Danielle Baker- Wedding Officiant and Minister - Vendor Spotlight by Lisa Carpenter Photography

Lisa Carpenter with Lisa Carpenter Photography recently approached my about doing an interview for a Vendor Spotlight on what "I Do" (Pun intended)  It was amazing getting to know her even better.  

Lisa is a very talented photographer!  Check out her blog post here.

http://www.lisacarpenterblog.com/frequently-asked-questions/wedding-officiant-danielle-baker-vendor-spotlight-weddings/

Enjoy!

Danielle Baker
Wedding Officiant and Minister
Greenville, South Carolina
www.TheWeddingLady.us

Wedding I Old Cigar Warehouse I 3.15.2014

Paul and Laurie’s Wedding   3.15.14

St. Patrick's Weekend Destination Wedding

  Laurie and Paul live in the Chicago area and booked my services about a year prior to their wedding. They were looking for a Wedding Officiant and were referred to me by their Planner Mary Jackson with Turn Key Events. Laurie and Paul had visited family that happened to have a lake house in the area and the couple fell in love with Greenville, SC.  They just knew that Greenville was where they would get married and The Old Cigar Warehouse would be the perfect location.   It would be a destination wedding for them and all of their family and friends live in Chicago would be traveling to Greenville for their big day!  (With the amount of snow that they had seen in Chicago this winter, it was a very easy decision to visit the Carolinas). 

   

When I first got to know Laurie & Paul, I was blown away not only by Laurie and Paul, but by their family and friends!   I thought they were the nicest, most down to earth people that I’ve met.  I truly enjoyed everything about their wedding and miss them already!

Thank you to J. Jones Photography for all the beautiful photos and capturing everything so splendidly!!!!

  We were all excited to see Laurie walk down the 

beautiful stairway at Old Cigar Warehouse.

 

 

 

  

It was AMAZING working with this team of wedding professionals!

Ceremony & Reception: Old Cigar Warehouse
Wedding Planner: Mary Jackson with Turn Key Events
Officiant: Danielle M Baker
Drinks: Liquid Catering
Catering: Reeves Catering
Ceremony Music: Canta Bella Strings
DJ: Rock U Entertainment
Cake and Dessert Bar: Hotcakes
Flowers: Dahlia

Why You Do Need Your Director and Officiant at Your Rehearsal? - by Guest Blogger- Jessica Carpenter

Do you need both your Wedding Coordinator and your Officiant at the Rehearsal?  

by Guest Blogger and Wedding Professional

Jessica Carpenter - Creating Your Moments

Photo by DreamShots Photography

 

The answer is YES.  Weddings are a time of celebrating two people pledging their lives to each other. What could possibly be stressful about that? One of the easiest ways to calm your nerves about the wedding is to practice the ceremony. While your Director can show you all of your parts of the wedding, it is highly recommended to also have the Officiant there. Directors and Officiants can work hand in hand to create a seamless ceremony because they have different functions in the process. Many couples think they can have the rehearsal with only one present.  Let me show you how you can have a better experience with both.

 As a Director, I can show you where to stand and how to get there. We can practice where you come in from and how fast you walk to get there. I can also show you how it will look the day of your wedding! All aesthetics questions can be answered by your Director.  We can make sure you are confident in the look of the ceremony for the day of your wedding. Many couples feel this is good enough. I do not share that opinion and here is why.

Officiant Danielle M Baker and Me

 

Your Officiant plans every part of your ceremony. Some Officiants will customize a ceremony just for you. When they do this, it is with the thought of your personality and what will make your ceremony special. As the Director, we do not know how the Officiant will move between each part of your ceremony. The day of the wedding, your director will not be in the front with you to tell you how to how to get where you need to go. Your Officiant will be the only one to guide you and they don’t know what you have practiced and what you are surprised by if they weren’t at the rehearsal. They also can prepare the family for the recessional and make it seamless the day of the wedding! 

 

Photos by Seasons Photography 

When the Director and the Officiant are both present, you will be completely prepared for your ceremony. One will show you how to get there and one will show you when to move throughout the ceremony. It may be more expensive to have both present but I promise you will not regret it! 

