No more courthouse weddings in Florida

Did you know that here in Northwest Florida (Okaloosa County), the court houses are no longer performing marriage ceremonies?  Since the same sex law came into affect, allowing same sex marriages in Florida, the courthouse will only issue licenses... no more ceremonies.  So what is a couple to do?  That is where a notary public comes into play.
I have been performing weddings for 5 years now and usually they are on the beach or at a resort here.  Now I am getting calls for quick weddings, because the court will no longer do them.  I am trying to come up with a plan to accommodate these folks.  Since I am mobile, and don't have an "office", I am thinking of staging my dining room as a place to perform simple marriage ceremonies.  I don't know if this would go over and would love any feedback for any one that reads my blog.  What are your thoughts or suggestions on how to handle this new business opportunity.

Thankful

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in the USA.  It is a time that most people get together with family and friends, eat some turkey and pie and for lots of folks - watch some football.  It is also a time that most stop to count their blessings and remind themselves what they are thankful for.

What am I thankful for? 

I am thankful that I have the job of wedding officiant.  I get to meet some wonderful people and am part of one of the most special days in their lives.  It is not a job that I take lightly as I realize how important that ceremony is in people's lives.  It is an emotional time when you are committing to share your life with another person. I am thankful that people love each other enough to want to make that commitment.

I am thankful that some of the people that I have met have become friends and a lot of folks keep in touch, usually on Facebook.  Speaking of Facebook, I am thankful for Facebook.  Facebook allows me to share the joy of the weddings with people.   It also allows me to get to know couples before I actually get to meet them.  They get to see what I do and hear what other couples have said and I get a little glimpse into their lives as well.  It is an amazing technology.

Personally, I am thankful that for my family, my friends and that I get to live in such a beautiful area and get to do what I love!  My wish is that everyone have a safe holiday and have much to be thankful for.

Time change

This time change... falling back an hour... really affects our sunset weddings.  Instead of having the weddings at 5:00 pm, we now have to have them at 4:00 pm.  Late afternoon now becomes our evening sunset time.

A groom in uniform

Last night I had the privilege of officiating at a wedding for a young military couple.  The groom and the groomsmen looked very impressive in their dress blues and the bride and her bridesmaids were beautiful. 

Just seeing those young men in their uniforms brought a tear to most people's eyes and I was very happy to be part of their big day.

The bride was having issues with her shoes, but it sure looks like Prince Charming found his Cinderella and Cinderella found her Prince Charming.

What is your story?

I have done many, many weddings and almost every wedding has a story to tell.  The obvious stories that people tell is how they met, when they started dating, when they decided to get married... did he pop the question, did she?  ... those are the stories leading up to the wedding. 
Unfortunately, people think the wedding should go perfectly and that things won't go wrong or glitches won't happen.... they do.  And that gives you your wedding story! Every wedding needs a story. 
I'll tell you a few stories that I have encountered while doing weddings.
Forgotten marriage license.... there has been more than one wedding when I meet the bride and/or groom prior to the ceremony to finalize the paperwork, when they realize that they don't have the marriage license.  It has been left at their hotel room, it has been in the parents cars. 
No marriage license... I have had couples come into town prior to the ceremony only to realize that it is a government holiday and the courthouse is closed and they can't get their marriage license until after the date they planned on getting married.  I have done wedding ceremonies for their friends and families, and then met with them after they get license and do the legal  "I do's". 
No rings... there has been more than once where the rings are not where they are supposed to be.  Some have been forgotten back home or back at the hotel.  Sometimes we have used other rings, other times we have done the ceremony without the rings, faking a ring exchange.
Missing people.... there have been times where key people in the ceremony were not able to be there.
Weather... oh my goodness.... planning a wedding on the beach, you have to have a backup plan, just i in case of inclement weather.  I have done weddings on balconies, in living rooms, and even once in the car due to rainy weather.  I have done weddings where we under umbrellas.  If it is rain, I don't mind, but I won't go out on the beach if there is lightning in the area.
Wind.... something to keep in mind, if you are having an arbor on the beach.  If you put a lot of tulle on it, it could act like an kite and blow over.  I have had to have grooms hold on to the arbor to make sure it didn't blow away or fall down on us.
Recently, there was an incident where the maid of honor and bridesmaid had a car accident at the end of the street where the wedding was happening.  Thankfully everyone was ok and not injured, but it did make for a story for their wedding... remember when....
For anyone that knows me personally... we won't even begin to talk about the stories (yes, plural) that happened at my wedding.
So what is your story?

