A Wedding At Camano Island Inn

Camano Island Inn was once rated "The Best Place To Kiss" and there's no secret as to why!

I have had the opportunity to perform several weddings at this retreat located on beautiful Camano Island. From an intimate gathering of a few guests to a reception dinner, Camano Island Inn can do it all!

They have an amazing view overlooking the beautiful Puget Sound. You can select from having your ceremony on the balcony off of your private suite, upon the upper deck, or down below near (or even on!) the beach. It's also a great location for a romantic getaway or honeymoon.

Congrats, Anthony & Vanessa!

On their five year anniversary, Anthony Beardsley and Vanessa Giaimo became husband and wife. This couple served as a reminder to me how much in love you can be even after all of those years.

Ironically enough, there was two degrees of separation from me and this wonderful couple. Anthony's mom owns Prohibition Grille, a fabulous restaurant in downtown Everett. So how is this relative? Well, his mom lives across the street from good friends of mine and I had known about her restaurant through them. Funny how small of a world we can live in.

Anthony and Vanessa married at Floral Hall in Everett. Their ceremony was a reflection of their love from the details of their bridesmaids to their friend who played the ceremony music (they are big music fans, with Anthony playing in a band) to their personal vows that they wrote. The vows, might I add, were a suprise to all of us -- they had selected to not have anyone including myself hear them until wedding day. Their words were enough to take my own breath away! I could feel tears swelling in my eyes and a lump forming in my throat. That hadn't happened for years during a ceremony but their words and their love were that moving.

Not only was I invited to join them at the rehearsal dinner the night before but I was also extended the invite to the reception. The food and the atmosphere was delish! Lots of fun and frolick was had by all.

Congratulations again, Mr. & Mrs. Beardsley!

A Photographer & Officiant For $1,000 ???

photo courtesy of marcusphotographyaz.com

Award winning photojournalist & Pacific Northwesterner Marcus Nichols is teaming up with Evening Magazine’s “Best Of Western Washington” Wedding Officiant finalist, Tiffani the Upbeat Wedding Officiant, to offer an amazing, recession-busting package.

(If you are planning a wedding from September through December 2010, we are talking to you!)

For $1,000 you can obtain the services and work of these two highly credited wedding professionals!

Services by Tiffani include:

• Planning session
• rehearsal conducted
• coordination with your wedding vendors for your ceremony
• arrival to your venue 1 hr prior to your ceremony
• a personalized ceremony written on behalf of you & your fiancée
• a keepsake copy of your ceremony
• filing of all completed marriage paperwork with the county

Services by Marcus include:

• photojournalistic approach to document your wedding day
• onsite photography of bride & groom as they “get ready”
• ceremony photography
• portrait photography available
• memorable, tasteful & fun reception photography
• photos placed on CD and you have all of the rights!

These services are available at a dramatic savings of over $1500. Inquire about our availability today. Call 425-508-8090 or email tiffani@upbeatweddingofficiant.com Please include wedding day & venue location in your email.

Martha Stuart's Next Competitor......Meet Karen (Sanders) Troughton

I love my job. Why? Well, not only is it fabulous to have the clients that I have but I get to know and meet wonderful people. Wonderfully, extremely talented people, too!
The first weekend in June, I had the privilege to marry off Karen & Jeff Troughton. These two have a great story as well. (I know, many of my couples do!) Karen did so much planning and really created a fantastic reception and wedding site. Karen and Jeff married at Blueberry Ridge Farm in Monroe, WA (http//www.visitblueberryridge.com). Throughout the grounds, Karen's creations could be found from the entrance of the farm, to the ceremony site, the patio area for cocktail hour and inside the reception area. I took photos of some of her fantastic (and as she claimed, easy to do) decorations.
Karen also has a blog with fantasticly easy recipes, design and decorating ideas and even some information about her husband and her dogs. Please consider visiting it at http://www.hazelboom.typepad.com
Congratulations Jeff! You are incredibly lucky to have a wife like Karen. :)

A Photographer, A Coordinator/DJ/MC, and Officiant.....Oh My!

