What A Glorious Year!

Hello Friends! I can't believe I haven't told you anything about the current wedding season, 2019. It has been a great year, filled with laughter, heartfelt moments and happy tears! My 2019 wedding season began in April at Fort Belvoir's Officer's Club with Gloria and Leo. In May I officiated a wedding ceremony in the Silver Slugger Suite at Nationals Park. What an awesome experience!! From the time I arrived until the final pitch, I felt like I had been transported to a different world. The attendants were attentive, the couple glowed, the guests were mesmerized and the Nationals beat the Cubs. June found me at the Springfield Country Club, Bon Air Rose Garden, Carnegie Institution for Science and Zion Springs Farm. In July I was at Woodlawn Plantation and 2941 Restaurant. August I stood with a couple at the District Winery and in August I was at Herrington on the Bay. 1757 Golf Club and Kent Island Manor. September started at one of my favorite venues, The Carlyle House and from there I went to the Piedmont Club, Embassy Suites, Harbour View and River Farm. On October 4 I stood with David and Kathleen at the Winery at Bull Run on a beautiful fall afternoon. Saturday October 5, I had the honor of standing with Meaghan and David at The Line in DC. 

I am blessed to have 10 more weddings before the 2019 wedding season concludes. I will be at a private home, Airlie Conference Center, Potomac Point Winery and Restaurant, the Tower Club, Embassy Suites, The Ritz, Riverside on the Potomac and 2941 Restaurant. And each of these weddings will be marked by the special rapport I share with each of the couples.

I close this post with the following poem by James Weldon Johnson, a 2018 couple introduced me to...I'm moved by the words and sentiment. 

“When buffeted and beaten by life's storms,

When by the bitter cares of life oppressed,

I want no surer haven than your arms,

I want no sweeter heaven than your breast.

When over my life's way there falls the blight

Of sunless days, and nights of starless skies; 

Enough for me, the calm and steadfast light

That softly shines within your loving eyes.

The world, for me, and all the world can hold

Is circled by your arms;

for me there lies,

Within the lights and shadows of your eyes,

The only beauty that is never old.”

An Amazing 2018 Wedding Season, Part II

Greetings! I shared in An Amazing 2018 Wedding Season, Part I blog post that I would post a recap of the weddings I officiated the last two months of 2018. On November 2, I was at Harbour View in Woodbridge. The owner, Lisa Krauss, is a jewel! She and her team are awesome, doing whatever is needed to make the day special for the couple. Chris and Camille are in love and in like! They are such a special couple and so much fun to be around. Camille and Chris' ceremony ended with the following quote, a quote tattooed on the arm of a July bride, Erika.  "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams for when dreams go, life is a barren field, frozen with snow." Dreams by Langston Hughes

Laura Ritchie, Principal Event Designer, Grit & Grace, introduced me to Joey and Emily who wed at Salamander Resort and Spa, Middleburg. They wed late afternoon November 3, outside. It was a bit chilly, but we made it. I know I say all of my couples are beautiful, but they really are! With Emily and Joey's involvement, we crafted a ceremony that was meaningful to them, full of love, passion and humor. From the vows exchanged, each promised "to love...in the good times as well as the bad and even more during the ugly." Marriage is wonderful, however it does require daily work.

On November 11 at The Little Inn of Washington, Nailah and Jack married. It was a brisk afternoon and yet the couple married on a grassy knoll in the presence of nature's glory. It was just the couple, the photographer and me. The ceremony began with the following quote penned by Maya Angelou, "In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine."

Often weddings take me to a new venue...this time to Zion Springs Farm. Jasmine and Sydney married November 17, 2018 on a chilly day, but the brides prevailed and married in the presence of their families and friends as the sun was setting. They are beautiful young women, full of life, love, and potential! The brides penned their vows that were marked with passion and humor. And then the party began and what a party it was.

I was blessed to officiate 4 weddings at 2941 Restaurant during the year. My last wedding for 2018 at this venue was December 1. Lusia and Victor married on a rainy day, but the sun shined fully on them as they said "I do!" The energy in the room was awesome and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this special couple and their guests. The staff at 2941 is awesome and responsive which makes 2941 one of my favorite venues!

December 8 took me to a loft apartment in Old Town Alexandria for Connor and Amanda's ceremony in the presence of their families. The couple incorporated several touches to personalize their union and involve their families.

Harbour View welcomed me again on December 15 for Charlotte and Mauricio's wedding. The decor was magical with tiny white lights and draping along with Disney themed touches such as the centerpieces on the dinner tables...a single red rose under glass...a nod to the movie Beauty and the Breast! And I added several quotes from various Disney movies to the script that resonated with the couple. Thanks for allowing me the freedom to balance your desires with reverence suitable for such a major step as marriage.

Who would have thought that a lovely couple who met at Gadsby's Tavern at an English Country Dance would ask me to officiate their wedding ceremony in the presence of their families and friends! Well, Charles and Michelle did just that. I concluded their ceremony with an excerpt from Gift From the Sea about the importance of being in the moment. After the kiss, the happy couple danced a waltz. Oh, did I mention they and about half of their guests were dressed in period clothing? It was grand!

The 2018 wedding season was amazing...I met so many wonderful couples who decided to take their relationship to the next level, marriage. And I was invited to stand with them on their wedding day to witness their exchange of I do's. I'm excited for 2019, who knows where I will be and who I will be with...it really doesn't matter much, every wedding I have the honor of officiating is grand!!