The Vinoy Wedding of Gillian and Tam

My greatest honor is to create and officiate customized wedding ceremonies.  Gillian and Tam were such a beautiful couple, and I enjoyed every moment of the planning of their unique wedding that was held at the Vinoy in St. Petersburg.  The Tea Garden was the perfect location for their intimate ceremony.  The ceremony was written to incorporate Gillian and Tam's ethnic and religious traditions.  The ceremony incorporated Catholic and Buddhist rituals, and demonstrated their spiritual nature and their desire to live the life of kindness.

The Tea Garden of the Vinoy was decorated with magnificent flowers designed by Scott of Apple Blossom Florist.  I hope that the pictures I have chosen to share with you will give you an idea of the beautiful colors and how they were incorporated with the traditions of the couple.  Even the readings that were selected encompassed the different cultures.

A table set to the side held pictures of the deceased ancestors, and was the altar where the couple brought the relatives to mind, lit incense to honor them, and ask for their blessings upon their marriage.  The flowers that had been placed on that table are offerings representing beauty, love, compassion and peace.

At the beginning of the ceremony, a bell was rung three times, and rose petals that had been placed in perfumed water were strewn at the couples feet to bring to mind the sacredness of the ground. 

Some of the Wedding Professionals responsible for the success of this wedding:

Flowers:  www.AppleBlossomsTampa.com   813-985-6409
Event Management:  Sarah Fairbarn  813-624-5484  www.onefinedayinc.com
Rev. Virginia Bishop  LovingUnity.com 727 532-6186
  

Unique Wedding Readings - Lyrics from the Dave Matthews Band

My daughter and her husband are big fans of the Dave Matthews Band, so I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the lyrics of Loving Wings by the Dave Matthews Band.  This could easily be used for a very beautiful wedding reading, or even part of the prayers/blessings after the vows.  You read them and let me know what you think!

Loving Wings Lyrics

(written by: David J. Matthews)

Send "Loving Wings" Ringtone to Cell Phone

My heart was made of broken bones
My soul a bag of stick and stone
But you along this dusty road
Have come my love to take me home

So I give to you my everything
You've given me these loving wings
Angels have all gathered 'round
To hear me sing my love out loud

Your lightly love lifted me away
Out of a darkness cold and gray
Now I work beneath the midday sun
My cool blue water you have come

So I give to you my everything
You've given me these loving wings
Angels have all gathered 'round
To hear me sing my love out loud

So take your place here next to me
And I'll take my place there next to thee
And no matter how far we may roam
It's by your side I'll make my home

So I give to you my everything
You've given me these loving wings
Angels have all gathered 'round
To hear me sing my love out loud

Hyatt in Tampa - Jewish/Catholic Wedding Ceremony

Congratulations Brandi and Kenny on your marriage! The sun was shining upon the wedding at the Hyatt in Tampa. Rev. Pauline Rohrman provided a interfaith ceremony that blended the elements of both faiths together in a very loving and respectful way.


Brandi and Kenny shouted Mazel Tov at the end of their ceremony as they broke the ceremonial glass! Brandi was radiant and Kenny looked so handsome as they shared their custom vows with each other. May you be blessed with a long and happy life together! The photography was done by Stacey Creamer of Alexis Photography. Music for the ceremony and reception was
provided by Chuck Weirich of TampaBayDJ.com

Signing of the Marriage License

In ancient Babylonian and Assyria, marriage contracts were written on clay tablets. They were included in the large collections (25,000 tablets) of Assurbanipal II of Nineveh, the worlds first librarian. The marriage tablets came into use in Western society for the first time during the period of the Roman emperors.

After the celebration, when the bride had been ushered into the bridal chamber and the marriage was presumed to be successfully consummated, one of two things usually happened. A sacrifice was offered to the gods, and the marriage was recorded in the register!!!

We have come a long way! One of the rituals that I enjoy most is immediately following the wedding, I invite the two witnesses to sign the license and have the couple look on. I had always wondered why it was done off to the side, or privately, and I felt that the witnesses serve such an important role, why not bring them front and center! They seem to enjoy the ritual and the couple does as well, and it provides yet another great photo op for the photographer! So, when the time comes for the signing of your marriage license, make it part of your ritual and make your witnesses feel proud to be serving as part of your bridal party!

Cute Wedding Reading

Here is one that we used with a couple who had their dog's serve a ringbearer and flower girls......it was so very cute!


Love is Like Owning a Dog

First of all, it's a big responsibility
so think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sesnse of security;
When you're walking down the street late at night,
and you have a leash on love,
ain't no one going to mess with you.

Love doesn't like being left along for long.
But comes home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things in it's passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time?  No!  No!
Love can be bad.  Bad, love, bad!  Very bad love!

Love pulls you in many different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.

Love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

But most of all, love needs love, lots of it
and in return, love loves you and never stops.

Bayou Country Club an awesome location for the Wedding and Reception!

Congratulations Heidi and Denver!!! The Bayou Country Club was the setting for the beautiful wedding of Heidi and Denver and joining as a family with their sons Keegan and Gavin. The sun was shining brightly and the setting was gorgeous. Heidi looked spectacular in her fitted gown, and the bridesmaids colors were lovely.  The couple chose to have blessing stones signed by their guests to wish them well.  They will keep them in their home as a symbol of the love and wishes of their guests on this wedding day.   The wedding cake was created by Publix, the music was by ML Productions Inc, Mobile Disc Jockeys, and the photography for the professional photos was Ashley Lafler of SunshinePhotos.com It was a beautiful religious ceremony, and I wish Heidi, Denver and their family, all the best.