Four Weddings and a Baby Blessing!

Not a week passes in my work that I don't see or learn something new. I literally meet thousands of people every year-- if not to shake all their hands and learn all their names then at least to smile at them and connect as we all celebrate the love. I also learn interesting wedding rituals and just when I thought I knew them all, someone will surprise me with some new-to-me tradition. Something else I am always reminded of: every bride and groom have their own picture of just how their wedding day should be. Some folks want a big, fancy affair. Others want to keep it super simple and super small. Well this week, I had all of these points re-emphasized as I performed Four Weddings & a Baby Blessing. Here are lots of pictures and the stories behind them. But first, let's start with a little video that Vince and Minette made and are allowing me to share here (thanks, y'all!) Theirs was a teeny-tiny wedding at Chapel Dulcinea, with only their beautiful Blue Heeler, Emie, as a witness: 

On Sunday I did a tiny wedding at Umlauf Sculpture Garden, which is gorgeous every day of the year. This wedding brought together a Japanese groom and an American Bride. 

You can't tell by looking but this enthusiastic guest actually was coping with jet lag-- the groom's family arrived just the day before.

For this wedding I learned the San San Kudo Ritual. It's a  Shinto tradition that involves the bride and groom taking three small sips apiece from three different sized bowls. Very cool.

I think Umlauf Sculpture Garden is one of those Best Kept Secret Wedding Venues. It's so pretty and it's really easy to get to. The gardens are wonderful and the sculptures are lovely, too. I've done lots of weddings here, including my first one of 2011, on January 1st.

I snapped this picture after my second wedding on Saturday. This was a tiny little wedding at Bob Wentz Park, out past The Oasis, overlooking Lake Austin. 

Here's a little secret for thrifty brides with big imaginations and a playful spirit-- Tara got her veil at Terra Toys! Really. The shop has a great costume department and this lovely lace ran her all of $20.

The wedding at Bob Wentz Park was Buddhist, and included a part where I flicked water onto bride and groom from a leaf. Then, at the end, during the kiss, I gently pelted them with rose petals. 

The very laid back Buddhist wedding couple. 

This is the main house at Barr Mansion. I have many "absolute favorite" wedding venues, but Barr Mansion holds a really, really special place in my heart. This is where I performed my first ceremony as a professional (it was my second wedding ever-- my first wedding was thanks to some very kind friends who volunteered to be my guinea pigs). I remember being so nervous for that first ceremony, but Rick-- the main coordinator at Barr-- put me right at ease. Any time I get to return here my heart sings. The place is so romantic and so historic and on top of all that Rick is a hoot. 

Abby does the flowers at Barr Mansion. She knows a lot about the place-- her parents own it and she grew up in the mansion. Talk about knowing the business inside and out. And she always does such an amazing job with bouquets and arrangements.

The gorgeous bride right before her ceremony at Barr. I had such a great time getting to know her and her groom. Their wedding illustrated two points when their original officiant backed out at the last minute. Point 1: When interviewing officiants, check to see if they have a set agenda they insist on imposing and, if they do, unless you agree with them 100%, find someone else. Point 2: Avoid that problem and just HIRE SPIKE! She's super flexible!

Last year Barr Mansion suffered a true tragedy when lightning struck their ballroom and it burned to the ground. That place had been so stunning, with an Honest-to-Pete (Honest-to-PEAT) thatched roof. The good news is that they rebuilt and the new hall is just as stunning as the old one was. 

More of Abby's genius.

Another view out at Barr Mansion. 

Lookee thar! I got top billing! (Not really, but it was nice seeing my name on the board. Back in the old days that meant detention. No more!)

Yet another cool and crafty wedding idea. Those little cards in the drawers? Guests could take one out, roll it into the typewriter and leave a fun message. 

On Saturday morning I did a Baby Blessing for this wonderful family. I had such a great time meeting them and learning about them. Though I do far more weddings than Baby Blessings, I love presiding over these events, too. There are always lots of kids and happy people.  It was a wonderful way to start the weekend.

The Baby Blessing was held at the French Legation-- I just did a wedding there the other week. The French Legation is one of several bazillion wonderful venues in Austin. The grounds are stunning and this little carriage house makes for a very intimate ceremony setting, too.

