Time Changes

Spring forward, Fall back. We all know the saying. Just remember when you are planning your wedding on the beach a year in advance to take the time changes into consideration.

Even the best photographer requires the right amount of lighting to capture your most special day. The beach is a beautiful backdrop, but only if your guests can see it.

Take these elements into consideration when planning your ceremony outdoors to make sure that everything goes exactly the way you have always envisioned it.

Back-up Plans

There's no denying that Florida has fantastic weather year round for that long dreamed of outdoor wedding. As wonderful as our climate is however, is does tend to lead to the occasional afternoon shower....okay, sometimes the afternoon DOWNPOUR!

Sure, every bride to be has her wedding day envisioned in her head from processional to pronouncement and onto the festivities, but try as we may we cannot avoid Mother Natures occasional temper tantrums and a backup plan should not be an option, but rather a necessity in the planning of your ceremony. If there is no structure in the vacinity in which to take cover should the skies open up, then perhaps investing in a tent would be a wise option.

Think about giving your reception venue the heads up that if it should rain, the ceremony will be moved there as well. If nothing else, have a relative who is willing to move the ceremony to their home at a moments notice. Make sure when planning an outdoor wedding that your guests are advised of the backup plan. You don't want realatives who have driven in from lord knows where to be in a tailspin wondering what to do.

I know, I know this sounds like a common sense type of post, but trust me...it is sometimes an element that is overlooked until the very last minute; usually when uncle Joe is watching the radar and asks "hey..what happens if"?

Have a backup plan and an officiant who is aware of said plan and also willing to move at a moments notice.

Oh Canada

It seems quite a few couples from Canada like to come and exchange their marriage vows on one of our many lovely beaches, and then pay a visit to Mickey and friends for the remainder of their stay.

It has recently been brought to my attention however, that there seems to be an issue with Canada acknowledging the validity of our Florida marriage license.

The State of Florida does not emboss their marriage licenses with a raised seal as the norm, nor will there be a state file number on the top of the license after it has been filed as this is something that the state does once it is received.

A nice Canadian couple I married quite a few months back contacted me with regard to this issue. I was able to contact the clerk's office in Titusville and they informed me that this has been an issue numerous times with regard to Canadians who marry here. The clerk was very helpful, and actually agreed to send another filed copy with a raised seal to resolve the problem. She advised however that there will never be a state file number on it, just a book/page number it was file one and a notarized signature.

To make a long story short, if you are coming to Florida (or to any of the states for that matter) advise your officiant to please ask the clerk's office to stamp your license with a raised embossed seal. That way you won't be waiting months and months to get all of your personal information changed.

Venues Anyone?

Okay,
So being an officiant and being in Brevard County, I must ask...WHERE are the sweet intimate venues? Sure you have the hotels and conference centers, of course there is always the beach, but where is our Leu Gardens...the beautiful natural setting in which you exchange your vows and then move inside to the reception venue already there on site.
It is not only myself but many other vendors in my field that are in search of such a place. Our mouths water at the sight of the Sweetwaters and Strawberry Mansions that have come to close, yet our pocket books can not afford such a luxury.

I really wish that with all the development going on in and around Brevard County (especially in my area) Viera, that someone would have the foresight to put in a non-denominational chapel with perhaps a reception venue on site. Heck...what about a nice gazebo with an air conditioned building for the reception, and let the brides and grooms provide the decor caterers etc.
INVESTORS ANYONE :0)

Bridal Parties

It never ceases to amaze me these days with regard to the attitude of some of the brides maids and other bridal party members.
What has happened to the notion that it is an honor to be asked to stand up for a bride and groom on their most special day. So too often the individuals who were hand picked to support the bride and/or groom are the ones rolling their eyes, not wanting to do anything out of their way to help on the day of the ceremony and they are sometimes just plain rude.
It really saddens me to see that there is not more joy to partake, rather it seems as though it is viewed as a burden.
Sure, you may not like the color of the dress, and maybe the person you have been assigned to walk down the aisle with give you the creeps, but let's try to remember that being asked to stand up and support a bride and groom is an honor, and should be treated as such, and to all you couples out there planning your perfect wedding day, choose your attendants wisely...you don't need the additional stress of dealing with an ungrateful attitude.

New Twist on Traditional

The unity candle is a beautiful addition to any wedding ceremony, and its significance is quite beautiful.
Being on the Space Coast of Florida, however, and performing many beach weddings, I always like to introduce a new twist on the unity candle by introducing my clients to the Sand Ceremony.
Having the same significance as the unity candle, and not requiring an army of individuals shielding the wind to keep it lit outside, the Sand Ceremony is becoming quite the popular trend for beach weddings.
There are three containers involved, a center container and two individual containers that represent the bride and the groom. There are a wide variety of sands out there with every color imaginable, thereby making coordinating with the colors of your wedding a breeze.
Typically performed after the ring exchange, the bride and groom blend their sands into the center container, representing the joining together as husband and wife. Additional containers may also be added to include children or other family members in the blending.
Wording to the sand ceremony can be found on my site.
This is a beautiful and unique addition to any ceremony...indoors or out :0)

Fashionably verses Unfashionably late!

Everyone knows that stuff happens on a wedding day. The bride can't find her veil, someone forgets the rings, or the limo just takes a wrong turn.

Most guests will tell you that they don't expect a ceremony to start on time, but how long is TOO LONG?

I have found myself in a position more than once now where I was forced to stand on a hot sandy beach for more than an hour awaiting the arrival of the bride and groom.

More often than not, it is not only me but also the photographer who may or may not have somewhere else to be and also the 50 plus irritated guests who are all looking to their officiant like "what's the hold up here?"

Just this past weekend I officiated over a wedding that was scheduled to begin at 6:00. I arrived early, as usual (about 5:40) only to find that there was no one in sight with the exception of me and the photographer.

The wedding did not happen until 7:30, and I must say, it was a bit difficult to be my normal cheery self.

There is an expectation to have to wait an additional 15.....well heck, sometimes even 30 minutes for a frazzled bride and/or groom, but a little common courtesey goes a long way.