Three Weddings in Two Tear-filled Days!!

Wow - well it's been an action packed two days for me - Friday night was Mike & Annette's wedding in Saugatuck. They are a lovely couple who after being friends a life time ago reconnected recently and decided to wed. The bride was in tears from the moment I began to speak - I could hardly look at her because I didn't want to start crying, too - it was really very sweet!

The most beautiful part of their ceremony was a family sand unity ceremony...it was the grooms one request, Annette later confided to me that Mike had searched the internet and found it, she had never even heard of a unity sand ceremony before! I watched Mike before the ceremony began proudly explaining to his guests what the empty container and all the cups of sand were for. They must have had over a dozen cups of blue, green, pink and purple neon colored sand all lined up on the table, enough for all their children and their grandchildren...it really was beautiful when all was said and poured! They even had a few guests come up and pour the sand on behalf of one of the families that could not attend due to health reasons. They graciously asked me to stay for the reception and they were so sweet about it I just couldn't decline and I was glad I didn't - I met the most interesting folks there.

One couple in particular I seemed to hit it off with, which I later found out was Annette's Ex-husband and his current wife. Needless to say I was a little shocked to learn "who" they were but I had a great conversation with both of them and truly enjoyed meeting them and the conversation that ensued, my only regret is that I didn't get to spend more time with them as I felt as thought we were really like-minded in our beliefs, spirituality and shared the same general outlook on life.

I also was paid the highest compliment by them that I think I have ever received...generally at the weddings I've done there are always at least a few people that make a point to walk over to me and tell me what a lovely ceremony they thought it was - well, turns out not only was the gentleman Annette's ex he has also been a wedding photographer for 20+ years. When he approached me and complimented me on the service I thanked him and thought he would move on to the refreshment table but he then he made a point of telling me about being a photographer and that he could count on one hand the weddings that really moved him...and mine was one of them! He also said that he thought his wedding was pretty good but mine was even better, so personal and so moving - he was so impressed - I almost started to cry for the second time that night! Thanks, again, you two - we'll be in touch and maybe we can all do a wedding together!

Saturday was twice as busy - two weddings in three hours! Normally I never do two weddings so close together but I perform weddings for a local B&B and for the first time ever he had two couples wanting a weekend wedding package with weddings on the same day so instead of him having to decline one of the reservations, I agreed to come out for the afternoon and do both ceremonies.

These are couples that I've only had email contact with so it's always fun to meet them in person but it is a little strange seeing brides for the first time as they are walking down the "aisle" towards me.

The first couple was Stacey and Tony a military couple who had both sets of parents there as witnesses. It was a beautiful day out on the porch, with a light breeze blowing – it was just picture perfect! Tony looked very handsome in his dress military uniform and Stacey was stunning in her gown; I had barely begun to speak when I saw the first tear roll down her check. Something about a crying bride makes me want to reach out and wipe away her tears or cry with her – maybe it’s just the Mom in me or maybe motherhood has just made me soft but either way it’s nice to see them feeling such unexpected and primal emotions!

The second couple was Amber and Sam, an adorable couple who chose a religious ceremony for their wedding and once again I got through maybe two lines and the tears came rolling down! They selected a couple of readings that were meaningful to them including a poem by Maya Angelou that spoke about love. I just love it when couples choose to include things that are important to them, I think it’s important for your wedding ceremony to reflect your hopes, dreams and beliefs and that it really sounds like the two of you...the more you personalize your ceremony the more meaningful it will be for both of you!!

So that’s today’s tip from the Rev. – personalize, personalize, personalize! And Bride’s before you come down the aisle to face me – grab yourself a hankie!

Have a great week all – I have family in so I’ll be off the radar for a few days but I’ll be back at the end of the week, just in time for two more weddings; in Fennville I’ll marry Amber & George and my Dad will marry Jerome & Maria in Kalamazoo both on July 5th!

Have a great 4th everyone!
Rev. Hoot

Outdoor Weddings

This weekend, despite the rain storms, I had the pleasure of performing two outdoor ceremonies...

Friday night I had the prvilege of officiating over a vow renewal of a darling couple who celebrated their 5th anniversary with their family and friends at the Felt Mansion in Laketown.


It is a gorgeous building with fantastic grounds!! The couple chose to be married inside the new coy pond which has a cement walkway out to a center circle with a fountain in the middle it was like walking on water!

The "bride", Tina, had her heart set on having the ceremony outside and even though it was raining when I arrived, the clouds cleared and the rain stopped just long enough for us to get through the entire cermony and get everyone inside before it let loose with a down pour that lasted the night! It was perfect timing and a perfect ceremony.

Paul and Tina were a fabulous couple that put enourmous thought into every part of their ceremony... one element they chose to incorporate was a Mother's Rose Presentation but instead of roses they selected a different flower for each Mother that represented a value they felt that each one had taught them...you can see how happy and surprised the Mom's were.

That's just one of the ways in which Paul and Tina made their ceremony personal and unique. It was a very special treat for me to work with them!!


Saturday I was honored to officiate at a commitment ceremony for Ted and Lynnette at Douglas Beach. Despite the clouds that hovered above all day and the winds that kicked up just as we got there they also got the rain free ceremony that they we dreaming of!




Lynnette's two sisters were the only witness to this itimate and private beach ceremony that culminated with a sand blending ceremony using the sand at their feet. Now they have a little jar of sand from the exact spot they stood on when they pledged their love for each other - it was VERY romantic!!





Michelle from V.S. Flowers did a beautiful job on their flowers - thanks, again Michelle!!





Congratulations to Tina & Paul and Lynnette and Ted - two wonderful couples! Wishing you all a lifetime of happiness together!!

Hello!

A big hello and welcome to all my new Blog Readers!

As this is my first post I thought I'd start things off with a shout out to the woman responsible for all this Jen of JK Photography.

I just did a wedding with Jen in Saugatuck and saw some of the photos she took that day posted on her blog - talk about stunning photographs!

I was so impressed that I knew I wanted to work with her again...after a wonderful phone conversation filled with words of wisdom from a fellow woman business owner *poof* my blog is born!

I hope to use this forum to highlight some of my fellow female business owners who I've had the privilege to work with over the years; professionals who take pride in their craft and are a joy and a pleasure to work with. These are the women that I seek out and truly enjoy working with; together we make a fantastic team that's ready to take care of everything so that a bride can be a bride and enjoy her wedding day!

This months vendor love goes out to JK Photography! If you are looking for a fantastic, sweet, charming, talented photographer then Jen is the one you want. She tells me she loves the outdoor weddings, especially the beach ones - which is something else we have in common...I love doing beach weddings!! The sun and the sand in your toes, the lake waves in the background...the phenomenal photographs...and they are perfect for a sand blending ceremony!!

So Today's Tip is: for a Beach Wedding couples should incorporate a sand blending ceremony using the sand at your feet. After all who wouldn't want a little memento of the place where you stood and made your wedding vows to each other! But, no matter what, please don't try to use a Unity Candle outside - it can be done and people ask me all the time to do it but it is not easy and more times then not one or more candles get blown out...especially when you’re on the beaches. If you are going to insist on lighting candles outside make sure you get a hurricane candle or glass to shelter it...just a friendly tip from the Rev!