Should you hire a Professional Wedding Officiant?

Why you should hire a professional officiant to conduct your wedding.

The person you choose to marry you is going to share a very intimate, personal, holy moment in your life. If you a member of a church, usually, you will choose your pastor to marry you. But if you are not a member of a particular congregation or attend church regularly, or at all, then you will need to find a person who is approved by the state in which you are going to be married to legally marry you. This can be a Judge, sometimes a Notary, a Justice of the Peace, a Clerk at the County Courthouse, or you can choose someone like me who is an ordained  minister but does not have a church. Their affiliation is a Community Minister.  Many people have ordinations from accredited institutions who never ever wanted to preach or have a church. I graduated from an interfaith seminary called All Faiths Seminary in Manhattan, New York after quite an intensive study of the various religions and traditions.  My studies involved course work, class work, internships, and having to pass an extensive verbal and written examination of proficiency in the study. The motto of the All Faiths Seminary is “We are all children of the same universe.”  How fitting it is then, that it does not matter what your beliefs may or may not be, we are respectful of all.

I personally think that when you consider a relationship with your officiant, think about the bond you will be creating with them for the rest of your lives. The minister can begin the relationship with you in providing a marriage preparation course, then conducting your marriage or commitment ritual  In my case, I am honored to be associated with my couples through the births of their children, as I am called upon to either baptize or perform a name giving ritual. In addition, I am there for them and their families when a crisis may arise. Your relationship with your minister continues throughout your lives, and they may be available through your life if you need to be ministered to in times of illness, or called upon for a memorial service should the need arise. 

You can sometimes find an Officiant in the Yellow Pages, or today, the best place to find a good Officiant is on the Internet. You will want to then set a time to meet with the Officiant and see if you have good feelings about him or her. You should have an easy conversation together. The Officiant should be very agreeable to do whatever you want in your ceremony. The Officiant should NOT dictate to you what you should or should not do. The Officiant is your facilitator, and it is the Officiant's obligation to fulfill all of your wishes and desires for your wedding day.

It is your decision whether you want to have any type of religious expression in your ceremony. In my experience, I find that most couples will want to have some type of blessing during the ceremony.  However, if they do not want a prayer, or any mention of God or The Bible, then I prepare a personal ceremony for them that just reflects their special love for one another. If you meet with an Officiant, and they insist on some type of religious ritual, or they condemn you in some way for things you have done in the past (already had a child) or are doing right now (maybe you are already living together), or they insist on you taking instruction and becoming a member of their church before they can marry you, then this Officiant is the wrong person to marry you. Keep looking. You do not want to do anything on Your Wedding Day that is forced upon you, or something you are not comfortable with, or any act that does not completely reflect who you are and what you believe. You have the right to insist on your personal desires being expressed. There is an Officiant available who will be willing to fulfill all of your hopes and dreams.

I marry many couples from mixed religious backgrounds. Sometimes one person is Jewish, and the other person is Christian. Sometimes one person is Catholic, and the other person has no religious experience. Sometimes, one person is Hindu, and the other person is Methodist. I have married many diverse couples! When I meet with a couple, I ask them if they have any specific religious faith, and if they do, what part of their religious faith they would like to include in the ceremony. Even if only one person is Jewish, I always ask if they  would like to"break the glass." At times both the bride and groom break a glass to symbolize their equality in the marriage. If both the bride and groom are Hindu, they have their religious ceremony first with just the family, and then I do the legal, civil ceremony. Chinese couples that I marry have their Tea Ceremony first and then the legal, civil ceremony. I tell my couples that my ceremony (which is custom written) is spiritual without reflecting any specific religious faith, a humanist ceremony, but I can tailor-make it to suit any belief that they have. The Officiant you choose to do your wedding should be just this flexible.

When I was preparing for my Ordination, I studied all of the religions of the World. This experience provided me with a profound revelation - an idea bigger than anything any of the religions had taught me. There is a Creator - a Source of Energy. And there is a Creation - the results of the Creator's Hopes and Dreams. And the whole purpose of everything is to love and be loved!!! All of the religions of the World express this thought.  Each of the physical incarnations of the spiritual teachers of each religion has said for us to love the Creator by seeing the Creator in all things, to love ourselves and to love one another. So it is all pretty simple! I don't know how we got it all so complicated! Religion has done more to separate us from one another, has caused more wars and hatred, has brought more division and unhappiness than it has brought peace and unity and harmony on the earth. I hope to live long enough to see everyone Lay down their dogmas, their doctrines, and their personal "Belief Systems"   Perhaps we could begin to love and respect one another. I personally have signed  The World Peace Treaty that promotes unity, peace and harmony among all people and religions on the earth.

