Choosing your Officiant for your Upcoming Wedding! It’s that time again! Bridal planning season for 2012 is upon us. 2013 and 2014 are close behind!

How will you choose the person who will seal the deal, make it legal and make your Special Partner your mate for Life?  Choosing your wedding officiant is a very personal decision.

Planning your ceremony means choosing the right person to work with the two of you. Consider these things:

• How was your first contact? Did he/she answer your email or phone call quickly and professionally?
• Were you given the option to meet with the person who will be officiating the ceremony?
• Do you feel comfortable and can you talk with this officiant easily? Do you feel heard?
• Does the ceremony process feel easy?
• Was the officiant  willing to honour your desire for any additions you would like to include in the ceremony. And if a rehearsal is important to you will he/she be willing to oversee it? You need to feel confident that you will get the ceremony you want.
• Is he/she ordained and licensed to marry in your province?
• What will he/she wear? If your tradition is seeing your officiant/minister in a robe, ask if he/she has one?Similarly if you do not want robes, do you have that option?
• Will the officiant provide you with a contract or receipts? Thinking about the contract, remember to bring all of the important facts to your meeting: the venue, address of the venue and the time of the ceremony. Often the officiant has planned his/her schedule around the time and location of your ceremony before your first meeting. Also if changes are made contact your officiant and discuss the changes formally. Do not assume he/she is available if you move your venue or change the hour of your ceremony.

Whether you and your fiance are still looking for an officiant this bridal season or the next, may you find exactly the right person to lead you in your vows and care for your ceremony…and enjoy this next adventure of your lives as a married couple!

 Photo thanks to Patti Miller - Burlington Photographer.ca

Officiant: Garry Blinch- White Orchid Wedding Ceremonies

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 Enrich Canada/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 Enrich Canada coaches.

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

Wedding Rehearsals, how necessary are they? As you are looking at signing your minister or officiant for your upcoming wedding, you may be considering this question. Most ministers and officiants will perform rehearsals unless the company you have signed with prefers to do just “talk through rehearsals”. Here are some factors to that could influence your decision: the size of your wedding party, a complicated ceremony, a wedding party that have never attended a wedding, children are involved or an unfamiliar venue.

Peace of mind is so important for your day. Whatever the reason, if you will breathe easier, discuss it with your officiant. Part of our goal is to make your day stress free. The added cost is a small factor when you know how the ceremony will roll out and all of your attendants and family are confident as well.

So how necessary is a rehearsal - you decide and choose whatever you need to make your day stress free as possible.  After all it is your Day!

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

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.

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.

White Orchid Wedding Ceremonies officiants desire that your day be the best it can be. May you have a wonderful outdoor or indoor wedding this year!

CHOOSING A VEIL: An integral piece of your wedding day ensemble. It sets you apart by letting the world know that you are the bride. Nothing says “bride” quite like a veil… Of course your dream dress will make you look and feel special, but it’s the veil that adds an unmistakable element of glamour and sets you apart from the crowd. Today there are so many chic options that brides who never dreamed of wearing a veil are opting for this once-in-a-lifetime romantic look. Veil trends range from simply modern styles to luxuriously embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearls. Try a timeless classic: a simple blusher paired with a single-tiered veil (short, medium or long, the choice is yours). Or go for the drama of a cathedral veil. Whether you’re getting married in a formal setting or a casual ceremony on the beach, a long flowing veil is sure to create a striking image… and amazingly beautiful photos. There are many variations in veil length, shape, color, edging, and embellishment, so we are here to help you make sense of it all. Creating the perfect look is as easy as 1-2-3. 1. Choose from a variety of lengths and shapes 2. Select the level of embellishment that’s right for you 3. Combine your veil ensemble with the perfect headpiece