Dear Brides,
About 3 weeks before your wedding, you may notice your brain is no longer working. Decisions seem frustrating and difficult.  You find yourself procrastinating more than usual. You begin to forget things...your keys, your phone, your purse, and that special "safe" place where you put the bridesmaid's gifts.
Or, you've experienced an uncharacteristic meltdown over a seemingly trivial issue.
It's not early Alzheimer's and you're not going bi-polar. It's only the dreaded... "Bride Brain."
It's the time when the months of planning and the managing the hundreds of details of your wedding have put your brain into overload...and it responds by just shutting down.
According to wedding planner, Karen Stallard of CelebrationsStyle: "I'll often get calls from brides for assistance during the three weeks before a wedding. The combination of work, wedding planning, and pre-wedding nerves often result in a sort of catatonic reaction that I call "Bride Brain." The bride needs someone to simply take over all the details so she can unwind and prepare for her big day."
First, if you're good at advance planning, make sure ALL your plans and completed one month before your wedding. That way, you can relax and enjoy the time before you wedding.  Or at least have a clear head when those last-minute emergencies happen!
Second, you might consider hiring a "day-of" wedding planner to manage all your wedding vendors on the day of your wedding. You could arrange a preliminary meeting with your day-of planner a month ahead of your wedding date and turn over your timeline and all the vendor contacts and let the planner handle the final arrangements.
Third, if you have a stressful job or just don't like organizing things, hiring a wedding planner to handle ALL the planning is a good idea. If the thought of making lists and phone calls and managing people makes your stomach tie in a knot, planning your own wedding is not a good idea.
Wedding Planners can work within your personal budget. And having a professional plan your wedding may be the MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT your make for wedding day.
And for a smooth and relaxed ceremony, give me a call and learn about the Awakened Wedding ceremony services. 505-205-3520  Or visit our website: www.awakenedweddings.com

Dear Brides,
Couples have many reasons to economize on their weddings - a new home down payment, unexpected family expenses - the list is long! But weddings don't have to be expensive to be memorable and fun!
One music-loving couple put their unique signature on a backyard wedding with outside-the-box ceremony music. This groom did a strut-and-pose entry to "Eye of the Tiger." (To surprised chuckles and applause!) The couple ended their ceremony with "You Make Me Want to Shout!" The Ceremony itself was in a beautifully decorated brand new backyard gazebo. Thanks to Brandon & Tiffany for sharing their day...and for Shayla at Affordable Wedding Photography for sharing the photos.
By the way, that's a very smooth ring hand-off from the Best Man in the photo at the left. Both rings placed on the palm of my hand for easy pick-up by the bride and bride.

The Unity Candle Dilemma...
The windy spring and summer afternoons in New Mexico can make it difficult (and sometimes impossible!) to do a Unity Candle Lighting during an outdoor wedding ceremony. While many couples opt to do the Sand Ceremony instead, the Unity Candle continues to be popular with couples who have their ceremony indoors.
What's a Unity Candle Ceremony?  To symbolize the uniting of the two flames of your love, the bride and the groom take two candles and unite their flames on a single "unity" candle.
To make the ceremony flow smoothly, I usually bring a small tea light to tuck in behind the Unity Candle (see photo at the left) which I light before the ceremony begins. The bride and groom can easily light their individual candles from the tea light and then light the Unity Candle together. There is no fumbling with lighters or matches when your fingers might be just a wee bit shaky from nerves.
A smooth and hassle-free ceremony is the perfect way to begin your wedding day celebration, at AwakenedWeddings.com, we can make your day start on the right foot. Visit AwakenedWeddings.com and learn more about our services. And Happy Wedding Wishes from Linda!
Check back here tomorrow for a new blog post... and learn some easy ways to avoid the dread...Bride Brain!

Last October, I officiated at ceremony at Bishop's Lodge in Santa Fe. It was truly a golden afternoon with the sunlight filtering through golden leaves! The groom's family was from Ghana and arrived dressed in their colorful native clothing. And the groom's mother did a special reading for the couple. Everything about the day was brilliant! Thank you Babak of Insight Photo for the lovely pics!
AwakenedWeddings.com will always encourage you and your family to personalize your ceremonies! And having a family member do a reading is a very special way to make that happen. Call me today for more details: Linda at 505-205-3520

A Golden Afternoon in Fall                                 A special reading for the couple


The groom's family in their colorful dress!


(Below) At a ceremony at beautiful Nature Pointe in Tijeras, the bride entered with music from Twilight...and the groom's father offered a heartfelt prayer at the beginning of the ceremony.

More and more, couples are opting to sign the Marriage License during the ceremony. (Two moms were the witnesses.) Signing during the ceremony can save time and allow the post-ceremony photos to begin more quickly. It's also a way of formalizing the signing ritual. Thank you to Sonya Cogan for beautiful ceremony photos.  More below!


