From Yes to a Marriage to Bless: Tying The Knot without getting tied in knots.

This Cape Cod wedding celebrant wants to share some insights about how to get from "yes" to having a marriage to bless. After the Big Question is popped a series of other questions begin to pop up. When, where, how many, and who will preside are a few questions that need to be answered as you plan your Big Day.

My first suggestion is let the depth of the moment sink in. You have just said yes to a lifechanging proposal. This is an extraordinary experience and should be honored as such. Don't let planning your wedding day interfere with your upcoming marriage.

On the other hand there are some couples for whom a shorter engagement period feels just right. Prioritize what is important to each of you: A date that is significant or a place that holds your heart.

                                    Andrea and Arthur Tie the Knot at Wychmere Harbor last June

Here are some tips on how to tie the knot without getting tied up in knots. It is a challenge, the first of many you'll face as a united front of two. Keep a sense of humor. Have a word or face or gesture that cracks the two of you up when stress rears it's head. 

It is such a great preparation for the state of marriage. A chance to learn so much about one another and how you make decisions.

Keep a beginner's mind. If this is your first wedding you may have held for quite some time a vision of your dream wedding day. If that vision doesn't jib with your fiancee's vision or lack of the same, cultivate big-heartedness- be open and listen, be ready to give and give-in. The key to happiness. 

Catch it and take some time off if it feels like a runaway wedding - out of your hands and no longer reflecting who you are as a couple.

  There will be conflicts to work through, that is normal, but remember -Love Prevails!

Get to know the person who is presiding over your ceremony so you trust them. The ceremony is one part of your day that is all about a sweet surrender. You are about to be carried over a threshold into the state of matrimony. How cool is that!

Enough for now. Small portions are easier to digest.

Thanks to Helene and Zack for the inspiration for this posting. And Maggie for the darling

"He asked and she said yes!"

Keep happy!

Kathleen at Soulful Wedding Ceremonies

When One Cape Cod Wedding Leads to Another

It is always a treat to hear from a newly engaged couple looking for a wedding officiant. It is extra fun when I hear them say they were at another wedding I had done. It is just so wonderful when one wedding ceremony leads to another.This wonderful couple, Michael and Marie Kennedy lead me to Meghan and Jeff's wedding in Providence. It was so great to see them there and meet more of their friends. Can't wait to see Meg and Jeff's photos. 

   

Jim and Emily, a lovely local couple from Cape Cod wed at Wequassett last year in March. They knew me from Sadie and Patrick's wedding at the Orleans Yacht Club and Erika and Andrew's Autumn celebration has lead me to another wedding at Wequassett coming up in May.

    "Love is unconquerable and irresistable it goes on gathering power until it transforms everyone it touches."

Who was St. Valentine? This wedding officiant /celebrant /minister

  just read, "Valentinus, aka St. Valentine, was licensed to marry people."(from My View by Barbara Leedom in today's Cape Cod Times.)  Sadly, the poor soul ended up in jail for presiding over weddings for Roman soldiers. The powers that be didn't like their soldiers to be married.  Valentine befriended his jailer and the jailer intoduced Valentinus to his blind daughter, Julia.

Val was nice enough to cure Julia of her blindness.  Then while on his way to the gallows, he penned her a letter, signing it, "Your Valentine."

Wow. If I've heard this legend before it didn't resonate. St. Valentine was one of us, a Wedding Officiant. You have gotta love that.  (Unfortunately for Val, the Romans in power didn't.)

With Valentine's day upon us romance is in air, red hearts everywhere and the subject of love- ubiquitous. From the mating habits of California Tree frogs (inside family joke) to hearing Daniel Jones, editor of the NY Times column, Modern Love talk about his new book, Love Illuminated..... my head is spinning with the subject of     (see below)

Happy Valentine's Day.

I need to rest my mind, awaken my heart, get off the computer and take a shower.

My husband has just come through the door bearing the most beautiful bouquet of flowers.

                   I wish you all mad love and sweet contentment. Who could ask for more.

               And for any of you who get engaged today hope I'll be hearing from you soon!

A Lighthouse Wedding

Wing's Neck Lighthouse                                                                                                         

We wanted a non-traditional wedding. We found an amazing lighthouse to stay the week in and the lighthouse itself was non working but you could still go to the top and overlook the water. It was beautiful. One problem..... you had to climb a "rickdy" ladder through a small trap door to get to the top. We were wondering if it was too much to ask for Kathleen and a few friends to make the journey LOL. Well she didnt even think twice! It was so amazing and different that it is something we will never forget and what a story we get to tell people when we tell about her and our wedding. If you want an amazing person to officiate your wedding so you will remember it always..... Give Ms. Katleen a call! You will be so happy you did! 

  Thanks again from Nashville TN!

Diane and Steve wed at the Belfry Inne and Abbey

 This Cape Cod Wedding Celebrant had the pleasure of presiding over a wedding at the Belfry Inne in Sandwich last Saturday

 A perfect place for this nature-loving duo, Diane and Steve, had faith that the day would clear, the clouds part and the October sun would shine softly on their faces.       

 And so it was.  October is their favorite month and the autumn garden reflects their love story.

 Diane is such a grace-filled and graceful lady in every sense of the word.  Steve is a wicked charming Irishman; his quips and side comments during the ceremony were so obviously intended to relax his beautiful emotional bride.

  This couple was so poem worthy theirs was a triple poetry infused ceremony.

  The Country of Marriage by Wendell Berry

 ….our life reminds me

 Of a forest in which there is a graceful clearing

 And in that opening a house

 An orchard and garden

 Comfortable shades and flowers ........ 

  

Ode to Diane and Steve

 There was a spark at that first meeting at the Chatham Town Hall

 Undaunted Diane spoke way up, for Steve was oh so tall 

 Diane thought … now here’s a man with a plan

 Interesting, comfortable   Yes, he could be a friend

 they set off on adventures like kayaking the Charles

 Not knowing what lay beyond the river’s bend. 

   

  In the Autumn Garden  

No not in the spring garden with its long-awaited rush of new life, 

 nor in the cacophony of summer’s hectic humming boom

 but here in the Autumn garden,

 with pumpkin- colored nasturtiums

 wending their way towards the light,

 Sedum and mums in bloom, yes

 yes, this feels right.

 in this place of quiet brilliance

 muted whisperings of winter on its way

 there is time, but none to waste,

  so give your love full sway.

 

                                                                              In the Autumn Garden

                                                                                       at the Abbey

                                                                            Diane and Steve are wed today.