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It's All in the Details & A Return to Tradition (sort of!)

Linda M — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:55:02 GMT

One way a great officiant supports you is by customizing your ceremony. Your officiant should help you choose the words and rituals that work best for you...and be creative enough to make your ideas shine in a smooth and seamless ceremony. Yes! a great officiant has "stage presence" and knows how to engage the attention of your guests.

Another detail that makes for a smooth ceremony is performing a smooth "ring hand-off." It's a little-known fact that rings transform into Mexican Jumping Beans during a ceremony! Instead of trying to trying a fingertip-to-fingertip ring hand-off, it's MUCH easier to have the bride and groom pick up the ring from the officiant's flat palm.

2011 Marks the Return of the "Unveiling Ritual!" More brides are returning to tradition and walking down the aisle with a sheer veil over the face. The bride below had her father lift the veil off her face. Other brides wait until just after the pronouncement of marriage and before the kiss for the veil removal. The ceremony pictured below took place at the cool green and shady pavilion at the Bio-Park in Albuquerque. Thank you, Guillermo of Natural Touch Photography for the photos!

A beautiful wedding at Hotel Andaluz had elements of tradition (the unveiling ritual) combined with a very cutting- edge bride with a gorgeous tattoo on her arm. Thank you to Sergio of Sergio Salvador Photo.

YOUR wedding is a person statement about you and your partner.
Let us help make it special!

Simple Elegance

Linda M — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 01:26:54 GMT

The Chapel at Hotel Albuquerque was the perfect venue for an intimate and elegant wedding last week. The Unity Candle lighting was a meaningful part of the ceremony for the couple, as well as the "Parental Honoring," where the couple turns to face their parents to thank them for their love and support.
Smiles all around!!
Thank you to Guillermo of Natural Touch Photography for the beautiful photos!

Scheduling an Officiant

Linda M — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:38:14 GMT

Here's a posting to help you in scheduling your officiant:

In general, the MOST popular time for wedding ceremonies is Saturday between 5-7pm (just before sunset) in June and September. The NEXT most popular times are on Saturdays just before sunset in May, April, July, August, and October. If you want to have photos of a beautiful sunset in your wedding album, book the officiant as soon as you book your venue.

Many couples get engaged during the Holiday Season. This means MANY couples are scheduling officiants for their summer and fall weddings in the month of January. In fact, my June schedule for early evenings is routinely filled by the end of January.

If your wedding ceremony is on a Saturday BETWEEN 5-7PM in June or September (the most popular months for New Mexico weddings): SCHEDULE at least 6-9 MONTHS AHEAD.

Wedding Ceremonies on a Saturday in the warm months at sunset: SCHEDULE 4-6 MONTHS AHEAD.

Weddings held on Sundays or Fridays are becoming more and more popular as venues are often LESS expensive on those days. SCHEDULE 4-6 MONTHS AHEAD.

Scheduling an officiant, especially an experienced, popular one, is something you should consider early in your planning process!

Scheduling a year ahead is not always necessary...however, it doesn't hurt! A smooth and beautiful ceremony is the best way to start your wedding day celebration.

Hope this helps!

Avoiding the Pitfalls...

Linda M — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:33:37 GMT

Every wedding is a learning experience! After performing over 500 weddings here in Albuquerque, I've gained a good measure of "wedding intelligence!" And I'd like to share some notes with you.

Having a smooth wedding day is all about checking and double checking. An example: The father of the bride picked up his tux and shoes from the rental store, hung them in the back seat and drove to the ceremony venue. As he dressed, he noticed he'd been given 2 RIGHT SHOES! AWCKK!

Fortunately, the rental store was close by and the left shoe was picked up in time for the ceremony! (I wonder what happened to the guy with two LEFT shoes!)
Lesson Learned: Guys, check out your suit jacket, shirt, pants, vest, AND shoes when you pick up your tux. Even if you have a wedding planner assisting you to smooth the way, there are some things you have to do yourself!

