Hindu-Catholic Wedding
Last fall I had the opportunity to officiate at a truly incredible Interfaith wedding: the bride, Sabeena, from a Hindu family and the groom, Patrick, from a Catholic family. Just recently I discovered, that although this wedding was in DC their photographers, Anne and Bill Holland, had been "imported" from lil' ol' Charlottesville just as I had.

Sabeena and Patrick's wedding was one of the most colorful and pageant-filled I've had the honor to be a part of. The groom arrived on horseback to the banging of drums and shouts of celebration from the family. Their ceremony incorporated words and rituals from both the Hindu and Catholic traditions with explanations in between so everyone could keep up! On the Hindu side the bride and groom exchanged beautiful flower garlands and took 7 steps (saptapadi) around a homa (sacred fire) as they made their promises to one another. On the Christian side the couple performed a Unity Candle ceremony and everyone enjoyed a beautiful scriptural reading.

I would imagine that for a photographer this kind of wedding would present wonderful artistic opportunities and Bill and Anne Holland of Holland Photo Arts took full advantage of the day! Their pictures of Sabeena and Patrick's wedding are absolutely spectacular... I hope that you enjoy the 3 I am including in this post. If you are looking for an amazing photograpic duo for your wedding give them a call: 434-295-9681

Yesterday I was honored to officiate at a beautiful ceremony at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington, VA. Oak Ridge is a huge, historic property in Nelson County, Virginia which is an easy drive on Rt. 29 immediately South of Charlottesville. Jessica and Rick chose to be married under a chuppah, or wedding canopy, that in the Jewish tradition, represents the promise of the home that the newly married couple will create together. It was a lovely evening with a loud chorus of late-summer cicadas in the background. I am always happy when summer weddings are held late in the day (theirs was at 7 PM) because everyone is so much more comfortable once the daytime heat has subsided and no one has to be out in the sweltering sun.

Of the many wonderful ceremony locations around the Oak Ridge property Rick and Jessica chose the Carriage House as their venue. As always, Rhonda Holland (from Oak Ridge), was on hand to handle every imaginable detail for the couple. Rhonda makes the execution of a large event look so effortless and easy and I know she certainly makes the logistics of my job as Minister so much less stressful!

If you're interested in Virginia history take a look at the extensive history of the Oak Ridge Estate on their website and if you are looking for a lovely, rural setting for your wedding check out this location.

The Green Guide
It's important for all of us to do what we can to live more lightly on our beautiful planet. Weddings are notorious for being high-impact affairs... using lots of energy and making a rather large "carbon footprint". There are lots of alternative choices to be made that will make your wedding an event planned with love for each other and for our planet. National Geographic's Green Guide has lots of wonderful tips, insights and links to great information on creating a more eco-friendly wedding. Enjoy their "Three R's of Wedded Bliss" article by Maureen Ryan and get started today planning a greener, more conscious wedding.

Coming up in a couple of weeks... next week I'll let you know the names of local Charlottesville vendors that will be participating...

The Greater Virginia Bridal Show
Sunday September 16, 2007
Ash-Lawn Highland, Charlottesville, Virginia.
2-5 P.M. admission is $7

Fashion show including Anna-Joy's, Celebrations Bridal, Freda, Pleiades Vintage and Custom Bridal, and S&K Men's Wear and the area's finest wedding professionals. Thousands of dollars in door prizes. Grand prize is a Honeymoon for two.

For more information email shows@vabridemagazine.com or call 804-822-1768

My second wedding of this holiday weekend was at a lovely place that I'd heard of but not had the opportunity to experience until today... the Inn at Old Virginia just outside of historic Staunton, about 40 miles West of Charlottesville in the Shenandoah Valley. With near perfect weather the ceremony was held 'round back of the Inn with a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains as the backdrop. Before the Ceremony began I had the opportunity to meet and spend a few minutes getting to know Becky Field, the Inn's manager and wedding contact who was, obviously, very good at her job... taking care of a dozen final details for the day's event while kindly welcoming me to the Inn and getting me a glass of water.

Danyiel and Chris are a lovely couple and their wedding was one in which the love between them was palpable and so sweet! They chose to include a Sand Ceremony ritual as part of their ceremony, symbolizing the entwining of their lives and their commitment to a shared future. With the slight breeze I was happy that they had chosen a Sand Ceremony as there were no candles to keep lit!

Congratulations Chris and Danyiel!

Just this morning I had the opportunity to perform a ceremony at a beautiful, small, family-only wedding right here in Charlottesville. I loved it! Small backyard weddings are among my favorites... the feeling is always intimate and usually somewhat informal which is nice. This couple, Kathleen & Bill, chose to have a spiritual ceremony that included a Hand Blessing ritual which is a very modified Handfasting from the Pagan tradition.

An important part of the ceremony was acknowledging each of their children from prior marriages and letting them know how important their love and support was to the couple. Bill's daughter read one of my very favorite readings... an excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.

A backyard wedding gives you lots of opportunity to be creative, to welcome you loved ones to your own home and to just generally create an atmosphere of love and gratitude for your guests. I had the opportunity to meet everyone and even have short, personal conversations with each guest which, of course, I am not able to do at a bigger event. All in all if a couple is looking for a small, very personal and somewhat less formal wedding experience I think backyards (or front yards, or living rooms) are the way to go!

A Great Charlottesville Area Wedding Resource
If you are an internet person (like me) you have probably discovered dozens of websites that have links to vendors for all of the various products and services that you might need for your wedding planning… so finding resources is not necessarily the challenge, in fact you could easily be overloaded with information – but finding the ones that are most helpful and targeted to the Charlottesville area can be a challenge.

