NEWS: $30k really the average cost of a Southern California wedding??!

You don't have to spend the cost of a new car to have your wedding in Orange County or Los Angeles... do you? The latest comprehensive report by the Wedding Report website has been released for the Orange County and Los Angeles areas. Among other things, it states the average cost of a Southern California wedding is over $30,000 (thirty thousand dollars)??!!

The report states the following statistics for the 2011 Orange County wedding industry: Number of Weddings 20,314. Average Wedding Cost $31,975. Market Value $650 Million. Average Number of Guests 142 - 152. Online Market Value $158 Million. Number of Wedding Businesses 2,228 - 2,475.

According to the same website, in the Los Angeles/Long Beach/Santa Ana metropolitan area, the following represents the wedding market in 2011:

Number of Weddings in Los Angeles/Long Beach/Santa Ana 78,508. Average Wedding Cost $30,245. Market Value $2.4 Billion. Average Number of Guests 135 - 145. Online Market Value $474 Million. Number of Wedding Businesses 10,007 - 11,119.

Contact A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY if you need a modern, inclusive wedding ceremony officiant. You CAN have the wedding you want, even if it means choosing to spend less!

Statistics via © 2005 - 2012 The Wedding Report, Inc., All rights reserved.

WEDDING: Ceremony Officiant at Ace Hotel in Palm Springs




Ace Hotel Wedding Officiant in Palm Springs, CA
Originally uploaded by dj venus on FLICKR.

 Congratulations, Heather and Erica!

The V.O.'s, as the gorgeous couple are known, celebrated in beautiful and classy style at the infamous Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, CA.


venus with the happy couple!

 The wedding was attended by a small group of dear friends and family, and took place in the Commune area of the hotel.

The desert chic setting was made complete with a black and white colour theme accented with lemon yellow (and lemonheads and lemonade!), perfect weather and true love.  It was a dream come true!

Photography by LILY RO (not these).

WEDDING: Los Angeles Arboretum Officiant in Arcadia, CA

Congratulations, Pa. and Jn.!  This couple was married in a rose garden ceremony in front of a few dozen of their closest loved ones.

Arcadia Wedding Officiant

The wedding included a ringwarming and a ceremonial passage through archways, or gates, attended to by four sets of significant people, to mark the couple's transition from single to married life. (Please see the (horribly backlit) photo here. ---->)

It was a beautiful, and meaningful, ceremony, especially when the couple crossed the thresholds together.  Hope to have more photos soon!

VIDEO: Weddings Get an 'I Do Over' on WeTV

i am excited to announce my involvement with an episode of a new WeTV series called I Do Over! i performed the ceremony for Lindsy and Reid in the second episode of the series. Here's a teaser/trailer featuring the show's glamourous yet extremely down-to-earth host and event stylist, Diann Valentine. And please note the officiant at the 1:05 mark... ;-P

The show brings a second chance to couples who were married in less-than-ideal circumstances at their first wedding. This doesn't mean second marriages (although, i think that would be a great idea for another show!); it just means these lucky newlyweds get a 'do over' to have the wedding of their dreams. More details to come!

WEDDING: La Quinta Officiant at CTR Ranch Wedding near Indio and Palm Springs

Celebrant Venus sharing laughs with a fantastic couple!

Congratulations, Dar. and Al.! i had the honour and privilege of officiating (yet another)dream come true for a wedding Celebrant. A private home that sleeps 20 (but probably more) called CTR Ranch was the venue for this incredibly intimate ceremony that would beat any larger wedding in terms of love, friendship, family, celebration and partying!

Food truck Crêpes Bonaparte came out to feed the guests, as well as local hot dog business, the Riverside Hot Dog Company.  Fullerton musician Brett Cain provided entertainment.  Photography by Jake Ogle (not image at left).  More details to follow... i promise!

NEWS: June = (the first) LGBT Heritage Month in Los Angeles!

Thirty years ago, a newly identified cluster of symptoms and illness was first given the term 'Gay Related Immunodeficiency', or GRID, by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).  This first week of June 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of when these disease clusters became recognised as the first cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). 

You can listen to a fantastic account of this time in history in two parts - first with a doctor of infectious diseases, and next with a man living since the early 1980s with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): on Dick Gordon's The Story on APR.

