Okay, enough with the advice. For now. But if you do have a question you'd like me to answer here, just shoot me an email.

In Sickness and In Health

Gorgeous custom made rings feature the bride and groom's fingerprints.

So a couple of weeks ago, I was all set with a clever (I thought) post title: Five Golden Rings! You know,as in a partridge in a pear tree and all that. The idea was going to be that I had just finished five weddings in two days, launching the busiest time of the year. Now, technically, it would've been ten golden rings, and actually not all of them were gold. But the idea still felt good to me.

And then... And then, as Wedding #5 wrapped on April Fools Day, I fell ill. Very ill. You might think it's not a good idea for me to discuss such things here, that it might make you worry. Actually, one of the best questions couples ask me when interviewing me (and not enough couples ask this) is: What happens if you get sick the day of our wedding?


I have two answers to that-- the first is that I have one of those bodies that is healthy as a horse most of the time, but seems to just know when it's "okay" to get sick. In other words, the rare times I am under the weather, it's always in between weddings. I've done around 250 ceremonies now, and I haven't missed one. And I have no plans in the future to miss any. I just show up. It's what I do.

Okay, then, you might ask-- what if I break my leg? Well here's the second answer: in the past, I've always had two or three other officiants I knew I could count on to cover for me. And once, I covered for another officiant. These days, I have at least five backups, three of whom I trained myself, so I know that I have a plan B that includes someone with my sensibilities.

Remember that, next time you're interviewing vendors-- ask if they've ever had an emergency and how they handled it. It's a fair question.

Meanwhile, I recovered from my tonsillitis just in time to do another five weddings over the course of a single weekend. I'm telling you, it is busy busy busy over here. And so, herewith, pictures from ten weddings I performed over the course of eight days at all sorts of places including Chapel Dulcinea, Dunvegan Keep, Alamo Drafthouse, Barton Creek Country Club, Duchman Family Winery, and several backyards. I hope you'll consider hiring me to perform yours. More info at my wedding website: www.CustomHitchesWeddings.com