PJ Parsons, Summer Myers and I all on the same wedding site made for some fun times! Who are these people, you ask? Well, let me connect them to help sort them out.
Summer Myers is the owner and photographer of Surge Photography (www.surgephot.com). She and I met about two and a half years ago during a renewal of vows celebration out in Snoqualmie. Summer's warm presence and her eye for details really sets the stage with her work! Summer also provides links to her website so that your guests may view and even have the option to purchase photos of your special day. Summer captures great shots without being pushy or in your personal space. (This is a fabulous thing, as I have worked with numerous people, both professional and non-professional, who don't always extend this courtesy to the officiant. Makes for a bit of an akward experience!)
PJ Parsons is owner of PJ Parsons Presents (pjparsonspresents.com). I have heard of PJ in the wedding industry and was happy to finally be able to put a name to her face. Not only does she provide music and her mad skills on the PA system but she also provides coordinating services. It's two wedding professionals in one! How fabulous is that? Her equipment is state-of-the-art and so is her personality. If you are looking for a take-charge kind of coordinator, one who will respect and uphold your wants and wishes she is definately the one to seek out.
I wanted to commemorate our experience together with a photo of us three. Outgoing we are!

An Officer & His Bride -- Congratulations Jeff & Patty Stephens!

Jeff & Patty recently married at the Grand Vista Ballroom at the Everett Naval Station in Everett, WA. Jeff & Patty share a beautiful love story with lots of old fashioned romance rolled up into it!
I love to see couples in love. Jeff, a southern officer in the Navy, and Patty, a teacher, have a commitment to each other that crosses miles & time zones. Jeff is truly a gentleman in every sense of the word. He reminds his wife how much he loves her when he's away by doing thoughtful things, sending gifts of flowers and is always trying to amaze her. Believe it or not, but he was able to arrange to have Nickleback play a song, at the same concert she attended, that he was dedicating to her while he was away. Amazing, right?
At their ceremony, they had an old-fashioned entrance, with Patty seeing her groom for the first time when she walked down the isle. I specifically remember the words that came out of his mouth when he saw his bride for the first time....."Can I say it again?" which he was referring to the first thing he said when he had seen her. I laughed and told him that he already had.
Jeff and Patty suprised each other with gifts during the ceremony as well. Jeff had his personal vows engraved on a beautiful picture frame, with their engagement photo adorned on the opposite side. Jeff had always teased that he'd marry his girl in a parking lot, with dandelions and a blueberry muffin instead of wedding cake -- so Patty presented him with this special keepsake. They loved them just the same!
At their wedding, I was pleasantly suprised to be working with Summer Myers (owner of surgephoto.com and photographer. I've had the chance to work with Summer on multiple occasions, with our first time on a wedding in Snoqualmie. This girl travels!! (The picture on this blog post is courtesy of her.) I also was introduced to PJ Parsons, who is a DJ/MC/and a Coordinator! This girl is amazingly talented and has a knack for detail. (See the next posting of the three of us, taking a time out.) Consider her for your next event. You can read more about her on her website www.pjparsonspresents.com
Congratulations to you both! May you be blessed with many happy years together.

Congratulations, Catherine & Sal Delos Santos !!