An Officiant who is legal to perform your ceremony actually represents the authority of the state where you are married. I say in my ceremony: "by the power vested in me by  State of Florida, I now declare that you are husband and wife." The Legal power is from the State where the couple is married. The power the local State recognizes is the Officiant's Ordination which can be from a Seminary, a University, or a church organization.

Most Officiants can handle your wedding rehearsal, also. If your wedding party is more than the two of you and a best man and maid of honor, then you will need a rehearsal. I will always run the rehearsal for the couple I marry if they do not have a wedding coordinator. I charge to do rehearsals, because for me it is like doing the wedding twice, but for you, it is worth it to have your Wedding Day be less stressful and go very smoothly. Your bridal attendants will appreciate it, too. They want to do a good job for you, and a rehearsal shows them exactly what they are suppose to do, where and when!

A bit about the fees:

Let me say a few things about the fee for the Officiant. If you are being married by your pastor, a small monetary Gift - usually $100 - is adequate for payment. However, you must remember that your pastor is being paid a salary plus housing and car allowance each week, which Is paid to him out of the tithes and offerings given by you and the other members of the Church. But if you do not go to church, you need to hire an Officiant, like me, who does not have a Church and a professional Officiant is "in Business" and has all of the expenses of doing business - like Paying for their Internet Site, a Webmaster and a Server, their Telephone, fax machine, cell phone, not to mention the big expense of operating an automobile. There is office expense, Stationery, stamps, personal cards, printers, print cartridges and paper, and out of the fee for every wedding that I conduct, and taxes. So, if the Officiant charges $325 plus an extra fee for the rehearsal, this is a bargain!

I researched Officiant Fees on the Internet, and it is not unusual for the Officiant's fee to be $400-$700!!! I see couples spend anywhere from $3500-$10,000 just for the dinner afterwards for the guests and $200 for a bridal bouquet that is thrown away later that day.  Your Officiant is a very vital part of the Wedding Day. You must have a Ceremony and a Marriage License signed by a legal Representative of the State where you are married in order to be really married! So, whether you have anything else or not In your plans for The Wedding Day, choosing an Officiant is a #1 priority, and the fee - even if it is $300-$700 - should be considered a very small but very necessary part of the overall expense of the occasion.
Many times, the bride and groom are so happy after the wedding, and they are so grateful to the Officiant who marries them, they invite the Officiant to stay for the reception dinner. But unless the Officiant is a close friend of the family, I do not suggest that you invite them to your reception dinner. Usually the Officiant doesn't know anyone, and sometimes, people feel like they can't have a "good time" if the Officiant is sitting at their table! Many times, the Officiant has another wedding they need to get to anyway. So, even though we are honored by your invitation to attend the reception, we will be relieved not to be invited to stay.
Whether you know the Officiant beforehand or not, by the time the Officiant marries you, you will feel like you have known one another for all time! I always feel a very special bonding with the couples I marry. I truly believe that we get the very special brides and grooms that we are suppose to marry, who need our type of ceremony, and who have a very special love.
Choose your Officiant by what you feel in your heart, as you will be sharing a very precious time together.

Sincerely, Rev's. Virginia  & David Bishop,  LovingUnity.com   http://lovingunity.blogspot.com

Grant Hemond and Associates Mobile Disc Jockeys...for Every Occasion

The DJ is usually one of the least expensive items on the bill yet entertainment can be a major factor in determining if folks want to stay and whether or not they are enjoying themselves.

The staff at Grant Hemond dress the part - tuxedos for the wedding receptions and formal functions, suits or casual wear for less formal parties, and costumes for theme of ethnic events. They act as Master of Ceremonies, play continuously, on a state of the art commercial CD sound system and bring lighting to accent the atmosphere. They provide the perfect music for your special event because they customize what they play to meet the tastes of the couples and the guests and the mood that you wish to have created.

They coordinate all details so that the couples merely have to enjoy themselves! They can be crowd motivating or conservative...they can fully involve folks in the fun, with personality and mixers, or take a more low-key approach if that is the couple's preference.

