Monday, February 28, 2011

INTERESTING: Post Secret - Doubts About Marrying Outside of Asian Culture


easier.jpg from Postsecret.com
week of 13 Feb. 2011


What is PostSecret?  It is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.  

The postcard to the right says:

"I'm scared that if I marry a white man, he won't understand the traditions, customs and way of life of my culture.  Marrying an Asian man would be so much easier."


Each Sunday, a new batch of SUNDAY SECRETS are posted on the website.  This week's postcards, posted in honour of Valentine's Day (which was the following Monday), were centered around the basic theme of love and everything that goes with it.

If you need an inclusive, non-judgmental, experienced, trained and qualified officiator, officiant, minister, reverend, Celebrant etc. for your wedding or other ceremony, please contact A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY.   Serving Los Angeles, Orange County and most of Southern California including San Gabriel Valley, Hacienda Heights, Roland Heights, Montebello, Rosemead, San Marino, Fullerton, Brea, Westminster, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Palos Verdes, Monterey Park, City of Industry, Walnut, Azusa and beyond.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

WEDDING: Asian Ceremony Officiant at Rose Center in Westminster, CA

This gorgeous couple were married at Westminster Rose Center (Crystal Rose Catering), a hidden gem tucked away amidst the many ceremony venues in central Orange County.

It was a privilege to work with event planner Michelle Groom of Mele Amore. Photos (not above) by Lovisa Han Photography.  Music/DJ by _______ .

Thursday, February 17, 2011

INTERESTING: Post Secret - Dreading (Ex's) Wedding on Facebook


week of 13 Feb. 2011.

 "I am dreading the day i see photos of your wedding on FACEBOOK!"


Sunday, February 13, 2011

WEDDING: Asian Ceremony Officiant for Small Destination Wedding Celebration

Asian Wedding Ceremony Officiant at Palm Springs Area Golf Course
Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, CA is one of the many golf courses, resorts and spas that host hundreds of weddings each year in the Palm Springs area. But, did you know a small and intimate wedding ceremony and celebration is still possible, even at a large venue?

A couple from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada brought their loved ones down for a week of golf and sun and a short family-only wedding ceremony.  There was a total of twelve seats in the audience, and the couple stood alone with the officiator / minister / Celebrant.  To symbolise the union of two families in the weddings, the two mothers of the bride and groom blended sand in a unity ritual.

With the help of the resort's attentive catering staff, they took photos on the greens and on a golf cart, and  later ate in a private dining room.  Huge thanks to Darin, catering manager at Rancho Las Palmas, for making this such a wonderful, special occasion!

Please see A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY for more information about having your small, simple ceremony with an experienced, affordable, qualified and trained wedding officiant.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

READING: Dr. Seuss' Writing is Ideal for Wedding, Graduation etc.

A couple recently chose Oh! The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss as a perfect non-traditional reading for their wedding, as they set off on their next adventure together.

From Amazon.com

Released in 1990, Oh! The Places You'll Go! was Dr. Seuss' final published book. Its U.S. Library of Congress entry states the book contains "Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life: weathering fear, loneliness and confusion; and being in charge of your actions."  Sounds like an ideal passage to include in any ceremony to mark a transition and inspire people of any age, as they get ready for a new journey or begin a new part of one's life.  The book's text is short and simple enough to read in its entirety.





Oh! The Places You'll Go!
© by Dr. Seuss
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.

Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

Image above from US Postal Service.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

(Copyright © 1990 by Theodor S. Geisel and Audrey S. Geisel.)

Quotations and written excerpts, when read aloud, express a feeling, personality, idea or sentiment when you can't quite come up with the words on your own.  The use of readings, literature, poetry, lyrics, or even words from a favourite movie, tv show, video game or comic book is an easy and eloquent way for adults and children alike to say something during a public celebration or private occasion.  

Celebrate a wedding, marriage, anniversary, vow renewal, new member of the family, baby's birth, adoption or new pet/animal.  Acknowledge graduation, the first day of college, a child's first day of school, reassignment, retirement, divorce or deployment.  Remember someone at a funeral, memorial or interment.  Contact A Non-Denominational Ceremony for more information.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

FUNNY: Life Imitates 30 Rock - NBC Studios as Event Venues (Even for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs!)

Did you notice the scenes on Mrs. Donaghy, when amongst other things, Liz Lemon accidentally marries Jack, and he offers up a room adjacent to the TGS set for public use?

The week before i watched this 30 Rock episode, i happened to pick up a copy of a bar/bat mitzvah guide at the local CeeVeeeSs, and the back cover advertised the studios and sets of NBC Universal as special events venues.  What better place to consider, than an actual television lot to celebrate the Jewish rite of passage...or any occasion?  How very Hollywood/Los Angeles!
Both NBC Universal locations in Studio City, Burbank and New York City have locations to use/hire/rent for special events, whether you are planning a party or a bar/bat mitzvah.  Select from areas called 'Mexican Street' (above), 'Spartacus Street' (below), 'European Street', 'Court of Miracles' and more!  In Manhattan, even the 30 Rock exterior (i'm assuming not the exteriour of the show's set, but the actual 30 Rockefeller address) is available.

Strangely, the exact term "weddings" is nowhere to be found on any website or advert.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

INTERESTING: Post Secret Takes on Marriage, Everyday Ritual and Coping

More from POST SECRET's weekly confessions.


Some people get married for different reasons than others...

To you, is marriage serious?  Sacred?  Impossible?  Overrated?  Safe?  Better than anything you could imagine?  How do YOU view marriage? 






For some, deleting old contacts or even deleting season passes for shows on one's TiVO / dvr is a transitional ritual...

Do YOU do anything to indicate or signify a change in your life, whether it is when a person is no longer with you, or you move to a new home, or you begin a new job, or ???





Some people deal with crisis and/or loss in whatever way they can.  They may alter themselves simply to make a hospital visit, or to enter a social situation.  What are the advantages, and the dangers, of coping?  How can we find more effective, or at least healthier, ways to deal with difficulty, negativity, or discomfourt?