Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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



 


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



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




Tuesday, June 4, 2013

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"!






Danielle M Baker
Officiant and Minister
(864) 303-8748

Thursday, May 30, 2013

{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
 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 fiancĂ© 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. 




 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





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

Thursday, May 16, 2013

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

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.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

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