Today I am happy to announce… that my own primary website has been officially re-launched with it’s brand new design and I’d love for you to visit: Sacred Ground Ceremonies. Many thanks to my wonderful designer, Michelle Martello of Minima Designs and, of course, to all the fabulously talented photographers whose beautiful images grace the site.

Ok, you’ve got to love this…. this little competition in the NY Times Opinion section attracted dozens of silly and creative submissions. Here are a few of the ones I liked, but you really must check it out ’cause there are so many more… maybe you have an idea to submit?

This past week was wedding-packed and over the next few months I hope to share lots of beautiful photos of the wonderful couples and lovely places. But there was just one little wedding detail that I couldn’t wait to show you… so I took a few photos to share right away. Yes, you heard it here first… a robot ring bearer! My beautiful bride, Caitlin, works for NASA… so bringing a robot along to act as ring bearer was only natural . As you can see he (TALON) was “dressed” in a lovely green cummerbund and bow tie with the rings in a little white basket. What a guy!

Pretty cute, huh?

Caitlin & her bridesmaids show their appreciation...

Earlier this year… wow, all the way back in January…. a couple I married asked 3 of their friends to come up and read these wonderful movie quotes at the very beginning of their ceremony. I thought this was a lovely idea because it so clearly reflected the personalities of the couple, their shared appreciation for romantic movies and their great sense of humor. Your ceremony reading choices can be truly creative and meaningful to you, not just what’s expected. Enjoy!

Quote from the movie The Notebook – “The best love is the kind that weakens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that plants fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me. That’s what I hope to give you forever.”

Quote from the movie Love Actually – “Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think of the arrivals gate at the airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the twin towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. And if you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that love actually is all around.”

Quote from the movie Fools Rush In – “You’re the one! You are everything I never knew I always wanted. I’m not even sure what that means exactly but I think it has something to so with the rest of my life! And I think we should get married! Right now!” ]]> http://www.charlottesvilleweddingblog.com/2008/11/wedding-reading-movie-quotes/feed/ 0 http://www.charlottesvilleweddingblog.com/2008/08/my-first-wedding-at-the-omni-charlottesville/ http://www.charlottesvilleweddingblog.com/2008/08/my-first-wedding-at-the-omni-charlottesville/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:11:33 +0000 Claire Goodman http://www.charlottesvilleweddingblog.com/?p=286

It does seem a bit odd, given the dozens of ceremonies I’ve done, that this was my first one at the Omni. Nevertheless, it was and it was very, very special. Nikki and Ben had worked so hard on their ceremony both with me and on their own. Every detail of the ceremony and of all the rest of their day was tended to with the utmost care and the result certainly reflected the loving attention they’d lavished on their wedding planning.

First, as you can see here the Omni ballroom was transformed by Ben’s own computer-generated artwork (see it hanging behind the stage?) and amazing lighting and draping that was provided by the Event Company. Second, their ceremony was extremely personal with Ben and Nikki addressing their guests directly with a sweet and funny composition they’d created together especially for the occasion, acknowledging their friends and family in a unique and heartfelt way. Then family members addressed them with lovely messages and poetry. I am always happy to stand aside and have loved ones participate… it adds something to the ceremony that I simply can not create for them.

Another of the many unique touches that they had were the table center pieces which each held a little sign of a country that Ben and Nikki had visited together. After the ceremony they went outside with their photographer to get some great downtown mall wedding photos. I am including a couple of my own here so you can get the idea.

Aren’t they cute?
Big Congratulations Ben & Nikki!

Thank you for making me a part of your wonderful day!

About a month ago my colleagues, Bill and Ann Holland of Holland Photo Arts kindly asked me if I would “mind” if they did a post about my Wedding Officiant work on their blog… I was so flattered and said, “of course!” Feel free to check out their very nice post along with some of their beautiful photos of two beautiful wedding that we did together. And, while you’re there please look at Bill and Ann’s beautiful wedding photography work on their website. Enjoy!

Just this morning I had the opportunity to perform a ceremony at a beautiful, small, family-only wedding right here in Charlottesville. I loved it! Small backyard weddings are among my favorites… the feeling is always intimate and usually somewhat informal which is nice. This couple, Kathleen & Bill, chose to have a spiritual ceremony that included a Hand Blessing ritual which is a very modified Handfasting from the Pagan tradition.

An important part of the ceremony was acknowledging each of their children from prior marriages and letting them know how important their love and support was to the couple. Bill’s daughter read one of my very favorite readings… an excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.

A backyard wedding gives you lots of opportunity to be creative, to welcome you loved ones to your own home and to just generally create an atmosphere of love and gratitude for your guests. I had the opportunity to meet everyone and even have short, personal conversations with each guest which, of course, I am not able to do at a bigger event. All in all if a couple is looking for a small, very personal and somewhat less formal wedding experience I think backyards (or front yards, or living rooms) are the way to go!

Lots of people are in love with their animals… including me (I have a dog and 3 cats) … and want to find a way to have them participate in their wedding ceremony. Believe it or not I’ve actually had 2 brides carry their dog down the aisle instead of a bouquet! Generally speaking I’m always very happy when critters are included and there are many ways to do it. In the photos here you see Herbie the Love Bug (that’s his full name) wearing his doggy tux. He was well behaved enough to actually stand up (or sit down) with the groomsmen through the entire ceremony. I’d have to guess that Herbie had more pictures taken of him than the bride did! Herbie’s Mom (the bride) was a veterinarian so dogs and horses were an important part of the day. The other pup here, Coltrane, was the ring bearer in his parent’s ceremony. When it came time to bless and exchange the rings he trotted right down the aisle (accompanied by a friend of the couple) with them tied to his collar with a ribbon… another big hit, naturally!

So, if you are thinking of including your beloved pet in your ceremony don’t hesitate to find a way… ask your Minister or Officiant to help. Sometimes a couple will tell me that their dog is just too excitable to actually participate. Then, at the very least, the couple will have some pre-wedding photos taken that include their pets. After all, they’re an important part of the family and including them in the celebration makes perfect sense!