Ring Drop. It is true that rings develop the characteristics of Mexican Jumping Beans during a ceremony! One of the reasons I always have the Best Man place the rings on the flat of my palm is to give those jumpy rings a stable, quiet place to sit. It is so much easier for a bride and groom to pick up a ring from a fairly flat surface than to attempt a fingertip-to-fingertip hand-off. A bride's wedding band, especially, is often a tiny, delicate thing, difficult to get a good grip on!
Lesson Learned: Take a deep, steadying breath before you pick up the ring. And go SLOWLY!

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, it's a VEIL! New Mexico in the Spring often means WIND. Especially during April, May, and, this year, June, the wind can be a significant factor during a ceremony. At a ceremony in April, the bride's veil was pulled off by the wind just as she and her brother started up the aisle. After a quick catch by the wedding planner, the ceremony went on...and the veil was re-attached for photos later.
What's the Remedy? Make sure your veil is firmly attached to your head, not just with the comb, but also with some extra hairpins. You can also have your Maid of Honor hold lightly on to the end of a short veil during the ceremony to keep it from blowing over your head and into your face (or your fiance's face!). (She may have to hand off her bouquet to the next bridesmaid.) Longer veils can be held about midway through the veil. And don't forgo the veil just because of wind. I've seen some beautiful and dramatic photos of blowing veils (and some pretty funny ones too!) taken after the ceremony.
...A blowing veil, a kiss, and a happy ending! Thank you, Sonya Cogan for the photos!

I always say: "There are no mistakes in a wedding ceremony." However much you prepare, Mother Nature and human nature often conspire to disrupt your careful planning!

Whatever happens, a light-hearted attitude is the best remedy. Your guests, your family and friends, are sooo rooting for you to have a memorable and special ceremony. It's that palpable LOVE that will carry you through whatever bumps in the road appear.

A recent outdoor wedding held in Tijeras didn't sacrifice elegance, even in a rustic setting.
Thank you Guillermo from Natural Touch for the photos!

Something Old...something new...

Linda M — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:43:26 GMT

I've been meaning to share some photos of a beautiful wedding I performed in Placitas a while back. The wedding was featured in Albuquerque the Magazine as an "Extravagant Wedding." The location was beautiful, but what I remember the most was how easy and friendly the bride and groom made everyone feel, including me. You can see that even the ceremony was filled with smiles. Thank you, Meaghan and Andrew for including me in your celebration! And, below, another light-hearted moment at the UNM Chapel...

With this ring, I thee wed...
And special thanks to Sonya Cogan, Photographer, for the photos!
And Patty of Parties by Patty for making everything go smoothly!

An Unexpected Award

Linda M — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:59:00 GMT

Wow! I received an email from WeddingWire.com announcing that AwakenedWeddings.com has been awarded the prestigious BRIDE'S CHOICE AWARD ™ 2011 for Officiants. Awakened Wedding Ceremonies stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry.

But we're not going to be resting on our laurels! We'll continue to bring our personalized wedding ceremonies and services to make your wedding ceremony meaningful and memorable and relaxed. Let our experienced and caring officiants get your wedding day off to a beautiful start. It's our promise and our joy to provide these services!

There were so many wonderful weddings this past summer and fall. I fell behind on blogging! So here's a gallery of some of the wonderful couples I've worked with and the wonderful locations available in the Albuquerque area: Four Hills Country Club. Rancho de Corrales, outdoor pavilion at Hotel Albuquerque (2), the BioPark, the Balloon Museum. And thank you to all the photographers to shared these photos.

After the Bridal Expo...

Linda M — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:27:00 GMT

The Sandia Bridal Expo is such an exhilarating experience. Awesome fashion shows, a beautiful location, close to 100 booths, and it's a great start to the 2011 Wedding Season. Did you have fun? Now's the time to sift through all the great information and choose the people who will be part of your Wedding Team.

Over the next two weeks, I'll be sending out emails to all the Sandia Bridal Expo guests about how Awakened Weddings officiants can support you and your fiance on your wedding day...and how you can make that walk down the aisle radiant and relaxed.

