I am a perfectionist, so all the different fonts and such that appeared after I cut and pasted this are making me crazy...whatever.  I am not taking the time to correct them.

Wedding Ceremony and Vows

2:45pm

Prelude:  string duo softly plays classical music as guests take their seats

3:00pm

Ida:

Good afternoon and welcome!

As we will be beginning shortly,

those of you with cell phones,

if you will please,

turn them off at this time.

Anthony  and Frank take their places

Processional

Music:  Canon in D plays softly

Veronica proceeds down the aisle

music increases in intensity

Sara stands, indicating that guests are to rise

Elizabeth and David proceed down the aisle

David takes his seat, as do the guests

Elizabeth and Anthony face each other

Convocation/Invocation

Ida:

We have been invited here today to share with Elizabeth and Anthony a very important moment in their lives.

In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.

We are privileged and honored to be witnesses to your vows and to shower you with our love and approval.

May our love encircle you during this ceremony.

Opening Reading

Thoughts In a Garden,

By R. Gerhardt

Ida:

This is a special place, a place where people have brought beautiful living plants, here to establish them, to nurture and care for them, that they may forever surround us with the beauty we now see.  And into this place where we stand, you have brought something beautiful -- the relationship that is becoming your marriage.  Here you are declaring it and pledging it, promising to establish and nurture it.  We are aware of the special beauty between the two of you, just as we are aware of the special beauty of this place.  We are with you now in this appropriate place to celebrate your relationship as it is and as it is yet to be, and in doing so, we ask only that you remember how your life together will have the same seasons and needs as this garden.  There will be growth like spring and loss like fall; there will be giving as the blossoming flower, and rest as the seed beneath the snow.  All the seasons will be yours, but remember, too, that gardens are not just happenings.

The more wonderful the garden, the more skilled the gardener.  So you will have to care deeply for the life that is yours together, and nurture it.  You will have to appreciate your differences and cultivate them. You will have to take care of yourself, if for no other reason than out of love for the other.  And you will need the support of family and friends to reach full growth.  As you caringly chose this place to declare your marriage, so remember its lessons for your life together, through the seasons that are yours to share.  And may those seasons bring you a full harvest of joy and happiness.

Expression of Intent

Ida:

Others would ask at this time who gives this bride in marriage, but as a woman is not property to be bought or sold, given or taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and accord.

Elizabeth, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?

Elizabeth

Yes, it is true.

Vows

Ida:

Elizabeth, please pass your bouquet to Veronica and join hands with Anthony as you recite your vows.

I love you, Anthony, as I love no other.  All that I am I share with you.  I take you to be my husband from this day forward.  I promise to love, honor and cherish you.  I promise to share with you both joy and sorrow, to stand beside you during times of both plenty and want, to teach as well as to learn, to nurture and care for you in both sickness and in health, to help and accept help and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.

I love you, Elizabeth, as I love no other.  All that I am I share with you.  I take you to be my wife from this day forward.  I promise to love, honor and cherish you.  I promise to share with you both joy and sorrow, to teach as well as to learn, to stand beside you during times of both plenty and want, to nurture and care for you in both sickness and in health, to help and accept help, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.

 Ring Exchange

Ida:

May I have the rings, please?

Frank hands the rings to Ida

All things in nature are circular. Night becomes day, day becomes night and night becomes day again.

The moon waxes and wanes and waxes again.

There is Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and then the Spring returns.

A ring is an unbroken circle, a symbol of unity, of unending love, as love given freely has no beginning and no end.   May these rings remind you of the vows you have taken today.

Anthony to Elizabeth, as he slides the ring on her finger

With this ring, I give you my heart.  I have no greater gift to give.

Elizabeth to Anthony, as she slides the ring on his finger

With this ring, I give you my heart.  I have no greater gift to give.

 Pronouncement and Kiss

Ida:
Elizabeth and Anthony have declared before us that they accept the responsibility of this union by joining hands, pledging their love for one another and affirming their vows with the exchange of rings.  I am delighted to declare them husband and wife.

You may now seal the promises you have made to each other with a kiss.

Elizabeth and Anthony share a kiss

Veronica passes bridal bouquet back to Elizabeth

Ida:

Elizabeth and Anthony, you are now beginning your married life together.  May your sunshine be shared, your rains be gentle and your love eternal.

Introduction of Newlyweds

Ida:

It is my pleasure to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Marabate.

