Tag Archive: gay friendly celebrant New Zealand

Best Marriage Proposals ♥ Art Museum

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This moment when a woman asked her girlfriend to marry her has gone viral, and it’s mostly thanks to the reaction of a bystander – look at that excitedly shocked face of the woman in the background : )

Reportedly the happy, stylish couple are Jessica Rodriguez and Chelsea Miller. Jessica got down on one knee and asked for Chelsea’s hand in marriage at the Art Institute of Chicago – a venue chosen because of the couple’s shared love of art.

“If someone could describe our love it could only be done through a work of art,” Jessica wrote on Instagram. “It is happy, fun, chaotic, inspiring and strong.”

How beautiful.

Word is they’ve been in contact with the older woman in the photo, and even plan to invite her to their wedding!

We wish this beautiful couple all the best with their planning.

Here’s the video!

Cultural Weddings ♥ Serbian Weddings

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Seeing as My Darling Husband is Serbian I was interested to see what a traditional Serbian Wedding involved. I found this post of a western Bride’s account of her marriage to a Serb which is hilariously fabulous…makes me wish we’d have done it Serb-style! Check out the highlights:

Rent-a-dress

There is no dress frenzy. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on a dress you only get to wear once, Serbian brides simply rent one for a fraction of the cost. Brilliant, huh?

The bachelorette

Pre-wedding festivities in Serbia are radically different from the North American blitz of engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorettes, spa days, and hair and makeup trials. There is little doting over brides in the days preceding (or even the day of) the wedding.

After several days of hard drinking and dancing in Belgrade’s numerous bars, cafes, and splavs (floating nightclubs), I found myself on my last day of singledom sitting in a small café with my sister-in-law, Aleksandra. Chain-smoking and pounding back vodka

The crowning moment

I insisted that the wedding take place in Belgrade’s Saborna Crkva, the cathedral in which Serbian King Peter was crowned in 1904.

This sense of majesty is extended even further in the symbolic crowning common to all Orthodox wedding ceremonies. The typical Saborna Crkva wedding involves large golden crowns.

My princess-excitement hit full throttle as the chanting priest crowned me and we walked around the cathedral, my train floating happily behind. I had no idea what the hell the choir was singing or what the Orthodox priest was asking me, but I felt pretty spectacular with a big-ass crown on my head.

Ain’t no party like a Belgrade party

This brings me to yet another difference between North American and Serbian wedding traditions: absent is the obscene “once in a lifetime” money-spending on tabletop decor, vintage-inspired Etsy finds, gourmet hors d’oeurves, photobooths, and commemorative take-home junk for guests.

There aren’t even any speeches, embarrassing garter belt removals, or “win the centerpiece” games. Rather, the hallmarks of solid Serbian wedding receptions are meat laden platters, hard drinking immediately following the ceremony, the kolo (joyous dancing in circular formation), and rambunctious Gypsy brass bands. I was on-the-floor drunk by the time the cake arrived, two giant firecrackers blazing out of its sides.

Read the full account here.

Wedding Ring Tattoos

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I’ve been trying to convince My Darling to get a tattoo on our ring fingers. Apparently it hurts like crazy so we’ve been too chicken.

But I have been doing my research and I love these designs.

Which is your favourite?

Signs Your Best Friend Will Be A Bridezilla

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She has Way Too Many “Wedding” Boards

She Doesn’t Leave the House Without her Wedding Planning Folder

She’s Been Campaigning for a Husband

She Asked for a Better Engagement Ring

Her Birthday is a Declared Holiday

She Throws Crying Fits Often

She Already Has her Dress

She Thinks She Could Do a Better Job than her Professional Vendors

She Micromanages Everything

She Wants Several Outfit Changes

She Loves the Sound of her Own Voice

For the full report check out rantchick.com

 

 

 

 

Celebrity Weddings ♥ Ellen & Portia

Back to daytime TV – don’t you love Ellen? She was funny in her 80s sitcom but this talkshow is much more entertaining. While I was watching it the other week I thought I’d look up Ellen’s wedding, which was a few years ago now.

This little recap she does is very funny. Such a shame Portia looks soooo skinny in such a glamorous dress.