January weddings are not that common, but this lovely couple from Russia were not deterred by the threat of wintry weather! January 3 brought sunny skies and warm temperatures (I love New Mexico in the winter!) Anna and Kirill were married at the Sunrise Amphitheater at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya. I wore a long coat! But Anna and Kirill treated the day as if it were June! (The sky was spectacular!)

A special Russian ritual took place right after the wedding. It is traditional for the bride and groom to take a bite out of a special loaf of bread. The one who takes the biggest bite is said to the be one who will be in charge of the marriage.

As you can see, Anna will be in charge.

It was a memorable day in such a beautiful location!
Many thanks to the very talented DeAnna and Rick of Dry Heat Photography for sharing the memorable photos. Thank you!

Beautiful Summer Weddings

Linda M — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:23:00 GMT

Sooooo many beautiful places to have your wedding here in the Albuquerque area!

Paa-Ko Golf Club on the east side of the mountain was a scene of a beautiful July 4 wedding. Rick and Deanna of Dry Heat Photography took these gorgeous photos. The light was beautiful...and check out the bride and groom wearing shades as they sign the license!! Suzanne the Event Manager at Paa-Ko, made the whole day flow very smoothly.

Sandia Casino and Resort has added a beautiful new Bridal Pavilion this year. Check out these photos courtesy of Kevin's Photography.
That's me making sure the Sand Ceremony table is set up correctly....then a view down the aisle...a view of the mountain...a view showing the guests. And the very important "ring hand-off!" Thanks to Genie, the Event Manager at Sandia for her able assistance with the music set-up and managing brides, grooms, and parents ever so graciously.

Oops!

Linda M — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:15:00 GMT

I meant "Love Conquers ALL! (not AL!)

Under a Shady Tree

Linda M — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:23:00 GMT

That was a very windy Saturday! Veils were flying, flower petals disappeared under the chairs! Bubbles took off for Colorado! But the brides remained poised and beautiful; and I was reminded once again that Love Conquers Al! I had the honor of marrying three couples in Albuquerque this past weekend. I'll have photos in a few weeks.

On May 22, Justine and Matthew and their guests were sheltered in the shade of a huge tree in this front yard. It made for a beautiful ceremony. There were so many sweet moments in this ceremony. As you can see, we had a rehearsal to smooth out the bumps. The couple asked that their Best Man and Maid of Honor do the readings...a great way to include them in the ceremony. They also included a "Parental Honoring" to say thanks to their parents - nary a dry eye in the house! The bridesmaids stayed cool in beautiful turquoise gowns.

Do rings shrink during a ceremony?? There's usually time for smile and one last push to get the ring over that last knuckle! There! Done!

Many thanks to Seth Goodman Photography for use of the photos.

At Hotel Albuquerque

Linda M — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:19:00 GMT

Hello Everyone,
Earlier this year, I had a meeting set up to talk with Katie and Scott about their ceremony. But Scott was stranded by that big blizzard in Washington, DC where they live and I ended up meeting Katie...with Scott by computer! Very high tech!
Katie and Scott had a beautiful ceremony at Hotel Albuquerque in the Spanish Pavilion. Terry of Blue Rose Studios produced these great photos. (Thanks, Terry.) The pavilion has enough shade to protect the guests and wedding party...and the foliage creates a beautiful canopy. Enjoy!

Just the week before, I performed another Hotel Albuquerque wedding for Tabatha and Brian. Here are a few photos from their celebration! Thank you, Jason, from Kevin's Photography.

Beautiful Backyard Weddings

Linda M — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:10:00 GMT

Under a gorgeous green tree, Stephanie and Steve pledged their love to each other in this relaxed and wonderful backyard ceremony. The bride and groom personalized their ceremony by writing their own vows and adding a Sand Ceremony to the traditional words. Wedding Planner, Patty of Parties by Patty (www.partiesbypatty.com), managed the transformation of a backyard into a gracious and welcoming wedding wonderland. Many thanks to Photographer Maggie M. Byers (maggiemphotography.com) for the photos!

