What a great New Jersey wedding Ceremony!

What a wonderful day we had officiating at the beautiful Fiddler’s Elbow, in Far Hills, NJ. The setting couldn’t have been prettier and the staff was amazing.

These beautiful photos, taken by Jay Bryant will give you a sense of the majesty of the property.

Meryl and John had planned for so many beautiful touches (besides their New Jersey Wedding Officiant, lol); there was icy lemon water when their guests arrived, a string quartet to greet everyone as they entered, and then gracious cocktail hour outside on the patio. It was a beautiful spring afternoon for all, and a great start to a wonderful couple. Congratulations, Meryl and John!

We never like to see a “tip cup” on the bar at a hosted event like a wedding, but this might be an exception that warms everyone’s hearts and does some good in the world.
Advise your bartenders that soliciting tips is not what you had in mind,and take care of them ahead of time. Then station a big brandy snifter (or dog bowl!) at the bar, and a photo or two from either this wonderful charity that does beagle rescue (http://www.beaglepaws.com/news.html), Unicef(www.unicef.org), or any other cause that is dear to you. At the end of the celebration, you’ll have a great donation,and you can thank your guests for their generosity in your thank you notes.

I had the pleasure of officiating at a totally cool wedding at the Font Hill Museum, in Doylestown, PA this weekend. The bride and groom are both artists, (pictures of THEM to follow), and this was the perfect setting for them; quirky, gracious and completely beautiful. Their wedding ceremony took place beneath a grand old tree, decorated with a wreath of roses, and after a cocktail hour celebration in one of the historic buildings on the grounds, the guests danced the night away under a tent It was truly spectacular, and the beautiful wooded grounds and castles provided a memorable backdrop.

This information comes from the museum’s website.
Built between 1908-1912, Fonthill was the home of Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930). Archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar and antiquarian, Mercer built Fonthill both as his home and as a showplace for his collection of tiles and prints. The first of three Mercer buildings in Doylestown, Fonthill served as a showplace for Mercer’s famed Moravian tiles that were produced during the American Arts & Crafts Movement. Designed by Mercer, the building is an eclectic mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles, and is significant as an early example of poured reinforced concrete.

Upon his death in 1930, Mercer left his concrete “Castle for the New World” in trust as a museum of decorative tiles and prints. From 1976 to the present, Fonthill has evolved into a unique professional museum that provides a full range of museum programs related to Mercer and his collections while maintaining a strong commitment to the preservation and conservation of the building and its collections. Today, Fonthill attracts over 30,000 visitors annually from nearly every state and more than 35 foreign countries. It has been featured in numerous print and electronic media including the Arts & Entertainment Network’s popular “America’s Castles” series.

And I wish I’d thought this one up! One of my clients took her wedding party (including her trusty new jersey wedding officiant!) to the Jersey Shore to take a barefoot group photo for her engagement announcement. It was very casual, very relaxed, and gave the wedding party a chance to meet, greet and plot! As I wrote her wedding ceremony, I wove into it the story of their engagement photo party. It was very sweet, and it gave the guests a little more insight into this wonderful couple. We also incorporated a sand ceremony after their vows, using sand we brought back!

This type of “before” photo could be a great wedding invite too! Including the “back story” of a wedding can make everyone feel like a part of the path to the marriage, and give everyone even more to talk about on the “day”!

Our sweet picture is from a blog called Weekend Kindness.

My fantastic New Jersey couple this weekend have a running theme in their relationship; water! They met in a thunderstorm, betting each other who could last longer sitting outside and getting wet! (It was a tie…) They said that thunderstorms always remind them of the night they met, so it made perfect sense to have a water ritual as part of their wedding ceremony.

As guests enter the wedding ceremony site, they will encounter a small table with a beautiful bowl of water and tumbled river rocks. There is a small card on an easel that quotes part of a John O’Donohue poem about the blessing of water, and a suggestion that they dip their fingers into the vessel and make their wishes for the couple.
As part of the ceremony, before the ring exchange, I will pour the water, and in essence the hopes and dreams of their friends and family, over their hands. (We’ll have a towel handy!)

This is the reading that will accompany the “pouring”;

Marriage is a promise between two people, but it is a promise that exists with the support of a community. As you entered our ceremony space, you all infused this water with your wishes, hopes and dreams for this couple! I invite you to think of those wishes again as they start their journey together, immersed and renewed by the imaginings of the people who mean the most to them.

May you be comforted, nourished and inspired with every thunderstorm, with every river and ocean, with every drop of dew you experience. May you never forget the rainy night that you met and may you be reminded, again and again of this glorious day; a day that marks a twist in the river that is life!
With the pure intention of all those present, may this water bless your hands and hearts.

I think it will add meaning to their wedding ceremony, not only as a visual opportunity for their photographer to have something besides me talking and everyone else listening, but it will truly personalize their ceremony in an unusual and memorable way.

This beautiful bowl is from www.chopa.com. It is a Tibetan singing bowl, relatively rare in the United States, although in China, these bronze bowls date back to the 5th century B.C. Traditionally, they are filled with water and when the brass handles are rubbed, the bowl will sing! Legend has it that the higher the water splashes to your face, the longer your longevity is on earth!

I’m going to try and NOT splash my bride and groom, but the fond wishes of their guests will bless their union. Do I have the best job on the planet or what??

As you start to think about your New Jersey wedding ceremony, or your wedding ceremony anywhere else, think about elements of your own history that would provide a meaningful and individual ritual. It will make your wedding ceremony truly something to remember.

After being a part of over 500 beautiful weddings in Southern California, Pamela Ann Noxon, a wedding designer and event producer, realized the need for a fun, stylish and practical accessory that would lend shade and protection to wedding couples, their bridal party, families and guests at outdoor events.

She recognized that people who absorbed too much sun while dressed to the nines, in full makeup, became exhausted and cranky and were certainly at risk from heat stroke and other sun-related risks-all of which ultimately took away from their experience and the joy of the celebration.

Pamela’s Parasols were born!

Pamela’s Parasols are the perfect outdoor event accoutrements for guests and are an essential accessory for the Bride and Bridal Party, who typically withstand up to three hours of exposure at outdoor weddings from arrival through ceremony and photos to departure.

Beautiful and practical, Pamela’s Parasols offer fashionable style and cool relief from the sun and heat. Parasols keep your guests from wilting, look great, cost a fraction of rented sun umbrellas or canopies and they don’t block your view like a tent would.

Decorated Parasols are a beautiful treat for the Bride and her Bridal Party, Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandmothers too and certainly no Flower Girl should be without one!

If you’re in California, and you’re trying to create a real “outta the box” wedding, you’re in luck, Rebel Belles Weddings can swoop in and save the day! Their irreverent and down to earth attitude is a breath of fresh air and they will do exactly what you need; manage your vendors on the day, find you great professionals and venues, and give you the best ideas. They are real specialists in theme weddings, so if you’re thinking a football party, a Star Wars adventure or a medieval fest, they’re your go to planners. Give them a hoot!