Grant Hemond and Associates have been in business since 1985, and can provide you with references, they are polished professionals that will make your event enjoyable. They say that your satisfaction is their number one goal......always.

I have worked with the guys from Grant Hemond on many occasions where they provided wedding ceremony music as well as the music for the reception.

Web: www.granthemond.com
Phone: 727-736-2316

Selecting a Venue to match your vision!

There are just so many decisions in planning a wedding! Selecting a Venue to match your vision and budget is one of the first decisions. Traditional weddings usually included a Church Wedding Service following by a Reception in a Banquet Hall. Today's Brides have so many additional options - we see lots of weddings at the Beach, at Residences, at Parks or Garden Settings, and even in Nightclubs!

The first question to address is Indoors vs. Outdoors or a combination of both. While Outdoor Weddings and Receptions can be absolutely stunning, there is the extra stress and possible expense of planning for inclement weather. I always advise my Bridal clients with plans for the Outdoors to have a back up plan. If the outdoor arrangements are particularly complicated, I will often suggest a Professional Wedding Planner who has experience with the site to handle arrangements which may include extensive rentals. So many of the romantic accompaniments to an outdoor wedding (tents, archways, tables and chairs) have to be rented and delivered and set up the day of the event. All of this makes for a very Special Event but many Brides are surprised to find out that the expenses of an outdoor wedding are comparable to renting a traditional Banquet Hall.

Traditional Banquet facilities whether in a Hall or Hotel do have some advantages in that they are designed for Weddings and Events. Price usually includes all tables and chairs, and the services of a Professional Event Coordinator who will assist with setting up the Party and designing the Floor Plan. When considering a Banquet Hall venue your minimal expectations are a clean, comfortable setting with handicap access, good bathroom facilities, a Catering Kitchen and ample parking for your guests and vendors. You can expect to pay more for a room with a beautiful view or chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a large dance floor, or an expensive sound system. Many Brides cannot visualize a beautiful wedding reception while gazing upon an empty room. I advise you to as the Event Coordinator to show you photos or allow you to preview an actual event at the site to see how the room dresses up.

The big questions to address regarding a Banquet Hall are:
1. Availability
2. Rental Price
3. Additional costs such as Facility or Clean Up Fees and
4. Condition of Chairs which will impact whether you require Chair Covers which you may need to include in your Venue budget.

It is important to choose a venue with the Capacity to hold your total guest count. While you are thinking about numbers of guests, you are probably not considering the room required for the Bar, DJ, Buffet, Gift Table, or Dance Floor.

My experience is that most Brides look at multiple venues, weigh the costs but recognize what they want when they see it. When you find you perfect venue, you will want to put down a Deposit as soon as possible as popular dates book up fast and many venues can only handle one or two events a day. Phew! That's alot of information to digest but with a little bit of research and comparison shopping you can find the perfect venue especially in Tampa Bay where every day is a special day.

Best wishes for a Beautiful Wedding,
Marilyn Chapman
Bridal Events Coordinator
Delectables Fine Catering
Delectables Fine Catering, Inc.
"The Bay Area's Most Prestigious Caterer"
969 Virginia Avenue, Inc.
Palm Harbor, FL 34683

Email: info@delectablescatering.com
Web: http://www.delectablescatering.com
Phone: 727-781-1200
Fax: 727-789-3401

Amanda Gertulla - Violinist

Amanda is a classically-trained violinist with 20 years experience in The Florida Orchestra in Tampa, Florida. She is available for weddings and receptions in Florida: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Bradenton, Ft. Meyers, Naples, and surrounding areas. She has a beautiful website that will allow you to enjoy listening to her beautiful music and also to read very complimentary articles that have been written about her. In addtion she has CD's for sale for your listening pleasure. I enjoy them when I am working in my office, they are soothing and delightful.

Email: Pinkfiddle@tampabay.rr.com
Web: www.Pinkfiddle.com
Phone: 727-577-9554

Another Unique Wedding and Reception Location

NOVA 535 is quite a unique location for your wedding, reception or other event.  I was there last week for lunch, which was scrumptous!  It is located at 535 Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, in St. Petersburg.  Have a look at their website www.nova535.com or give them at call at 727-821-6682 and speak to Courtney.