Wonderful Weddings

Linda M — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:58:00 GMT

The 2010 Wedding Season has begun! Greetings to the wonderful brides-to-be that I've met at recent bridal fairs.
I haven't blogged in a while and I wanted to "catch up" with some photos of recent weddings.

Caitlyn and Ethan were married last summer at beautiful Tamaya. DiAnna Dimmitt of Dry Heat Photography took these memorable photos. With the majestic Sandia Mountains in the background and a sky filled will puffy clouds, it was a memorable ceremony in a breath-taking location.

I worked with DiAnna and Rick Myers, her partner, of Dry Heat at another wedding Saturday. Feb 6. in Belen. Looking forward to seeing THOSE photos, guys! Always great to work with you.

AND
Just a few weeks ago on January 30 Sara and James tied the knot on a clear and WARM Saturday afternoon in Corrales. (Aren't we lucky to live in New Mexico?) Patty Navarro of Parties by Patty organized the event brilliantly, managing caterers, limos, DJs, guests, wait staff, AND ME with grace, poise, and a deft hand. These are just a few of the light-hearted moments photographer Sonya Cogan captured during the festivities. Hi Patty and Sonya! Great to work with you again!

Other Awakened Wedding Officiants

Linda M — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:41:00 GMT

There's more than one officiant at Awakened Wedding Ceremonies! In the event I'm booked or a couple prefers a male officiant or even a bi-lingual officiant, we can help.

Eric, by the way, is a Disciples of Christ minister who performs both Christian and non-denominational ceremonies. Recently, Eric shared this happy note about a very special wedding he performed:
At the end of one couple's wedding a few of weeks ago, the bride and groom hopped on the groom's Harley and rode into the sunset. It was a formal wedding so both bride and groom were in full wedding garb - he in tux and she in a flowing white gown, which was all wrapped, tucked, and securely bundled in her lap. Quite the sight! (I wish we had photos!)

Monique-Cheri is another of our officiants (and Eric's wife). When a couple lost their minister at the last minute due to a family emergency, she was able to step in, meet with the couple, do a rehearsal, and perform the wedding in Tijeras with only a few days preparation! The couple was very grateful.

The bridal party included Crickett and Dobie, the bride and groom's dogs as ring bearers. According to Monique-Cheri, they did a stellar job! The wedding ceremony took place outdoors, and in keeping with the country theme, hay bales, covered with beautiful handmade quilts, were used as seats. The backdrop was a field of yellow wildflowers and just before the ceremony got underway, the couple's two horses moseyed up from behind the fence to check things out. Shortly after the ceremony ended, the heavens opened with a great blessing of rain. By then, everyone was snug and dry under a big outdoor tent!

Remember, we also have Ana, a bi-lingual officiant, if you want your ceremony in Spanish!

For last-minute emergencies and wedding ceremonies that fit your lifestyle and beliefs, give us a call and we'll be there for you!

Just Photos today!

Linda M — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:22:00 GMT

Dear Readers,
Weddings come in all shapes and sizes! They may be held in backyards, at restaurants, or in hotel libraries. There's always one common denominator...the LOVE shines through.
I worked with these wonderful couples in September and they shared some of their wedding photos with me...and I'm sharing them with you!

Balloon Wedding!

Linda M — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:42:00 GMT

Each year at the Balloon Fiesta, there's always a flurry of weddings! What more unique and romantic place to get married than floating silently above the earth in a hot air balloon! This year I had the honor and pleasure of performing an intimate ceremony for Anna and Ben and enjoying my first balloon ride. (Check out photos below!)

As pilot, Mike Gianetti instructed us in balloon protocol, the rest of the team (his wife Lisa, Charlie, and Mary) prepared the balloon for inflation. The giant flame from the burner always looks so dramatic in the early morning light! The basket was decorated with big white bows. Then the balloon was inflated, we jumped into the basket and suddenly we were airborne! It was so smooth and quiet, it was hard to believe we left the ground!

