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!

Small Weddings-- Trending?

Some backyards are bigger than others, no?

Twice this month, The New Yorks Times ran articles about how some couples are going for smaller weddings these days to save money. The first article was about eloping, with just the officiant and photographer for witnesses. The second article focused on backyard weddings.

I admit I have a special place in my heart for backyard weddings. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy the big weddings I perform at fancy venues that offer all the bells and whistles and then some. I'm happy to dress up and step up for those occasions and I love seeing how couples pull out all the stops. I was just talking to my sister about her daughter/my niece's wedding in South Jersey and that was a BIG one. They had a blast getting ready for it and the whole thing was worth it-- my sister says it was everything her daughter ever dreamed of, and as it turns out my niece is one of those young women who imagined her wedding day from an early age.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen at the big backyard wedding I did recently.

I certainly work with some couples who put months, a year and sometimes even more time into planning giant events. But I also work with lots of couples who work on a shorter deadline, and are flexible with everything from decorations to venue to time of ceremony. They don't exactly make it up as they go along (well, a few do) but these couples are so laid back they're okay if details change along the way. Not surprisingly, many of these couples are the same ones who go for backyard weddings, doing the catering themselves or inviting guests to bring potluck dishes.

Backyard weddings are a great way to go if you want to save some money, involve the family, and hold your event in a place you can visit again and again And this being Texas, some backyards are bigger (way bigger) that venues specifically designed for weddings. Toward that end, I recently performed a ceremony on a ranch overlooking Pedernales State Park. It was private property and technically the backyard of the bride's uncle. But dang, what a backyard it was.

If you're considering a backyard wedding and want some details of events I've done like this, just ask me. And ask about my special rate for small backyard weddings (fewer than 30 guests).

Meet My Co-Officiant: Steven Ross!

I had no idea, when I performed my first few weddings in 2006, just where this officiating path would lead me. Back then, I took wedding requests as they came, didn't advertise much, and really just performed ceremonies as a small side business. Then in 2010, a very fun writing job I had went away. I realized then that I could try to chase down more work writing for others, or I could expand my officiating work and make it my main focus.

The decision didn't take long. At that point, I was already getting far more requests than I had in 2006. Performing weddings makes me so happy in a way that cranking out advertising copy for marketing firms never did. So I started advertising more, and by then I was getting lots of word-of-mouth references, and before you know it, officiating became my full time work.

I LOVE IT!

I mean, I really, really love it. I have so much fun, I get a great energy buzz from all the happiness, and it's so nice to show up for work knowing that everyone is going to be happy to see me. Plus it's an honor to say the magic words that mark such a wonderful milestone.

Well somewhere along the way, I started to get so many requests, I just could not keep up. I passed along leads to some great officiants I know. And then one day, I was at a yoga class at Eastside Yoga, when Steven Ross, co-owner and teacher at the studio, mentioned he had been asked to perform a wedding. I told him I'd be glad to help him in any way I could. This, in turn, led to a wonderful friendship and-- no surprise-- also led to Steven realizing that, like me, he just LOVES performing weddings.

What can I tell you about Steven? He is a gentle soul with a dry wit and, bonus points, he comes fully equipped with a lovely Scottish accent. He and his wonderful wife Elsa (also a co-owner of Eastside Yoga) had a wonderful wedding ceremony that incorporated mixed traditions, so he knows firsthand about customizing weddings.

Steven's got his own wedding web page describing his services, and you can see other pictures there and read testimonials, too. I am so delighted to be working with him, and to be able to recommend him. How fortunate I am to have been able to grow my business so abundantly over the years. And how fortunate, too, that Steven is on board to help with all the requests.

Picture This: The Most Amazing Month Ever

As my busiest wedding month ever continues-- by the time all is said and done I'll have performed nearly two dozen ceremonies this April-- I am going to just go ahead and let the pictures do the talking this time. Because another Saturday has rolled around, I already performed a pair of weddings earlier in the week, I've got a pair this afternoon and one tomorrow. So let's just enjoy the photos and once May rolls around, I'll offer more written thoughts on how to have the best wedding possible.

Arundel Ensemble