 Jessica Carpenter

Creating Your Moments

www.creatingyourmoments.com

864-593-5949

Happy Rehearsing!  Danielle M Baker - www.TheWeddingLady.us

What NOT To Wear To A Wedding

Visit my latest blog post  as a guest blogger for Exquisite Events and Consultants- "What NOT to wear to a wedding"!

http://www.exquisiteeventsconsulting.blogspot.com/

Danielle M Baker

"TheWedding Lady"

Officiant and Minister

(864) 303-8748

www.TheWeddingLady.us

{Wedding Professionals Unite} Wedding Rehearsals: Practice Makes Perfect by Lisa G. Mc Millan

Wedding Rehearsals: Practice Makes Perfect!

by Guest Blogger and Wedding Professional

Lisa G. McMillan- Exquisite Events and Consulting 

 

Photo by

 Ashley Gillett Photography

 As your wedding day approaches it is always prudent to rehearse the wedding ceremony with your wedding party.  The notion of “winging it” is not the right approach when considering most of your wedding party has no idea what to do during the rehearsal.  Here are 5 quick tips to make your rehearsal run effortlessly.

1.       Advise your wedding party of the date, time, and location for the rehearsal. If members of your wedding party are running late don’t worry, they will fall into place once they arrive.  This methodology assists with time management and keeping the flow of the rehearsal steady.

2.      If your officiant is able to attend the rehearsal request their appearance.  Ask if there is an additional fee in order to remain within your budget. 

3.      A few days before the rehearsal discuss with your fiancé who will escort your grandparents and parents down the aisle for the processional.  Don’t forget to assign an escort for them during the recessional, typically the same escort.  It makes for a more formal entrance and exit. 

 

Photo by Corey Cagle Photography

 4.      Allow your rehearsal to last 30 minutes to an hour depending upon the number of individuals included in your wedding party and if they are listening to the person who is providing valuable instructions. 

5.      Last but certainly not least if your rehearsal is to be held outdoors request that a few chairs are set up for grandparents and parents so they are aware of where they will be sitting during the ceremony.  Plus, conduct a run-through at the inclement weather location in case of bad weather.

Being prepared comes with a myriad of benefits and best of all it kicks off your event with everyone feeling more at ease and ready for the ceremony.

Lisa G. McMillan
Exquisite Events and Consulting

www.exquisiteevents.info

704-578-1974

Happy Planning!  Danielle M Baker - www.TheWeddingLady.us

{Real Wedding} Rain, Romance and Weddings- Vince and Ali's Story

Weeks before Alicia and Vince's wedding scheduled to be held on April 28, 2013 at Homewood in Asheville, North Carolina, I, their Wedding Officiant  received  several emails from Alicia with  sheer panic concern about the weather.  You see Alicia and Vince were having a destination wedding to be held in the outdoor venue called The Glen at Homewood in Asheville.  They and the majority of their guests were traveling from Florida for their big day.   I assured her that it would be a beautiful day no matter what mother nature would bring our way!  

 

 THE REHEARSAL...

Fast forward a few weeks and it is time for their wedding rehearsal.  Would you guess the weather man that is never accurate was right and of course it was   raining cats and dogs sprinkling with an 80% chance of rain for the the next three days.  Alicia was so sad because her dream nuptials would only be held in The Glen which is a beautiful park like setting and a perfect place for an outdoor ceremony.  

As we rehearsed indoors, she said "It just does not feel right in here.  If it rains tomorrow, I want to get married outside."  Her coordinator Lisa G. Mc Millan with Exquisite Events and Consulting and I both agreed with her!  We both said "It is your day and we will do your ceremony wherever you wish!"

I am blessed to being a part of many beautiful wedding days but on this particular day, I was truly moved by the bride and groom's joint decision to overcome the obstacle of the dreaded rain that was inevitable.  

They were handed  lemons on their big day and turning them into lemonade!

 

WEDDING DAY....