Anna and Ben were fashionably attired in black and white ski hats embroidered with "Bride" and "Groom." Of course, we all were taking photos like mad! The clouds were magnificent over the mountains. Then the ceremony began...and after the pronouncement of marriage, the newly-weds donned "Just Married" baseball caps for the rest of the flight. We had a beautiful soft landing at the UNM Campus and were efficiently packed up and back to the Balloon Fiesta grounds in no time flat! Thanks to Rainbow Ryders for inviting me to officiate and to Mike and Lisa (newlyweds themselves!) for a very smooth flight and for hosting this very special ceremony.

A Weekend of Weddings in Santa Fe

Linda M — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:06:00 GMT

I spent the first weekend in October in Santa Fe, enjoying the beautiful fall weather, performing weddings, and training a new minister. Many of the roads in Santa Fe are edged with brilliant yellow chamisa and purple flowers, the trees were dressed in golden leaves and the sky was clear blue. Perfect days for a wedding!

The first wedding was held at the historic La Fonda Hotel on theupper Terrace. This beautiful space is decorated with masses of potted flower and looks right out on to the newly restored St.Francis Cathedral. Both the bride and groom were escorted down the aisle by both parents...a sweet way to honor your parents! And just as the groom pledged his love to his bride, the cathedral bells began to ring! A very special moment!

Bishop's Lodge has a beautiful gazebo on their grounds that is the perfect location for a wedding. The guests are protected from the sun by big shade trees. So beautiful. The two weddings there included children of the bride and/or groom; and both couples used a sand ceremony to include their children. Kids love pouring their own special color of sand into the vase with their parents. It's a wonderful way to symbolize the blending of families into a single new family unit.
At the first wedding of the afternoon, the groom walked up the aisle with both his children. Then the bride walked up with her two children. During the sand ceremony, their guitarist provided sweet background music as the couple and their 4 children poured their own colors of sand into the glass vase making a beautiful design.
At the second ceremony, the bride's daughter was one of the bridesmaids and she joined her mother and new step-dad for the sand ceremony. Meanwhile, a classical pianist played beautiful music in the background. That's all for now!

Where to Have a Wedding?

Linda M — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:28:00 GMT

ANYWHERE is a great place to have a wedding! This past weekend, I performed weddings on La Luz Trail in the Cibola National Forest, at the Prairie Star restaurant on the Santa Ana Indian Reservation, at Artichoke Cafe in ABQ, and at a private home in Rio Rancho. Each wedding had a different personality and each wedding was filled with love and good times.

Sarah and Andrew are both avid rock climbers. They met at an indoor rock climbing wall and wanted the great outdoors to be part of their ceremony. So they chose the spectacular La Luz trail just below Sandia Peak. After a five minute hike, we came to the location they chose and the wedding was performed - followed by toasts!

Congratulations to Sarah and Andrew!

At the Rio Rancho wedding (no photos yet!), the bride and her attendants all wore beautiful long gowns and colorful low-rise sneakers. (Much easier to walk on grass with sneakers!) With harp music playing, the groom and groomsmen arrived, followed by Ashley and her bridesmaids. Ashley and Daniel set up an arch decorated with fall flowers and leaves in one corner of the shaded back yard and offered guests traditional Mexican food after the ceremony. An easy, relaxed time for all!

On Sunday afternoon, I took part in the Dillard's Bridal Fair at the Sheraton Uptown where I met the first wave of 2010 and 2011 brides! It's hard to believe it's almost 2010! The Sheraton is a beautiful facility with a huge ballroom and several smaller rooms for more intimate weddings. Wedding gowns and bridesmaids gowns were modeled as brides-to-be sampled cake and talked with photographers, DJs, video-graphers, and more. Thank you to all the brides who visited the AwakenedWeddings.com booth! If you have any more questions about our ceremony services, I'd be happy to answer them. There are so many wonderful ways to make your ceremony special!

