Bryce's Ceremony Blog

A little vaca.....

2010-07-15T06:52:00.001-07:00

Between school and weddings this summer has been pretty busy. I've performed about 30 weddings to date and have about 15-20 more to go for the year. However, this weekend and next, I don't have any weddings and am looking forward to a little break. We are heading to the cabin tonight and will be out of town until Sunday. I don't have anything on the schedule for next weekend, so I might go see 'Airbender' or just stay home and do nothing (except homework) all weekend.

I have enjoyed a lot of great weddings so far this summer and am looking forward to the many more to come.

Wedding Season 2010....

2010-04-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

Is officially underway! I had a great wedding this weekend at Les Bourgeois. The weather was sketchy on Friday morning for the rehearsal and then it poured Friday night. However, Saturday was probably one of the most beautiful days for a wedding I have ever seen. Patrick and Charity were both handsome and beautiful, respectively. They wrote and shared personal vows with each other which were extremely touching and heartfelt. The children were as cute as can be and added an extra bit of fun to the ceremony. It was a great start to my 3rd wedding season and I am looking forward to many more to come this summer.

I don't have any ceremonies booked this weekend, which is okay. It will give me an opportunity to get caught up and ahead on some much needed school work. Spring break is over and I only have 5 or 6 weeks left of classes. It's time to buckle down and get cranking on the end of term projects.

I am still working with a few couples on Pre-Marriage counseling through this spring. I feel my class work has helped tremendously helped my counseling abilities and I enjoy every session more and more. I hope that more couples would consider Pre-Marriage counseling. It really is an eye-opening and helpful experience. I continue to recieve feedback from couples with whom I've worked about how much the experience has meant to them and helped them to enjoy each other more fully in their new relationship as a married couple.

I strongly recommend it to all couples. Please contact me if you have any questions or are considering pre-marriage counseling.

Best,
Bryce

Way to early musings.....

2010-02-18T03:12:00.000-08:00

Good Morning All,
I am always amazed at how life works out sometimes. My wife and I were talking on Tuesday evening about saving a weekend in July/August for a short family vacation. I told her I would look at my calendar. Upon doing so, I realized that I have several weekends in late July and early August still open, with no weddings booked. This was good and bad. Good because it meant that we can now plan a trip. Bad because I still have several weekends open with now weddings booked.

Now here's the amazing thing: after making this discovery yesterday morning and feeling somewhat concerned, I receive a call yesterday afternoon for guess what? Yep, a potential August wedding. This one happens to be in late August, which I was available for, but that is besides the point.

The point is that life works out like that and has worked out like that for me for as long as I can remember. You could call it coincedence, good fortune, karma, divine intervention, or just plain luck. But whatever it is, I'm not going to knock it. Does life ever work out for any of you this way? Do you ever just casually speak something into the great void or think about how this or that would be nice if it happened. Not necessarily something that you are hoping or praying for with all your might, but rather a casual thought or simply words with no real consequence to them. I'd like to know what anybody thinks about this or maybe I'm the only one that this happens to. Who knows, maybe that right there is my simple request to the void.

These are pretty deep musings for an early Thursday morning. Needless to say, it has been a good wedding week. I have received 2 new contracts, had an initial meeting with a potential new couple, and received 2 new leads. The wedding world is moving along.

Happy Post Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T03:28:00.000-08:00

Good morning. I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's day with your sweetheart. I spent mine with my wife snuggled on the couch eating chili and watching the Olympics. Way to go Canada on getting its first home turf gold medal!

Here I am again after a long hiatus to work on my blog again. I think I have come to realize something about blogging. I was under the mindset that I needed to have earth shattering ideas and stories about how to make your wedding ceremonies better. I still feel that is part of my goal with this blog. However, I have come to realize that maybe part of this blog is not so much for me to be this all knowing ceremony guru, but to allow you to get to know me better as a person and wedding officiant.

So, that is my goal as I restart my focus on the blog and many other things in life. The question is where do I begin? Baring one's soul for the whole world to see is pretty daunting and makes me a little self conscious. I am also not the greatest speller or grammatical person and I apologize for that up front. I guess the best place to start is with today.

