Love is Love

So excited to be attending the Love is Love event tonight at Cafe Brauer. It's not too late to get your tickets! Join me and the other members of Stand Up tonight to celebrate marriage equality and help support Equality Illinois. Get your tickets HERE.

See You at Indie Wed - This Saturday!

Who's going to Indie Wed at the Ravenswood Event Center on Saturday? I AM!!! And if you're getting married, you should, too. 

While I won't be a vendor this year, I will be there visiting my pals and checking out all the amazing wedding goodness! Click HERE to see all the fantastic artists you'll get to see - and meet. 

Click HERE to get your tickets online.

See you there....

Wedding Chocolates

This Sunday, you can visit Fannie May stores to learn about (and sample!) their products for wedding favors. Yum!

Click HERE to find a participating location. 

The Chicago History Museum Celebrates Marriage Equality With ONE LOVE!

Join me on April 10th at The Chicago History Museum for a wonderful evening dedicated to marriage equality! And don't forget to stop by and say hi to me! 

Getting Married? Get Committed!

Getting married? Looking for ways to keep it eco-friendly? Then you need to come check out Committed! 

This is a fantastic wedding show featuring wedding vendors who are all members of the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance. (Like me!) Not only will you get to meet some great like-minded wedding folks, there will be plenty of food to nibble on, drinks to sip, and more! 

While you're there, be sure to visit to the Rumpus Room, where there will be fun, hands-on activities. That's here I'll be hanging out as a volunteer for the event, so be sure to stop by and say HI! 

For tickets, click HERE

Pictures from Indie Wed

There was so much to see at Indie Wed - gorgeous flowers, delightful desserts, beautiful dresses (some on wheels), paper goods..... more than I can possibly explain. 


Want to see some pictures? Check out my Indie Wed album on Facebook by clicking HERE!

Handfasting & Blessing Stones Explained

I have to start by saying that I had such a great time at Indie Wed yesterday!! Yes, I was utterly exhausted by the time I got home, but I had a ball!

One of the best parts was meeting brides and grooms and talking to them about various wedding ceremony rituals. Here I'm explaining the handfasting ritual. This is an ancient Celtic tradition, believed to be the origin of the term "tie the knot." 

Handfasting cord

In this ritual, the couple holds hands and a cord or ribbon is wrapped around their joined hands. They can exchange vows at this time, if they choose, or have their Celebrant recite the Blessing of the Hands.

Handfasting at Indie Wed

Blessing Stones

 I also had the chance to explain the Blessing Stones. In this ritual, guests are given a stone (or shell, or anything they choose) at the beginning of the ceremony. During the ceremony guests are asked to hold the stone in their hands while making a wish for the couple. After the guests have bestowed their blessings upon the stones, they are collected by a friend or family member. This will then be a keepsake for the couple. 

It was really fun getting to explain the rituals that I believe add so much to a couple's ceremony

A Ritual for Chocolate Lovers

May I offer you some chocolate? Umm.... not so fast.


These chocolate bars will be a part of my display at Indie Wed next weekend. They are used for the Tasting of the Elements ritual in a wedding ceremony. In this ritual, the different flavors represent stages a couple may go through  (ex - salty represents tears, spicy represents the "heat" of an argument, etc.).


If you'd like to learn more about this ritual - and see how it's done- stop by my 11:00 workshop, "The Perfect 'I Do' for You." I'll demonstrate this ritual, as well as several others.


And by the way, I'll need volunteers from the audience, so if you like chocolate, this one's for you!


If you miss the workshop, stop by my table and I'll be happy to give you the details.  See you there!

And the Winner is.......

ALEX CANTU 


Alex, you are the lucky winner of a pair of tickets to Indie Wed! Congratulations!!


See you there!

Indie Wed Ticket Giveaway!

Indie Wed is coming up very soon...... and I want to see you there.


So I'm giving away a pair of free tickets!


Here's the scoop:


Indie Wed is on Saturday, January 28th, from 10am to 4pm at the Ravenswood Event Center in Chicago (entrance is at 4043 N. Ravenswood Ave.)

Indie Wed will feature:

*two floors with 100+ vendors (like me- AnitaWeds!)

*food & beer tastings - Yum!

*musical & dance performances

*wandering models featuring spectacular bridal fashions

*swag bags for the first 50 people in line (for which I am making a very cute goodie bag, if I do say so myself)

*free workshops & lectures, including a workshop on personalizing your ceremony, called, "The Perfect 'I Do' for You" - presented by yours truly.

*and much more!

 Tickets are $20 per person at the door - but I have a pair to GIVE AWAY!

Interested? Here's how to enter the giveaway:

Leave a comment here at the AnitaWeds blog by this Friday, January 20th at 11:59 p.m. 

Include the following:

your first name & wedding date

why you're interested in attending IndieWed  

The randomly selected winner will be announced here on Saturday, January 21st. 


