WEDDING: Oceanfront Ceremony in Laguna Beach, CA

CONGRATULATIONS, Kendra and Scott!

My workmate and his lovely wife were married at Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach, CA yesterday evening. As they were both previously married, this wedding created a new family, with a total of five children! In honour of this occasion, we created a special family blending or unification ritual: one by one, each of the five children, and husband Scott, handed Kendra a different flower. Once she tied together the six flowers with her one, she was left with a lovely bouquet of seven flowers, to symbolise the new family!

Professional photography (not above) by: Cindy Meadors Photography. (BTW You can see the cement semi-circle where everyone was seated at Radified.com's site here.)

TESTIMONIAL: Review of wedding officiant services on Project Wedding

i don't mean to brag...well maybe just a little...but i am so proud to have received the following testimonial from a recent client:

See more reviews of A Non-Denominational Ceremony (Venus Kitagawa-Stojsic) on Project Wedding.

EXPLAINER: Custom-Written vs. Personalized

What IS the difference between a custom-written and a personalized ceremony, if any?

A personalized ceremony is adjusted to fit an individual or occasion. It should reflect the honoree(s) in personality, mood and energy. All elements of a typical ceremony are present, and all legal requirements are met. Participants, readings or rituals of your choice can be included. Some officiants offer you a few different selections of ceremony segments to choose from, and put them all together for you. It's like a sandwich where you choose the ingredients.

A custom-written (or bespoke) ceremony is not only personalized, but it is one-of-a-kind. It is uniquely created for you, according to the exact specifications of the individual client or couple. The text is written on a per client, made-to-order basis, and there are no two ceremonies that are alike. Think of a custom tailored shirt or an original cocktail...there has never been anything like it before.

You CAN have a custom-written, personalized ceremony! It's about more than having the freedom to write your own vows. It's about whether you want a simple or an elabourate ceremony, or a brief ceremony vs. a lengthier one. And it's about the way you want to acknowledge the people, topics and things that are important to you.

Having an individualized ceremony also means leaving out the stuff you or the honoree does NOT want! You have the choice to not include socially or culturally insensitive material, religious or spiritual doctrine, arcane and obsolete words and references, etc.

If you seek a modern officiant with an individual approach to the ceremony tradition, please see the website for A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY or
email celebrantvenusPLEASE_DELETE[at]gmail.com.

WEDDING: Outdoor Ceremony at the Clubhouse in La Mirada, CA

CONGRATULATIONS: Shonna and Danny!

This ceremony focused on the importance of family, and celebrated the coming together of two wonderful families. There was also a special tribute included, honouring the bride's dog Ginger, who had to be euthanized the week before the wedding:

At this time of coming together, it is also a time of transition and change in Danny and Shonna’s lives, but one constant, unfortunately, is no longer here with us. Therefore, before we continue, we must take a moment to pay a very special tribute to a very special dog. Ginger came into Shonna’s life when Shonna was just nine years old. She was just the most amazing dog Shonna had ever come in contact with, and she was the one, at least until Danny, to provide Shonna with unconditional love, loyalty and companionship. Ginger will be missed more than anyone can imagine.

The entire affair was run, seemingly single-handedly, by Natalie at LA MIRADA GOLF COURSE. She is a truly hands-on coordinator, whether it involves shuttling guests and wedding parties, or laying down the runner before the ceremony started. A beautiful string duet was played by Missy and Nancy of ___________. Photography (but not photo below) provided by ____________.

WEDDING: Outdoor Ceremony at the Marriott Hotel in Newport Beach, CA

CONGRATULATIONS: Jean and Mike!

With the Pacific Ocean in the distance, these two awesome people exchanged marriage vows on the lovely grounds of the Newport Beach Marriott, near Fashion Island. After their ring vows, they chose to honour their Japanese-American heritage with the San San Ku Do tradition.

Many thanks to Candice, Lana (Lan?) and Julie of the NEWPORT BEACH MARRIOTT. In their capable hands, things went off without a hitch!

WEDDING: Garden Ceremony at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden in Long Beach, CA

CONGRATULATIONS: Sarah and Charles!

i had the absolute honour and pleasure of meeting and working with this incredibly cool couple, whom i hope to stay in touch with in the future!

As a unity ritual, they used San San Ku Do, or sake ceremony, in a nod to Charles' Japanese background.  The entire wedding was a beautiful experience, with the ceremony taking place on the bridge in front of the (loud) rushing waterfall of the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden on the grounds of Cal State Long Beach.

Photography by CW Photo Designs (above).

WEDDING: Outdoor Ceremony in Fullerton, CA

CONGRATULATIONS Jeanna and Mike!