From the mayor's website

Perhaps coincidentally, June is also officially declared as LGBT Pride Month by President Obama's White House and by communities throughout the country.  On Friday, Los Angeles (finally) proclaimed June as LGBT HERITAGE MONTH.

According to the LA Times, Bill Rosendahl was the first openly gay candidate to run and be elected to the City Council in 2005.  On Friday, the Councilman, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck,  along with other city officials, honoured LGBT Angelenos and publicly celebrated the launch of June as LGBT Heritage Month.

The Times went on to say that the "City Council also passed several resolutions on Friday, backing state and federal legislation calling for LGBT equality, including a state bill that would add questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity to state demographic surveys", but when i tried to authenticate or source this statement, i couldn't find any proof.  (But i did find a very odd and somewhat disturbing comment thread...)

ELEMENTS: Serving Rainbow Pancakes

Rainbows are everywhere, especially if you put them there...

More people are opting for a small wedding these days...or at least considering the possibility of having one.  But what could be more beautiful than serving these colourful rainbow pancakes at your wedding weekend breakfast or brunch?  

via A Non-Denominational Ceremony's TUMBLR.

Disclaimer:  i am aware of the potential harm various food colourings and dyes may cause...and you should be, too.  Check your ingredients and do your research!  There are lots of 'natural' colouring options out there.

BTW did you know there was a fuss was made in 2010 involving a segment of Christians, their use (misuse?  disuse?) of rainbow baked goods and connection (or lack thereof) to LGBT pride?   Also, here is a source for non-toxic, natural food colouring, plus a recipe for the stack pictured above.

Oh, and check the lovely rainbow wedding dress, pictured at right!

ALTERNATIVES: Eco Bouquets Made of Clay, Beads and NOT Flowers

Today's blog is a lazy, link-laden entry, which, admit it, is what you want anyway!  :)

i began researching non-flower bouquets as a true green option over the impermanent, biologically based traditional bunch of plants and flowers brides carry, pass to someone in their wedding party and sometimes throw to some lucky single (read: unmarried) person at the reception.  Anyway, these bouquets are freaking gorgeous.  i hope you agree!

DK DESIGNS
http://dkdesignshawaii.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-last-big-wedding-order-for-2010.html

Clay Bouquet by DK DESIGNS

SEA SHELLS IN BLOOM
http://www.seashellsinbloom.com/bouquets.html

Sea Shell Bouquet by SEA SHELLS IN BLOOM

FFFLOWERS on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/people/ffflowers?ref=ls_profile

One Kind of Ribbon Bouquet by FFFLOWERS

BURDA STYLE on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/burdastyle-how-to-make-your-love-bloom-forever-3379/

Another Ribbon Bouquet by you/BURDA STYLE

LITTLE BIRDIE SECRETS
http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/08/make-fabric-flower-and-flower-tutorial.html

Fabric Flowers for Bouquet by LBS

HANDMADE BY ALI (the Bride)'s MOM
http://ruffledblog.com/a-diy-handcrafted-wedding-with-a-bouquet-made-of-ribbons-and-rickrack-by-goodnickels-photography/

Photo by GOOD NICKELS PHOTOGRAPHY

BEAD_FLORA_JEWELS on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/people/BeadFloraJewels?ref=ls_profile

Custom-Made Bead Bouquet by BEADFLORAJEWELS

more beads
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0g5B_4K54GqoH8Dza3fmxUzA3ouCAMP6sgu91wopXOyPSHYdJw2Rw20-XfmulnMX1wmda0Wr4-KVu-PC15FEaHU_p_WqqK9q0DQ5tMkWF8jRfC5JpWrLQIz6kTQdhy8Y8sCTkYwRXNZK/s400/Martha+flower+alternatives.jpg

FLOWER COVE
http://craftcove.blogspot.com/2009/11/beaded-flower-bouquet.html

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc-UOkx3wl3HkE8DMI3RUSPEhiEYfDSDLoDECF_WXR5RlPxpCRiUPTkG_tYhorhmA13ceVS0KW0bC9Z5Korf__83_QjcYqaJVNGeKfT86cVuupUPv8eyOudgtD4BwdkFTnI-ViOPkh6Q/s400/y-286+h.jpg

SUCH PRETTY THINGS
http://suchprettythings.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/02/french-beaded-flowers.html

WEDDING: Indian Wells Wedding Officiant at Miramonte Resort

Tree Strung with Origami Cranes, originally uploaded by dj venus.