Cville Weddings is a wonderful site created by Jessica Clark. When Jessica was planning her own wedding in Charlottesville a couple of years ago she became frustrated trying to find the services she needed… this website is her brilliant response to that challenge… I know you’ll love it! Be sure to tell any vendors you know who are not listed on Jessica's site to sign up so that we can build an even stronger resource for future brides and grooms in the Charlottesville area!

Each month I'll share with you some of my ideas and resources on creating a more eco-friendly celebration. There are so many wonderful ways to have a fun, beautiful, delicious and sustainable event... check back weekly for more info.

When purchasing your engagement ring and wedding bands consider starting with a conscious alternative to diamonds that are mined in war zones and fund conflicts called "blood diamonds". My own engagement ring is a beautiful Aquamarine with 2 white sapphires. Nevertheless, if you have your heart set on having a diamond there are many routes to go, here are some ideas and resources:

• choose a vintage ring - whether it's a family heirloom or an antique find.
• consider a lab-created diamond, check out Green Karat.
• diamonds that are mined in Canada or Australia where "blood diamonds" are not an issue: See: Brilliant Earth; Cred Jewellery or Leber Jewelry's Earthwise line.
• also, look for diamonds that are certified as "conflict free" under the Kimberley Process, an ongoing effort to reform diamond mining in Africa. On Amnesty International USA's website you can download the Conflict Free Diamond Buyer's Guide for information and guidance as to what questions to ask your jeweler.
  

Get off to a great start in your new life together and set the tone for your future with the purchase of a beautiful ring that expresses your love and promotes your highest values.

Check back next week for another Green Wedding tip!

A video of your wedding day is something you and your families will always treasure and Jill Rose of Jillian's Video Productions is the very best you'll find! Jill will capture your day beautifully and professionally. Her artistry, sensitivity and technical know-how are second to none and the finished product that she provides to her couples is a priceless masterpiece.

One of the best reasons that I know of to have your wedding video-taped... other than as a lasting memory of the day for generations to come ... is to allow those who were not able to attend, elderly grandparents, siblings with small children who can not travel and anyone else who sadly has to miss your big day, the opportunity to share in your happiness in a way that only video permits.

Jillian, and her crew (she always has 2 cameras going) use the best equipment available and somehow seem to be everywhere at once... capturing the important moments in a documentary style. She also does mini-interviews with your guests so that later you'll get to see and hear your friends and family's love and best wishes for you. What could be better?

Check out Jill's website for samples of her spectacular work!

Lots of people are in love with their animals... including me (I have a dog and 3 cats) ... and want to find a way to have them participate in their wedding ceremony. Believe it or not I've actually had 2 brides carry their dog down the aisle instead of a bouquet! Generally speaking I'm always very happy when critters are included and there are many ways to do it. In the photos here you see Herbie the Love Bug (that's his full name) wearing his doggy tux. He was well behaved enough to actually stand up (or sit down) with the groomsmen through the entire ceremony. I'd have to guess that Herbie had more pictures taken of him than the bride did! Herbie's Mom (the bride) was a veterinarian so dogs and horses were an important part of the day. The other pup here, Coltrane, was the ring bearer in his parent's ceremony. When it came time to bless and exchange the rings he trotted right down the aisle (accompanied by a friend of the couple) with them tied to his collar with a ribbon... another big hit, naturally!

So, if you are thinking of including your beloved pet in your ceremony don't hesitate to find a way... ask your Minister or Officiant to help. Sometimes a couple will tell me that their dog is just too excitable to actually participate. Then, at the very least, the couple will have some pre-wedding photos taken that include their pets. After all, they're an important part of the family and including them in the celebration makes perfect sense!

This past Saturday I got to drive up to beautiful Barboursville Vineyards (in Orange County) for a lovely, small wedding. Jill and Bruno had a very sweet and personal ceremony in a long, narrow room overlooking acres and acres of vineyards with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. Barboursville Vineyards is one of those venues that offers a wonderful variety of options... they can accommodate a large crowd but also have perfect spots for the smallest of weddings. I'm not a big wine person myself but I've heard that theirs is the best! Also, their award-winning Palladio Restaurant, the 1804 Inn, and the ruins of Governor Barbour's mansion (designed by Thomas Jefferson) makes this particular Vineyard a place with something for everyone.

Speaking of wine... Bruno and Jill chose to include a Wine Ceremony as part of their wedding. This is a lovely ritual that involves the blending of wine from 2 carafes into a wine glass after which and the Bride & Groom share a bit together. The mixing of the wines (one white, one red) can symbolize the joining of their lives, it can also symbolize their promise to walk through life together, sharing both the bitter and sweet parts of the journey. A Wine Ceremony is a lovely addition to a wedding and is especially appropriate when the wedding is at a winery!

I've been thinking about starting this blog for weeks... no, months! So tonight I'm just jumping right in there. It may not be perfect to start with but at least it's in process. As an Interfaith Minister and Wedding Officiant I create and perform dozens of wedding ceremonies every year. In the process I have the opportunity to meet and spend time with every kind of couple and lots of wedding vendors from near and far: photographers, caterers, musicians, DJ's and on and on. Over the years I've learned a lot and this blog is my attempt to help you... the bride and groom who are planning their wedding in the Charlottesville area.

I've got lots of ideas about the content of this blog... but only time will tell! I invite you to come back often... or subscribe to my feed... so that you can keep up with my posts. Also, please feel free to send in any questions or comments and I'll try to address them for you as well. If I don't know the answer, chances are I know someone who does!