WEDDING: Malibou Lake Mountain Club Officiant in Agoura Hills, CA

Malibou Lake Officiant in Agoura Hills, CA, originally uploaded by dj venus.

This ceremony actually had a maypole dance at the end!

At the start of the ceremony, there were TWO aisles for the wedding party and couple to walk down, both sides simultaneously.

"T and J chose to enter together at the same time to honour the joining of their families, and, to symbolise their choice to enter into marriage willingly as partners and as equals, without being skewed by gender or role."

This wedding was SO beautiful, i cried.  Photography (not pictured) was by a friend of the groom.  Many thanks to Meredith of MALIBOU LAKE MOUNTAIN CLUB and dj ____  for their service and expertise!

Please see these other maypole photos:

NEWS: California's Proposition 8 Closing Arguments - transcripts, tweets, briefs and more!

Today's Proposition 8 closing arguments from the California Supreme Court in Sacramento have been closed to cameras, but on the internet, there's a lot of information updating on a regular basis.

The AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR EQUAL RIGHTS has a live ongoing transcript of today's Prop. 8 final arguments.  The organization will be posting an official, court-approved transcript later today.

As you may expect, there are live tweets from the courtroom:  @AmerEqualRights and @NCLRights .

The State of California's website has a throrough record of all Proposition 8 related legal documents, petitions, briefs and orders. 

Here's a peek at some HOMEWORK QUESTIONS the court provided the plaintiff and defendant to prepare for closing arguments.  According to the document itself,

"The court provides the following questions to the parties in advance of closing arguments. What follows is by no means an exhaustive list of questions, but is intended simply to assist the parties in focusing their closing arguments."

KQED's Scott Shafer has been on NPR, reporting about the end of testimony and the start of closing arguments.
KQED's Prop. 8 blogs may be found here.

Please share your live news!

WEDDING: St. Regis Officiant, Ensuite in Dana Point CA!

Monarch Bay Wedding Officiant in Dana Point, CA, originally uploaded by dj venus.

Congratulations to Jenny and Sean, married 5 June 2010.

The couple's ceremony took place in their own suite at the St. Regis Monarch Bay resort, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Karma, the couple's Maltese/Shih Tzu, was handsomely dressed, and attended the wedding [please see photo, in the groom's arms!]. On the human side, only immediate family members were present, who had travelled from as near as Southern California and far as Washington D.C. and New York.

WEDDING: Officiant in Newport Beach, CA

Congratulations, ToHa and Cha., married on 23 May 2010!  The couple rented a beachfront property on Seashore Drive for their special ceremony with the things that mean the most in life: good food, good friends and family.

Newport Beach Wedding Ceremony Officiant, originally uploaded by dj venus. (NOTE: i had already changed into regular clothes, post-ceremony, as it was very breezy on the beach!)

"Growing up in Orange County, To. recalls the many summers he spent here in Newport, and it will always be an especially significant place to him. Being at the beach reminds To. and Cha. of a time when things were easy and carefree. They both have fond memories of being at the beach as kids with their friends, long before the stress of jobs and responsibility set in.

"Cha. and To. say they feel closest when they are together as a family, with loved ones, spending time together without the distractions of every day life. They have brought you here to the beautiful California coast, because it is a place where they both can feel peaceful and relaxed. What better place than the beach to start a new life together?"

The couple made family vows to their daughter, as well as exchanging vows of marriage to each other. Along with their three-year old, they then poured sand from three containers to symbolise their forever unified family!

ELEMENTS: Laughs are GOOD! - Using Humor in Your Ceremony

CONGRATULATIONS: Ste. and Jar.!  Married at Tustin Hills Racquet Club in Santa Ana, CA on 16 May 2010.  They first met at a stand-up comedy show...and since they love to laugh, why shouldn't they add a few laughs to one of the most important days of their life together? 

Photo by AARON HUNIU PHOTOGRAPHY.  Uploaded from Flickr by dj venus.










One way you can make an occasion your very own is to project your personality/ies through each element of the wedding: from the colours, the venue, the menu and especially the ceremony.  The following excerpts are actual examples taken from the ceremony:

"Seven months ago, S.J., Ste. and Jar.'s son, was born.  Ever since, he has been their dear little monkey..."

"...may you both enjoy a long life of happiness together, with S...and may you always be like a family of deer crossing a prairie in the sunshine."

You don't have to settle for the usual, less-than-memorable ceremony.  Humour does not detract from the seriousness of the commitment being made, nor does it make light of the person or persons being honoured.  Your ceremony can, and should be, FUN, if you want it to be!  For more information, please contact A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY.

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.

WEDDING: Officiant at Lindley-Scott House in Azusa, CA

Azusa Wedding Officiant at Lindley-Scott House, originally uploaded by dj venus.

Congratulations, Nikki and Chris! Married on 30 April 2010...

A historic home in Azusa, CA was the setting for this self-professed science fiction and fantasy loving, book and reading addicted couple!

Many thanks to Leo of the Lindley-Scott House for his professionalism and help in pulling off a lovely outdoor wedding ceremony!

INFO: Southern California Beach Weddings & Other Ceremonies - Things to Consider

Southern California is home to a beautiful coastline, and the beach is (potentially) an economical place to be married.  But, before you assemble your guests at your beach wedding, here are a few things to keep in mind. 

- Photo by Kiel of Foto Cielo

• Does your beach of choice allow small or large groups to gather? - Are gatherings allowed without a permit?  It may be a good idea to have official authorization from the city/state, so you can 'lay claim' to the ceremony site. Speaking of which...
• Are you ok with the public stopping by to watch? - Even with a permit, beaches in California are public, so be ready for some passers-by to stop and looky-loo upon your beautiful ceremony!  If you are looking for an isolated and private affair, it may be best to rent a home on the beach or with its own private slice of the coastline.
• Does your beach allow amplified sound? - Most beaches will not allow music but may allow a mic with public address system.  Don't forget how loud the waves can get!  Speaking of...
• What time does the tide come in? - If you plan to be up near the waves / water, this is an especially important consideration.
• What are you allowed to bring, and not bring, onto the sand? - This includes chairs, umbrellas, decorations, flowers, candles, torches (the fire kind, not the flashlight kind!), food, drink, glass etc.
• Is there any overhead activity scheduled? - This sounds funny, but you never know who may be performing military exercises in the area, or taking a helicopter tour, or hiring a skywriter...at the time your ceremony is scheduled.

Whether you choose Malibu, Catalina Island / Avalon / Two Harbors, Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Manhattan Beach, Long Beach, Ventura or Dana Point, there are many beach wedding locations to choose from.  For more information, please contact A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY for your beach wedding officiant needs! We are professional, experienced, qualified and affordable, serving any Southern California location.

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.

FUNNY: Liz Lemon offers kind words to Grizz about his wedding (and choosing a best man)

LIZ LEMON: [To Grizz, who is having a difficult time choosing either Tracy Jordan or Dot Com as best man for his wedding]

Don't even have a best man!  Your wedding day is about you and your bride.  So who cares what anyone else thinks?  Love isn't judgmental.  Love is patient.  Love is...weird, and sometimes gross.  Love is elusive, and you found it, so treasure it.  And maybe, don't leave it alone with Dot Com.

GRIZZ: [Completely straightfaced, without emotion]

That was beautiful.  Look at me, crying like a baby.

-from 'Argus' the peacock episode, 30 Rock on NBC.  First broadcast 29 April 2010.