NOVA 535 Modern Art Lounge & Historic Event Space St. Petersburg's Spectacular Wedding, VIP, Corporate & Special Event Venue Finally, the world class special event venue you've been waiting for to host your next wedding, corporate seminar, bar or bat mitzvah, film shoot, discrete VIP party or whatever you can imagine!

Housed in a gorgeous, meticulously renovated 1920’s structure, NOVA 535 offers 7,000 square feet, 2 stories and multiple rooms of extraordinary and versatile event and meeting space with over 100 convenient parking spaces & easy interstate access.

Our unique venue features a swanky full-service bar, a world-class floating DJ booth, delicious in-house catering, 2nd floor VIP Bar, private balcony, smoking terrace and the exclusive NOVA SUITE - a must see!

With a standing reception capacity of 400 (700 when our gorgeous brick and bamboo garden is enclosed), a staff of seasoned event planning specialists, professional grade audio/visual and HD theater capabilities and more, NOVA 535 offers unparalleled amenities in a spectacular, convenient and private setting.     

Catering Vendors I enjoy working with.....Yummy!

One of the other pleasures that I am able to enjoy in this business is tasting a lot of food from caterers, most of the time at Bridal Shows. I have enjoyed the food from Delectables Fine Catering as well as the visual displays that they make with the food. So, the taste is wonderful, and the visual presentation makes it even more appealing! Executive Chefs Nick Adams and Jeff Simpson take pride and place emphasis on presentation and superior quality.

Did you know that they were chosen for the "People's Choice" award by the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce? They have a complimentary tasting on the first Saturday of every month from 1:00-3:00pm. You only need to RSVP. They are located at 969 Virginia Avenue in Palm Harbor and you can reach them at 727-781-1200 or email them at info@delectablescatering.com You can receive a coupon for your choice of one of the following items an ice sculpture, a punch fountain rental, water display rental, honeymoon gift basket, or $50 dinner card if you have 100+ guests at a full service wedding reception with china and linen. Have a look at their website at www.delectablescatering.com Tell them I sent you!

Wedding Cakes and more

Your wedding cake is one of the more important elements of your wedding, of course, choosing your officiant is first!!! Ihear about all the delicious cake tastings that my couples attend, and it makes me hungry!! One of the establishments that I have come to know personally for coffee, and lunch is Frida's Cafe & Bakery. While there, I have had the opportunity to watch the creative staff make astonishing wedding cakes and cakes for other special occasions. Frida's is happy to help you with the design, flavor, size, and ornaments for your cake. There are a variety of pictures for review on their website. They are located in Largo and delivery is available to your location. All cakes are made with fresh eggs, butter and other wholesome ingredients. If you have a special request, it will be honored. Their prices are very reasonable. Some of the cake flavors you can select fro are carrot, marble, lemon, mocha, and raspberry, along with the standard yellow and chocolate. In addition, catering is available, it is worth your while to stop by and have a bite of breakfast quiche or lunch for yourself! They are located at 9700 Ulmerton Road in Largo, or phone them at 727-587-7077. Tell them I sent you!

Fast Party Rentals - Coast to Coast Rentals

Fast Party Rentals is the company to contact for all of your rental needs. They are committed to providing their customers with clean, professionally installed, rental equipment at a competitive rate. They carry tables, chairs, dance floor, stages, linens, dishes, candelabras, catering equipment, concession equipment, wedding accessories and more. They have tents in a variety of types, Traditional frame tents, High peaked frame tents, E-Z up tents, Pole tents, and Tent accessories. In addition to the tents, they have tent liners and drapes, sidewalls, fans, lighting, and can help you to create the beautiful setting that you have for your vision of your special event. Fast Party Rentals is located at 2230 A 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida and you can phone them at 727-321-3404 or email them at e-mail@fastpartyrentals.com The owners, Jesse and Pam would be more than happy to help you determine the size and amount of materials needed. Their website is www.fastpartyrentals.com

Flowers and Gifts at your fingertips! Seminole Florist is the place to call.