September 2014

The summer is over and the second wedding season on the Gulf Coast is starting up.  We have had a gorgeous summer.  The first wedding season here is from March through the middle of July.  Then the heat and humidity set in and the weddings slow down.  September through November is another big wedding time here as the heat is gone and so are the tourists.  The area is much less crowded and the weather is still wonderful. 
I have heard a few folks in the wedding biz around here talking about starting up second businesses in the south part of Florida for the winter time when it is cooler here and warmer there.  Sounds like an interesting proposition.  I will have to look into that as well.  Wouldn't that be a nice change?  To go further south from December to March and enjoy their scenery, while still working the wedding biz and then come back up here for the summer.
If you think outside of the box, there are endless possibilities. :-)

Spring Break

It is that time of year again here on the Emerald Coast.... spring break.  The college students have invaded our area once again.  This will be a familiar site for us locals for the next 5-6 weeks as the colleges let out and the kids let loose. 
The sheriff's department is out in force and have made many arrests for underage drinking so far.  The legal drinking age is 21 and I would dare say that the majority of those out on the beaches are not that old.  Hopefully they will all have safe vacation, enjoy the sunshine and beaches and get back to school in one piece.  A little more tanned and hopefully with some fun stories to tell.

Planning

This is the time of year that a lot of Bridal Shows are happening.  I attended two this weekend. 
On Saturday, I attended the show at Tiger Point Country Club in Gulf Breeze, FL.  This is a great venue and they have a new director of events.  I met with quite a few Brides to be and they are excited about the venue and upcoming wedding.
On Sunday, I attended the Emerald Coast Bridal Faire.  There were a lot of B2B (brides to be) in attendance.  This is a great event if you ever get a chance to attend.  There were lots of vendors and everyone has some great ideas and suggestions.  I talked to many brides and they were all excited to get the planning set up.
I was working with a wedding planner this weekend, Exception Florida Weddings.  If you get a chance, check out her website.  She is a full service wedding planner but can help out with as little or much as you need.

Some suggestions when planning your wedding, if you are doing it without a planner:
Pick your venue - decide where you want to have your wedding.  If you doing it on the beach that is easy but you still need to decide which beach area you want to have it at.  If you are doing it at a hotel, then you need find their availability, pricing and what services they provide.
Pick your date - You would think you pick your date first, but I have found if you have an estimated date, you are more flexible in finding your venue. 
Next you are going to want to choose your officiant and photographer.  Getting these professionals firmed up is important because they will be getting booked up and you want to get the people that you are comfortable working with.
Then you are going to decide on decorations, colors, wedding party etc. and all the other little details.

This is just a brief outline of what you are going to want to do.  And as always, if you have any questions or need any help with any of this... feel free to contact me! 

Congratulations and Happy Planning!

2013 Recap

2013 Weddings recap



I would like to thank all of the 2013 couples that I have worked with for allowing me to share in their special day.  2013 was a very successful year for me and I hope for you too.

Don't hesitate to contact me if I can help with your special day in any way. 

I hope 2014 brings you love, happiness, health and many smiles. 

Happy Holidays

Winter is the slow time for weddings, especially beach weddings.  Although I did have three weddings last week, which was a pleasure.  I think most people are working on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's and wait for warmer weather to get married.  But this is prime engagement season.  Lots of people give and receive rings during the holiday season.  So if that is what you are doing, don't forget to book your wedding date as soon as possible, especially if you are planning a summer wedding.  Summer is the prime wedding time and we get booked up.  Of course I always do my best to accomodate last minute weddings. :-) 
I also wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year.  I hope that you spend it with family and friends and make some wonderful new memories.