Guests stand and applaud

String duo plays______________________________________

Elizabeth and Anthony lead the recessional

Veronica and Frank follow with her on his right arm

Greeting of guests

Signing of the marriage license

Music continues until picture taking commences

________________________________________________________________________

This is the inspiration for my DIY invitations.  They are $39.50 each at theletteredolive.com.  After I saw them in a magazine, nothing else compared.  I'm pretty sure I can whip them up for much less.

'Anemones' by Magenta Rubber Stamps.  This is the rubber stamp that I plan to use for my stationary.  It's much bigger than this thumbnail appears.  I plan to use an antique gold ink to stamp the image on ecru linen paper.  Wish me luck!

I really wanted either an outdoor garden wedding or to be married at a historic location.  Since our wedding will be in the spring, we'll have a little of both...an indoor garden ceremony at a historic location!

The ceremony will take place inside the Show Room, which will be filled with Easter lilies and cyclamen on our wedding day.  It will be the first day of the spring flower show.  No extra decor needed!

The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Belle Isle, Detroit

On the path to the Show Room inside The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Belle Isle, Detroit.

The Show Room inside The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Belle Isle, Detroit.

La Corda String Ensemble

I will have a violin/cello duo play at the ceremony site.

coral, spring green, with touches of gold and ivory

(I can't find the exact green...it's more of a pear green)

'Rhianna Royale' by Maggie Sottero in light gold/champagne

When I first saw her, my first reaction was "Whoa, that's almost gaudy!".  But the more I saw her on real brides, the more I fell in love with her.  Then I started stalking her, lol!  After taking tons of pictures to local bridal shops and trying on tons of dresses, I called 24 bridal shops on Maggie's website before I found her and several other contenders.  The shop is almost an hour away from me, but it was worth the drive.  I decided she's quite appropriate for me, "almost over the top, with an underlying air of sophistication"!

'Aela' by Ralph Lauren in Platino.  The higher the heel, the better!

Jordan Fashions Style 300 in Kiwi

I let my MOH choose her own dress, since she's the only girl standing up for me.  This dress is very pretty in person, the color is what I'd call a pear green.  The website photo does not do it any justice, in fact, I think it is awful.  My MOH will wear silver shoes, which she has yet to send me a pic of.  I would have preferred gold shoes, but I guess you can't have everything your way, right?

I plan to make earrings for her which will be very similar to these.  Maybe a bracelet, too, if my budget allows.

Majestic Timless Beauty Style T610 in Mauve.  So pretty!

Hannah Evening Sandal by Payless Shoes

Helix Special Occasion Clutch by Payless Shoes

Gold Chiavari chairs.  Yeah, that's right...I'm gettin' em!  At least for the ceremony.  I reserved them for the reception, too.  We'll see if we can still afford them after I get done at the florist!

This is my inspiration cake from Cake Central...love the intricate gold piping and sparkles!  Josef's Pastry Shop in Grosse Pointe Woods will be making a simpler version of this for us with the same piped design on all three layers, but definitely with the same gold piping and sparkles!  Our cake will be three round tiers, 6, 9 and 12 inches in diameter.  The cake and filling combinations we've chosen are:

6" Chocolate Cake with a Grand Marinier and Chocolate Custard filling

9" White Cake with a Bavarian Cream filling layered with thinly sliced strawberries

12" Lemon Cake with a Lemon Mousse filling

I can't wait to pick up the samples and try them out!

Lakeland Banquet & Event Centre in St. Clair Shores, Michigan

A view of the vestibule.

Entrance to the room.

View from doorway looking left.  We have rented floor length linens (why do they use square linens on round tables???) and gold chiavari chairs.

View of the dance floor from the doorway looking right.  Most of these tables will be gone, as we have chosen a family style service instead of a buffet.

View from the bar.  I think the gift and cake tables will be along the far wall to the left of the entrance.

View from the gift and cake table area.

View of the same room with the amber wall wash lighting provided by the hall.

I saved the above pic for the room layout.  We are also having a family table as opposed to a head table.

View of the ladies room ('cause that's important, too!!!), very neat, very clean and it has doors to the floor for privacy, which open out so your gown doesn't touch the toilet!  Yay!

Oh my gosh...these gold charger plates are beyond awesome!!!!  I want them! 

I have already reserved a super fantastic deal on plain edged gold leafed charger plates, and was seaching for a pic of them online so that I could upload them to my PW bio when I stumbled across these beautiful french design inspired chargers.  Why oh why???  Were they meant for me to find?

Please let me know via private message and I'll give you credit where credit is due!  I had no intention of doing anything with the photos I started collecting except using them as inspiration and examples for my vendors.  As such, I did not keep track of where I found many of these photos.  Please forgive me!

Bling 3" platform wedge flip flops by Nomad in Natural

Love 'em!