Today I have 3 ceremonies that I need to create rough drafts for and send back to their respective couples. I need to follow up with several potential clients whom I have not heard back from. I also need to get in touch with couples who need to begin working on their ceremonies. Wedding season is around the corner; I have already performed 2 civil ceremonies this year and my first full ceremony is coming up on March. I have 21 confirmed ceremonies with another 5 potential as of today. I have unfortunately had turned down at least 6 or more ceremonies because of prior bookings. Couples are being smart and booking services WAY in advance. I already have one booked for February of 2011.

It may not seem like a long list and I could probably complete it in a day, but on top of it I also have a Case Study do for class tonight and a 4-page paper due for class tomorrow night. I'll let you know how things are going tomorrow.

Sept 25 -27

2009-09-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

What a crazy weekend it was! I had 3 weddings this past weekend. It started with a rehearsal on Friday night at Alpine Park & Garden for Jess and Mike. The weather was beautiful and the rehearsal went well. But there was the looming threat of rain on Saturday. And wouldn't you know it, I woke up to a cold, wet rainy day on Saturday. I had 2 meetings on Saturday morning: picking up counseling material from a couple and then an initial meeting with a new couple. Both went well.
The rest of Saturday morning/early afternoon was spent looking out the window and wondering when the next shower was going to hit. Fortunately, the rain kept south as we headed north on highway 63 to Apline P&G. The ceremony for Mike and Jess was beautiful. they incorporated a lot of their own personality into it with a special wine sharing sub-ceremony and the a personalized Avowal to the Couple that I wrote for them. They also shared flowers with their parents as a token of their appreciation and love. The only snaffu was starting 15 minutes late as we had to wait on several guests to arrive. That theme only continued through the week as the other two ceremonies also started late. But somethings you just can't control.
We left Alpine and headed to Midway Farms for a 6pm ceremony. This was a Shotgun ceremony for Jason and Chrissy. They are very cute couple and have the most adorable little girl, Nadia. Their ceremony was a lot of fun as they shared personal vows and then ended up giggling and laughing with each other through most of it. Rebecca and I had a great time at the reception with another friend. I'm sure Jason and Chrissy will be wondering what is up with the pics on the disposable camera at our table!
I finished out the weekend with a rehearsal Sunday morning and ceremony Sunday evening. Again, things continued to run behind but the ceremony came off without any hitches and Randy and Pauline really showed their love for one another. It was a joy to work with them and all the couples this last weekend.

Kevin and Carla - August 29, 2009

2009-08-31T06:18:00.000-07:00

I greatly enjoyed working with Kevin and Carla on their big day. The ceremony was conducted at Firestone Baars Chapel on Stephens college campus. This is beautiful venue but provides some unique challenges with the long altar, short main aisle, several chapel entrances, and organ with no good line-of-sight. Kevin and Carla had already thought through most of the logistics before I met with them a few weeks ago to finalize details about the ceremony.

They had 4 attendants each, a junior bridesmaid, two ring bearers and two flowers, plus parents for processional. The grooms men, groom, and I all entered from the rear of the chapel. My wife, Rebecca, helped to assist the family, bridesmaids, little ones, and Carla enter from the front of the chapel. And with an extra friend helping to cue the music the processional and ceremony went very smooth.

Carla wore a blusher over her face that her mother removed after the gave her away. They also choose to represent their love with a lighting of a unity candle. It was great to watch Kevin and Carla as they shared this special moment during the ceremony. The ceremony finished much quicker than either of them realized, though the whole thing took approximately 20 minutes.

What a beautiful couple and a beautiful day for them to celeberate. My many thanks to Kevin and Carla for letting me share their special day with them.

Hair and Blusher.

2009-05-21T10:30:00.001-07:00

There is always something new popping up to consider during the ceremony. Today its hair and veils.
Let's begin with hair. If you (bride/bridesmaids) are having a special hair style done that is prominent on one side, then make sure you know which side of your profile will be facing the guests. This way you can get that side of your hair done and not waste money if you are facing the wrong way for your hairstyle to be seen. This happened in a recent ceremony I did. I was the only one who was able to see the bride's beautiful flower (on her left side) that she had in her hair. The side facing the guests was nice, but plain. Ask your officiant ahead of time which side your profile will be on.

