Our new company is White Orchid Wedding Ceremonies. We are a group of experienced, licensed officiants with many years working on the front line of customer service and in the wedding industry. We all enjoy working with couples planning their weddings and we are passionate about being married ourselves.

We provide every couple the opportunity to meet the officiant who is available for their Wedding Day, as well the choice of male or female officiant. We give you planning tools to be the author of your own ceremony. Choose from many readings, vows and ring exchanges as well as extras such as Hand Ceremonies, Wine Ceremonies or Sand Ceremonies. We also provide resources for Blended Family Ceremonies.

For those who are planning a destination wedding we can perform a simple ceremony and care for the legalties here at home, either before or after.

So whether you want to be the author of your ceremony, have a simple wedding in our Wedding Room or desire the legalization of your destination wedding here in Ontario, call us at 289.208.7747.

White Orchid Wedding Ceremonies serving Toronto to Niagara.

…..as unique as the two of you!

www.whiteorchidweddingceremonies.com

Manage your money and enjoy the freedom that comes with it! Today that may be a new thought or an oxymoron you never wanted to entertain. With Canadians spending more than 20 % above their incomes, chances are you are among those who need to reassess your financial picture.

Many couples live with large amounts of stress because of the uncertainty of where they actually stand financially. Today you can begin to end this stress and take control of your finances.

The following is an eye opener for couples who have never seen on paper or their computer screen the amount of money that comes in to their home and how it is spent. This realization alone has caused couples to change their spending habits. Others have realized that their spending habits are increased around stress and have taken aim at lowering their stress.

To get started:

• Record your spending for the next month. Establish categories like Food, Mortgage or rent, Utilities, Gas or Bus fare, Insurance, Credit lines, General spending, etc.
• Also add in vacations, spending money for both of you, date nights money, savings and RRSPs. All of these are investments in your family life, relationship and the future.
• Hold onto every receipt. Write down all the bills that come in.
• Add up all of your spending and your earnings weekly
• Also evaluate weekly. See any surprises? Can you see any over spending? Stress spending or just needs that month? Sometimes we need to think through the whys of our spending too.
• Continue to record and evaluate for several months. How have you done?  Now within your earnings, establish a budget.
• Make sure all of your spending adds up to your income. Record in the computer or in an accounting book.
• Be intentional and spend less than you earn. Think about reducing your debt, especially revolving debt such as lines of credit and credit cards. Put into place a plan to pay more than the minimum.
• All credit cards spending should be deducted from the category allotted so that at the end of the month you can pay off that portion of your bill.
• Discuss all major purchases and any changes that need to be made in your budget.

** One person may handle the money and recording but two people need to own the responsibility.**

Along the way be committed to decreasing your money stress together. Discuss major purchases and hear each other on the concerns you both have for your financial health. Financial stress is perceived as being the Number One cause of divorce. Whether it is or not, the truth is this stress will always hinder conversation and intimacy in marriage.

Don’t let how your money is handled rob you anymore!

Routine is the enemy of romance..when was the last time you celebrated your love with a date night? Lots of couples have settled for nights at home in front of the TV or at best have a night with girlfriends or the guys in lieu of a night out together.

We live in a hectic world that demands so much. Don’t let it  infringe on the energy and time you should give to your marriage. With these resources gone we settle for evenings in front of the television too tired to plan anything . Dating your spouse may be an idea you have not considered for some time. In fact, it may be years.                              

First start with establishing some uninterrupted time. Make it a regular time once a week or every two weeks and put it on your calendar. Secondly get it in your budget. Make it reasonable and affordable and do not forget to add money for the babysitter. (If money is tight, swap babysitting with another couple. Chances are you know someone else who has given up dating and could use some help.)

Date nights will take some imagination and energy. May I suggest taking  turns planning your dates. Consider what you both enjoy but also have nights where you do things that you like. When you are not the planner determine to enjoy your spouses choice of date. You might surprised to learn something new about your partner.

