Over the holidays the Marriage Factory was crazy. We broke records for one day of weddings, licenses sold, total weddings for the week. And remember we are talking 4 day weeks. We joked were there any couples left for us to marry. Well, Monday we decided not many left.
I did 2 ceremonies and there was one Spanish ceremony. Mighty slow Monday. I read nearly a whole book waiting for couples to come in. The book was great fun, Janet Evanovich's Takedown Twenty.
My first couple told me they came last Monday, the day we did 56 ceremonies. When they saw the crowds, they turned around and went back home. The bride was carrying a gorgeous bouquet of peachy and cream roses. I wondered if this was from last week or she bought another bouquet. I am betting a new bouquet.
The other ceremony was for two women from Nevada, a destination wedding. They had been together for over 10 years and the wedding was very emotional for all of us. Such love and tenderness expressed. As we say in the business, there was love in the room.
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Monday, December 23, 2013
17 Weddings, 17!!
When I arrived at the county building this morning, people were waiting for us to open. Looked like a busy day to me, and I was right. Most Mondays are busy, but not until about 9:45. Today by 10:10 I had done 5 weddings. My desk was covered with licenses. We went to plan B, a runner to bring up couples and I would stay in the wedding room. I didn't leave the Wedding Room area until 12:30 when the next volunteer arrived. Total 17 weddings for the morning.
As I said last week, when I can't make notes I don't always remember dresses or fun details. But I do have some things to share.
The first wedding the bride and groom were both in the Navy, stationed in Japan. The bride was gorgeous! Her hair was in 3 or 4 inch dreads. On her head was a white fascinator. Her dress was elegant, creamy white lace over taffeta. It was strapless with a heart shaped bodice. The skirt was semi full with a train. Little pearls were scattered over the gown with brilliants at her waist. The groom wore a dark blue suit. I loved watching them hold hands and gently rub each other 's thumbs.
The next bride looked mad. Her face was tight with I thought anger. Oh boy, this could be interesting. Nope, she was trying to not cry. The tears won. Gentle tears spilling from her eyes.
Another bride was a little pixie woman. So cute wearing a white knee length lace dress. I then noticed she doesn't shave her legs. It was a little bit of a shock, usually the non shavers look a little more Berkeley.
And then 12 weddings with no more notes. I do remember some details. Two tiny women dressed in very crisp pant suits with buzz cuts. A same sex couple had done research of where to marry in the Bay Area. They told me they were thrilled I did their ceremony. My name had popped up in a review of Alameda County Weddings as the best, very caring. That made my day.
Other memories: a groom was in his Navy uniform and his bride in a cream colored dress. The dress had a peplum, which I usually hate. But her body shape made it work. I had women in beautiful saris. Guests in peek toe shoes and lovely black dresses. Today most of the couple and their guests were extremely well dressed. One bride wore a very different wedding dress. I am almost sure she found it in the lingerie department. It was a nightgown, I just know it was. At least it wasn't see through.
Nearly every ceremony someone cried, men and women. Today every wedding the love was felt by everyone in the room. It was a fabulous morning of weddings. It also was very tiring and I took a very long nap this afternoon.
As I said last week, when I can't make notes I don't always remember dresses or fun details. But I do have some things to share.
The first wedding the bride and groom were both in the Navy, stationed in Japan. The bride was gorgeous! Her hair was in 3 or 4 inch dreads. On her head was a white fascinator. Her dress was elegant, creamy white lace over taffeta. It was strapless with a heart shaped bodice. The skirt was semi full with a train. Little pearls were scattered over the gown with brilliants at her waist. The groom wore a dark blue suit. I loved watching them hold hands and gently rub each other 's thumbs.
The next bride looked mad. Her face was tight with I thought anger. Oh boy, this could be interesting. Nope, she was trying to not cry. The tears won. Gentle tears spilling from her eyes.
Another bride was a little pixie woman. So cute wearing a white knee length lace dress. I then noticed she doesn't shave her legs. It was a little bit of a shock, usually the non shavers look a little more Berkeley.
And then 12 weddings with no more notes. I do remember some details. Two tiny women dressed in very crisp pant suits with buzz cuts. A same sex couple had done research of where to marry in the Bay Area. They told me they were thrilled I did their ceremony. My name had popped up in a review of Alameda County Weddings as the best, very caring. That made my day.