In true do-it-yourself fashion, this couple was wed in the park of their housing tract. They met at the Renaissance Faire, and included a bit of their personal story in the ceremony text:

In front of her booth at faire, Jeana tied a braided strand of ribbon onto
a little sapling so people would see it, and not drive over it or trample it. At
the same time, Jeana made a wish upon that ribbon to meet the man she was to
marry, so that while protecting the tree, the tree’s energy would/could
bring her future husband to me. And it did! Shortly after she tied the
ribbon on the tree, Jeana met up with Mike again after 6 or 7 years of not
hearing or speaking to each other. She doesn’t believe in coincidences...
and attributes it all to destiny.

INFO: To rehearse, or not to rehearse?

Traditionally speaking, rehearsals are a time to introduce families and friends, and spend time with those who are more intimately involved in a ceremony. From a practical standpoint, rehearsals allow you to work out logistics, anticipate problems and calm nerves.

WHAT - Definition of REHEARSAL - “The act of practicing in preparation for a public performance, or a detailed enumeration or repetition of actions.”(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

At a minimum, the goals of a rehearsal are to:
1) Experience a no-pressure trial run of the ceremony. Test the sequence of events.
2) Foresee potential problems and address concerns.
3) Assess location and environment, such as the position of the sun or times of the tides; foot traffic and parking; need for signage, etc.
4) Prepare participants. Determine positions at beginning, during and at end of ceremony.

WHO - All participants of a ceremony are usually present at a rehearsal. This includes attendants, ushers, officiants and any additional parties such as children and other family members. Adjunct participants, such as musicians or photographers, may also be included.

WHY - Rehearsal goals include anticipating problems or concerns; practicing choreography; determining logistics; familiarizing participants with the unfamiliar; and calming nerves. There are many more traditional and pragmatic reasons for a rehearsal, as it is an opportunity to:

• Get to know the ceremony, participants and venue.
• Establish cues and pace. Who does what, when? How far apart will people walk and stand?
• Evaluate visibility. Use this time to work out placement of objects, equipment, props and people.
• Prepare children, people with special needs, animals, etc.
• Soundcheck and evaluate acoustics. Is amplification or a microphone required? Does a waterfall need to be turned off?
• Ask questions!

WHERE - Rehearsals are ideally held at the location or venue of the actual event. However, the location can be recreated or approximated almost anyplace convenient to the participants.

WHEN - Rehearsals are scheduled near the event date and time, to best recreate or approximate conditions of the actual event.

HOW - Officiants, hosts or masters of ceremony usually lead rehearsals. Many event planners and coordinators are available for rehearsals, but sometimes require an additional fee. Assertive, trusted and/or organized family members may also run rehearsals.

ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS & CONSIDERATIONS:
Feasibility – Are you planning your ceremony from abroad? If you are traveling specifically for the ceremony, you may not have the time or resources for a rehearsal. Are you budget-conscious? Some locations and professionals may charge extra for a rehearsal.
Availability of participants – Work, travel and other obligations may dictate who is able to attend the rehearsal.
Availability of venue – Some locations have a limited schedule of days/times set aside for rehearsals.

IF YOU DECIDE TO NOT HAVE A REHEARSAL:
Ceremonies with a small number of participants (especially those without children or elderly) do not always require a rehearsal. Simple, straightforward ceremonies (those without additional elements such as rituals or readings) also may not need to rehearsed. However, be sure to at least visit the location of the ceremony prior to the event, and assess the situation to consider the variables outlined above!

WEDDING: Outdoor Ceremony at Puddingstone Resorts in San Dimas, CA

CONGRATULATIONS, Laura and Richard!
It was an honour to marry these two, who have known each other since high school. Many of their friends were in attendance, for a reunion of sorts... There was lots of family in attendance, and many of them chipped in to help out with all the little details.

Up in the hills above Fairplex Drive near the Pomona Fairplex is a truly lovely outdoor venue at PUDDINGSTONE RESORTS, close to the communities of Upland, Covina, LaVerne and the 10, 57 and 210 freeways! Wedding manager Patricia is one of those perfect blends of professional and friendly...there was nothing bossy or control-freak about her. While the wedding ceremony was held on the Mesa site, the reception took place at the famous Ocean Star Seafood restaurant in Monterey Park. Music provided by Jeff of 'N'Style Entertainment, who is a dj that shows up at the rehearsal, which is really unusual and a great bonus. Photography by Pesh.

WEDDING: Oxford Hotel Ceremony in Los Angeles, CA

CONGRATULATIONS, Sophia and Bobby!

Beautiful, beautiful!!! Despite a short delay as we waited for the piano player (who was caught up in traffic, because she had gone to the wrong hotel), this wedding in the heart of Los Angeles' Koreatown was a huge success.

As a tribute to the bride's Korean heritage and culture, the couple chose to bow to their parents during the ceremony. Bowing to parents is a sign of deep respect and acknowledges ancestors and families past and present. The tradition has its roots in pae baek, which is a formal Korean wedding ceremony involving bowing and fertility rites.


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For a modern, individualized approach to the tradition of ceremony:
A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY
Los Angeles Officiant/Orange County Officiant