NEWS: 405 Freeway Wilshire Ramp Closures and Los Angeles Wedding Season

Beginning Friday, June 22, 2012 until at least the end of September 2012, the I-405 NORTH off-ramp to WESTBOUND Wilshire and the WESTBOUND Wilshire on-ramp to I-405 NORTH will be closed for a majour reconstruction project.

Multiple ramp closures will influence traffic flow for miles, extending well beyond the 90 days anticipated to demolish and rebuild these first two of eight total ramps joining Wilshire Boulevard and the 405 freeway. Demolition and construction of all eight Wilshire ramps is expected to take more than ONE YEAR.



View CLOSURE: Wilshire Blvd ramps at 405 Fwy in a larger map
Be sure to plan ahead more than usual if you are attending, planning, working or participating in a Southern California wedding or ceremony. Inform others and be aware of alternate routes, as the closures and reconstruction of these two and the other six Wilshire ramps are expected to create significant impacts to Wilshire Blvd. and adjoining streets, such as Federal Ave., Sepulveda Blvd. and Veteran Ave. Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd may be alternatives, but we all know how crowded Los Angeles streets are already, during heavy traffic periods!

And don't forget to plan accordingly around other ceremonies, including graduation and funerals, plus parades, rallies, sports games, concerts, attractions, points of interest and other public and private events, too. For more information, consult Los Angeles Metro's website (But be warned mobile phone users and browsers, the site uses Flash. Yuck.) and on LA Metro's Twitt'r: @I_405 .

Good luck out there, and happy wedding-ing! :)

Contact A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY: A modern officiant and certified Life-Cycle Celebrant® to create and perform your custom-written ceremony. Serving Los Angeles, Orange County, Ojai, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Catalina Island, Malibu, Temecula, Big Bear and beyond!

CEREMONY: Bestowing the "Gypsy Robe" on Broadway

The tradition honours a cast member, blesses a production and creates an artifact, simultaneously!

WEDDING: Pasadena Officiant for Backyard Ceremony

Officiant for Handmade DIY Backyard Wedding, originally uploaded by dj venus.

A handmade DIY wedding, anyone?

Congratulations, Ro. & Se.! (This couple was almost too good looking for me to officiate for. ;-P )

That gorgeous backdrop was designed and assembled by the now-wife, as were the blankets everyone sat upon during the ceremony. The wedding was a small affair, with about 20 people, mostly family, in attendance. Picnic lunch, eaten lazing on the ground, was followed by a seated dessert with drinks.

It was a gorgeous sight, and one i will NOT forget.
Via Flickr:
www.ceremonyceremony.com

©Sweet Monday Photography.

NEWS: Los Angeles Magazine's wedding announcements section

Los Angeles Magazine is now accepting proposal stories from local couples. If you've recently proposed marriage, or have been proposed to, they want to learn about your story.

So far, (as of 1 May 2012) there are only NINE stories posted on the website , so don't hesitate, get up there!  This is a much easier process than the New York Times wedding announcements, for sure.  :)

FYI to submit your account of the proposal, you need to be registered with the magazine website.  You can get more information at Los Angeles Magazine.  Good luck and have fun!

IDEAS: Purple Table Settings and Accents

A Pasadena backyard was the remarkable setting for a wedding ceremony i officiated on Easter Sunday 2012. This beautiful table, set against the home's garage, is where the couple and their guests sat for wine and cheese / dessert!

Photo by Lindsey of Sweet Mondays Photography

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!

INTERESTING: What is love?

It has been a while since we last posted a POST SECRET secret.  In honour of the week after Valentine's Day, here's a lovely postcard for you:

"When you told me your deepest darkest secret, a secret that made you think your (sic) a bad person that's when you looked the most beautiful and I knew I really do love you."

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;

NEWS: "Best of Class Wedding Officiant" Recognition

A Non-Denominational Ceremony is Named to the 2012 Wedding Professional Hot List

2 Jan, 2012 - MomentVille.com, one of the worlds leading wedding websites, is pleased to announced that A Non-Denominational Ceremony has been selected for the 2012 Wedding Professional Hot List.

The annual Wedding Professional Hot List recognizes excellence within the wedding industry, as determined by reviews from tens of thousands of brides and grooms. A Non-Denominational Ceremony was among the best reviewed vendors in the past year.

"The Wedding Professional Hot List recognizes best of class wedding professionals." said Geoff Evason, MomentVille's CEO. "Highlighting the success of the top wedding professionals is an exciting way to spread the word and help newly engaged couples find the right professionals for their own weddings."

About A Non-Denominational Ceremony
Venus Kitagawa-Stojsic of A Non-Denominational Ceremony offers a modern, individualized approach to the ceremony tradition.  Venus is an ordained, non-denominational minister with over ten years experience officiating, speaking in public and leading groups. Her unique approach personalizes each ceremony, which is custom-written and performed to reflect her clients' values, cultures and tastes from the unusual to the traditional.  Venus is certified by the Celebrant Institute & Foundation.  She graduated from Chapman University in Orange, CA.  For more information, see www.ceremonyceremony.com . 

About MomentVille
MomentVille.com offers engaged couples and wedding enthusiasts a one stop place for planning and sharing a wedding. Offering free wedding websites, wedding planning tools, a gorgeous gallery of wedding pictures a searchable list of reviewed wedding vendors, and lots of helpful and inspiring wedding content, MomentVille helps newlyweds with all aspects of their wedding. For more information contact media@momentville.com

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).