Other memories: a groom was in his Navy uniform and his bride in a cream colored dress. The dress had a peplum, which I usually hate. But her body shape made it work. I had women in beautiful saris. Guests in peek toe shoes and lovely black dresses. Today most of the couple and their guests were extremely well dressed. One bride wore a very different wedding dress. I am almost sure she found it in the lingerie department. It was a nightgown, I just know it was. At least it wasn't see through.
Nearly every ceremony someone cried, men and women. Today every wedding the love was felt by everyone in the room. It was a fabulous morning of weddings. It also was very tiring and I took a very long nap this afternoon.
Monday, June 24, 2013
So Few Weddings
I am not sure what has happened to all the couples in love. Wednesdays have become an almost nothing day for weddings. And I have been told other days have slowed down too. But the numbers don't really matter. When there is love there is love.
I have done a wedding each Wednesday. I was going to do my fashion thing, and write about the nervous groom. I changed my mind. The best wedding was on last Friday. Joe may have done it, or Patricia, it could have even been done by staff. A staff person posted on facebook a fabulous comment. I am stealing your comment, L.
Love is love wherever and however you are
- I raise my party cup to u folks! Cheers!
I have done a wedding each Wednesday. I was going to do my fashion thing, and write about the nervous groom. I changed my mind. The best wedding was on last Friday. Joe may have done it, or Patricia, it could have even been done by staff. A staff person posted on facebook a fabulous comment. I am stealing your comment, L.
Today, an 83 yr old man and an 85 yr old woman came in to get married.
Love is love wherever and however you are
- I raise my party cup to u folks! Cheers!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
More Weddings
Earlier this week I posted about some weddings. Monday was a fairly busy day. I did seven ceremonies. Wednesday I did nine weddings. I am going to give you some of the highlights of the week.
One couple was so sweet, they just oozed love. I started asking what they wanted in the ceremony. They told me they just wanted to say I do. I could do all the rest.
We had the dreaded thin white dress problem. The bride wore a Grecian style knee length dress. She had on gorgeous jeweled sandals, had to be four inch heels. And she had on underpants that had a blue Grecian Key design. Really didn't need to see that.
One bride surprised me. She was Indian and stunning. Her look and carriage screamed sophistication. She was wearing an elegant black coat. The coat was open and I could see her dress. It was a sheath of black lace over a nude lining. Beautiful. She took the coat off. The dress was one armed and the bare arm had a full sleeve tattoo. Wasn't expecting that.
A couple in their forties were very emotional. His two daughters were the witnesses. The bride was crying before we got to the wedding room. During the vows she started giggling. Then she moved on to full blown laughter. By then we all were laughing. After the ceremony she was back to crying. She said they had talked at home on how she would react emotionally. And she cried and laughed just like she said she would. They were really a nice couple. Very appreciative of me and of the staff. As they left they thanked us again for "joining them together as a family."
The weddings were dress up affairs and jeans. We had large groups and a couple who had to find a witness in the lobby. Lots of love at each wedding. But one wedding really stood out.
The couple was around twenty. His mother was the witness. I started asking my questions and the bride said, " I just want him to be my husband. What ever you want to do is fine." I was getting such good vibes off the two of them, I picked out the fluffiest sweetest ceremony I have. Mama was snapping away taking pictures. I began. This couple just looked at each other and held hands. It is hard to describe how tender the looks between them were. I had goose bumps from the feel of love in the room. I also had tears in my eyes. This was how love should be. After the ceremony I hugged them and told them how they had touched me.
After doing thousands of weddings over 6 years, this reminded me why I volunteer at the Marriage Factory. It is all about the love.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Weddings Past and Future
Monday and Wednesday were slow at the County Clerk Recorder's Building. Well, slow if we were performing weddings. Not slow if selling licenses.
Most couples were there to buy a license for Monday, Valentine's Day. As of Wednesday we had 4 pages of appointments for ceremonies. This is the only day we take appointments, and we still do walk ins. We have 15 minutes to do a ceremony and exit the room. I love Valentine's Day, the excitement, the dresses, the flowers, the love in the room. I hate running couples in and out of the room. More about Valentine's Day next week.
