You Blew Me Away!

The venue was dramatic...the roof of Terrace on the Park, overlooking the site of the '64 Worlds Fair and the NY Mets' ball park.  The weather was dramatic...very very windy and quite cool.  The couple was dramatic...fun, touching, loving, and attentive to each other.

Their wedding ceremony gave a nod to the two religious tradiitons from which they come.  The Jewish traditions were drinking a symbolic cup of wine, signing the ketubah, and breaking the glass.  The  vows they declared to each other had their roots in the Christian rituals for marriage.

The tip for folks planning their wedding ceremony from this wedding is...be flexible.  The wind was not pleasant for their guests and for the bride and groom...so they asked me at the last minute to adapt the ceremony a bit.  I cut out major sections to shorten the time all had to endure the wind.  Yes, some of the words I'd carefully prepared and which they had approved were set aside.  The result was just a meaingful ceremony as if we'd done all of it...and everyone could take shelter sooner.  It was a win-win....or you could say, it was a breeze.

For me, it was a pleasure to finally work on a wedding with a wonderful, thorough, and caring wedding planner, Marissa Mortimer of Lavish Occasions.  She did so many unnoticed things to make Vincent and Marissa's day go smoothly.  They'll never know!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

The Green Building Says It All

Sometimes the setting for a ceremony really makes the ceremony.  For Paul and Amy, their choice of  The Green Building in Brooklyn made the perfect statement to reflect their style and meaning...vintage and new, funky and classical, indoors and outdoors, dark and light.

The ceremony focused on their love story and then their vows.  Their wedding party did a wonderful job with the ceremonial tasks assigned to them.  I give them all A+.

After completing my responsibilities as their wedding officiant, I lingered a bit ...watching their family and friends enjoy the setting...and celebrate with Paul and Amy.

And what was with that giant troll around the corner?

  Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

So Metropolitan

It is always a joy for a wedding celebrant when the setting makes for a dramatic ceremony. Such was the case for Scott and Judy's ceremony and reception at The Metropolitan Club. Candles, live music, attentive guests...it all went together beautifully.

From the outset of the ceremony when Judy and her soon-to-be stepdaughter descended the majestic staircase together...the entire ceremony emphasized the couple's love for each other and their children. Their family and friends pledged support, and the children welcomed each other now as family members. Tip of the hat to Madeline of EZ Events. Google her! Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

On The Lawn at Alice Austen House

Today Feona and Felicity joined hand, hearts, and lives in matrimony on the grounds of Alice Austen House.

With a breath-taking view of the Manhattan skyline on one side of them and their close USA friends and family on the other, they spoke their vows and exchanged rings. As the wedding officiant, I got to see the delight on their faces up close.

For this ceremony, they included friends as readers, and Feona's young teenage sons were the eager ring-bearers. One unusual element of their ceremony was that they spoke well-planned words of appreciation to family and friends.

There were cheers and nods of heads when I mentioned NY State's same sex marriage law...all in support of Feona and Felicity's new legal marriage.

This coming summer they will have a parallel ceremony with family and friends in the UK where they live.

It was a bit chilly and windy as we stood by the New York harbor...but warm hearts were all about. A line from one of their readings is "What a Blessed Life." A blessed life indeed!

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Something Old, Something New

A gray and cool day yesterday was warmed by a wedding ceremony for which I was the wedding officiant...at Bridgewaters in South Street Seaport.

The something old part was the use of Tara's mother's lace mantilla on the ceremonial table. I referred to the veil as a symbol of the threads, hundreds of delicate threads, that will link Tara and Eric's lives, families, and their future.




In the picture of this veil, you will see a wine glass. I adapted the unity candle ritual of Eric's Irish/Hispanic Catholic roots with the traditional wine sharing with a Jewish kiddush cup. The result was a wedding ceremony ritual that reflected the two faiths that are at the root and heart of their families' traditions.



I met Tara a year ago, and I did not meet Eric until yesterday, but I feel like I've known them a long time. I enjoyed meeting their families and learning all about how they met. It was my honor to be their officiant.

A word of thanks to their wedding planner, Shawn Rabideau...you made my work so easy, and I appreciated all your efficient and cheerful responses to each request or question I had. And most remarkable of all - you got that long procession lined up and started ahead of schedule!

I Do All Over Again

The folks at Nicotra's Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island recently celebratated their 10th Anniversary. As part of their celebration, they had a contest for couples who had their wedding at the hotel. The winner would have a vow renewal ceremony and party supplied by the Hilton and their preferred vendors..."I Do All Over Again."

Jamie Lynn and Tom Mauro won the contest, and I was honored to create a vow renewal ceremony for them. I told the story of their romance and marriage three years ago, several family members did readings, and they renewed their marriage vows.

The most symbolic moment for me was to see the two of them enter the room together for the ceremony...unlike their wedding when they entered separately. This time they came in together - a married couple who will always honor the "I Dos" they said.

Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!

Be Mine, Valentine

Valentine's Day...perfect day for a wedding. This year I was honored to be asked to officiate at Jackie and Ken's ceremony at The Manor Restaurant. It was a lovely coincidence that Ken proposed to Jackie on Valentine's Day many years ago.

Surrounded by the friends and family who have supported their relationship for the last 19 years, they spoke their vows. These two pledeged their love with simplicity and clarity...from the heart.

Ken's brother and his wife arranged the ceremony and the dinner, welcomed guests, took the pictures, helped guest who were lost find the location, provided flowers (including a long stemmed rose for me and my husband...yes, both of us). It's a pleasure to come across such caring and lovely people.






Julie Laudicina, Celebrant!