Wedding Info from Rev. Tricia

A New Wedding Venue in Downtown Raleigh

2008-04-18T13:20:00.001-07:00

I recently learned of a new wedding venue in downtown Raleigh. It is the All Saints Chapel, located at 110 S. East St. I have not had the opportunity to see the Chapel yet, so I cannot give it a recommendation yet, but I am hoping to see it soon. You can check out the limited website at:

http://www.allsaints1875.com/

If any of you have seen the Chapel, let me know what you think!

Sand Ceremony

2008-04-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Are you planning an outdoor, summer ceremony? Many couples want to have a Unity Candle as part of their ceremony, but I have found that having a unity candle can be pretty unreliable in outdoor ceremonies. The slightest wind or rain shower can blow out the candles or prevent them from ever getting lit in the first place!

Another option that you may want to consider is a Sand Ceremony. This is done by pouring individual containers of sand into a larger, center container. The bride and groom use different colors of sand, which can be matched to your wedding colors. If you put the term "sand ceremony" into any search engine, it will produce many options for companies that sell the colored sands and the pouring containers.

I generally recommend placing the Sand Ceremony at the very end of the wedding ceremony, just before presenting the couple as husband and wife. Here is the Sand Ceremony that I use:

"[Bride] and [Groom], you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings and the exchange of a kiss, and this covenant is a relationship pledge between two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives. The most beautiful example of this partnership is the marriage relationship. You have committed here today to share the rest of your lives with each other.

Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand -- one, representing you, [Bride] and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, [Groom], and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be."

Please feel free to use this Sand Ceremony as part of your wedding!

Kona Village Resort

2008-02-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

My first substantive post is not particularly practical from a financial standpoint, but I couldn't resist sharing this story. Kona Village Resort is the inspiration that led me to start this blog!

When I was almost 21 years old, in January 1990, I was reading my tiny hometown newspaper, and a story caught my eye: "Hawaii beckons to couples seeking a special hideaway." The article went on to describe Kona Village Resort on the big island of Hawaii as one of the most romantic wedding and honeymoon destinations in the world. I was so enthralled with this article that I cut it out of the paper, dated it, and put it in my scrapbook. I so wanted to see the "ancient lava flows, lush lagoons, and swaying palms" that were described, and I particularly wanted to stay in one of the "plush, thatched-roof 'hales'" that make up the resort. I would DREAM about going there often when I was in my early 20s.

Well, now I am almost 40, and after awhile, I forgot about the Kona Village Resort and my dream to go there someday. But, then, on a visit to Richmond, VA last month, I was reading a copy of Islands Magazine that I found in a coffee shop, and there it was again -- Kona Village Resort was listed as one of the 10 most romantic island getaways. I, of course, devoured the story. It made me feel so happy, like running into an old friend that you haven't seen in years and you realize how much you missed her.

I missed Kona Village Resort. When I got home from Richmond, I dug out the 1990 article that I had saved all of these years, and I fell in love with the resort all over again. As I said previously, a trip there will not be easy on your wallet, but if you want to dream along with me, take a look at:

http://www.konavillage.com/

The way I see it, everyone has to have at least a few good dreams in life. I just made going to Kona Village Resort one of mine (again!!)

My first post

2008-02-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog!

I am a minister who performs marriage ceremonies in the Triangle area of North Carolina. I am starting this blog because I thought it would be a fun way to share ideas for wedding ceremonies, receptions, honeymoons, etc., with brides (and grooms!) everywhere. I will be highlighting information that I think is interesting, different, fun, etc. I hope that you will enjoy getting ideas from this blog!