Heidi and Kevin were married on the beach at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront on Saturday, May 11. Their wedding was due to begin at 4:30, but by 4:00 the skies to the west were looking ominous indeed. By 4:15 we were in monsoon-like conditions. At one point I found myself on my knees hunched over a bridesmaid's laptop on a settee in the bride's suite anxiously evaluating radar maps. I spotted a gap in the storm system, but sadly do not possess the expertise to determine whether it constituted a fifteen minute window or an hour's reprieve. Or whether it would reach us in the next ten minutes or in two hours. A consultation with the event coordinator, photographer, and videographer determined we were all willing to proceed with plans for a wedding on the beach if the rain let up and no lightning was spotted in the area. My kindle fits nicely in a ziploc bag, so I had the least amount of "gear" at stake. I was perfectly happy to let the photographer and videographer make the call. Heidi really wanted a beach wedding, but was resigned to an indoor ceremony if the conditions did not improve by 5:00. Shortly before the deadline, we did get a break in the storm. The hotel staff quickly dried off the seats, we ushered everyone to the beach as quickly as possible, and jumped into action. Heidi and Kevin were having a beach wedding...albeit a wee bit of a soggy one. I was so glad because Heidi and Kevin were such a sweet couple and a joy to work with. The beach part, not glad about the soggy bit.       Heidi & Kevin's Facebook Sneak Peek

I have to say that Indica and Brian are both true wedding professionals and total troopers. Brian covered his video equipment in plastic tarping (i.e. trash bags) and Indica captured the ceremony beautifully with one hand on her camera and the other holding an umbrella. This was absolutely necessary because it did indeed begin to rain before the ceremony concluded. No serious downpour, but enough for the guests to use their keepsake fans as umbrellas rather than for cooling off. I felt badly I was not able to set up my PA system and had to project my voice.When I have to forgo the microphone, I feel like I'm screaming at the bride and groom even though it is projection rather than true yelling. My acoustic "sound check" was approved from the back row so I have to assume everyone  heard the ceremony. Guests, wedding party, and wedding professionals took it all in good humor and the ceremony was absolutely delightful. Heidi and Kevin were attended by five bridesemaids and five groomsmen. Their colors of purple and teal with yellow/orange accents was truly striking. Personally, I think it looks amazing against a steel gray sky though I doubt that was the original intent.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep
                              ~ Excerpt from Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda

Mark and Tracy were married on May 1 at 310 Lakeside Restaurant. I am often a little tentative about heading into Orlando as I am not as familiar with the area as I am Brevard County. Fortunately, my season tickets to Orlando City Soccer helped in this regard. Their venue was just off the 408 and a snap to get to. A quick tour through Google Maps in street view mode had acquainted me with a convenient parking garage right across the street. Mark and Tracy picked an excellent place for their wedding. Not just because it was well located, but the venue itself is fantastic. 310 Restaurants is actually two restaurants, 310 Lakeside and 310 Park South. And 310 Lakeside is located at 301 E. Pine, which can get a bit confusing so I recommend you not think about it too much. Their staff was very friendly and extremely helpful. Their flexibility with regard to weather is exactly what I like to see. When I arrived we were still unsure whether the ceremony would be held out on the patio or inside the restaurant. The weather had been mizzling all afternoon. That's more than a mist and a little less than a drizzle if you're wondering. More serious weather seemed like it could move in at any time...or not. It was one of those completely up in the air situations. The good news was an inside wedding would not be a bad option at all. 310 Lakeside has a wonderfully private section with full picture windows overlooking the patio by the lake. This really is an ideal wedding venue for someone who wants the best of everything within a few steps. Park atmosphere, city sophistication, garden patio, elegant restaurant...just lovely! As you can see we did manage to have an outdoor ceremony. Yeah!

Mark and Tracy planned their Orlando destination wedding from British Columbia with family members traveling in from many parts of Canada and the groom's side popping over from Wales! This was one of those weddings where the guests made the experience even more wonderful. They were so friendly and everyone could not have seemed any happier for Tracy and Mark. They had a harpist for their ceremony music and I was so glad the weather cooperated for her to bring the instrument. I understand it was touch and go for awhile whether she could even get it out in the elements to transport it to the wedding. Mark's father was his best man and Tracy's sister her Maid of Honor. Their wedding was the epitome of elegant simplicity and seemed absolutely perfect for these two. Miss Bubbly and her Handsome Welsh Prince!

Priodas by Dic Jones

Boed i chwi egni newydd
Liw dydd yng ngwres yr haul,
A thyner wawl y lleuad
Liw nos i fwrw'r draul,
A golched cynnesgawod law
I ffwrdd eich gofid a phob braw.
Chwythed awelon ysgafn
I adnewyddu'ch nerth,
Ac na foed i chwi lithro
Lle byddo'r llwybrau'n serth.
Boed i chwi'n ysgafn droedio'r byd
Gan rhoi i'r ddaear barch o hyd.

Cassie and Joe used glasses from their alma maters to water their weeping willow.

(Bride and Groom) have just sealed their relationship with the giving and receiving of rings. Today their union is further symbolized by uniting in the life giving act of planting and watering this tree.

Water unceasingly changes shapes and transforms itself. It is thus a model out of which everything can be born. It nourishes and purifies, reminding us that (bride and groom) joyfully undertake the sacred duty to transform their marriage when they find it in need of renewal and re-commitment.

This vessel, symbolizing the cup of life, was crafted lovingly by human hands and represents love's strength and endurance dependent upon our human feelings and intentions.

This tree, born of the tiniest of seeds, symbolizes both the beauty and the potential of love that blooms and grows through time.  Its roots remind us of the families who nurtured (Bride and Groom) to become the one person in the world each holds most dear, families whose love and support is important to the strength of this new union. The branches reach to the future that is their shared potential as (Bride and Groom) face it together, hand in hand and heart to heart.