Congratulations, Ki and Ke!

The television producers were married in an outdoor ceremony on a gorgeous Palm Springs afternoon.  The couple brought family and friends out to an Indian Wells spa and resort for an informal yet elegant celebration of their marriage.

One of the most striking components of the wedding was the Japanese tradition of one thousand origami, or folded paper, cranes!

Miramonte Resort Wedding Officiant
in Indian Wells, CA,
originally uploaded by dj venus.

The pair, who work in TV production and post-production of television commercials, enlisted their friends and relatives to assist with the folding process.  Dividing up the duty of crane-folding in this way provided a chance for Ki. and Ke. to share the wedding preparation process experience, with the people closest to them.

Many thanks to Shauna, Miramonte Resort's awesome catering director, and musicians Mari & Mike (violin / guitar duo)!

INTERESTING: Weddings Bring Out the Best and Worst...

From the 24/4/2011 edition of Post Secret.

...in people. 

Have you ever heard anyone say, "Planning my wedding has made me realize that my friends suck." ??!

There's nothing like a celebration to bring out one's (true?) colours, whether they're yours, your family's, the world's or your friends!

The photo at right is yet another fantastic contribution to POST SECRET, the ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

CELEBRATE: Honouring ALL Those Who Married on 29 April 2011...

...never mind 'the royal wedding'!

Flickr featured a blog entry of gorgeous images from some of the many others married on 29 April 2011:  Congratulations to Syahirah and Faizal, Suzie and Tamri, Walter and Tamra...


the wedding in Hirosaki park, originally uploaded by jsflickr2010.

Congratulations to these couples around York, PA:

The office of Clerk of Orphans' Court Bradley C. Jacobs issued the following marriage licenses for 4/29/2011:
Roberto Soto-Rivera and Maria Roque-Rivera, both of York.
Jesus Cortes-Diaz and Yvette Santo, both of York.
David Walker, Nanticoke, Md., and Gwyn Wallen, York.

Many couples were wed in Tulsa, OK (click on the April calendar). Pennsylvania TV station WNEP sponsored an "'Un-Royal' Backyard Wedding" promotion for lucky couple Kelly and Kyle.  The Knot website, or rather, their Newport-specific microsite, had the same idea in mind.

Best wishes to everyone else married today!

HISTORY: From Where Did This Celebrant Come From !!?

This weekend, a very special ceremony will be taking place. And NO, i am not talking about the royal wedding!  The important occasion marks the tenth class of the Celebrant Foundation and Institute (CF&I), which will be graduating this Sunday in Jersey City, New Jersey.  Graduation will be held in conjunction with the Collective Wisdom Conference and Workshop, featuring many CF&I alumni.  i wish i could be there!

Back in 2004, the NPR addict i am found herself listening to a story by Scott Simon, about an organisation of secular officiants called Celebrants.  i was struck by the occasion the Celebrants were commemorating: downsizing!  Through ceremony, Celebrants were acknowledging a very real and painful transition many people were facing at the time. i recall how moved i was by the story, and how logical it sounded to me at the time, even though my experience with ritual and ceremony in general had been, so far, quite limited to Brownies/Girl Scouts, math tournament awards, my father's and others' funerals, and various graduations...with a few weddings thrown in, including my own.

When i checked out the Celebrants' North American website, i learned how Celebrancy, which originated in Australia, was now being taught and led in the United States and Canada by a formidable group based in Montclair, New Jersey.  i applied for the Weddings and Couples programme, and thus began my personal journey as a Celebrant.  Today, i am extremely proud and honoured to be a certified Life-Cycle Celebrant® and a CF&I faculty member teaching the very same Weddings and Couples curriculum/course from which i came from!

So congratulations, Celebrant Class of 2011!  :)

More info at the CF&I website

i so wish i could there with you this weekend!

BTW special thanks and recognition to our Tuesday night class - CAT, Cindie, Heather, Nancy, Nanette and Maryrose, who, as of Sunday, are no longer my students, [sniff] but my colleagues!  WOOOOOOOOOOO!

