Seaside Spring Weddings

 As the blizzard warnings blow in I feel compelled to post about Seaside Spring Weddings. First of all I love the alliteration, all those lovely ssssss like soft breezes, pink sand and blossoms-at this point such imaginings are survival techniques, a willingness to hope for spring .

 The Setting for another Chatham Bars Inn 'Beside the Boathouse'  wedding ceremony  

 So glad to say just last Saturday I presided over a wedding ceremony for a super smooth sailing couple- they were the ultimate of Sweet Simplicity. I had never met them but they promptly sent a deposit and their responses to the wedding questionnaire and we were off and running. They said they trusted me to put together a fitting ceremony so no necessity to see a draft.

http://www.chathambarsinn.com/ 

We met for the first time minutes before the ceremony and all was well. The bride looked so lovely she had a little white fur wrap that she bravely surrendered for the wedding ceremony. The guest numbered about eight including a bedazzling ring bearing beauty who did her duty in grand fashion. No photos yet but I'll insert the setting and some pink flowers to soothe our snow weary souls.

Bless these rings and the two that now wear them

i

                           With this ring I promise I will always love you.

Photos by Stacey Hedman  http://staceyhedman.com

Utterly Romantic- Perfectly Flawed: Matthew and Mary Wed, at last, on Downton Abbey

" Matthew, I know you will never be happy with anyone else, as long as Lady Mary walks this earth."

Ahhh, I dare say Tom really saved the day when he fufilled his best man duties and spoke this words to Matthew.

What joy to see such fidelity to the real essence of marriage. To remain true to one another even when it appears that you are worlds apart. To take a leap of faith, to be carried over the threshold into the shelter of marriage......Even when you are arguing over money ...can you imagine!

Tom really embodied the duties of the  'best man' with his interventions to bring Mary and Matthew back together. No, they are not the perfect couple, there is really no such thing, but as Katie put it when asked about her relationship with Kevin "we are perfectly flawed." 

Kevin and Katherine wed at Chatham Bars Inn on December 15th. Their Great Gasby meets Downton Abbey, meets Massachusetts South Shore wedding, complete with a sea glass, white hydrangea and peacock feathered theme, was utterly romantic and perfectly them.

 As I said at the end of the interview with Lynn Holgrim on Full Circle the blog of Minter and Richter Rings," Don't pressure yourself to have the perfect wedding."

 What is more memorable and meaningful is a 'perfectly you' wedding. 

 Every wedding ceremony should have a touch of spontaneity and heartfelt sincerity a few unscripted moments.  This provides a perfect counter weight to the solemnity of the vows of fidelity you are about to take. As my British groom put it,

 "We want our ceremony to be joyous but contain the proper gravitas." 

Weddings like every unique couple have an alchemy all their own.

Mary and Matthew certianly do and did, as they said, "I do."

For all you Downton Abbey enthusiasts out there. Here is some reassurance.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/arts/television/downton-abbey-audience-swells-for-seasons-first-episode.html?_r=0

 "Back in November, NBC ordered a drama called “The Gilded Age” from Julian Fellowes, the creator of “Downton.”

 For public television, too, “the success of ‘Downton’ has increased the number of projects in the pipeline like it,” Ms. Eaton said.

Fear not, “Downton” fans: a fourth season is in production.

Autumn Wedding at Bosari Gallery -Marie and Michael say, "I Do."

The sun, the smiles, the autumn equinox- a stunning happy bride and a handsome happy groom. Not a dry eye in the room. The outdoor room of the garden and a grand entrance down the steps. The cutest flower girl and ring bearer imaginable! Ahhh such bliss as Marie and Michael say "I do, I do " and kiss.