Monday I did 4 weddings and Wednesday only 2. The theme for all of the weddings was black and white. Even some of the witnesses wore black and white. Monday I wore black and white. One couple was very worried about family in Colorado getting here for their "wedding" on Saturday. (I explained this was the wedding, they were having a huge party.) Anyway with all the snow and another storm due to hit on the day to fly here, they were worried. I suggested Amtrak. The only way to travel. They liked the idea.
One of the weddings was a confidential. (for new readers: a confidential license does not require a witness; once it is recorded no one may see the license without a court order). I am sure the groom was a policeman. He just had that look. I hate the state quit requiring the professions of the bride and groom. A hundred years from now genealogists will be screaming about the lack of information on the marriage license. Anyway, the couple had the bride's mother with them. They did not tell her they were getting married until they were filling out the license. The mother was beside herself with joy. She kept laughing and saying it was the best birthday present she had ever received.
Now to the wedding that really stands out, and not for a good reason. This reflects my personal beliefs on cleanliness. I defend myself from those who might think I am being a snob, that I have too high a benchmark on bathing by this: I have married couples that were wet and sweaty from biking 20 miles to the building. There were people with dirt/oil under their nails, clothes that were oil stained, greasy hair, a whiff of sweat, not real clean looking. That was OK, it wasn't OLD dirt.
This couple, their daughter, and guests were just different. The little girl had long hair that was dirty, not just greasy, dirty. The creases in their skin had black rings. When the bride's mother signed as a witness I nearly gagged smelling her dirty musty hair. Their clothes were clean, the little girl had on a white dress that was spotless. But their bodies had a dirty musty smell.
Again every wedding brings something different. The laughing bride, the groom who is crying so hard he can barely say his vows, the families that cheer when the ceremony is over, the adult children from each side who are thrilled for their parents to have found love. Love is what it is all about.
Most couples were there to buy a license for Monday, Valentine's Day. As of Wednesday we had 4 pages of appointments for ceremonies. This is the only day we take appointments, and we still do walk ins. We have 15 minutes to do a ceremony and exit the room. I love Valentine's Day, the excitement, the dresses, the flowers, the love in the room. I hate running couples in and out of the room. More about Valentine's Day next week.
Monday I did 4 weddings and Wednesday only 2. The theme for all of the weddings was black and white. Even some of the witnesses wore black and white. Monday I wore black and white. One couple was very worried about family in Colorado getting here for their "wedding" on Saturday. (I explained this was the wedding, they were having a huge party.) Anyway with all the snow and another storm due to hit on the day to fly here, they were worried. I suggested Amtrak. The only way to travel. They liked the idea.
One of the weddings was a confidential. (for new readers: a confidential license does not require a witness; once it is recorded no one may see the license without a court order). I am sure the groom was a policeman. He just had that look. I hate the state quit requiring the professions of the bride and groom. A hundred years from now genealogists will be screaming about the lack of information on the marriage license. Anyway, the couple had the bride's mother with them. They did not tell her they were getting married until they were filling out the license. The mother was beside herself with joy. She kept laughing and saying it was the best birthday present she had ever received.
Now to the wedding that really stands out, and not for a good reason. This reflects my personal beliefs on cleanliness. I defend myself from those who might think I am being a snob, that I have too high a benchmark on bathing by this: I have married couples that were wet and sweaty from biking 20 miles to the building. There were people with dirt/oil under their nails, clothes that were oil stained, greasy hair, a whiff of sweat, not real clean looking. That was OK, it wasn't OLD dirt.
This couple, their daughter, and guests were just different. The little girl had long hair that was dirty, not just greasy, dirty. The creases in their skin had black rings. When the bride's mother signed as a witness I nearly gagged smelling her dirty musty hair. Their clothes were clean, the little girl had on a white dress that was spotless. But their bodies had a dirty musty smell.
Again every wedding brings something different. The laughing bride, the groom who is crying so hard he can barely say his vows, the families that cheer when the ceremony is over, the adult children from each side who are thrilled for their parents to have found love. Love is what it is all about.
Friday, April 2, 2010
WEDDINGS MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY
I read a lot of pages this week waiting on couples to marry. Monday they were spaced out over the three plus hours. But Wednesday, no couples, let alone other people in the building until around 3:30. And still there were only three couples who wanted to marry.
