WEDDING: Outdoor Ceremony at Serra Cross Park near Grant Park in Ventura, CA

CONGRATULATIONS: Kelly and Brandon!

The ceremony was held high atop Grant Park, overlooking the entire town, at SERRA CROSS PARK in Ventura, CA. These two surfers had their own take on the blending or unity ceremony by combining water and sand to represent the ocean they both love. There was also a reading of the Apache Blessing and a prayer led by an aunt.

Booking this venue seems easy and the view is absolutely stunning.

The rehearsal dinner and reception site also served as headquarters for the couple and wedding party. They rented a beautiful home in Ojai for this purpose. The family also chipped in and cooked/served the food for the entire occasion. What a great way to save money, and guarantee a very special, unforgettable time! Photography provided by JIMMY CALLIAN PHOTOGRAPHY.


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INFO: Outsourcing of Wedding Vows?? BAD Idea!!!

The Wall Street Journal published an article today about a new trend, which is quite troubling to experienced and certified Celebrant and officiant professionals. The article is from the fabulous Cranky Consumer, and talks about outsourcing one's wedding vows. In fact, it speaks of 'outsourcing' more than the vows part...it suggests leaving it up to a website or computer to spit out the entire ceremony!??

The whole notion of outsourcing is fascinating, but a bad idea, nonetheless. This phenomenon of outsourcing vows (and more) is a result of several factours:

• Clients (couples) who increasingly want to reflect themselves in every aspect of their (wedding) ceremonies - As they should! The participants in a ceremony deserve to be represented by the ceremony. A custom-written wedding (or funeral or baby naming/blessing or housewarming or etc.) is the only way to accomplish this. Otherwise, you may end up with a ceremony that sounds strangely similar to a MadLibs.


• Event planners who are want to be a one-stop shop and provide all services to their clients, whether they are qualified to or not - The fact is, a planner's expertise is in organizing the details and logistics of an event. A venue's expertise is in providing a location and service at the location. But, it is NOT NOT NOT within a planner's breadth of knowledge or experience to provide the text to the ceremony. A venue does not have the experience or familiarity with the specific legal and structural rules involved in officiating and solemnising a marriage. They are not the ones who will complete the requisite documentation, either.
• Choosing people who are not professional officiants to officiate weddings - Leave the writing to someone who has done it before. You can be sure all the love, loved ones, symbolism and/or history of your relationship is represented! Some people are hired for the day to perform a ceremony, but this is the one and only time they will ever perform this important task. There are lots of things to consider during a ceremony, since it is the focal point of the day, if only for a few minutes. Please also see above.
• 'Professional' officiants who use canned ceremony texts and templates in a 'one-size-fits-all-ceremonies-and-clients' manner. Like i said before: MadLibs is the worst-case scenario. Cookie-cutter and generic is the best outcome when you leave it up to a computerized method or a "wedding mill".

Try a uniquely modern, individualized approach to the tradition of ceremony! Contact A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY: ORANGE COUNTY & LOS ANGELES OFFICIANT today. And follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/celebrantvenus.

PHOTOS: Officiating in Anaheim, CA and Malibu, CA

At last! Here is a photo from a very special, very private wedding officiated in September 2008.

Yes, the bride and groom are both wearing mouse ears!



This couple were married in a beach ceremony in the New Year's Eve afternoon on the sand of Malibu.

Notice the waves in the background! The sun had basically set by the time we were done...and smiles were still all around.


Whether you seek a simple yet intimate wedding ceremony, or you plan to be married with all your friends and family present, don't forget the officiant! For more information please see website: A Non-Denominational Ceremony - An Orange County and Los Angeles Officiant.

READING: Apache Wedding Blessing

APACHE WEDDING BLESSING
Traditional

Now we feel no rain,
for each of us will be shelter to the other.
Now we feel no cold,
for each of us will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness,
for each of us will be a companion to the other.
We are two bodies,
but there is one life before us and one home.
When evening falls,
I'll look up and there you will be.
I'll take your hand;
you'll take mine and we'll turn together
To look at the road we traveled to reach this - the hour of our happiness.
It stretches behind us,
even as the future lies ahead.
A long and winding road,
whose every turn means discovery.
Old hopes, new laughter, shared fears.The adventure has just begun.

WEDDING: Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, CA

CONGRATULATIONS Shannon and Brad!

I met these two audio engineers and learned how much we had in common through our mutual love of music. In fact, each table at the reception, instead of having a name or a number, was identified by an album cover!

This gorgeous ceremony took place at the Ranch House area of CALAMIGOS RANCH in Malibu off Kanan Road. You would never imagine such verdant grounds in the middle of the seemingly dry and brown canyons of Malibu. Shannon and Brad were married in front of a waterfall surrounded by trees and grass. The surroundings gave off a hushed, calm atmosphere, which i overheard many people comment about. Purplish and kermit-coloured mums, lilies and other flowers [dear florists: can you teach me more about all the different species?] were everywhere.

The couple enlisted a friend to play the guitar for the processional: "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles. During the ceremony, a sister-in-law recited an excerpt from the VELVETEEN RABBIT and a friend gave the APACHE WEDDING BLESSING.

Many thanks to Mon-Li, banquet manager, for her onsite energy and wisdom. Excellent DJ services provided by Tony of RED SHOE LA, with whom i have worked with several times before. These guys really know their music, and are not the typical cheesy wedding DJs, with a huge collection of chilly downtempo music as well as the hits.

Photography provided by a very busy team headed by TARA ROCHELLE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE MY WEBSITE: A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY.

WEDDING: Disneyland Hotel, Rose Court Garden

CONGRATULATIONS: Emily and Jeff!

These two USC-educated dentists were married at the Disneyland Hotel Rose Court Garden. The staff at the hotel offer impeccable service, as you would expect from a 'magical' Disneyland-type of event. The wedding was short, sweet and meaningful. And no horse-drawn carriage!

Many thanks to Kelly and Denise at Disneyland, photographer Mandy Marie of Jim Kennedy Photographers, and DJ service from Mike at _______.

NEWS: Matriarch of Interracial Marriage, MILDRED LOVING Dies

It is difficult to believe, but not too long ago, it was actually against the law in this country for two people of different races to marry.

Mildred Loving and her white husband, Richard, changed history in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld their right to marry. The ruling struck down laws banning racially mixed marriages in at least 17 states.

Mildred Loving died at the age of 68.

Please see her obituary from the Associated Press.

Celebrate the legalization of interracial couples on LOVING DAY, 12 June.

Also, hear an NPR story celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in favour of the Lovings.