What a great New Jersey wedding Ceremony!

A Celtic Handfasting is a beautiful ceremony that can augment your vows and ring exchange. In the version that I have written , multiple colored cords, (some of which are embellished with beads, gemstones and charms), are draped over the couple’s hands as promises are read. Very often, a close friend or one of the bridal party will assist in draping the cords; this is a great way to make them active participants.

Including distinctive and meaningful rituals like the handfasting is a way to truly make your ceremony a highly personal one. This ceremony is one of my clients’ favorites. Thank you, Kris and Ashley, for this beautiful photo of your ceremony.

By using the special Breast Cancer Awareness stamp on your invitations you can donate to the efforts against this deadly disease. The first class stamp costs .45, and 30 percent of of the net proceeds goes to the Medical Research program of the Department of Defense (for breast cancer research). Seventy percent goes to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It is a beautiful image, a great cause; a win-win situation for all.

Your mothers can be honored in so many ways at your ceremony; they can light the unity candles that will add to the candle that you, as a couple lights. They can be acknowledged in the opening remarks that are made as an introduction. One of my favorite ways to honor and include them is in a flower ceremony. Usually, the bridal couple decides on a specific flower that embodies the spirit they want to express; gratitude, joy, respect. The mothers are presented with flowers at the beginning of the ceremony, and thanked for their influence in the shaping of each member of the couple. It is a lovely way to bring them to the center of the ceremony for a moment, and thank them for the way they have shaped your lives

If your wedding is during the Christmas season, why not hang your placecards on a Christmas tree? You’ll still want to put them in order, maybe cascading each table from the top to the bottom of one portion of the tree. Even more fun; write your table assigments on simple Christmas ornaments that can become the favors.

Instead of a guest book, why not have your wedding guests sign a plain tablecloth, with fabric markers or indelible Sharpies. You’ll remember your wedding day and their best wishes every time you have dinner with them!

By now, we have all heard that Muhammad Yunus, the microcredit pioneer, has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in establishing the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, India. What is so startling about his accomplishments is that he started with such simplicity. He has lent small amounts of money to women (not only women, but mostly women), to start or finance their own businesses. His bank does not require collateral; his first 27 loans totaled less than 50.00 all together. He has changed an amazinging amount of lives with a notion that was not global, not grand. He simply started with what he could do. His story is inspirational, renewing, and the beauty of it all is that what he has done, what he continues to do and promote, is so practical and so do-able. Google the man and learn more. His smiling face is worth the bandwidth.

You’re looking for stuff; for favors, for recipes, for banquet halls, for New Jersey Wedding officiants (ha ha), for something old/new/borrowed/blue. You can help your favorite charity as you do this!

www.goodsearch.com is a search engine that will donate to your favorite charity when you use them to find the things you need. You can even add a charity to the ones that are listed already, covering the environment, schools, and health issues. Check them out, find what you need, and do a little good along the way.

If you are hosting a bridal shower in December, why not make it an ‘holiday ‘ shower, if your bride is so inclined. The guests could bring beautiful ornaments as gifts: a great tree skirt; or a lovely menorah, special linens for the holidays. Gifts that help the couple establish their own holiday traditions can be so meaningful, and each celebration will remind them of the dear friends and family that shared the parties leading up to their wedding day.
Perhaps you could make dishes that are traditional with the families to serve at the shower (and have the recipes available for all!) What a wonderful way to start the couple’s life together!

If your wedding is during the winter or very early spring, why don’t you step out of the “Filet or Chicken” mode and offer something really different at your reception. Start with a beautiful, hearty soup like Black Bean with Sherry or a Pumpkin-Apple Bisque. Follow with a Mesclun Salad with Sundried Cranberries and Almonds, then an unusual entree like Pine Nut Crusted Pork Loin with Roasted Red Potatoes. Finish up with a wonderful carrot cake (See Belmont for that) and you’ve got a beautiful, seasonal menu that will really stand out.

Our favorite baker; Belmont Bakery, in North Haledon. They make a carrot cake that is just amazing, and if you love chocolate, you’ll be in heaven. They do beautiful work, they are fun and easy to work with, and that’s a plus as well.

Belmont Bakery; 973 427 4258 tell them Celia sent you! You’ll be in good hands.