I just received some photos from a wedding I performed earlier in September. It took place a Desert Greens Country Club. I loved the way the trees made a beautiful dappled pattern down the aisle and shaded the guests and bride and groom during the ceremony. A spectacular blue-sky day in the perfect location.
In the "sun-dappled" photo below, Shianne and Richard are facing their parents for the "Parental Honoring." This optional part of the ceremony gives the couple a chance to recognize their parents for all the love and care parents offer to their children.

Thank you to William of Sweet William Photography for the photos!

Great Photographers/Great Musicians

Linda M — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:19:00 GMT

Performing weddings around Albuquerque and Santa Fe, I have the good fortune to work with many great people. These wedding professionals are dedicated and experienced; and I know the wedding will go without a hitch when they show up. This past weekend I once again worked with Jim Gross of Carousel of Music. Jim is an accomplished guitarist and great DJ. He always scouts a venue before the wedding or event to determine the best sound level and always asks me about the details of a ceremony so his music will flow smoothly with the unfolding wedding.
I also bumped into Rick Meiers of Dry Heat Photography again this past weekend. He was shooting my Friday night wedding. You might recall the great deluge we experienced on Friday. It was very serious rain! The rain ended about an hour before the ceremony and the wedding went off without a hitch under dramatic gray skies. Just after the ceremony, as I was leaving, I noticed the sun peeking through the clouds for a beautiful sunset...Rick noticed it too and in a flash had the newly-weds posed on the balcony with the sunset as a backdrop. Beautiful.
It's not just the photographers or musicians that make a wedding special! This past weekend, I had the pleasure of working at three local venues where the event managers make an extra effort to make sure a wedding goes smoothly. At Los Poblanos, Sheli Armstong is always a pleasure to work with and always available during those last few minutes before a ceremony starts. In fact, she spent those extra minutes finding paper, scissors, and tape for a paper funnel for the Sand Ceremony. (Sometimes the keepsake container for the sand is beautiful, but the opening is too small for two people to pour sand into it!) Thank you, Sheli!

At Desert Greens Country Club, Desiree took great care of the bride and groom and their families, even carrying water and glasses out for their refreshment during the post-wedding photo session.

And at Sandio Resort and Casino, Genie Rossetti managed a slightly late bride, a misplaced table, and a looming rain storm without skipping a beat. The result? A very happy couple and a beautiful ceremony. Great wedding pros at work!

Special Locations

Linda M — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:55:00 GMT

There are many wonderful reasons I love performing weddings. It is a very special moment when two people pledge love to each other! Very powerful. Love uplifts and inspires not only the couple, but me and all the guests too!
The brides always look radiant in their gowns, the mothers and dads beaming with pride as they wipe away a tear...
What a joyful time! And I get to perform weddings at many beautiful locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

A few days ago I performed an intimate wedding at the beautiful and elegant La Posada in Santa Fe. La Posada is tucked away on Palace Ave just a few blocks from the Santa Fe Plaza. For the wedding, their Library was decorated with red rose petals and white votive candles. The ceremony was performed in front of the fireplace which had three beautiful red rose and red orchid bouquets displayed in tall vases among the candles and the rose petals. The combination of the tiny orchids and the rich red roses was exquisite. (Flowers by Marissa)

David Stone, the event manager of La Posada and Jennifer Rick welcomed guests and deftly handled all the little details that make a wedding flow smoothly. At last, as the candles flickered and the last guests arrived, the bride entered and the ceremony began.

I performed another intimate ceremony last weekend at the Corrales Winery in Corrales. As I waited for the couple and their guests to arrive, I sampled a sip of a couple of their wonderful wines. I tasted and enjoyed their Blendido, a fruity and sweet red, and the Muscat Canelli, a sweet white. A row of about 20 bottles with gold and silver medals adorns one side of the tasting room. Very impressive! (and, no, I was not tipsy!)

This coming weekend I'm off to beautiful Los Poblanos in Albuquerque and Sandia Resort and Casino for wedding ceremonies. Back soon!