When planning consider doing things that encourage discussion. Spectacular dates are not the goal. Instead intimacy and romance for a lifetime. Some couples have enjoyed playing scrabble and drinking  their favourite cocoa while others have splurged their money on a great book they both wanted and read it to each other in front of the fireplace. Still others have put their children to bed and enjoyed a fancy steak meal on the china from their own buffet.

Here are some dating guidelines:                                                                                                                                                                              

• Blackberrys are not allowed. If your job insists on answering 24/7 then put it on vibrate.
• Children and work are not to be discussed
• Shopping for groceries or running errands absolutely not allowed
• You must not criticize how money allotted for the night was spent or your spouses idea for your date
• Children, best friends, lonely souls nor in-laws are allowed to come along for the night.
• Not the time to discuss your finances or bring up your last fight.

Re-discover the intimacy you once shared and put the fun back in your marriage. Shared experiences will deepen your conversation and provide a new safety with the one you love.

Fight back and reclaim the romance that is yours! Establish date nights and enrich your marriage!

Love Means Never Having to Say You are Sorry*…I don’t think so!

It does not take too long into a relationship before someone gets hurts by an action or some words and an apology is in order. Now depending how he or she was raised often determines how the  person hurt handles it. Some  just stuff it while others charge in and speak their minds. More often we hear of couples who have been married for decades say they have never resolved a single issue because they have never been able to talk it through.

Over the years as coaches we have seen how couples have never learned to seek or grant forgiveness. Owning our words and actions makes all the difference when resolving differences. It can be quite freeing and have very positive results.  On the other hand, your spouse’s reaction might be very positive, or it may cause him/her to then feel free enough to tell you how much your words or actions hurt them. Hear themout. Do not match their hurt with anger and justification. Knowing their hurt will help us avoid repeating it.

Also take action if  restitution needs to be made. Assure your partner you will not do it again and ask for forgiveness.

When it is your turn to hear your spouse be quick to hear their heart and offer your forgiveness. Those who withhold forgiveness are as guilty as those who never own their actions. If your anger keeps you from resolving it quickly let your spouse know you need some time, but be determined to come to  place of resolve.

If you have an inabilty to get over anger quickly, seek out a professional. You may be living with too much stress or you may have an anger issue that needs attention. Either way take care of how you contribute to the health of your relationship. Your partner deserves the bests just as do you.

Also, once this is over, you may need to forgive yourself. Do it! Avoid carrying around guilt.

Loving your spouse means saying we’re sorry and having nothing between us that will affect the closeness of our relationship. Together decide that this will be a part of your relationship and enjoy the years ahead.

*”Love means never having to say you’re sorry” is a line from the novel and 1970 film Love Story starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal.

Fight from the Same Side: Ever noticed how easy it is to fight on the opposing side of an issue with your spouse and stay there? Being right. Being heard. Not budging becomes the goal…. not resolving the issue.

The longer we work with couples in this area of conflict resolution the more  we are encouraging couples to solve their problems from the same side. Link arms and work together. Two minds working together are far more powerful than one.

When life throws something at you decide to face the challenge together. What are your options? Write them down. Think outside the box. Some ideas might be ridiculous but still consider them.

The more often you practice working together the more satisfied you will become with your relationship. The happier you will be. You will impact the world around you by being a team.

I challenge you to think about this.

In fact, a problem is coming your way now. Make plans to succeed – get on the same side as your spouse!

Fighting Back! Reclaiming Your Marriage!  Series

Some things in life are worth fighting for….your marriage relationship is one of them!

As I have watched so many couples struggle either in the media or in real life I am struck with the need to write this series. Problems in marriage can come up daily. After all, who ever found that living with anybody was easy?! I even remember living with siblings could be difficult. Sometimes when we encounter problems with our partner or spouse, it may feel like it is easier to walk away….

More often it is not putting into place a crisis plan, dealing with the finances, understanding our partner or looking at conflict resolution.

Marriage requires work…hard work. And when you work hard you reap incredible benefits of journeying through life with one person who is committed to just you. Come along with me through this series.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Anne

It’s been said before, but I don’t think it’s cliché yet: we devote years to getting an education and then enter one of the biggest decisions of our lives with no preparation at all- Marriage!

