ahhhhh It’s starting to get to you isn’t it…….the planning, the pressure, the countless opinions from everyone around you about your New Jersey Wedding Ceremony…..then check out this blog, “Moments of Rest” Each day, Blogster David Beardsley posts a tiny tranquil blog; a little snip of nature. It’s just……….relaxing……. breathe in……breath out………..relax………….
but change is gonna come…… and it’s here. On a day so momentous, in so many ways, it’s impossible to write about New Jersey wedding ceremonies (I’m still sneaky, aren’t I!). Whomever you supported, it is undeniable that inauguration day is a day that brings goosebumps to most of us. As I looked at the aerial shots of Washington, with hundreds of thousands of Americans waiting to hear the first words of our new president, I felt a sense of pride that I haven’t felt in, oh, about eight years. 
Now, just so I”m not totally off topic; the inauguration is not unlike a wedding, as Charlie Gibson on WABC pointed out this morning. There is pomp and circumstance to be sure, but there is also a call to the community for hope, for support, for faith, and for joy. There is a charge to every witness, to every participant, to engage and to act. For just as no marriage exists by itself, neither does any presidency. It is, always, up to the rest of us.
Enjoy the pagentry; send you thoughts and dreams into the universe for the grace and strength of this new order, and think about how you will help this change, this change we need so badly!
And they will be if you send your guests a “save the date” card before the invitations go out. This is a great idea on many different levels. If your wedding is on a holiday weekend, or at destination location, you can help them plan their mini vacation and put reservations in place for their hotels. It can also give you an early heads up on just who can come and who absolutely cannot, so you may be able to add some guests you thought you might not be able to accomodate. 
It can set the tone of the wedding, depending on the type of stationary you decide to use; I got a wonderful antique postcard from one of my brides who is in a vacation spot in upstate New York. It reminded me how much fun I’m going to have with this couple, who have both an appreciation of historic sites and a real solid sense of humor. You can design your own at my favorite company, MOO!, who prints all kinds of neat stuff for very little $$$ 
On Sunday, February 8th, at 2 PM, Celebrant Ceremonies will be holding an event at Amanti Vino, 
(a gorgeous wine store at 30 Church Street, in Montclair, NJ). If you’re planning a wedding ceremony (which is probably why you’re reading this blog!), this would be the perfect opportunity to mingle with four certified Celebrants who will present a sampling of interesting rituals that are often included in the personalized wedding ceremonies they create with their wedding couples. Eve Young, Julie Laudicina, Murphy Birdsall and myself will be guiding our couple of the day through a ring warming, a handfasting, a traditional shawl 
sheltering ceremony and a first glass of shared wine as their lives are united. There will be plenty of time to ask questions during the hour we’ll spend together, and you’ll come away with some wonderful new ideas to make your ceremony truly unique.
The gathering is free, but the space is limited. For further information or to reserve a place, please call Murphy Birdsall at 973-655-0310, Julie Laudicina at 917-282-2455, or Celia Milton at 201-563-5544. It will be a lovely afternoon for all!
If you are planning any DIY project for your wedding, or just need some glorious ribbons, sequins or trim for your programs or napkins, Threadart is the site to check out. They stock a gazillion colors of silk and satin ribbon, organzas, threads, appliques, fringes, and all the tools you’ll need to put those 
beauties to work. My favorite is the hand dyed silk ribbon. Available in a myriad of colors, it would be beautiful to tie your programs, decorate your napkins, festoon your bridesmaids gifts (or your bridesmaids, for that matter), or accent your invitations. These beautiful ombre and variegated ribbons are dyed by hand, which adds a richness and character that can not be duplicated by machine. Many of the color combinations have an lush antique feeling. “Sage Meadows” is an evocative and smoky mix of celedon 
greens, peach and greys; “Sunrise Burst” gives you a tropical feeling with fuscia, purple, and orange. Their selections may even compel you to rethink your color scheme (although “Lemon Surprise” and “Maize” will cover you for yellow, this years wedding color!
Your wedding rings can be anything that suits you; I’ve had wonderful clients who have made their own; I had a cool engineer who uses a giant bolt as his ring. Many of my couples have started their life by exchanging wedding bands that belonged to beloved relatives, a lovely reminder of the circle of families, history and future. 
But maybe you’re looking for rings and the typical jewelry store offerings seem somehow, “mall like”. Why don’t you check out Sundance? Yes, the same Sundance that has promoted amazing films for years, under the careful guidance of Robert 
Redford. They have an amazing array of interesting artisan rings, many of them hand crafted. The selection is ecletic and the prices are very reasonable. If you’re a film devotee, even better, but for the individualists among us, these beauties might just be what you’re looking for.
And the blender and the toaster and the crystal! If your New Jersey wedding ceremony (smooth, eh?) was in the last six months or so, you want to think about writing those “Thank you” notes. Make a date out of it; get a nice bottle of wine, sit down together go for it. Don’t ever send a pre-printed card; write a personal comment about how much you enjoy each item. Photos of your wedding, or even better, you with the beloved object? Priceless. And email won’t do; pick out some sweet or funny thank you cards, or use one of the many photo sites or Vistaprint to make photo post cards.
You’ll also want to send a note to the people who helped make your festivities so, well, festive; the ladies who hosted your shower; the family members who created your engagement party. Don’t forget
kate
the professionals who made everything so memorable; the delicious cake, the incredible flowers, the breathtaking singer who wowed them at your New Jersey wedding ceremony (now I’m even scaring me……), the wedding planner who made it all come together. Point out to everyone just how special they made your day, and how the gifts you received will enhance your life together. Oh, and make sure you send along your new address, if you’ve moved or if your invitations were sent from a different address (maybe your parents).
(These beautiful notes are from Kate’s Paperie)
Oh, and don’t forget your New Jersey wedding officiant (ok, I’m done now..lol); we’d love to hear from you too!
Okay, how fun is this! Personalized fruit rollups! Yep, you heard it here, well, second. These delicious wraps can be created with your text, your photos, hearts, flowers; whatever you like! They’re cute, cheap (about a buck apiece) and so much more interesting than some of the other sweets we’ve seen (and healthy too!). And what is even better, you can order them online and they’ll be shipped right to ya! (This is a valentine example, but they have all kinds of templates that you can play around with, including adding your own photos) 
HMMMMMMM……I bet they’d make GREAT “save the dates” too!