Catherine & Sal recently married during Memorial Day weekend. Their wedding venue was the Historic Snohomish Belle Chapel in Snohomish, WA.
This couple will always stand out as one of my most favorite couples for many reasons. First and foremost, Catherine & Sal chose to meet with me over a few different planning sessions. This is so helpful because it allows both myself and my client to be able to follow up in person on wedding details. They also were very dilligent in getting me answers to questions that were left over from our planning sessions. (I lovingly call this "homework".) They also were in touch with me over the several months that we collaborated on their wedding day, thanks to emails and phone calls we had made back and forth. Before long, I had been dubbed "Reverend Tiffers".
We had developed a great connection, the three of us, during the time that we spent planning for their big day and being able to share with them, their family and friends in the festivities was more than I could have ever asked for. Catherine & Sal honored me in many ways. They had invited me to their rehearsal dinner, at The Cabbage Patch Restaurant in downtown Snohomish. (You have to try their food -- I had the Manila clams in a butter & garlic sauce along with their house raspberry vinagrette on a bed of spinach and candied walnuts...yum!) I also was presented with a beautiful corsage to be worn during the ceremony along with joining them at their reception. The reception was catered by The Cabbage Patch restaurant, one of Sal's favorite places. It was such a treat!
Thank you again, Catherine & Sal, for allowing me to serve as your officiant. And, yes, Sal, you are right -- you two really know how to pull off a great party. :)

Wedding Season 2010 Is In Full Swing!

Well, wedding season is officially underway! For this officiant, May kicks off the beginning of many busy months. In the month of May alone, I had the privilege of serving 11 couples and bringing them into marriage. Congratulations to:

Tracy & David
Beth & Harry
Jessica & Josh
Jennifer & Danny
Jaime & Scott
Jeremy & Becky
Brandy & Shawn
Brian & Megan
Racheal & Shannon
Micheal & Michelle
Catherine & Sal

An Intimate Elopement On The Homestead

Bob & Lisa Watkins, innkeepers & owners of Arlington's River Rock Inn, specialize in romantic getaways. Sometimes a romantic getaway includes a destination wedding. Bridal couple Jeff & Shalice planned a trip from their home in Oregon up to the River Rock Inn not only for a getaway but to also say "I do"!
Bob suggested taking some footage of their ceremony, which took place last year. So, with his handy camera in hand, he was able to capture the vows & ring exchange footage for their family and friends to see. (It was an elopement style ceremony, with just the witnesses and bridal couple.) Since Jeff & Shalice are lovers of the outdoors, Bob had also suggested taking us out to "the north forty", which overlooked a beautiful section of their property. We even had a view of a building that was built back in the early 1900s, if I recall correctly!

Here's a little footage of this intimate, romantic celebration. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1TmK9uJgDg

One of the best things I've heard in a long time....

This weekend my journeys headed me in the NE direction of our state, to Glacier. (For those who haven't been up there, it's accessible off of the Mt Baker Hwy via Bellingham.) Kyle & Jenni had selected me as their wedding officiant several months ago and on Saturday, they became husband and wife.
They selected a cabin nestled in the woods in the Snowline community. A lover of the outdoors, this setting suited my couple to a T. Kyle, donning a Mossy Oak vest and tie under his tuxedo, and Jenni, who carried a more natural basket to include pine cones instead of a traditional flower bouquet, were surrounded by close family and friends.
After the ceremony, I invited family and friends to come forward to offer their best wishes and love to our newlyweds. I had overheard a man mention something about "if he was crazy to do it all over again...." as he hugged the groom. Later, the bride's mother confirmed the partial conversation I had heard. The man was her brother, the bride's uncle. He had come up to his sister and had told her, too, that "if he was crazy to do it all over again" he'd call me to marry him off. What a compliment, especially after I learned that this man was not the marrying kind!
I think that compliment will stay close to me for many years to come.

Best of W. WA Wedding Officiants

It's amazing to be able to serve the people I bring into marriage. It's wonderful to hear the feedback their guests, families and friends provide me after I've delivered the wedding celebration. It's humbling to be able to be nominated for last year's 2009 KING 5's Best of Western WA wedding officiant category and to finish in 3rd place!

I was up against 22 different wedding officiants. (It's amazing to realize how many people perform ceremonies!) I had some pretty tough competition, too. I was able to read all of the wonderful comments and feedback that were casted on that website. (For a quick reference, please visit this link: http://www.best.king5.com/an-upbeat-wedding-officiant/biz/490097#more ) A great big thank you to all who took the time to cast your vote and to those who left kind words and messages, too. A congratulations to my colleagues who placed in the 1st and 2nd positions! See you next year. :)