Your Amazing Relationship Blogs

Lately I’ve been thinking about some of the over 5,000 big and small weddings either  my husband, Ken, or I officiated during the nine years we lived on Maui. (October, 1991 to March, 2000) Yes, we have stories about the gorgeous, unusual sites to the most interesting things that happened. Friends suggest we should write a book. Maybe some day. The Best Part But the best part of these weddings was the couples we got to know and the intimacy established between them and us. We knew their stories, often the high and some of the low moments.  These special… Read More »

Commandment #3 –Your marriage relationship is yours alone. Together. It’s no one else’s. Symbolism Contained in the Sand One of the reasons I still love the Sand Ceremony is its symbolism. It’s not only the meaning of the grains of sand representing all the experiences, events, lessons and breakthroughs you’ve had in your life. What also strikes me about the Sand Ceremony is the uniqueness of the pattern that’s created when the two colors of sand blend. I don’t know what other officiants say when they lead this ceremony, but I always emphasize how there’s no other combination like the… Read More »

Married Couple Commandment #1. You must keep dating.  By the time your wedding rolls around, you will have a pile of memories to build on. A good Officiant will draw from those memories you’ve shared and set them out as a gift to your guests for them to draw on.  Over time, this pool of memories gets used and worn.  You must keep replacing these memories by making new ones.  Make More Memories Dating gave you the way to make memories. Remember the date you went on that led to the first kiss? The first time you made love? The time you… Read More »

Bay Mountain, Bay Mountain! The Homestead Resort’s Top of Bay Mountain is one of my favorite wedding locations. When my couple chooses Bay Mountain for the site, I know everyone will be doubly awed. Not only by the couple’s love for each other (and the ceremony I’ve prepped for them  😆 ) but by the awesome  view.  When people who’ve never experienced how beautiful Michigan is arrive at this site, the expansive view always knocks their socks off. Lake Michigan looks stunning from Bay Mountain! The Homestead has been undergoing some remodeling and upgrading technology changes which is always exciting!… Read More »

Eloping was good enough for Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. Why couldn’t it be good enough for you? Las Vegas Chapel In 1995 Kelly and Mark met when they were co-starring together in the sitcom, All My Children. When Mark proposed the following April, Kelly said “yes”, but she wanted to get married the next day, and they did—in a Las Vegas chapel.  Today they’re still married with three grown children. So, why couldn’t you and your fiancé elope if you wanted to? No reason, whatsoever! Experience Counts Crystal Yarlott has officiated over 500 weddings in the Traverse City area.… Read More »

 Ask your friend whose wedding day has come and gone, “What do you remember from your special day?” According to Reverend Clint Huff of the Wedding Ceremony Podcast a majority of brides will answer, “I don’t know. It was all kind of a blur.” It’s true, many people will want both of you and your new spouse’s attention. Congratulations will continue all evening long. Glasses get clanged in order to encourage you to stop eating, drinking or talking. And kiss. Your guests will share stories of their own wedding day. Then there’s the shared memories of being in school or… Read More »

Creating a Spiritual Relationship When I first came across Paul Ferrini it was through a congregant who specialized in couple’s counseling and women’s issues. She assured me Ferrini’s reference to spiritual laws did NOT mean religious / theological expectations. There’s a distinction between the two. I’m pretty sure I went through the differences between spiritual and religious when we met to plan your ceremony. I can’t expect you to have hung on every word I said, so here it is again: There’s an unseen, non-judgmental, unconditionally loving energy that is the glue of the Universe. It is the essence of… Read More »