Congratulations to all the newlyweds for 2013 and to all the couples that are getting engaged this holiday season.

Where to stay....

I get a lot of questions on where to stay while here on the Emerald Coast.  My usual response is ... it depends.  It depends on what you want to do while you are here, how many people you have with you and whether you have an adult party or you have children with you.
Most of the condos/houses require a min of 3-7 night stay.  The chain hotels do rent for one or two nights though. 
Some suggestions ....
If you have a large group of people that are going to be here with you usually renting a house is the best deal.  It costs more per night but when you break it down by the bedroom or person, it is usually quite reasonable.  By doing this, you are able to take advantage of cooking onsite as well, which can save quite a bit of money.  If you have children, you can usually have a floor that is child friendly and then an adult floor for those that don't want to be woken up by the kiddies in the morning.  A lot of the wedding parties that I do go this route with everyone staying at the house and then they have a reception at the house as well.  You can check out www.vrbo.com for rentals by owner.
If you have a smaller group or people would like their own space, there a lots of condos on the beach.  The condos on Miramar Beach (although the listing says Destin) are across from the beach, but it is an easy walk.   There are quite a few townhouses on the beach for rent in Miramar Beach as well.
If you have children or want a quieter time, usually Miramar Beach is where you would want to stay or Holiday Isle in Destin.  Destin condos are closer to the restaurants, bars and other activities.
http://www.emeraldcoastfl.com/the-beaches/destin.aspx
If you are not familiar with the area... there are three basic areas in the Destin area.  Destin East (Miramar Beach, Crystal Beach, Henderson Beach), Destin Central (Destin, Holiday Isle) and then Destin West (Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach).   There are restaurants and activities all along these areas and with the exception of Fort Walton Beach (which actually is not on the beach) they all have the beautiful white sand and gorgeous water.  When people (from out of town) refer to Destin they could be talking about any of these areas. 
Destin Harbor is where the fishing boats and charters are, there are also rentals for pontoon boats, jet skis.  This is also where you will find the parasailing and snorkling activities.  But that is for another blog post.
If you have any questions, you can either submit a comment here or shoot me an email at jfrasernotary@yahoo.com. 
No matter where you stay, I am sure you will enjoy your time here!

Sand ceremony ideas

I just wanted to share a few ideas for the sand ceremony.  Some folks are intimidated on what kind of keepsake vase to get.  There are many types of vases out there and you can get many types.  My first suggestion to think about is if you are travelling here for the wedding, then you will want to get a vase with a stopper or top.  This will make it easier to travel without worrying about it spilling. 
Another thing to think about is how many people are participating in the ceremony.  If it is for two people you don't know a really big vase, but if you are including your children then you might want something a little bigger so that all the colors will show. 
Some folks get the vase engraved with their names and the date and others don't.  It is another personalized decision that you will make for the ceremony.
Below are some samples of ones that we have used at the ceremonies that I have done.

 

 

 

Ups and Downs

Since my last post, I have done a few more closings... that time was well spent getting certified and listing with the notary sites.  I am so very glad that I did that.
I have done quite a few weddings lately as well and with each wedding there is always something that doesn't go quite as planned, from dropped rings to missing licenses to people coming up to us on the beach while we are doing the ceremony and then of course, the weather is sometimes an issue especially here on the coast. Whenever these things happen, I remind the bride and groom that every wedding needs a story and whatever went not as planned (I won't say went wrong)... it adds to the story of their wedding.  Don't worry about the little things that go different than you planned, and keep the big picture in mind.  Most of the time, the bride and groom are good sports and laugh off whatever the issue is and carry on.  Just remember that life rarely goes as planned and if you let the little things bother you -  life will be much more difficult.  You have to have a sense of humor about life and all its ups and downs. 
Remember the reason that you are there is to marry your love and as long as you are hand in hand, it will all work out and you will have a good story to tell down the road.