Decorations for the Baby Blessing included these adorable little nests. 

If you're planning a wedding, a commitment ceremony, vow renewals, a baby blessing or any other event that calls for an officiant, I sure hope you'll check out my officiant website and give me a holler. I'd love to preside over your happy event. 

Deep in the Heart of Bride, Groom and City: Weddings in Downtown Austin

Gorgeous Cake by Sentelli's Bakery 

This past weekend I performed a pair of back-to-back ceremonies in the heart of downtown Austin. Very often weddings take me deep out into the Hill Country, or up north aways to Casa Blanca in Round Rock or Kindred Oaks in Georgetown, or into the 04 at Mercury Hall or Green Pastures. But sometimes I do get invited to do the honors at weddings that are right in the bustling center of it all.

Wedding #1 happened at the Palm Door. I always wonder if the owners are pun lovers like me and knew, when they named this place, it sounds like Palme d'Or, as in the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Unlike a flashy trophy, however, the spot has sort of a secret, tucked away feeling even though it is on the bustling edge of the 6th Street District. While some venues are ornate, the Palm Door is one of those blank slate places that allows couples to completely transform it into whatever they'd like. In this case, the bride chose a La Dia de los Muertos theme, executed by Keri Wootton and her team at Leave the Details to Me. As ever, Keri did a fantastic job from the Mexican paper banners spanning the ceiling to the wonderfully whimsical wedding cake with the skeleton bride and groom topper.

When I arrived at the wedding, I spotted a stunning vintage car in the parking lot, surrounded by groom and groomsmen. I asked if it was a rental for the day. Nope. Turns out the groom bought it as a wedding gift for the bride. Not only that, he bought it in Tennessee, had it shipped to Austin for the wedding, and will have it shipped back to their place on the East Coast now. Being a huge fan of old cars, I immediately asked the groom if he might like a second wife. (He politely declined.)

Right after the ceremony the couple took off in the car for a quick drive around downtown (a bigger madhouse than usual since it was a game day) before returning for the reception. I had to miss the reception (and most regrettably the mariachi band) but for good cause. As soon as Wedding #1 wrapped, I had to make a dash over to the French Legation Museum on San Marcos Street, just east of I-35, for Wedding #2. I know people usually describe dashes as "mad dashes" but, in fact, these venues are so close to each other I probably could've walked and made it on time.

In between weddings.

The French Legation Museum, if you've not been or heard of it, is a tres magnifique place to have a wedding. Not only is it beautiful and conveniently located, it has a really great history. The main house was built a long time ago, when Austin was a young town, and Texas was still a republic. The sprawling lawn and massive Live Oak trees make for a stunning setting. And the bride's room is above a carriage house, which is guarded down below by one enormous but very friendly tiger kitty.

Le chat d'gard at the French Legation Museum.

Wedding #2 was for a couple I didn't know prior to them contacting me, however since they're Austinites and I'm an Austinite and this town can be so small (mostly in a very good way), we had common friends, some of whom were at the wedding. It's always fun to look out on the congregation and see a familiar face or two, and I stuck around for a little bit of the reception, too, to catch up with these friends.

View from the top of the carriage house stairs.

The wedding itself was perfect, if I do say so myself. As is always the case, I worked very closely with the couple to come up with a ceremony that was truly about them and their love for each other. In this case, their love for each other included admiration for each other's parenting skills-- they have an adorable little baby. So when we were done with the vow exchange, we transitioned to a baby blessing. (Baby blessings are something I've added to my repertoire in the past year or so, my first one being for the baby of a couple whose wedding I performed back in 2007.)

After the ceremony, all the guests gathered at elegantly set tables up on the far lawn while the family took a little time for pictures in front of the main house, the one with the big, beautiful porch that makes me want to just sit and knit all day. The sky was fantastically overcast, threatening to rain without following through, and a nice breeze whipped the tablecloths into a happy little frenzy. Really a spectacular evening.

Whether you're getting married in Austin proper, out in the Hill Country, or need an officiant to travel with you to, say, Paris, I can help you out. For info on my Austin wedding officiant services, please check out my Custom Hitches Weddings website.