This article was written by an associate of mine. I thought you might enjoy it!
By Rev. Erica L. Nash, Trinity Chapel Weddings
Okay, the most romantic moment of your life is finally happening. This is the stuff of fairy tales
and dreams that all girls have had since they were itty bitty. Things even men don't fathom how
deep it truly goes. We plan, we cut, we paste, we find, we search and we gather every single thing
we can get our hands on, even standing at supermarkets, book stores and weird off the wall mini
shops. It's your WEDDING. After years and years of dreaming, the big moment has arrived. You
find yourself in a euphoric state of bliss having the man of your dreams, or at least your version
of it, a beautiful shiny engagement ring and the proud title of fiancé. It's all falling into place.
Then reality sets in. Your mother is probably laughing in the back of her mind, thinking you have
no idea what you really want and comparing what you really want with everything she wants
instead. Panic mode. What do you do now? On top of the reality check, comes the realization
there is lot's of things to do, a budget that will go right out the window, future in-laws to please,
friends you have to weed through and a whole wedding party you have to try and gracefully not
insult.
I can hear the brown paper bags being blown in and out, the medication jingling and the sound of
antacids rolling. Before you become a walking pharmacy...breathe! The first thing you need to do
is stop panicking! It's never good to be a blushing bride hiding under fifty pounds of makeup
knowing she has big dark circles, panic attacks and will end up losing her mind more than her
weight.
Planning a wedding really doesn't have to be that hard. First thing: set a date. Second thing: obtain
the services of a Wedding Coordinator. I can not stress the second one enough! You will be so glad
you did, and so will your family. They not only plan, meticulously organize every single detail,
they will also have their phone on at all times for emergencies. Some Officiants even provide
coordination to help you as well if you are on a limited budget. This does come in handy, trust me!
After you have done the first two things, the third thing you need to do is to have FUN. Okay, I
am sure I am getting weird looks by now, but I mean it. This is no more than a party, a celebration
and a reason to stop making excuses why you can't see your friends and family. I'm sure you have
a life, a job and responsibilities, but you are celebrating the fact you aren't going to remain a
spinster for the rest of your life and you are celebrating how in love you are. So run with it! Run
far away with it! Remember when planning this is your day and yours alone. This is not for your
mother, not for your third cousin, not for an aunt you haven't seen in twenty years. This is your
day!
Take a deep breath! Now, let it out. Finding your Minister or Officiant is about the next best
thing to finding your best friend. You need to find someone who is flexible, willing to work with
you, willing to answer questions and knows what they are doing. Not just professionally, not just
mentally, but emotionally. There will be a lot of emotions running wild between the planning and
the big day. Invest in tissues and invest in chocolate. You will need it! When searching for the
right Officiant, search their website. See how it appeals to you. Look at their information. Are
they thorough enough? Do they give you enough contact information in case you have questions?
Do they have a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section?
Before permanently deciding if you want them or not, arrange a consultation. Get to know the
person standing in front of you on your wedding day. Do they appear to be people friendly? Are
they genuinely the real deal? Do they reserve other weddings on your day? Ask a ton of
questions! Most Officiants and people enjoy answering them. Ask for references, ask for
credentials. Ask, ask and ask some more. It's okay to do so! Things will go a lot smoother for you
on your wedding day if you take care of all of the questions first, and deal with everything else
later. Your mind will be put at ease, and you will be breathing a lot easier! I promise.
After the researching, after the planning and after the screaming you need to have a time out.
Remember to occasionally kiss your fiancé, tell him you love him, and remind yourself daily you
are a Goddess and no one will ever fill your shoes. Some may think you are a diva, some may be
rude, but trust me, it's okay! It's normal and it's life.
Everything will work itself out, things will be just fine, and you will beautiful on your wedding.
Now, go find that chocolate, get to work and remember to breathe!
By Rev. Erica L. Nash, Trinity Chapel Weddings
Okay, the most romantic moment of your life is finally happening. This is the stuff of fairy tales
and dreams that all girls have had since they were itty bitty. Things even men don't fathom how
deep it truly goes. We plan, we cut, we paste, we find, we search and we gather every single thing
we can get our hands on, even standing at supermarkets, book stores and weird off the wall mini
shops. It's your WEDDING. After years and years of dreaming, the big moment has arrived. You
find yourself in a euphoric state of bliss having the man of your dreams, or at least your version
of it, a beautiful shiny engagement ring and the proud title of fiancé. It's all falling into place.
Then reality sets in. Your mother is probably laughing in the back of her mind, thinking you have
no idea what you really want and comparing what you really want with everything she wants
instead. Panic mode. What do you do now? On top of the reality check, comes the realization
there is lot's of things to do, a budget that will go right out the window, future in-laws to please,
friends you have to weed through and a whole wedding party you have to try and gracefully not
insult.
I can hear the brown paper bags being blown in and out, the medication jingling and the sound of
antacids rolling. Before you become a walking pharmacy...breathe! The first thing you need to do
is stop panicking! It's never good to be a blushing bride hiding under fifty pounds of makeup
knowing she has big dark circles, panic attacks and will end up losing her mind more than her
weight.
Planning a wedding really doesn't have to be that hard. First thing: set a date. Second thing: obtain
the services of a Wedding Coordinator. I can not stress the second one enough! You will be so glad
you did, and so will your family. They not only plan, meticulously organize every single detail,
they will also have their phone on at all times for emergencies. Some Officiants even provide
coordination to help you as well if you are on a limited budget. This does come in handy, trust me!
After you have done the first two things, the third thing you need to do is to have FUN. Okay, I
am sure I am getting weird looks by now, but I mean it. This is no more than a party, a celebration
and a reason to stop making excuses why you can't see your friends and family. I'm sure you have
a life, a job and responsibilities, but you are celebrating the fact you aren't going to remain a
spinster for the rest of your life and you are celebrating how in love you are. So run with it! Run
far away with it! Remember when planning this is your day and yours alone. This is not for your
mother, not for your third cousin, not for an aunt you haven't seen in twenty years. This is your
day!
Take a deep breath! Now, let it out. Finding your Minister or Officiant is about the next best
thing to finding your best friend. You need to find someone who is flexible, willing to work with
you, willing to answer questions and knows what they are doing. Not just professionally, not just
mentally, but emotionally. There will be a lot of emotions running wild between the planning and
the big day. Invest in tissues and invest in chocolate. You will need it! When searching for the
right Officiant, search their website. See how it appeals to you. Look at their information. Are
they thorough enough? Do they give you enough contact information in case you have questions?
Do they have a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section?
Before permanently deciding if you want them or not, arrange a consultation. Get to know the
person standing in front of you on your wedding day. Do they appear to be people friendly? Are
they genuinely the real deal? Do they reserve other weddings on your day? Ask a ton of
questions! Most Officiants and people enjoy answering them. Ask for references, ask for
credentials. Ask, ask and ask some more. It's okay to do so! Things will go a lot smoother for you
on your wedding day if you take care of all of the questions first, and deal with everything else
later. Your mind will be put at ease, and you will be breathing a lot easier! I promise.
After the researching, after the planning and after the screaming you need to have a time out.
Remember to occasionally kiss your fiancé, tell him you love him, and remind yourself daily you
are a Goddess and no one will ever fill your shoes. Some may think you are a diva, some may be
rude, but trust me, it's okay! It's normal and it's life.
Everything will work itself out, things will be just fine, and you will beautiful on your wedding.
Now, go find that chocolate, get to work and remember to breathe!
| Choosing the Right Officiant |
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