The always beautiful Rose Garden at the Albuquerque Bio-Park is a sumptuous setting for a ceremony. And Maura of Bryan's Photography makes the best of this romantic setting. Thank you, Maura!
For more information on how I can make your ceremony relaxed and memorable, call Linda at 505-205-3520 or visit:  www.AwakenedWeddings.com
Formal or casual, traditional or unique, spiritual or civil ceremonies. Rehearsal direction. Bilingual officiants. Female and male officiants!

    When you have 13 bridesmaids, 13 groomsmen, 3 flower girls, and a ring bearer (as one couple had this past weekend!); a rehearsal could the the most important part of your wedding ceremony! 
    Rehearsing a large bridal party can mean the difference between scraggly looking photos and a frazzled bride and groom ... or confident bridesmaids and groomsmen and photos you'll want to look at and share forever. 

    These photos were taken at a ceremony I performed earlier this summer at beautiful Casa Rondena. When bridesmaids and groomsmen all stand facing the bride and groom, the focus stays on the bride and groom instead of on that one groomsman who's playing with his keys or his smartphone!
Casa Rondena is a lovely setting! The stonework and the grounds are perfect for romantic photos! So, I just had to include this one of the couple! Thank you to Kevin's Photography!

Albuquerque is lucky to have a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino!  Couples love the rock and roll memorabilia and the big guitars out front! 
    I'm including the sepia photo below to show how I'll often step to one side or the other to "hide" behind the bride or groom during the recessional ... this keeps the focus on the couple! (although you can see my bit of my shoulder behind the bride!)
Thanks to Shayla of Affordable Photography for these photos!

It's always exciting for me when a couple wants to include ethnic traditions in their ceremonies. For example, this past weekend a bride's Native American godfather performed the "Blanket Ceremony" and a ritual smudging with sweetgrass smoke with special prayers as we began the ceremony. It was a powerful beginning as he chanted the blessing in the Native American language while the couple were wrapped in a special blanket!

Later this month, I'm officiating a ceremony that will include a Japanese Sake Sharing ritual to honor the groom's Japanese heritage.

Adding a special ritual to your ceremony, whether it be Sake Sharing or a Sand Ceremony, makes your wedding ceremony meaningful to you and interesting for your guests. The most important thing to remember when adding any "extra" ritual is this:  You must PRACTICE it! 

Wrapping a big blanket around a couple without mashing the bride's veil or stepping on her train takes careful preparation! In the ceremony last weekend, the Maid of Honor and Best Man practiced stepping forward to assist in the wrapping and unwrapping. And a small pail of water was available after the ritual, to douse the smoking sweetgrass.  We didn't want any smoke detectors wailing!

Choreographing these rituals prevents any problems from occurring during the wedding. A rehearsal is ESSENTIAL preparation for a smooth and relaxed ceremony.  Even a simple sand ceremony can be scary if the bride gets twisted up in her train as she moves to the sand ceremony table.

Brides are still making veils and trains a big part of their wedding day dressing. There is something elegant and beautiful about a train and an airy veil! Susana's train (below) adds a regal feeling to her ceremony at the Albuquerque Bio-Park Rose Garden.


After the ceremony, Susana and Mike did a more relaxed license signing on a bench in the gardens of the Bio-Park. The reception was at the Aquarium! And the bride and groom offered cupcakes to their guests while they shared a traditional cake themselves. (A neat idea that eliminates the need for a cake cutter!)  Thank you to Kevin at Kevin's Photography for permission to use the beautiful photos!

Megan and John held their ceremony and reception in her parent's garden in the North Valley, surrounded by towering trees and beautiful flowers. John is from London, England, and the festivities were the perfect mix of English garden party and Southwestern hospitality! John's sense of humor pervaded the ceremony! Lots of smiles and laughter.
I added the photo of me filling out the Marriage License as this is a very important part of my pre-ceremony preparations.  With the Marriage License complete except for signatures from the bride, groom, and witnesses, the post-ceremony signing goes smoothly and quickly and the couple can move on to those very important post-ceremony photos.

A big thank you to Sonya Cogan Photography for the beautiful photos.


In my last post I showed one of Ellyn and Mark's engagement photos - they were in shorts and jerseys!  Here are a few photos of their license signing at the Prairie Star.

Thank you again to DeAnna and Rick of Dry Heat Photography.


The SmartPhone Issue:  As a wedding officiant, I have a great view of the couple and all their guests during the ceremony.  This summer, as I looked out at wedding guests during the ceremony, I usually see a sea of SmartPhones pointing at the bride!

In fact, at one of the weddings I recently officiated, one guest stood right in the middle of the aisle with his iPad, during the whole ceremony!