     Every girl dreams her entire life of her perfect man, perfect wedding and all of the details of her perfect day.  Vince and Alicia decided that they would have that perfect wedding.  Unannounced to all of us, Alicia had already planned for the rain and bought the most perfect umbrellas for the entire wedding party.  Everyone in attendance would stand under umbrellas and we would do this!  With her coordinator Lisa, Katy Cook with Katy Cook Photography, her photographer and I all under umbrellas, we helped make their dream come true!

 

 

 

As the monsoon rain continued, Alicia and Vince were married in The Glen in front of all of their closest friends and family!   As I pronounced them husband and wife, they both threw their umbrellas and kissed in the rain.  It was magical! 

 

 

The reception was beautiful.  The happy couple had the time of their lives! On this day I not only witnessed the true love, but the WILL that this couple had to make their day perfect! 

 

 Congratulations Vince and Ali!

I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Danielle M Baker

 

  Be sure to visit Katy Cook's Blog for additional photos on this beautiful wedding!

http://katycookphotography.com/blog/2013/05/01/homewood-wedding-photographer-alicia-and-vince/

Vendors: 

Venue: Homewood and Ceremony – The Glen 

Day of Coordination – Lisa McMillian
Floral – Aria
Ceremony and Reception Music – Mitch Fortune Productions
Officiant- Danielle M. Baker
Cupcakes – Tiffany’s Baking Co.

What Ceremony Is Right For Us?

If you are not having a traditional religious ceremony at a place of worship, then you should start thinking about the type of ceremony you want to have on your wedding day.  My advice, when choosing the ceremony, it should be able to set the mood for the entire night.  

 The following are a few examples of wedding ceremonies. 

Civil- A civil ceremony is a ceremony that does not include any religious aspects. It usually last between 10-15 minutes. This type of ceremony usually are done when there is a small group of people (up to 20) and there is not a reception venue)

 
Religious- A religious ceremony can be traditional, depending on your faith, or include just a few aspects from your religion. Whether you are observant or non- observant, a religious ceremony is still an option. It usually last between 20-25 minutes.  This type of ceremony can be performed indoors or outdoors. (You can add unity ceremonies such as sand, wine, candle, etc to emphasize the commitment to one another.)

Spiritual- A spiritual ceremony does not subscribe to one specific religion, but rather incorporates elements from several religions that are more spiritual and less conforming. It usually last between 20-25 minutes, it also has the flexibility to incorporate your own vows and adapt other wedding rituals. (You can add unity ceremonies such as sand, wine, candle, etc to emphasize the commitment to one another.)

Renewal of Vows - A renewal of vows ceremony is a beautiful way for couples to rededicate themselves to one another. It usually last between 15-20 minutes.   It has the flexibility to incorporate family to participate in as well. (You can add unity ceremonies such as sand, wine, candle, etc to emphasize the commitment to one another.)

Interfaith - An interfaith ceremony blends traditions, cultures, or religious aspects to make everyone feel celebrated and included. (You can add unity ceremonies such as sand, wine, candle, etc to emphasize the commitment to one another.)

Elopement - An elopement is a ceremony for couples that wish to get married legally in South Carolina. Legal marriages can be performed inside venues, outside in many of the Upstate's' beautiful locations. Usually last 10-15 minutes.

"You will never feel like you are being married by a stranger."

 Danielle M Baker

Wedding Officiant & Minister

www.TheWeddingLady.us

You may Kiss the Bride- How to Kiss at the Alter

How to Kiss at the Alter

 

 By Danielle M Baker
 "The Wedding Lady"

"You may kiss the bride."

You have heard that phrase hundreds of times. In fact, I have said  it hundreds of times, or something close, such as: "Please share your first kiss as a married couple" or "You may seal your marriage with a kiss."

As much as we like to think of kissing as spontaneous, you would be surprised how much thought some brides put into the kiss. Having to contend with make-up, big dresses with trains, shyness, performance anxiety, and possibly conservative relatives, there is often talk in our consultations of how they will kiss and for how long.

I have also seen every kiss imaginable between bride and groom at the altar: A peck on the cheek, a hug, a fist bump, a long kiss on the lips, a series if kisses on the mouth, a full open-mouth tongue kiss, kissing through tears of joy, and kissing so passionately that friends and loved one scream, "get a room."