I’m sure many couples feel they are so in love and know each other so well they don’t need any extra preparation. Then there’s the fear of getting trapped in a room where you might be put on the spot by the counsellor and feel totally awkward. Besides, why turn over your private life to some stranger- who says he/she knows anything?!?!

Enter Prepare and Enrich. Here is a scientific approach to finding out how a couple is doing in 12 key areas, as well as a personality assessment. This is accomplished by means of a 200+ question inventory that asks all about the individual and how they view various aspects of their relationship (done online). What comes back is a “map” of great detail and incredible accuracy (as many couples have attested) of their areas of strength and areas of growth.

Note it is not “weakness” but “growth”; neither the report nor the P&E coach presume to tell the couple whether or not they will succeed in their marriage- there is no “pass” or “fail” here. Rather, the map is a starting place to begin to teach specific tools to help the couple with their areas of growth, and celebrate the areas of strength. The process realistically assumes that all couples will have conflict and difficulties; it is not the so-called “perfectly matched” couples who will succeed but those who make their relationship a priority and work at it.

Don’t just plan a wedding, plan for a marriage!! (another cliché?) You’ve found the right person, now do the right thing for the two of you. Why just fall in a pot hole you could have known about ahead of time and fixed? Get real preparation for the conflicts that will inevitably come.

We are proud to be Prepare and Enrich coaches.

Check out what others are saying Weddinggirl.ca . The founder said this about ………

Choose the one that is right for the two of you. Try the couples test here.

For all  considering tying the knot this month. Do not leave getting your license to the end of the month. Pick one up early from your City hall.  Offices become busier with other licenses pepared during this season and some offices are closed for holidays.

For those who would like an elopement or “we just want to get married” ceremony, we will be open with longer hours during the month of December.  You may have a religious or non-denominational ceremony. You may bring your own vows. Photos are welcome.

Our fee is $195.00 for the ceremony and the room for up to 6 people. Our Fireside room holds up to 10 people. Witnesses can be provided for an additional $25.00 each.

Contact us by phone at 905.407.9676 or email us through this website to reserve your date.

As the official bridal season has come to an end, we want to thank all of the couples we married for the privilege of being part of your day! You were all wonderful!

We also want to thank all the venues and vendors we worked with throughout the year.

You are the best group of professionals in the wedding industry!

Thank you  for another great year!

Garry and Anne Blinch

With more and more ceremonies performed and enjoyed outdoors, couples need to consider who can actually hear the special words they have chosen to say on their wedding day. This summer like every summer couples are choosing golf courses, vineyards, waterfronts and backyards for their wedding ceremonies. A little different than other years the weather has been more of a challenge. The sound of the rain pounding on the tent, high winds on a golf course or the affects of being near water has robbed more guests of hearing the words spoken at ceremonies. “Consider how everyone beyond the first row will hear your I do’s.”

Another thing to consider whether indoors or outdoors, is nerves. Most brides and grooms are not comfortable with speaking to a crowd and they become afraid. Voices lower, words are mumbled again their low tones are not heard. The same can happen to readers, parents and even vocalists. Yes vocalists.

Have your ceremony well miked for the hearing comfort of all of your family and guests. Recently a very old aunt approached me after the wedding and spoke to me about how disappointed she was that she did not hear a single word. Only moments before the whole family had mentioned to me that they were so pleased she was to be there to share in their special day. It was sad she did not realy share in their experience.

Here in Burlington, Ontario, Long and Mc Quade will provide mikes, stands and speakers for a little as $30 and tax for a small group outside and as much as $60.00 and tax for a larger group for the weekend. Set –up is easy. Contact James or Josh to reserve your equipment. Below I have provided their contact information.

As a company that provides our couples with the best in choice and resources, we desire that your day be the best it can be. May you have a wonderful outdoor or indoor wedding this year!

Long and McQuade Phone: (905) 319-3330 for James or Josh       Ask for: SureSN58 microphone, stand and speakers