Of all the blog posts and articles I’ve written, THIS is my all-time favorite piece of writing. I wrote it back in 2012 and am delighted to repost it. . .Enjoy! A Thanksgiving memory. . . I’m sitting at a long table, filled with deep-down good people. Anthony & Melissa have gathered us into their home. Across from me is a beautiful Indian woman. She has a disarming smile and a hearty laugh. She turns those clichés into something real. …

The couple were from out-of-state. They rented an Air B-n-B in Beverly Hills and hired a wonderful event planner to give them the elopement of their dreams. Maria and Alex (names changed) were a fun couple who had a great Instagram-able look about them. Their vows were pieced together from several different versions of the traditional wedding vow: In the presence of God, I ____ take you ____ to be my wife / husband I promise to love you forever. To be …

In a sense, the person we marry is a stranger about whom we have a magnificent hunch. Unknown Terese and Mike (names changed) asked if they could meet with me because they wanted some coaching on how to communicate with less stress. As they eased into the session it quickly became apparent that they were having a hard time pinpointing the exact issue. Terese claimed Mike was selfish as evidenced when he ate the last ice-cream bar without offering to share it …

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts. Shakespeare How do you stay sane during the planning process? Talk.  Laugh.  Talk.   This is the only way a couple can stay sane while planning their wedding. Remind each other why you’re getting married AND why you’ve chosen the type of wedding celebration you’re now planning.  What tips can you give couples to avoid battles over the small stuff? At the beginning of the planning, a couple needs to envision what they …

I recently Zoomed with a couple who is having a cross-cultural, inter-faith ceremony. I was impressed by how articulate they were in sharing their dream for the ceremony and celebration.  They readily admitted they’ve done a lot of talking and have had some hard conversations. Afterwards, I flashed on a former bride whose wedding I officiated back in 2018.  A couple of weeks before the Pandemic lockdown, I ran into Anna (names changed) strolling through The Grove mall with her nine-month old …

Some people are worth melting for. Olaf, character from Frozen A real marriage believer I met with a couple who had gotten engaged after two months of dating. Both were in their thirties and assured me, “when you know, you know.” Our conversation was light, lively and sprinkled with moments of laughter. At one point in the conversation, the groom asked if I was married. When I told him I wasn’t married, a proverbial cloud crossed his face. Concerned, he asked, “you …

I was way early for the ceremony and popped into the resort’s café for a latte. A friendly female server asked me why I was at the resort. She became excited when I told her I’m an officiant. Like a child asking for a bedtime story, she said, “Tell me something about the couple!” My first thought was, “Why?” but I told her, “They found love later in life.” Her eyes lit up, “How wonderful!” I smiled, “There’s hope for …

When people learn that I officiate weddings, inevitably they ask me, “what was your oddest wedding experience?” I’ve had many an odd experience and inevitably people say, “you should write a book!” I probably should. For now, though, I’ve written this post in which I highlight ten of the most odd wedding moments I’ve encountered. . . Enjoy! There are different ways for rings to be presented to the couple. Ring bearers are cute but it takes a brave couple willing to let …

What does enduring love look like to you? Can you imagine what it looks like? If so, let that guide you in the writing of your vows. . .

When people learn that I officiate weddings, inevitably they ask me, “what was your oddest wedding experience?” I’ve had many an odd experience (check out two of my more recent posts).  BUT Seldom do people ask me, “what was your most beautiful wedding moment?” I’ve officiated many ceremonies that I could dub “fave.” Beautiful, though, is a different dubbing. It’s a moment that made me realize I was standing in the middle of sheer beauty, mystery and life. Here are 5 more …