Notary work

Sorry I have not been on here lately but I took a couple of weeks off during a slow period and went to visit my 92 year old mother.  She is doing great, thanks for asking!  :-)
Most of my posts are about my wedding officiant side of Destin Notary but I have to share something that happened today.  I have decided that this is going to be my full time job going forward and such I need to get the Notary side of the business going stronger to cover the slow months of the wedding side of the business.  So today I went on to the National Notary Association (which I am a member of) website and watched one of their webinars on branding/increasing your business.  It was a great webinar!  If you are a notary out there, you really need to belong to the NNA... they have great information on their website.  Anyway, I have done most of what they were recommending but had not followed up by registering on some the websites that closing/signing companies go to when they are in need of a notary signing agent.  So off I went to the websites, registered and put down a little description of myself and what I do.  I figured maybe someday, someone might call and I would get some extra work out of it.  Was I wrong!! Two hours later, I got my first call and set up my first appointment for tomorrow.  For those of you interested, the website that they found my name on is www.notaryrotary.com.  The company that called me is based out of California and needed a notary to do a signing here in Florida for a property in Georgia, talk about being a national company!
So that little exercise and the hour I spent listening to the webinar, were very much worth my time.

I have two weddings this Saturday so I will be enjoying the Labor Day weekend on Sunday and Monday.  I hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend! 

Cancellations

I haven't been on to post anything for awhile but that is a good thing (at least for my business).  I had 19 weddings in the month of July!  That is a record month for me.  I am so happy that my wedding business is growing so well.  I love this job and meeting and working with the most wonderful people.
Of course, there is always a down side and luckily for me and the other officiants that I know, this is a rare occurence.  Cancellations... they can be handled professionally and with courtesy or they can be handled wrong.  We all understand that plans change, situations happen or circumstances change.  We don't want to get too involved in your life, but if you contract with an officiant to perform the ceremony, you should have the courtesy to inform your officiant, as soon as possible, if the ceremony is going to be cancelled. We set aside the date and time, and do not book anything else within a certain timeframe.  If you need to cancel, and if you let us know as soon as possible, then we can open up that date and time and schedule something else.  This is our business, after all.
In the last little while, I have had one bride cancel the morning of the ceremony and another didn't call or contact me at all.  Another officiant I know had two brides cancel on him the day before the ceremony.  I am sure that these brides knew more than a day in advance that they were not going to get married that day.
We typically require a deposit to hold the date and time.  If you do not cancel within a reasonable time ( a week or so would be minimum), please don't expect to get your deposit back.  If you give us enough time to book another wedding, we will be glad to refund the deposit or apply it to another date, if you need to reschedule.
I have had people cancel with reasonable notice and was glad to refund their deposit and was able to schedule another wedding.  Those situations were a win-win for both parties.
Please if you need to cancel, please have the courtesy to let your vendors know as soon as you know.

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!

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

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.

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!

Memorial Day weekend

Here we are at the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend! I hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend. :-)  Also take a few minutes to remember what the weekend is really about.
I have had no weddings this week ... zero... and none this weekend.  Normally I would be a little concerned about this but I am going to take advantage of the little break especially when I am looking at my calendar for June... it is busy!!!
I have been a beach bum this week and enjoyed every minute of it and I will be out boating this weekend.  For those of you who have been here on vacation, you know what I am talking about and for those who coming here... you are in for a treat.  The beaches are perfect and the weather has been wonderful.  The water is a little chillier than normal for this time of year, but that is a good thing.  The water is cool enough to be refreshing but warm enough to be comfortable.
We haven't entered hurricane season yet, and are thinking of those in Oklahoma who are suffering this weekend after the tornado this week.   Tornadoes are a lot scarier than hurricanes, because they come with little warning.  At least with hurricanes, we have lots of warning and can evacuate or prepare for these events.  Let's hope for a quiet weather weekend everywhere in the country.
I will be back here after the weekend is over... in the meantime... be safe, everyone!