But going back to Ellen’s summary, I think its a good reminder to keep a sense of humour – your wedding day is massive and even though it’s the happiest day of your life it can be a little overwhelming – so keep smiling while you make those happy memories.

To be happy

 

I’ve always meant to read one of the books about the Dalai Lama – he is up there with Mother Teresa in terms of world peace humanitarianism isn’t he.

In comparison most of us can only hope to reach a minute state of the serenity and level of compassion of these incredible role models – but the point is to keep trying. I’ve tried through http://meditateinauckland.org but the young Buddhist (lady) monk was so relaxing I found it hard to stay awake! 

Then recently I found a book on the Dalai Lamas teachings lying on a bus stop seat (seriously) when I had just got a book out of the library – The Wisdom of Forgiveness – a lovely set of stories by the Dalai Lama written/transcribed by  Victor Chan – who by chance met 30 or so years ago and maintained a friendship of sorts. I knew I was on the right track and the universe was giving me the message I needed! One interview goes like this:

Victor: Let’s not talk about difficult things like nirvana or enlightenment. But what do you want to achieve?

The Dalai Lama: To be happy. My practise helps me lead a useful life. If I can give some short moment of happiness to others, then I feel that my life has achieved some purpose. This gives me deep mental satisfaction – this feeling always comes if you serve others. So, when I help others, I feel happy. For me, the most important thing is human compassion, a sense of caring for one another.

Then it dawned on me – this is why I became a marriage celebrant!! So I feel helpful to others (and hopefully add a little value for them during a major life event) and has the added bonus that it makes me happy!

Deep I know. But true!

The great banana peel of existence…

Banana peel of existence Robert Fulham Kimberly sanders Auckland marriage celebrant lucky in love weddings

 

 

 

 

 

 

My marriage celebrant shared this quote with me when I got married!

I just love it – it’s so appropriate for anyone to keep in mind when planning a wedding!

“Weddings are a lot like any other occasion in life – anything can happen.

The great banana peel of existence is always on the floor, somewhere. Not only that – anything might go RIGHT.

Sometimes the unexpected is an unforgettable moment that transforms a standard wedding into a memorable experience. The sweetest memories are seldom the results of planning. Forget fashion shows. Forget a performance. Forget perfection. Whatever happens gets acknowledged and included. Whatever happens – we work it in.
Remember, nothing can ruin a wedding if the heart is right and nothing can help a wedding if it’s a military drill. BE THERE. Notice each other. You could walk through fire together. . .”
by Robert Fulghum

Ideas for Wedding Favours

almonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historically wedding favors began as small fancy boxes, known by their French name of bonbonniere. A bonbonniere was made of crystal, porcelain, or gold, and often encrusted with precious stones. The delicate boxes were given by the wealthy and held bonbons (confectionery), at a time when sugar was expensive and believed to be medicinal!

The tradition of providing gifts to guests filtered to couples of modest means who selected simple treats as gifts.

Every culture across time has a approached marriage as a wonderful event, with the nuptials celebrated throughout the community. In many societies the bride and groom are associated with good luck, a common thought was that everything they touched would be charmed. By gifting members of the community, they would then pass those same blessings onto others.

We all remember the traditional almond favour! Many brides would choose a small gift of almonds, beautifully wrapped in an elegant fabric. The custom in the Middle East is for the bride to provide five almonds to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness.

Nowadays the options are limitless, here are a few good ones:

lollipops

Lollipops – personalised

seeds

Flower Seeds

potplant

Pot plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

bathbomb

Bathbombs in a bag

cakepops

Cakepops

donation

Donation to charity

jarjam

Homemade jam

fans

Handheld fans

magnets

Fridge magnets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

placecard photo

Placecard photo holders

luggage

Luggage tags – if it’s a Destination Wedding

liquer

Strawberry liqueur

 

 

 

 

 

personalised-wine-and-champagne

Bottle of bubbly

Marshmallow-Cone-Wedding-Favours

Marshmallow cones

 

 

 

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Hibiscus flowers

images-1

Loveheart candy

images

Lip balm

 

deehead091110

Candles

 

FortuneCookie

Fortune cookies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Engraved wine glasses