Saturday, August 28, 2010

It's All About YOU!!


Are you worrying about your upcoming wedding ceremony?
Nervous that it may wind up being the same as every other wedding ceremony you've seen?
Hoping to make your ceremony more "YOU?"

Then you may be interested in my upcoming workshop, "Creating a Unique Wedding Ceremony." The workshop is being offered through Oakton Community College.

Topics to be covered include:
  • Selecting the right readings
  • Rituals from different cultures
  • Blending different traditions
  • Theme weddings
There will also be time for a Q & A, so you can have your specific questions answered.

Here are all the details:

Class: Creating a Unique Wedding Ceremony (course code is PSY B02-01)

Location: Glenbrook South High School, 4000 W. Lake Ave. in Glenview

When: Tuesday, October 5th, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Workshop Fee: $30

How to Register online: Visit Oakton's website

Register by phone: Call 847-982-9888 & choose option 3 (days) or 847-486-4713 (evenings)

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wedding Profile: Carol & Matt's Fun Celebration!


A few weeks ago I had the wonderful experience of officiating the wedding ceremony of Carol and Matt. I had featured them previously, having written about their wedding website.

I was looking forward to their wedding, because I really enjoyed working on their ceremony. I liked them right when I met them, and even more when I read their responses to my questionnaire. I knew they would have a really fun wedding. I'm happy to say, they did not disappoint!

The wedding was held at Pinstripes in Northbrook. It's a really cool "dining and entertainment venue" that features bowling lanes, bocce courts, banquet rooms, and a beautiful patio with a garden This was my first time at the place and I was impressed by the fun, but still sophisticated, atmosphere.

The patio where the ceremony took place had an outdoor bocce court! How cool is that? There was also a lovely garden area (which was so pretty!) that felt very secluded from the busy street and restaurant. It was the perfect spot for a ceremony.

The wedding began with live music - a performance of Matt & Carol's favorite song, The Foo Fighters' "Everlong." The singer was Carol's brother and her uncle and one of the groomsmen formed the rest of the band. They were fantastic! I want to hire these guys to play for my party! (Now I just have to plan one.)

Another special touch was the box that held the wedding rings. The ring bearer, Quintin, painted and decorated the box himself (with help from his mom). In little gemstones it said, "I Do." So sweet!

The ceremony included a handfasting ritual, for which Carol made her own handfasting cord. I love that she included embellishments that were meaningful to her and Matt, such as a little guitar and a "love" charm.

The table that held the cord also served as a memorial for loved ones. It was decorated with gorgeous bunches of white lilies and hydrangeas
and framed photos. I noticed several guests admiring the photos before we began. It really added to the warm and personal tone of the ceremony.

The only tense part of the ceremony was the threat of storms. (That, and the fact that the mosquitoes were relentless!) The sky started looking pretty ominous just before the ceremony. We began and there were only one or two drops that fell towards the end of the ceremony. I think there were probably more tears than raindrops!

Luckily, we made it through without getting soaked. By the time I got to my car afterward, it started pouring. I drove home in a crazy downpour. But by then, everyone was safely inside for the reception. And having a blast, I'm sure.

Congratulations, Carol & Matt. I know you will have a long, happy life together! Thank you for letting me be a part of your wonderful day!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Wedding Profile: Mangesh & Raquel's Colorful Spanish-Indian Celebration at Baha'i Temple

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of officiating the wedding ceremony of Mangesh and Raquel at the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette.

Mangesh, a native of
India, and Raquel, from Spain, had a wonderful, multicultural ceremony. It was such a delight to be a part of this celebration!

The ceremony included readings in Spanish and Hindi, as well as a reading of Seven Wishes, as a nod to the tradition of the Seven Steps, or
Saptapadi, of Indian weddings. Seven of their friends shared blessings for the couple, in English and Spanish.

One of my favorite touches was that Raquel's wedding flowers were presented as a part of the ceremony. Rather than walking in with a bouquet, she was given flowers after her entrance, by her parents and sister, and Mangesh's parents and brother. The long-stemmed roses were gathered in a bunch and Mangesh tied
them together with a red scarf - from Raquel's hometown in Spain. It was a beautiful symbol of the joining of their two families and cultures.

And, last but not least, take a look at Raquel's incredible dress! Mangesh brought it back for her from India this summer. It was unbelievably beautiful, with delicately intricate beading and embroidery. I made sure to take a picture so I could show my mom. As a seamstress, I knew she would appreciate the amazing details. And she did. (There was much ooh-ing and ahh-ing.)

The wedding was a spectacular sight - a gorgeous feast of colors amidst the grand beauty of the temple. A wonderful experience I'll never forget!

Congratulations, Raquel and Mangesh!

I wish you all the best - I know you will have a long and happy life together!



Monday, August 9, 2010

The Wish Upon a Wedding Gala is Coming up!


Monday, November 1, 2010

Save the date for the
Wish Upon a Wedding Gala!!

I'll be there.... I hope you will be, too!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Join us - Become a Celebrant!


When I tell people that I'm a Celebrant, it leads to the inevitable conversation about what it is, exactly, that I do. Not that I'm complaining - I love talking about my work!

Besides creating wedding ceremonies, I am also able to create other ceremonies for people, such as Vow Renewals, Birthday Celebrations, Baby Blessings, and Coming-of-Age ceremonies. Life-Cycle Celebrants, such as myself, work closely with people to create ceremonies for every type of life event. Sound interesting?

If this type of work appeals to you, you should know that the Celebrant Foundation & Institute is hosting a free informational webinar On Tuesday, August 10th. You can view the invitation on Facebook. You can also learn more about becoming a Celebrant at the website.

There's always room for more Celebrants. Join us in living the art of life!