This is such a busy time of year for all of us, and I appreciate it when I can log on and immediately be able to order flowers or a gift for family and friends. www.SeminoleFlorist.com makes the shopping easy and painless. This morning I went to their website and learned a bit about them. They have been in business since 1970 and they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Now, I don't think it can get any better than that! In addition to flowers, they have gift baskets, I particularly like the Spa Basket....I'll have to tell my husband. When I look at the Wedding Section, they have such a beautiful selection of flower arrangements, right down to dog neck wraps if you wish to have your loving pet in your wedding. They have an online catalogue for your convenience to shop 24 hours a day. They have local delivery and can also ship via UPS. Have a look at their site at www.seminoleflorist.com or you can call them toll free at 1-800-771-5599 or 727-392-1000 they are located at 8613 Seminole Boulevard in Seminole.

Are you thinking about hiring a disk jockey?

I work with many DJ's for all of the weddings that I conduct. The Tampa Bay Area's longest running mobile DJ service provides the best in professional sound entertainment for private and business parties, weddings, bar or bat mitzvahs, birthdays or just for fun!!! They are professional, experienced, and reliable!! I have been in the company of Doug Shaw who is the owner, entertainer, DJ with Shaw Productions. He has 36 years in the business, and has also been a DJ in many of the major nightclubs in the bay area. He is also a professional licensed ring announcer. He is a member of the Wedding & Event Professionals of Tampa Bay, and the American Disc Jockey Association - Tampa Bay Chapter. He has been certified as a professional in meeting in exceeding standards in experience and quality equipment. They will meet with you in advance to help you plan all of the details that will make your event successful!! The DJ's will come suitably dressed, bring the music you want to hear, play your requests, use top quality equipment, and work with your needs to make your event successful The company is insured and is happy to provide references. Call them today at (727) 796-3701 or check them out on the web at www..shawsoundproductions.com I am pleased and honored to refer them as someone I enjoy working with at LovingUnity.com

Welcome to the Tampa Bay Area Weddings Blog!

Welcome!  I have created this blog to help YOU in your search for the perfect vendors for your wedding or other significant life event!  I will showcase some of the vendors in our area that I have had the pleasure of working with!  Enjoy and always leave me comments if you have ideas, questions, or would like to know about any specific vendors for your event!

Great Party Favor Ideas! Quality Custom Wines.

If you are looking for unique and custom wedding party favors, you might consider the work of Wine Works. I recently met Hugh Watson and Jeanne Kepple and had the opportunity to taste the wine which are quality custom wines made to order. They create exceptional quality red, white and blush wines, unique to your own taste, by using the years of wine making experience and knowledge of fine wines from around the globe.

There are many events that you can order their wines for, some are for banquets, birthdays, retirements, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Anniversaries, weddings, table favors, wedding party gifts and holiday gifts. That is only a small fraction of how you can utilize their fine wines. With the custom wines you may have personalized labels, which can make a wedding favor very unique. They will design and print your own label for the wine. They can incorporate you favorite photo or your company logo. Design possibilities are endless with thousands of graphics, shapes and color combinations to combine for the perfect label for your special wine.

You can purchase your own creations by the bottle. Another great feature is that they offer wine tasting at their location or if you want to host a wine tasting party at your location. You need only provide the location, the party goers, and simple food.  They are located at 11861 34th Street North in St. Petersburg, Florida in the "Pinellas Workshops". You can call them at 727-556-2535 or 727 544-6080 and leave a message and they will get back to you.

If you desire to have a custom batch for your wedding, let the Blue Ribbon wine chef work with you to create the exact taste in the ideal size bottles to meet your needs. It certainly will leave your guests with the feeling that you cared to provide them with a very customized favor.

A hidden oasis awaits you - Island Lawn Bamboo Landscapes

Island Bambo

www.islandlawnservices.com

Island's Bamboo Garden is a unique venue for your special occasion.  The wedding/reception area is perfect for groups of 80 or less seated.  The area accomodates 100 for coctail reception. The garden environment has townering bamboo plants and tropical foliage.  A beautiful Koi pond, waterfall and fountains are part of this unique atmosphere.  There is lighting complete with tiki torches throughout the gardens, a firepit is available and uplights everywhere.  There is an outdoor sound system, and ice machine on site, and a dressing room for the bride.  Custom packages are available.  If you are looking for a truly unique location for your event, this is the place for you.  Contact Karlyn or Kelly at 727 548-0595.  Drop by to see their location.  It would also be an awesome location for engagement or even school yearbook photoshoots.
www.islandlawnservices.com   They are located at 6540 85th Avenue in Pinellas Park, Florida.