READING: Different, Funny & Appropriate - Ogden Nash at Your Literary Wedding Ceremony

Tin Wedding Whistle

by Ogden Nash

Though you know it anyhow

Listen to me, darling, now,

Proving what I need not prove

How I know I love you, love.

Near and far, near and far,

I am happy where you are;

Likewise I have never larnt

How to be it where you aren’t.

Far and wide, far and wide,

I can walk with you beside;

Furthermore, I tell you what,

I sit and sulk where you are not.

Visitors remark my frown

Where you’re upstairs and I am down,

Yes, and I’m afraid I pout

When I’m indoors and you are out;

But how contentedly I view

Any room containing you.

In fact I care not where you be,

Just as long as it’s with me.

In all your absences I glimpse

Fire and flood and trolls and imps.

Is your train a minute slothful?

I goad the stationmaster wrothful.

When with friends to bridge you drive

I never know if you’re alive,

And when you linger late in shops

I long to telephone the cops.

Yet how worth the waiting for,

To see you coming through the door.

Somehow, I can be complacent

Never but with you adjacent.

Near and far, near and far,

I am happy where you are;

Likewise I have never larnt

How to be it where you aren’t.

Then grudge me not my fond endeavor,

To hold you in my sight forever;

Let none, not even you, disparage

Such a valid reason for a marriage.

Many thanks to a FANTASTIC couple, Jenn and Rhys, for turning me on to such a truly lovely reading.

IDEAS: Paper Record Player Invitation Actually Plays Music!

Paper Record Player from kellianderson on Vimeo.

Huge thanks to @Ropeless for this!!!

TRADITION: What is a wedding?

A wedding is anything you want it to be!

According to the characters from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's Kurosawa-esque-ish episode, Rashomama -

GREG: (referring to the reason for eating at a diner)
...It's a tradition.

SARAH: Ah, tradition, like becoming property exchange between your father and your husband.

NICK: That's not what a wedding is.  It's a public declaration of love.

GREG: i'm with Vince Vaughn on this one.  Dozens of single horny women, with access to an open bar and coupling on the mind...

WAITRESS: Weddings are a Rorschach.  Everybody sees what they want to see.  My first five were good!

However you see your wedding, have your ceremony, your way.  For more information, please contact A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY - A modern, inclusive officiant for the ceremony tradition.

i am a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant®, secular minister and civil officiator in Los Angeles and Orange County.  Creating and performing unique, custom-written, bespoke, one of a kind ceremonies and rituals for weddings, engagement, betrothal, commitment, vow renewal, animal or pet, rite of passage, funeral, memorial, celebration of life, baby naming or baby welcoming, new child or adoption, divorce, new job, business, downsizing, new home or any public, private or civic occasion to mark and honour a transition, anniversary, graduation, retirement, ending, change or other milestone.  ALSO: reverend, jp or justice of the peace.

NEWS: You've read her... you've loved her...

Now, let's help her.
Learn how to donate to Dana, also known as the B.A.B., to help tackle medical bills in excess of $18k, as she continues to have medical procedures done related to the autoimmune diseases, Uveitis and Granuloma Annulare.

Donate to the Broke-Ass-Bride!  (And, her broke-ass-husband, too...)

FASHION: Natalie Portman et al Wear Rodarte Dresses

Rodarte Fall 2011 collection, originally uploaded by scpr.kpcc.

This photo is from Rodarte's Fall 2011 collection.

KPCC has a fantastic interview with the two Pasadena-based ladies who are Rodarte: Kate and Laura Mulleavy.

See their website and their prêt-à-porter or ready-to-wear clothing at Opening Ceremony online.

WEDDING: Officiant for Intimate Westlake Village Inn Ceremony

Westlake Village Inn Wedding Officiant, originally uploaded by dj venus.

Congratulations, No. and Jo.!

These two were wed on a patio within the lovely grounds of the Westlake Village Inn.

There was no music, no elabourate choreography. The couple simply exchanged rings and a kiss, surrounded by friends and family. Photography (although not on the left) by JEN of Laurie Bailey Photography.

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.

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

Officiant for Asian wedding ceremony in Westminster, CA, originally uploaded by dj venus.

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 _______ .