Blushers (veils in the front) are another thing to consider in the logistics of the ceremony. I don't think any of my brides wore a veil in the front last summer. I've already had 3 or 4 this summer. Logistically, a good place to move the blusher is after the Giving Away the Bride. At this point the bride's father (or whomever escorts her) may lift the blusher and place it over the back. This makes for a nice transition in the ceremony. Another way to do it is to have the blusher remain down until the end of the ceremony when the groom kisses the bride for the first time. Either way is more than acceptable. You will want to talk with your officiant about the approriate time to move the blusher if you are wearing one.

Ali and Zach

2009-05-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

What an amazing couple and a beautiful wedding. My wife, Rebecca, and I enjoyed an incredible weekend at the Lodge of the Four Season celebrating with Ali and Zach last Saturday. The bad weather held off and made for a picuture perfect ceremony on the outside terrace overlooking the lake.
Even though there were some last minute changes made at the rehearsal, Ali and Zach handled it like pros and didn't let the stress dampen their spirits. The rehearsal itself went well and we finished just 2 minutes over my hour time frame for any rehearsal. I consider this good with 14 attendants, several family members, 3 ushers, and a very excited flower girl. The rest of the evening was spent enjoying good food and conversation with family members who traveled from North Carolina.
The day of the ceremony was even better. With all 160 seats being filled and some people even standing, there was no doubt that Zach and Ali were loved and supported as they began this new stage of life together. The processional went just like we rehearsed and even Sparky, Zach and Ali's collie, walked down with no problems. Though we started about 5 minutes late, there were laughs and smiles throughout the whole ceremony. The photographer, Travis Duncan, was very helpful and did an excellent job the whole weekend. I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.
After pictures and the cocktail hour, Zach and Ali enjoyed an evening of fun and dancing with all their friends and family. It was a wonderful weekend and I wish Zach and Ali all the best and good luck in all the future endeavors.

Back into the grove.

2009-05-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

Wedding season is in full swing. This past weekend was a good example with 3 rehearsals on Friday evening, 2 ceremonies on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday. I wish every weekend was like this! I want to thank all the couples I worked with over the weekend for being so flexible on their schedules, especially regarding the rehearsals.
Performing several ceremonies a weekend is not that difficult. The difficulty comes when trying to schedule the rehearsals. This past weekend worked out well with a rehearsal at 4pm, 6pm, and then 8pm. They each were under an hour in length. This was mainly due to having a final meeting ahead of time with 2 out of the 3 couples. Even though those meeting were short, it still gave me an opportunity to discuss with the couples details regarding their rehearsals.
I strongly recommend having a final meeting before the rehearsal (or even before a ceremony without a rehearsal.) This allows you to get all your questions answered and to talk through the small logistical details, so you don't waste time doing this during the rehearsal. It was a big help for me this weekend and again, thanks to those couples for making last Friday very smooth.

Ceremony Length

2008-12-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

I meet w/ bride today concerned about the length of her ceremony. She wants a ceremony that is not to long but wants to make it memorable for all the guests, especially those traveling from out of town. I find that this is the case with most couples.
Most ceremonies I perform range from 10 minutes to 25 minutes, with the average being around 15 - 17 minutes. (This includes the processional and recessional.) There are several factors that contribute to a ceremony length. The main one is the amount of liturgy. The more there is to read the longer the ceremony will be. Another important factor is music and movement during the ceremony. Adding special music will take up time as does the physical movement of everyone involved in the ceremony. Every little thing adds up.
It is often difficult to envision all the movement and how much time a ceremony will take. Allow your officiant to help you figure all that out. Or you may email your ceremony and I would be more than glad to take a look at it and give you a rough estimate.

Blessings,
Rev. Bryce

New Rates on Ceremony Guide

2008-12-15T13:44:00.001-08:00

I'm a little behind on this but I wanted to make sure I post an update that the prices for 'Ceremonies Only' A Guide to the Perfect Ceremony are now:

Paperback copy - $10.00 (+shipping/handling)
PDF download - $5.00

This is a valuable resource for any engaged couple. It also makes a wonderful engagement present for anyone you know who just got engaged. Please order yours today.

