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
Danielle M Baker- Wedding Officiant and Minister
Award Winning Wedding Officiant and Wedding Minister. Weddings, Thoughts, Advice and More!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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
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
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
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.
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.
Photo by Corey Cagle Photography
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
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
Thursday, November 29, 2012
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!
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