Everyone has their own feelings about kissing and their individual preferences about public smooching.  This is something to be aware of on your wedding day. With that in mind, come up with a comfortable way to kiss at the wedding altar. Have a blast practicing!

 1. Consider you and your Fiance's level of comfort with public affection. If this is not something you or your fiance are used to, you can do a very small, brief kiss just to seal your nuptials. I have married more than one bride who kissed her beloved on the cheek at the end of the ceremony, and that was just about as much that either one of them could handle as they turned beet red.

 

2. Is one of you a bigger kisser than the other. Some couples don't see eye to eye about kissing at the wedding. She wants a big passionate smooch, he thinks it is embarrassing, and so on. It is good to get a sense of which way things will go on your big day, before the big day is here. Hell hath no furry like a woman whose lipstick has been smeared, kissed off or just ruined before the photos are taken of the couple walking back up the aisle.  Guys, her color may not be your color.

3. Think about your family. Are your mom and dad affectionate with one another in public? Will seeing a big, wet wedding kiss make your grandmother faint? Does your family clank wine glasses with spoons or ring bells demanding that you kiss?  Some couples adapt their kiss to the comfort level of the family.

4. Go For It. When everything is said and done, it is your wedding and you can kiss any way you choose!

There is no right or wrong way to kiss on your wedding day. Like anything else in the ceremony, having a sense of how you would like to kiss and be kissed can relieve any "performance" pressure.  

In truth, the kiss is the big moment when you can sigh and say, "The ceremony is over... and  we are married!"  I hope your wedding day kiss is perfect!

There is NO wrong way when it comes to YOUR wedding day!

There is NO wrong way when it comes to 

YOUR wedding day!

  Little girls grow up envisioning their "Dream Wedding Day" their entire life.  You have found your Dream Man and now it is time to plan your Dream Day!  I have brides tell me in our meeting all the time that they just don't want to do it wrong.  There is no right or wrong way to design your wedding day.  

 

  After performing the nuptials of hundreds of couples, the most important advice I can give you is to follow your vision on your dream day!  Family, coworkers, friends and vendors will all have opinions on what you should do to make your wedding perfect.  The problem with this is it's their vision and not yours.  Have the day you always wanted by sticking to what you love!

A Dream Wedding- Pinterest Style-

 Many of today's brides want to be creative in their wedding planning.  Style, ambiance and trends are all a big part in planning a wedding.  If you love Pinterest like I do, you know there are amazing ideas.  Don't get discouraged and think that you can not have those things.  Many of my brides ideas for their perfect wedding came from Pinterest and were made into a reality!  Here are just a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dress of your Dreams-

If you are more of a traditional person, you may envision a traditional ceremony and reception.  There are many wonderful wedding ideas and sites to assist you in keeping with your vision. 









 
 Instead of wearing a traditional white wedding dress maybe you want a pink dress?  

Do you love Red and want your wedding dress to show it? 





  

No matter what style or color you choose, You will be a beautiful bride in the dress that you LOVE!

 Ceremony and Reception-

  Instead of the traditional Saturday night ceremony and reception, consider this: Having an enjoyable early afternoon ceremony followed by an entertaining mid afternoon happy hour style reception.  

  This gets you out of being committed to serving a full course dinner and drinks. This in turn, will lighten your catering bill substantially, but will leave you and your guest with a radiant and memorable celebration. 

  Pick an Experienced Officiant, Minister or Pastor to perform your nuptials. You can read more on this in my prior blog.  Click Here To Read 

Now these were just a few wedding tips, but don’t forget to stay to your plan.   So these tips were just a handful of the most important must haves or things to consider when planning your wedding!  Being organized and fully prepared is the beltway to save and have a fabulous event. 

Pick and choose what you find appropriate and your dream wedding will transform right in front of you!!! It is all in how you present your wedding and timing is the ultimate way to save in all areas of your wedding! 

Have fun planning and never forget to keep it simple so you can enjoy every moment of this cherished day!!!!