One of the things that makes a wedding album so special to the newlyweds are the moments involving their family at the wedding. Getting everyone together in one place can be really exciting, so those moments your wedding photographer captures are especially cherished. Here are a few of our favorite moments from Junebug weddings of family at the wedding.
Thanks to the families of our Junebug brides and grooms for being so memorable! For more Junebug Moments, don’t miss these precious father and daughter moments.
We talk a lot about designing your dream wedding style and arranging your perfect reception, but for many, the most important aspect of a wedding is the ceremony. Ceremonies can take many forms, from religious to personal, to having friends and family playing a part or taking the form of an intimate elopement. Above all else, what makes a ceremony significant is the commitment of love between a couple on their day. We’re so excited to be joined today by expert Seattle Officiant Annemarie Juhlian to learn about planning a wedding ceremony.
Each couple is very different, and has different wants and needs when it comes to “all things ceremony” are all over the place. As an Officiant who works with couples of all faiths, paths and traditions, it is my job to reflect a couple’s purpose, mission and love story within a ceremony that is uniquely authentic, personalized, romantic and fun. Yes, fun and enjoyable! It is important that a couple select an Officiant who is a creative and supportive partner – not someone who is trying to use ceremony as a personal platform or to espouse personal beliefs.
You’re absolutely right – there are many different types of ceremony. And you know what? While there are a lot of different options for ceremony, it is the “feel” of a ceremony that is very important to me. I work with a couple to not only draw out what is important for them to celebrate within their ceremony (unique elements) but also work to draw out a couple’s personality and “feel” so there is appropriate storytelling, humor, hankie moments and more.
If a wedding ceremony is authentic, personalized and fun-loving, it has the magical ability to celebrate a loving relationship in all of the best ways. The icing on the cake is finding someone special to deliver words and ritual in an engaging manner and conversational tone that immediately relaxes a couple and inspires family and friends. I’m big on a ceremony that is transparent in tone and one that shares and expresses vulnerability – there is nothing people enjoy more than a ritual that is real, tender and gentle in all ways.
Vows are not about “I promise this” or “I promise that.” Vows on a wedding day are covenants of the heart and it is imperative that an Officiant understand the emotional make-up of a couple and make suggestions that enhance a couple’s personal/written words. Understanding this, I work with a couple and assist them with crafting words that are comfortable, poignant and reverent. And injecting a little elegant humor into the sharing of vows is a magical element that is often a silver lining within a wedding ceremony!
What Makes a Ceremony Memorable is the Love, Not the Planning
A number of years ago, I received a call at 11 p.m. a night. I usually don’t answer my phone and on this evening, I did. It was a guy in Bremerton who was unexpectedly deploying the next day. He shared that he and his Beloved were to get married in a few weeks in a small ceremony. However, with the shocking news of this unexpected deployment, he had been searching for someone to marry him for a few hours, without success (thank goodness they had a marriage license!). Being that I live on Bainbridge Island and he was in Bremerton, I told him that if they met me on Bainbridge Island at 6 a.m., I would marry them. So, under the darkness of frigid December morning, I married this sweet guy and his bride in front of the lobby fireplace at the Best Western hotel on Bainbridge Island. I wished him good fortune and blessing as he traveled with his new wife and witnesses to Sea-Tac Airport to catch a plane. It is these moments that are “crystal” for me.
Anne and Tony are a traditional couple with modern taste. Their two-day Vietnamese wedding in Montreal was vibrant and showcased their fun personalities, while also keeping their religious and cultural customs in tact. Avant Garde Studio masterfully captured the series of events, including the unique tone of each segment. Theatre St-James, the luxurious reception venue, took the celebration from conservative to contemporary.
The Inspiration: “We fell in love with the venue. It was the first bank in Montreal and they apparently sold tickets for the Titanic there! Its old glamorous, mysterious vibe and stunning 75 feet ceiling were the starting point for our theme. We invested in lighting and kept the decor and wedding fashion classic and elegant.”
The Moments: “There were so many great moments because we had the chance to celebrate during 2 days! The most touching was when we were kneeling at the church and our parents stood besides us, their hands on our shoulders. We are both the oldest child of our family and we felt they were very proud and happy (and maybe a little nervous to let us go?). The most fun moment was the dancing battle between the boys and girls, followed by our dads’ dancing battle. A magical moment was when we went on the balcony of the mezzanine before throwing the bouquet and before the crowd could see us; we paused and could see all our loved ones enjoying themselves from top. The moment we were the most proud of was maybe when the Chinese dragons started dancing on Psy’s Gangnam Style and we came in to dance with them; it was our surprise for the all the guests – even for our wedding party.”
Thanks to Avant Garde Studio for sharing these stunning images, and to Anne and Tony for sharing their two day celebration. For more two day wedding inspiration, don’t miss Kimmie and Peter’s chic multicultural bridal style.
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