(Bride and Groom), I invite you to now share in the planting and watering of this tree, this precious gift of life to show your commitment to your marriage as a joint endeavor with responsibilities you now share as the consequences and rewards of lives lived well affect you both in equal measure. (Bride and Groom) as you tend to this young sapling, may it remind you of the joy you feel this day. May you cultivate a marriage with deep strong roots and take pleasure in the effort that entails. May you always be the best of friends and your love for one another deepen over the years.

I think Joe is trying to imply Clemson is superior to Florida State. I beg to differ.

Include guests by distributing stones before the ceremony.

Communal Declaration of Support

Today, (couple's names), who began on separate paths, have been joined as one. You, their family and friends are a community of support surrounding (couple). Each of you, by your presence here today, is being called upon to uphold them in loving each other. I ask that you always stand beside them, never between them. Offer them your love and your support and refrain from judgment. Encourage them when encouragement is needed and listen carefully when they seek your advice. In these ways, you can honor this marriage. Therefore I ask, now that you have heard (couple) exchange their marriage vows, do you, their family and friends, promise from this day forward, to encourage them and love them, and to help guide and support them in being steadfast in the promises they have made?”  If you agree, please say, “We do.”

Maggie and Roy at Meridian Hill Park amidst the famous Washington, DC cherry blossoms

The bride isn't crying yet! I would never have predicated a few years ago that I would some day have the honor of officiating their wedding ceremony. And it was a huge honor! For one thing, Maggie swore to me she was never ever getting married. Which simply proves the point about making absolute statements. They're always wrong. I flew into Washington early Friday, April 19. Maggie and Roy picked me up at the airport and took me back to their place for a little rest before they needed to get to their salons ~ a haircut for him and a cute soft curl hairstyle for her. While they were pampered in the chair, I headed over to Rosemary's Thyme Bistro for a relaxing solo lunch, just me and BBC Sport to catch up on all things English Premier League. We were a little worried about the weather holding, but by the walk back to their home it was pretty obvious the storm would be coming in later. We were in the clear for an outdoor ceremony. They had originally planned on holding it in Meridian Hill Park, but on the way back to the apartment decided a little courtyard in their building would permit more privacy and block the pre-storm winds. Maggie was ready in a flash and had on her dress and jewelry by the time the photographer, Deb Lindsey, arrived around 2:30. Roy, on the other hand, was still struggling with his bow tie. As you can see in the pictures, he reached a resolution without having to finish the YouTube video on how to tie one. Not sure if we're laughing because of something he said or did. The four of us went down to the courtyard and promptly began their humanist wedding. Maggie and Roy chose to include a sharing ritual, The Wine Ceremony, in which they each take a sip from a glass of bitter wine and sweet wine. This ritual is symbolic of their pledges to be there for one another in both good times and in bad. Their joys are multiplied and their sorrows divided because they share them. And as I reminded them, it's all symbolic so they made sure it was a wine they would both enjoy sipping during the wedding and finishing together later.

I cannot decide if the best part of the wedding was Maggie bursting into tears after the kiss or pronouncing them husband and wife with instructions to update their Facebook statuses. Maggie was so worried she would cry during the ceremony, but instead got the giggles. Her laughter is so infectious, it was awesome! Maggie and Roy went over to Meridian Hill Park for portraits after the wedding while I went back upstairs and read for a bit. When they returned, I joined them in the lobby for more picture taking and the signing of the marriage license. I managed to get it in the mail back to the Courthouse before pick up! I have to say the Washington, DC marriage license is much prettier than the Florida one, and I like the triplicate copies. Very nice! Took pictures on the phones so they could post to Facebook. Roy and Maggie changed clothes quickly, took a few more "going away" photos and the three of us hopped in a cab. We headed over to the W Hotel where Maggie and Roy had booked a room for me too. (Luxury!) We had a lovely glass of champagne in the lobby upon check in. I managed to snap a few photos of them toasting with their champagne since they opted to abandon the cake back at their place. I figured they needed some sort of "reception tradition." Our timing enabled me to get about an hour of rest before dinner. I was grateful for the down time as I'd been nursing a cold/flu-y sort of thing for a week and it decided to turn vicious again right about then. I began to worry I wouldn't be up for going downstairs to have dinner with them at the J&G Steakhouse. On top of feeling tremendous anticipatory guilt they might come down with it on their honeymoon. I'd never forgive myself for ruining that! I made it to dinner and it was, of course, out of this world. We're talking Jean-Georges Vongerichten after all. The restaurant was an appropriate choice as Roy and Maggie had dined at his restaurant in New York City the evening they were engaged to be married. When our server became aware it was their wedding day...whoosh...another round of champagne appeared at the table. I do believe that was about the time the storm peaked in intensity. Maggie and Roy timed everything beautifully. We were tucked safe and warm inside a gourmet restaurant with the rain lashing at the windows, thunder booming periodically, and lightning dramatically lighting up the sky from time to time. Good food, wine, great friends, and an elegant ambiance. The only thing missing to make this an absolutely perfect evening was my husband. Oh well, someone has to stay home and watch the kids! The next day I flew back to Florida and they jetted off to Tahiti...or Bora Bora...or some such South Pacific tropical island. In others words, Paradise.

I got punchy and put the bouquet in Roy's hand. The photographer was very gracious and went with it.

Every single moment that we were alive and we were together was miraculous —
not miraculous in the sense of inexplicable or supernatural. We knew we were
beneficiaries of chance… That pure chance could be so generous and so kind…
We found each other in the cosmos, and that was wonderful.“ ~ Ann Druyan