Monday:
The first couple wore jeans. They told me the "real wedding" was going to be on Saturday. I explained that was a party, we were doing the real wedding. What was cute was the bride obviously had on her "real wedding" jewelery, chandelier rhinestone earrings and necklace. Maybe a little over the top with jeans and a tee shirt.
The second couple were Chinese and the bride had on a gorgeous red chiffon dress, with brown cowboy boots. A little strange to see. When we got in the Wedding Room she pulled out fancy strappy heels and wore them for the wedding. She told me they were pretty but hurt her feet. After the wedding the boots went back on.
The third couple I can barely remember. They were sweet, generic and OK. But I DO remember one of the guests. Not a Mother, not a sister, just a loud obnoxious woman. In the elevator she was giving orders at the top of her lungs. In the Wedding Room every time I said something she was talking so loud I couldn't be heard. When I asked the couple questions and they told me what they wanted to do, she told them what they needed to do. The couple seemed overwhelmed by her. So Miss Janet, the boss of the world took over. I explained to the obnoxious guest it wasn't her wedding and I only listen to the couple. And that I am the only one who gets to talk now. When the wedding was over she started in again directing the picture taking. Fine, I didn't have to be in there for that.
Fourth couple, I have no memory of except she was pregnant with two school age children ( maybe 6 and 9) and she was about 25 years old. Doing the math on that depressed me.
Wednesday:
The first couple, she was from Pakistan and he was from India. She was so lovely with her hennaed hands, arms and feet. The designs were beautiful. She had on a traditional red outfit and the gold bracelets. Instead of rings they exchanged necklaces. I hadn't had that happen before.
Couple two, my post it note on them only says boring.
Couple three, another one having a "real wedding" Saturday. This couple were so very much in love. The tenderness as he wiped her eyes during the ceremony touched me. And he cried from emotion. They just stood and embraced each other after I pronounced them married. I was moved by this couple and I had goose bumps the whole ceremony.
Some weddings are fun, or annoying, or embarrassingly lustful. Some weddings I am sure will end in divorce. But some weddings are incredibly wonderful, whether they are in full wedding attire or wearing Daisy Dukes and overalls. Love fills the room.
Monday:
The first couple wore jeans. They told me the "real wedding" was going to be on Saturday. I explained that was a party, we were doing the real wedding. What was cute was the bride obviously had on her "real wedding" jewelery, chandelier rhinestone earrings and necklace. Maybe a little over the top with jeans and a tee shirt.
The second couple were Chinese and the bride had on a gorgeous red chiffon dress, with brown cowboy boots. A little strange to see. When we got in the Wedding Room she pulled out fancy strappy heels and wore them for the wedding. She told me they were pretty but hurt her feet. After the wedding the boots went back on.
The third couple I can barely remember. They were sweet, generic and OK. But I DO remember one of the guests. Not a Mother, not a sister, just a loud obnoxious woman. In the elevator she was giving orders at the top of her lungs. In the Wedding Room every time I said something she was talking so loud I couldn't be heard. When I asked the couple questions and they told me what they wanted to do, she told them what they needed to do. The couple seemed overwhelmed by her. So Miss Janet, the boss of the world took over. I explained to the obnoxious guest it wasn't her wedding and I only listen to the couple. And that I am the only one who gets to talk now. When the wedding was over she started in again directing the picture taking. Fine, I didn't have to be in there for that.
Fourth couple, I have no memory of except she was pregnant with two school age children ( maybe 6 and 9) and she was about 25 years old. Doing the math on that depressed me.
Wednesday:
The first couple, she was from Pakistan and he was from India. She was so lovely with her hennaed hands, arms and feet. The designs were beautiful. She had on a traditional red outfit and the gold bracelets. Instead of rings they exchanged necklaces. I hadn't had that happen before.
Couple two, my post it note on them only says boring.
Couple three, another one having a "real wedding" Saturday. This couple were so very much in love. The tenderness as he wiped her eyes during the ceremony touched me. And he cried from emotion. They just stood and embraced each other after I pronounced them married. I was moved by this couple and I had goose bumps the whole ceremony.
Some weddings are fun, or annoying, or embarrassingly lustful. Some weddings I am sure will end in divorce. But some weddings are incredibly wonderful, whether they are in full wedding attire or wearing Daisy Dukes and overalls. Love fills the room.
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