Samuel Wilde Memorial Chapel Wedding of Nicole and Rob

Nicole and Rob chose the historic Samuel Wilde Memorial Chapel in Portland as the location to tie the knot! The setting was beautiful! The weather had been foggy and raining but at the time of the ceremony the sun shone brightly on the happy couple! After the ceremony, the couple and their guests celebrated at the Eastland Hotel in Portland. Music was provided by Michael Mahoney of M&M Entertainment and the dance floor was bustling all evening! The staff at the Eastland Hotel provided outstanding service! I was very impressed with the way that they welcomed the newlyweds with he opening of the champagne bottle corks all at the same time for the toast!. In Addition to a wonderful meal, the staff entertained with a flaming desert. Congratulations Nicole and Rob, may yuo have many years of happiness together!

Of course your pet can be in the wedding ceremony!

One of the fantastic things about creating customized wedding ceremonies is that each ceremony is uniquely about you and your wishes. With that in mind, I wanted to talk briefly about having your pets in the wedding! We have conducted several weddings in which "man's best friend" was the actual ring bearer!

I am a pet lover myself, so I can surely understand when a couple asks me of ways to include their dog, for example, because their dog is a member of their family. I love the idea of including them, and most of the time, the dogs that I have seen in the wedding ceremonies that I have officiated at, have been very well behaved and people truly enjoyed seeing their involvement.

Many specialty bridal shops now understand the desire for couples to include their furry friends and I have seen quite a few mini tuxedo's for your four legged ring bearer! At a wedding in Maine, a beautiful lab mix dog came down the aisle to the command of his owner with the rings securely attached to his collar, then remained sitting next to the owner during the ring ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the dog happily trotted off with his parents as they began their future together.

Don't be afraid to ask your wedding minister or officiant how you can include your pets. If you are a couple that has had your pet in your wedding, tell me about it!!! Send me a photo to my email at lovingunity@gmail.com and I will gladly post it. Have a look at http://www.bridaloccasion.com/ to get wings or rring bearer pillows for your pet.

Tips for a Successful Sand Ceremony

There are many blending ideas, that unite a couple and even unite families. One of the creative ideas and in particular, one that is popular for beach weddings is Blending Sand. It is perfect for outdoor weddings, but couples using all sorts of venues, choose it as a sign of unity. Of course it is also beautiful for photographs. I have seen such a great variety of vessels used for the ceremony. Some couples use sea shells, others choose vases that they have personalized with their initials. I am going to show you a few different ideas that the couples I have worked with have used. First, I want to give you some tips for a successful sand ceremony.

• Plan a smart set up. You would like to have it take place in an area where guests can have a good view of the sand ceremony as it unfolds, instead of a look at the backside of you. One of the options would be to set up the vessels on a small table so that the officiant can stand in the middle facing the guests, and you and your partner can stand facing each other with the table in between. Another option would be for the two of you to stand on the same side but still facing the guests. The officiant would stand to the other side.




• Make a beautiful Scene. A bare, boring table doesn't make for a beautiful visual. It won't look that good in your pictures either. Try to get a table that is on the smaller side, I personally like the tables at a store like Wallmart that is a small circle on top with three screw on legs. These tables can be easily covered with a white cloth, or color of your choice. You could even add a pretty table runner of tapestry to make it more festive. Some couples have added rose petals or shells to give it more eye appeal.




• Keep the sand dry. Sometimes moisture and humidity affect the way that sand flows, it may clump together. It would be a good idea to keep it dry by sealing it until you are ready to use it. I try to always have a look at it before the ceremony to ensure that there is no clumping. One of the couples that I worked with used Salt instead of sand and they added food coloring to have it match the bridesmaids gowns. It was stunning.




• Eliminate mess. If the vessel is very small that you will be using, you may want to utilize a small funnel. That way, when you are ready to pour your sand, you can slip the small funnel into the middle vessel. If you don't have a funnel, a simple paper in the shape of a cone will work.




• Practice makes perfect. During the rehearsal, I usually talk to the couple about the specifics, where they will stand, how to pour it little by little, each taking turns, how slow you should pour,




• Family sand ceremonies. For sand ceremonies that are used for uniting families with children, I suggest that each child have a different color to represent themselves, and that their sand be placed in smaller vessels perhaps the size of a shot glass, and that during the blending they all take turns including their sand.

It is my hope that just as the grains of sand once joined can no longer be separated, so also will be the love and bond of this couple through marriage, and the bond with their children.