Good luck!

Getting Ready for Indie Wed!

I'm really looking forward to participating in this year's Indie Wed on January 28th. Not only will I have a table, I will also be presenting a workshop called, "The Perfect 'I Do' For You." The focus of the workshop is to give couples ideas for making their wedding ceremony more personal. I'll cover a variety of topics including music, readings, and rituals. There will also be time for Q & A, so bring your questions! 


In the meantime, I'm working on my giveaways. I was looking for some type of fun goodie bag, and came across these "robots in love" baggies. Perfect! I just finished assembling them and they're all ready to be included in the swag bags given to to the first 50 attendees. 


So, now I'm busy making buttons - thanks to my dear friend (and artistic adviser and all-around advice guru) for lending me her fancy schmancy button making machine. It's pretty addictive. My children and I got lost in a button-making haze for about a week.


Now that I'm done cutting stuff out of magazines and making buttons for fun (like a cool tentacle button that's on my jacket right now), I'm working on making buttons to give away at my table. I have buttons with the AnitaWeds logo, my signature red flower and cute "groom" and "bride" buttons. 

So, if you're coming to Indie Wed, stop by and say hi. And grab a few buttons for your jacket.

Indie Wed is Coming!

As you probably know from past posts, I'm a big fan of Indie Wed.

Well, I'm thrilled to tell you that I will be an exhibitor at the upcoming Indie Wed!! (squee!!)

I can't wait to join some of my favorite wedding vendors in this fantastic event! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

Indie Wed will take place on Saturday, January 28th at Ravenswood Event Center.

It will feature:

• Two floors of exhibitors with over 100 exhibitors
• Food & drink tastings
• Musical & dance performances
• Models featuring bridal fashions
• Free wedding workshops

Get your tickets now. Early bird tickets are currently on sale for $12 each or two for $20.

If you're interested in checking it out, you can purchase your tickets HERE.

Be sure to stop by the AnitaWeds table to say hello!

Under a New Moon - Win a June 1st Civil Union Ceremony & Wedding!

Announcing - Under a New Moon!

Under a New Moon is a celebration of same-sex civil unions in Illinois! Be one of the first couples to have a civil union ceremony in Chicago!

Six lucky couples will win a midnight ceremony and "mini-wedding" at Catalyst Ranch, Chicago's most unique event space!

The party will begin at 10:30 on June 1st, with guests arriving and enjoying appetizers and cocktails.

Group ceremony will begin at midnight, followed by a reception that will include dessert - and dancing!

This momentous occasion will include:

• Pampering for the couples before the ceremony, including hair and make-up services provided by Nika Vaughan
• A group civil union ceremony - conducted by ME, Anita Vaughan! This will include individual vows for each couple
• A reception for couples and their guests following the ceremony, with fabulous deejay, Toast and Jam

But wait, there's more!

• Each couple will be able to invite 12 guests
• Photography of the event by amazing photographer, Jeremy Lawson Photography
• Video by I Do Films
• Wedding cake by Bleeding Heart Bakery
• Delicious treats by Luscious Layers Bakery (a personal favorite of mine!)
• Truffle party favors by Katherine Anne Confections
• Flowers by Pollen, a local eco-friendly florist
• Food by Entertaining Company
• Programs by Paper Stories
• Wedding coordination by SQN Events and Greatest Expectations
• Each couple will also receive a one night stay on June 1st at Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro

To be considered, couples must enter via the Under a New Moon Facebook Page.

Your entry must be a response to the following:

June 1st is a New Moon, which is considered a harbinger of good fortune and new beginnings. So, we want you to tell us how your relationship is a once-in-a-lifetime connection. How will your union mark a new phase in your lives together?

Share your story with us, in writing or with a short video, submitted to the page. Then, get your friends and family to show their support by liking your entry.

The six winners will be selected by the Under a New Moon committee.

Rules:

• Entries must be submitted via Facebook page, either in written form or in a short video (maximum 5 minutes).
• Entries must include a photo of the couple.
• Couples must submit their own entries. Entries for other people will not be considered.
• Finalists must be available for an in-person interview at Catalyst Ranch to be scheduled on May 9th. (This is a change from the original date)
• Winners must obtain a civil union license at a Cook County Clerk's office on June 1st. You will not be able to participate in the event without a license!
• Winners will be required to attend a wedding rehearsal at Catalyst Ranch on the evening on May 31st.
• Winners agree to be available for media contact and understand that their likenesses will be used for promotional materials.
• Winners (both partners) will be required to sign a contract, including agreement to obtain civil union license on June 1st, photo release, etc.
• UPDATE- Deadline to enter is May 6, 2011!
• Winners will be announced on May 15, 2011

Major Announcement Coming Soon!!!

It's really hard for me to keep a secret.