'Ceremonies Only' A Guide to the Perfect Ceremony

2008-10-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

After working with so many couples, I have found that there is a general lack of knowledge regarding the basics of a ceremony. To help with this I have written my first book "Ceremonies Only' A Guide to the Perfect Ceremony. This book gives a base knowledge along with explanations and examples of the major components of a wedding ceremony.

The book is available on my website:
$20.00/plus s&h for a print copy
$10.00 for a PDF download copy

Print copies are now also available at Mr. Tuxedo (across from the Columbia Mall) and The Villager on Broadway, for $20.00 cash.

I hope you take the opportunity to stop by one of these locations to preview a copy. I welcome any and all comments and suggestions for the 2nd edition. Please email them to me at rev.bryce@hotmail.com.

Holiday Inn Bridal Show Sept. 7, 2008

2008-09-09T06:01:00.000-07:00

I love being at the bridal show. It is always great meeting so many brides and grooms. Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by and talk to me. I hope that I was able to answer your questions. If not, please contact me by phone or email with whatever is on your mind. I will get back to you ASAP. I hope that many of you will take the opportunity to meet with me for your free consultation. I believe it is important for couple to feel comfortable and confident with whomever you choose as your officiant. I don't believe in pressuring couples and genuiely enjoy meeting with you and talking about your big day, no matter what your final decision is. Again, please contact me for your free, one hour meeting and thank you for your interest in "I Do" Wedding Ceremonies.

Special Recognition/Rememberance

2008-09-05T06:35:00.001-07:00

I received a call last night from the couple I amworking with this weekend. They have had 2 recent deaths in their family over the last couple weeks and have been dealing with those losses. We talked about how they are moving ahead with their ceremony tomorrow and are looking forward to a joyous occasion. I suggested to them that they may want to include a special moment to recognize the loss of their loved one or even a moment of silence. Even though their ceremony is tomorrow there is still time for me to add something like this for them.

I believe that it is important for individuals to consider taking an opportunity to add a special moment of rememberance for loved ones who are no longer present. These moments, done in the right way, can and do add a deeper meaning and significance to your ceremony. There are several ways to incorporate rememberances into a ceremony. It can be something as simple as a moment of silence or short prayer. Or maybe something elaborate, like a table set aside with pictures of the deceased on it and a candle that you light during the ceremony.

If you have lost loved ones, I encourage you to consider adding a special recognition in your ceremony. Remembering those you love help to remind you who you are on your specail day.

Weekend of Aug 30th

2008-08-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready for two weddings this Saturday, Aug 30. The 1st is a shotgun ceremony at 11am and the 2nd a modern wedding at 4pm, with a rehearsal on Friday evening. It is not uncommon for me to perform more than one ceremony a day. I learned my lesson the hard way about scheduling ceremonies too close together. I try to leave at least two hours between ceremonies to accomodate any delays that can occur. I usually arrive 20-30 minutes ahead of the cermony, which allows plenty of time to check in with everyone and make sure everything is ready. To this point, it has not been a problem with this kind of arrival time. I will accommodate special requests for arriving earlier unless it interfers with the possibility of performing another ceremony. This is the fine line I walk as a business person and wedding officiant.

Ceremony Friday, Aug 15 - Personal Vows

2008-08-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a trip to St. Louis yesterday afternoon for a cermony in Kirkwood, MO. I did counseling with the couple here in Columbia and later asked me to perform the ceremony for them. They are a beautiful couple and their love was very evident during the ceremony.

They chose to write their own vows for the ceremony. They didn't feel comfortable memorizing them, so I provided them with written copies during the ceremony. This works well if you want write your own vows. Try to get them done ahead of time and let your officiant have a copy. This way your officiant can hand you a copy during the ceremony and then take it back. You don't need worry about finding a place for your vows, especially if you have no pockets.

Welcome to Bryce's Blog

2008-08-14T19:54:00.001-07:00

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please post any questions, thoughts, or comments about your ceremony. I will be checking and posting as often as I can. Hopefully daily. It is my hope that you will find answers to questions that many other brides and grooms have about there ceremony.

I will periodically post general thoughts and tips about many different aspects of the ceremony. This is my first attempt at a blog and your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Again, welcome and good luck planning your big day!

Sincerely,
Rev. Bryce