WEDDING: At Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach, CA

Congratulations, Jeanie and Eric!

This ceremony took place at one of my favourite venues in Orange County: SEVEN DEGREES.
Any time a proposal story is unusual and fun, it can be included in the text and told as part of the ceremony:

"The proposal was an interesting experience. Jeanie and Eric had been together for over three years, when they decided to take a trip to Hong Kong for Jeanie’s birthday. Prior to this, they had discussed the issue of marriage, but never really went into detail about it.

In Hong Kong, they eventually ended up in a jewelry store as part of a city tour. A
sales associate began showing them rings, and dropping hints to Eric about how
he should be looking for one. Eric appeared uninterested. Jeanie, being the beautiful emotional person she is, left the store in tears, feeling hurt and thinking Eric didn't want to ever consider marriage. Meanwhile, Eric chased Jeanie around the streets of Hong Kong, and then they finally returned to the hotel. As Jeanie sobbed about how Eric didn't want to marry her, he pulled out a ring from his suitcase and said, “I was going to wait until your birthday tomorrow to ask you, but now that you're going to be like this, I guess I'll ask you now.” He had already asked Jeanie’s mother for
permission, and so he got down on one knee and proposed!"

The bride wore a beautiful antique lace dress, and there were seven bridesmaids and seven groomsmen. The groom is the guitar player in the local band PLASTIC PILL. Appropriately enough, the groom cake was in the shape of a sunburst Les Paul guitar! The Seven Degrees staff was first-rate, led by wedding director/coordinator Alyssa (Alissa?). Photography by Nicole Caldwell.

CONGRATULATIONS: Helen and Steve! (Laguna Beach)

It was an honour to perform a marriage ceremony for these two wonderful people! The bride's sister and groom's mother served as witnessness and wedding party. Although ominous grey clouds loomed inland on this day, the coast was absolutely clear and perfect. The sun shined upon the couple as they exchanged self-composed vows against a beautiful ocean background.

The couple concluded their ceremony with this lovely couplet:

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

---from A Midsummer Night's Dream, William Shakespeare

Laguna Beach is often chosen by couples as the site for their wedding. Of all the beach weddings i have performed, 90% of them have been in Laguna Beach! There are blocks of oceanside and sidewalks for small informal or intimate ceremonies, and you can reserve HEISLER PARK* or the gazebo* next to Las Brisas Restaurant, off of Cliff Drive, or the beach itself, for larger groups.

Please see the Laguna Beach city website for information about these fantastic venues!

* Links are for photos only, thanks to radified.com

BUDGET: Wedding Season's Price

Spring wedding season has arrived, ushering in hefty costs for guests -- and especially for members of the wedding party.

Today's WALL STREET JOURNAL has some practical tips for young people who are required to travel and spend money in order to participate in a wedding.

Some members of your wedding party may consider it a vacation to travel to your destination, but some may not be able or willing to travel in order to attend fittings and rehearsals in addition to the Big Day. To save your friends from having to spend a lot of money, have a basic colour scheme in mind, and send out swatches of the exact colours. This way, you can leave it up to your attendants to find their own outfits for the ceremony.

Or, you can always choose to have a small or no wedding party... This means more focus and pressure on you two, but less expense for your guests!