Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Vow Renewals

I am getting quite a few requests for vow renewals lately.  I think this is a wonderful way to celebrate a successful marriage, rekindle a marriage or to recomitt when things have been rocky.
It is not necessary to have a officiant/notary perform a ceremony for the vow renewal but a lot of folks want to have that wedding feeling and professional feeling so they hire an officiant to perform these ceremonies.  There is no paperwork involved so it is more of a spiritual bonding or re-bonding for the couple. 
Sometimes after a couple has been married for quite a few years, raised a family and find themselves on their own again, they re-evaluate their relationship and wonder if they would marry this person again, knowing what they now know of each other.  If that answer is yes, then a vow renewal is a great way to do that.  They are starting into a new phase of their lives and it seems important to let the other person know that they would and do choose that person again.
During a marriage sometimes it feels like you have no time for each other... alone time with each other.  Work, kids, family and all the other responsibilites seem to come first.  Doing a vow renewal is nice way to get that "honeymoon" feeling again and to reconnect with your partner and remember that special feeling that brought you together in the first place.
There are times when life gets rocky.  It could be an illness, family responsibilites, or bad decisions, and the couple needs/wants to celebrate that they have struggled and overcome those adversities.  They want to say to each other, see we made it through those tough times and we are still here, still together. 
Some couples use the same vows that they spoke on their original wedding day, and others choose vows that represent their present day circumstances and celebrate their accomplishments.  
Some couples exchange their wedding rings again or use replacement rings if their original ones have been lost or damaged over the years.
Some couples include their children in the ceremony.
There are many ways to celebrate the renewal of the vows that you took in the past.   The ceremony should be as individual as you are as a couple. 
If you are thinking of renewing your vows.... give me a call and we can work together to make it a beautiful ceremony to celebrate a marriage that has stood the test of time!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Alternate Locations - Eden State Park

If you are looking for alternate locations to getting married on the beach here in the Panhandle area, I would recommend looking into Eden State Park.  I have done a few weddings there (including one this afternoon) and it is a beautiful location.  It is a true Southern location.  There is a big plantation style home (I think it is a museum) with a porch and rocking chairs.  There are beautiful trees and gardens.  Most people get married under the "wedding tree".  There is a also a dock overlooking a small bay.  It is very picturesque, and usually very private.  I believe that you have to book the location if you would like a wedding there.  It is a very nice alternative to the typical beach wedding.

http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/eden-gardens-state-park-santa-rosa-beach/587ac0e40c0f185f.html




















Thursday, June 13, 2013

Rip Tides

A lot of the couples that I perform wedding ceremonies for are from out of state and may not be aware of the danger that the rip tides are.  There are flags on every beach area along the Panhandle.  Please take a look at them when you get to the beach...
Red flag means stay out of the water- there are riptides present or the surf is very high. 
Double red flag means that it is very dangerous to be in the water, even at ankle depth. 
Yellow means use caution and a floatation device. 
Green means there are no riptides present and the surf is calm. 
Purple means that there is marine life in the area that can bite you, such as jelly fish.
What this means is if the flags are RED... stay OUT of the water...ankle depth or knee depth is NOT safe.  The riptides can pull you off your feet and take you out very quickly.  In the past week, we have had at least 5 drownings that I have heard of ... all of them while red flags were flying. Not only is this dangerous for you, but you are also putting our lifeguards or any other person who attempts to rescue you in danger. 
Everyone is here is for a good time and to enjoy the beautiful beaches, please, don't turn it into a tragedy.  If you think you are a strong swimmer or that being up to your knees is ok, it is not... enjoy the beach, but swim at the pool.


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season began on June 1 and on June 6th Tropical Storm Andrea hit Florida.  That didn't take long.  This may be a long summer of storms if we are starting this early.  The gulf is a little cooler than it usually is this time of year, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.  I am not a meteorologist.  Usually around Labor Day is an active time for storms here in the Panhandle.
Luckily for us, the storm went east of us and didn't affect us other than a bigger surf and stronger riptides. This is a reminder though that storms can hit anytime, although we do usually have quite a bit of warning.  Brides need to have a backup plan in case of bad weather though.
Sometimes we can alter the time of the ceremony in order to get ahead of a storm or wait one out, when they are small, quick rainstorms.  When it is a bigger, longer storm, we need to have a plan B in place.  Some of the options that I have used in the past are: at a pavilion at the beach when it is available, on the balcony of the condo that the couple is staying at, in the livingroom of the condo or home that the couple is staying at or a few times we have actually got out the umbrellas and had the ceremony in the rain!  The last option is only workable when the rain isn't too bad and the wind is pretty mild and of course, when there is NO lightning.  We certainly don't want an electrified wedding!
So if you are planning a beach wedding in the next few months, think of a backup plan and keep an eye on the weather.... just in case!