VIDEO: Alternative to "Traditional" Best Man's Speech?

How does one simultaneously:

• Show off your music skills
• Dis your sibling for not possessing same said skills
• Avoid public speaking
• Send off aforementioned sibling on his wedding day?

This video is touted by the author to be yet another of "the favourite (ed. = best) things ever". Hiperbole aside, it may resonate for wedding guests and participants of a certain age. Funny thing is, the emotionlessness of the Kraftwerkian robot dummy was what they were going for...because, apparently:

We knew the hardest thing would be doing a traditional best man’s speech because we would cry too much.

At least, according to Gawker. Still, it took time, effort and caring to write and create such a production, so i know these guys love their bro. And what better thing to follow or precede or replace a wedding slideshow, than with this six-and-a-half-minute epic?!!  i think i would've taken the speech.

BTW at the time of this blog post, the video had had +350k YouTube views but the band/ensemble still only has 500 or so Facebook fans.

STYLE: Artesia Bridal Fashion with Saris, Drapes and Glamour

Designer ROHINI BEDI is a true artist who reveres the human form and lets her ideas flow from her imagination to her design pad...then onto the runway and into wedding ceremonies all over the world. Check this segment from SHOWBIZ INDIA about a recent bridal show featuring South Asian fashion.

One component about Rohini's artistry: she wants her designs to be functional, as well as beautiful.

The other designer featured in this segment is Shekhar Rahate (flash warning!), who is showing his western bridal design collection alongside Rohini's.

VIDEO: NYPD's "It Gets Better" for LGBT Youth

In light of today's Supreme Court discussion to consider whether or not to take on the same-sex marriage issue, i discovered this video featuring New York Police Department's Gay Officers Action League president; NYPD Commissioner Kelly; their LGBT community liaison and NYPD officers.

VIDEO: Crystal Cove Wedding near Newport Beach, CA

Lovely ceremony footage begins at 2:30 mark!!! ♥♥♥

Harley & Kristia Hylton - Feature from Unscene Visuals on Vimeo.

Beautiful work shot by Ryan, ®Unscene Visuals.

VIDEO: The Love Competition

The Love Competition from Brent Hoff on Vimeo - Because "Love is a feeling you have for someone you have feelings about."

Thanks to Jonathan Goldstein of WireTap on CBC for turning me on to Kent and Marilyn Pelz!

MUSIC: That's All sung by Edie Adams [VIDEO]

lyrics to THAT'S ALL


I can only give you love that lasts forever
And a promise to be near each time you call
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone

That's all
That's all

I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall
And a love whose burning light
Will warm the winter's night

That's all
That's all

There are those I am sure who have told you
They would give you the world for a toy
All I have are these arms to enfold you
[. From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/michael-buble-lyrics/that_s-all-lyrics.html .]
And a love even time can't destroy

If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small
Say it's me that you'll adore
For now and evermore

That's all
That's all

If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small
Say it's me that you'll adore
For now and evermore

That's all
That's all

Songwriters: Haymes, Bob; Brandt, Alan E.;
© WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CORP; MIXED BAG MUSIC INC;

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!

IDEAS: Paper Record Player Invitation Actually Plays Music!

Paper Record Player from kellianderson on Vimeo.

Huge thanks to @Ropeless for this!!!

LGBT: Sheila Alexander-Reed Performed Skype Wedding in D.C.

Has anyone, not just an LGBT couple, been married via Skype in the U.S. before?

You may have heard about the Skype-officiated wedding ceremony of Mark Reed and Dante Walkup.  While the couple and their loved ones were in Texas, the officiant was in Washington, D.C. where all people, whether in same sex or breeder relationships, may legally be married.

The officiant SHEILA ALEXANDER-REID (also named "Shiela Reid-Alexander" in the wedding video) runs a lesbian-owned wedding officiant business with Deborah Thomas called MARRY ME IN D.C. 

"After serving the LGBT community for over 15 years, and working so hard for Marriage Equality in the District of Columbia, it only seems fitting that I would continue to serve my community through Marry Me in DC." 

Thank you, Sheila.  You are an inspiration to all of us! 

BTW see this article about Alexander-Reid which was printed in 2007 in the Metro Weekly, Washington, D.C.'s gay and lesbian news magazine. 

Own Your Equality and Use Technology - And as i continue to follow the developments of this story, i will try to research the legal aspects of the wedding ceremony and explore its ramifications.  Please stay tuned.

And CONGRATULATIONS, MARK AND DANTE!

VIDEO: Thank you to Gilbert Baker, the gay Betsy Ross!

Have you ever wondered where the rainbow flag came from? This tv segment tells the story about the man and the circumstances behind what truly became a symbol representing the beauty and diversity of the LGBT community!

IN THE LIFE is one of my favourite television shows.  It's a fantastic show of documentary stories from the gay experience, which airs about once a month on public television.  Follow them on the Twitt'r here.

PROPOSITION 8: Dramatic Readings of Celebrities Re-Enacting the Prop. 8 Trial

Yes, that's Marisa Tomei and friends, reenacting Kristen Perry's Prop. 8 trial testimony, at Plummer Park in West Hollywood.

VIDEO: The Importance of Grief and Mourning in Children

Children may experience the death of a parent or family member differently than adults, but they experience it nonetheless.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

From CBS Sunday Morning the week of 11 April 2010.

VIDEO: Save the Date...done Hollywood style!!?

And by "Hollywood", i mean it in a good way, not a gross, over-the-top bad way.



Link found on OFFBEAT BRIDE.

VIDEO: Divorce Parties to Mark the Transition from Married to Not!

It is a Celebrant and officiant's duty to create and perform ceremonies of all types. Yes, the majourity of ceremonies i create and perform, and thus blog about, are for weddings and marriages... However, there are other types of ceremonies: funerals, memorial services, baby naming, adoption, retirement, deployment, survivors...the list goes on and on.

A ceremony indicates a rite of passage. A ceremony marks a transition, be it from child to adult, from single to married person, or even from married back to single person! The following video was broadcast on CBS News' The Early Show on Friday, 9 April 2009. The clip features author Laura Dave of The Divorce Party, as well as Charlotte Eulette of the Celebrant North America Foundation and Institute. (In the interest of full disclosure, Charlotte's organization trained me in the the history, creation and performance of ceremony and ritual.)


Watch CBS Videos Online

VIDEO: Balloon Marriage Proposal Goes Horribly Wrong

Whether this is really a lighthearted joke on video, or an unfortunate mishap, it's worth watching. Many thanks to Chris Easter at the MAN REGISTRY for this one!

TRADITION: Water-Dousing Ceremony for Firefighters

FULLERTON – A makeshift bucket brigade on the Fire Department roof Thursday morning doused 21 firefighters standing below with 10 pails of water and a hose – keeping with a tradition practiced for years all over the nation.

The water targeted firefighters who were being promoted.

Fire Chief Wolfgang Knabe said many departments have eliminated the water-drop zone recently, but "Traditions are important to me," he added.
===
We agree, traditions ARE important! Congratulations to all you wet Fullerton firefighters!


Courtesy of an article originally in the OC REGISTER.