So, I'll tell you a tiny bit......

Right now, I'm working on a very exciting event that will be happening in June - at one of my favorite venues.

Okay, that's enough for now. Stay tuned for the juicy details!

Best Birthday Ever!

Today's my birthday and so far, I'm having the best birthday ever! My family sent my on a treasure hunt with a stack of clues. I uncovered the Lego gorilla man I've been dying to get, a new cd, a book, and a way awesome stuffed octopus!!

We're going out for breakfast and then tonight I'm going to be at BE: the exhibit. I will be making an announcement tonight about an upcoming event at Catalyst Ranch, celebrating civil unions in IL.

Hope to see you there!

You Can Make a Difference in Someone's Life!

Last week, I blogged about BE:The Exhibit, happening here in the 'burbs next week (remember? it's on MY BIRTHDAY!).

Now I'd like to invite you to get involved. You have a chance to make a difference.

Michael Anthony, organizer of BE, and creator of the documentary, For Billy, invites adults and teens to share their experiences. Join him on March 19th for an opportunity to tell your story. You may be the one to make the difference in someone's life.

I was lucky. I was never bullied. I was pretty happy as a kid. I had someone who made a difference when I was young. Her name was Gwen Wizner and she was a friend of my mom.

Gwen was larger than life - a pile of bright red hair, emerald green eyes, impeccably dressed, and a personality that sparkled. She called me "Dolly." She made me feel like I could be someone special.

Everyone needs a Gwen, but not everyone who needs someone is lucky enough to have someone. You can fill that need. You can make a difference.

Join me at BE:The Exhibit for an evening of music & art

Please join me on Friday, March 18th at an important event called BE: The Exhibit.

From the website:

BE:The Exhibit is a one-night-only artistic installation aimed at combating homophobia and teenage bullying in the Chicagoland area through art and activism. What started as one boy’s cry for help through an anonymous letter has grown into a national art campaign and documentary.

Professional Chicago-based artists have created original works of art – paintings, photography, sculpture – to be shown at BE and auctioned off for charity. There will also be a live stage show featuring music, dance and spoken word from some of Chicago’s most talented LGBTQ and straight-supportive artists and activists – all created from the secret thoughts of bullied teens.

BE is also an interactive exhibit. Guests will have the opportunity to write their own anonymous letters about their fears, create original art that will be auctioned off for charity, share their personal stories with our “5 Question Confessional Cam”, participate in our stage show and meet other Chicagoland teens, families and activists – all with the same aim: to combat homophobia and teenage bullying through art and activism.

DATE: Friday, March 18^th 2011

TIME: Doors open at 6.30 PM, Show begins at 7.45 PM

LOCATION: The European Crystal Ballroom at 519 West Algonquin Road in Arlington Heights, IL

COST: FREE (Donations Accepted)

All are welcome — All ages, all races, all religions, all orientations, everyone!

Stand up and show the youth of our city that: “YES, IT DOES GET BETTER!”

Grab a friend and join me on March 18th!

Indie Wed Favorites - Part One

I had a great time checking out all the sights and sounds at Indie Wed, not to mention all the little tastes! So, it's been more than two weeks, and now I'm finally getting around to writing about it.

Just thought I'd mention a few of my favorites. These are in no particular order, mind you.

First, I finally got to meet Jeremy Lawson, a fantastic photographer who also happens to have a very cool blog. I've heard so much about him for so long, I felt like I already knew him, but it was fun to actually see him in real life. He had a lively circus-themed booth that he shared with makeup artist Nika Vaughan. As fun as Jeremy and Nika both were, the clown at their booth scared me a teeny bit.

Go to the blog. You'll see what I mean.

On the opposite side of the show, I made my way over to the (cacao) folks, so I could check out their offerings. They had some tempting samples, but you know I was immediately drawn to the darling little cupcakes. My weakness.

I tried the adorable little Bellini cupcakes and they were amazing! Yummy!

Upstairs, I had the chance to say hi Sarah from wedding creativo, the

talented photographers you may remember from their beautiful work on Lisa & Ben's wedding. The had a great display, which was an Venetian Carnivale theme.

While wandering around with my fellow Celebrant, Michele Rose, I ran into other great vendors I've worked with, including photographerJason Kaczorowksi, and deejay Harsh Singh. They were just visiting, like Michele and me.

I also ran into a friend from high school who is planning to a vow renewal ceremony in November. How cool is that!

While wandering around, I came across The Button Florist. Loved it!! Her bouquets are gorgeous!

I love the fact that she makes her own ceramic buttons (which are fabulous!). but also uses vintage buttons and other recycled materials. The end result is a really beautiful bouquet - or centerpiece - that lasts forever. Love it!

All in all, it was a great afternoon with lots of things (and people!) to see. I'll share more tidbits in an upcoming post.

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!

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!