While it's wonderful that ALL of your family and friends want to take photos, I often see professional photographers and videographers frustrated by guests getting in their way. And those photographers you pay to capture those special moments often spend precious time navigating around guests or asking them respectfully to move out of the shot, especially during the ceremony.

What to do? Certainly a good place to start is to ask friends and family to be aware that you have hired a professional photographer to capture your ceremony. And the photographer can't get the best photos when there are 4-5 people standing in the aisle or hovering behind the bride and groom. Any other suggestions? I'd love to hear your input!

This summer, Albuquerque Brides have taken wedding ceremonies to new levels of creativity and fun! I thought you'd enjoy these inspiring photos.
A Meaningful Date...
Mark and Ellyn (at left) got married on 7-19-12. The date is a combination of their respective numbers when they play volleyball: 7 is Mark's number; Ellyn's is 12.  19 is the sum of the two numbers... it's a very special way to honor their marriage, their love of the sport and the concept of making their marriage date more meaningful.
Special thanks to DeAnna and Rick, Dry Heat Photography. Wedding photos soon!
Beneath the Deep Blue Sea...
The guest list at this ceremony included all the fish in the main fish tank at the Aquarium! This couple chose this very dramatic venue for their ceremony. While sharks, sting rays, jacks, and tarpon cruised by, Mindi and Chris and their children joined together in love...and included a
sand ceremony as a symbol of blending their lives together. Kudos to Julie from Bryan's Photography for making the most of this unusual location!

Forget the Tux!!  This bride wanted her Harley-loving groom to wear his leathers while she surprised him with a black corset, short skirt, and black hose! They brought a laptop so the bride's mother could view the ceremony from her home in the Philippines via Skype! After the ceremony, they rode into the sunset on his bike! This photo was taken by one of the guests after the ceremony.
Sand Ceremonies Rule
Kids love the idea of having pouring their own special colors into a glass container. The Sand Ceremony continues to be a popular addition to summer weddings ...especially when Dad helps the little ones pour! Thanks to Kevin's Photography.

Traditional Wedding...But
Katie and Chris are the picture of tradition and decorum at their ceremony at the Hotel Albuquerque. Who would guess that Chris proposed to Katie right after she'd jumped out of an airplane! This fun-loving couple count skydiving as a favorite hobby!
Thank you to photographer, Tamara Farmerie for the photo!

Couples are very creative this year, weaving readings from Dr. Seuss and poetry in Latin into their ceremonies and wearing lime green sneakers instead of "regular shoes."  Let us help YOU have a meaningful and unique ceremony that matches your personality!

The Sand Ceremony continues to be one of the most popular "extra" ceremonies in weddings today. Couples like the visual symbolism of blending two lives into one and it is the perfect ceremony for outdoor weddings, where Unity Candles won't stay lit or the fire danger is extreme! (This is an issue in dry New Mexico.) And if there are children who you want to include in the ceremony, this is a beautiful way to symbolically blend all your lives into one.

One other benefit: A beautifully decorated Sand Ceremony table can also serve as the perfect location for your Marriage License signing.
Thank you Beth and the team at Sandia Resort & Casino.  Thank you Kirk McGee for the beautiful photos and thank you Delanya and Steven for sharing your wedding day.

There is something thrilling about the stirring drone and high pitched harmony from BAGPIPES!  Last summer I officiated a wedding ceremony at the Loretto Chapel that began with the chapel doors opening and the entrance of a piper, in full Scottish regalia!  Wow!  This lone bagpiper slowly marched up the aisle, kilt swinging, bagpipes playing, and stood at the front altar rail as the minister (me!) walked up the aisle and the Scottish groom escorted his parents up the aisle to their seats.  After the groom joined me at the altar, the piper did a smart military turn, and still playing, walked back down the aisle and exited the chapel.  Wow again!

Loretto Chapel is a unique and exquisite location for a wedding. Many thanks to Mary and the supportive crew there...and thanks to Sandy at Blue Rose for sharing the photos.
And of course, thank you to lovely Devon and her handsome husband, Lance.

One of the most popular chapels in Albuquerque is at the Hotel Albuquerque. Its simple design and Southwestern architectural details give couples the option to make their own wedding vision come true.  At a recent wedding there, one couple created an exquisite winter garden with white branches and white lights along the aisle. Elegant white flower arrangements in two nichos on the altar and soft candlelight completed the upscale look. The bride complemented the sophisticated vibe with a short skirt, a feather hair ornament instead of a veil, and a white bouquet with black feathers.
The couple made their ceremony memorable by writing and speaking their own vows and lighting a Unity Candle together. A very happy occasion!
Deanna and Rick of Dry Heat Photography captured the mood of the evening with these beautiful photos.  Thanks to you for letting me share them here! 
And kudos to Amy and the team at Hotel Albuquerque for providing their usual excellent service.