Wedding Rings

I once had a groom joke with me about whether or not I supplied my couples with the wedding rings. Hey, it never hurts to ask! (Just so you know, the answer is no.)

Looking for the perfect ring can be a daunting task. There are so many options out there!! Do you want to have matching bands? White gold, yellow gold, platinum, silver, titanium...... Diamonds or other precious stones? Decisions, decisions!! Regardless of what you select, I always suggest that my couples take into consideration a few things before they settle on "the ring".

1- Is the ring that you are looking for within your price range?
This may sound like a no brainer, but for many couples, it can be easily overlooked. I think any girl would love to wear a beautiful ring upon her finger. Lots of sparkle and something you could see from a football field away is going to come with a hefty price. Although many jewelry stores offer financing options, that pretty ring could easily double, triple or more in price after the interest fees are added upon the original cost.
Consider opting for a ring that you can either upgrade at a later time or, better yet, mark an anniversary with a trip to your jeweler to purchase a more elaborate set.

2- Does the ring you are considering match your lifestyle? Your personality?
This may seem like a ridiculous question but really, take a moment to consider this. It somewhat ties into the price range question I posed above but takes it a step further. If you are working in the service industry, would wearing a flashy ring be practical? For example, my husband in a journeyman plumber by trade. He also wears a large ring size. Although he doesn't work 24/7, he does spend quite a bit of time at work during the week. The combination of what he does for a living and the need to work with his hands often made him consider looking for a ring that was a comfort fit. He also selected a ring of a strong metal with impressions in the metal versus having a ring with diamonds, which could easily become lost. Some of his coworkers choose to wear their rings on a chain because of the risk of their rings becoming damaged or being a safety issue.

A ring that matches your personality is also something to consider. Some people want a ring that is unique just as their personalities. Others may opt to have a more modest wedding ring, without too many bells and whistles. Regardless of your reasons, consider a piece that is reflective of who you are and your style.

3- What does your ring symbolize?
Remember, a wedding ring is an outward symbol of your wedding vows. These promises that you made during your wedding ceremony mean different things to different people. At the end of the day, when you catch yourself glancing down at that left ring finger remind yourself of your commitment to your spouse and the words that you answered with "I will", "I do" or maybe wrote and spoke yourself.

I know, so many variables to consider!

New Look To The Website!

Happy 2014!!


I hope that you all have had a good start to this new year. It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone.

I wanted to announce the official new look of my wedding website. Thanks to my brother Jason Mondares for helping me make the switch from my old website server to my new server. He was a lifesaver in helping me preserve the contents as I transitioned. In the move, I modified some of the information as well as included some new information. I have expanded my services to include my colleague, Debi, who joins my team. I also have listed additional services that I have offered over the years, including event planning, post-wedding marital working sessions, & premarital classes. All rates are shared on my site, making information easily accessible.

Check it out -- same website address at www.upbeatweddingofficiant.com

Wedding Season Is In Full Bloom!

It's been awhile since I have posted a blog. The middle of wedding season is my only excuse! As summer is leading to hotter weather, so are the number of couples getting married. I sat down tonight to tally up how many couples I've served. To date, I am in the mid 200s. I can hardly believe it myself! What a blessing, to have served so many couples.

I've added a few new names to my Preferred Vendors List on my website. A new caterer, a great new DJ are now in the ranks and added. (More on these pros in upcoming blogs.) In the meantime, enjoy the summer -- before long, we'll be back in our fall weather and football season!

Having Your Reception Dinner Before Your Ceremony

I worked with Jasmine & Nate on their wedding last Friday. This Burlington wedding couple selected "A Country Location" in Smokey Point as their wedding and reception venue. When I first met with them during our planning session, they mentioned a unique idea for their special day -- they were planning on hosting their reception dinner before their ceremony. In all of the ceremonies I've performed (and I'm tipping the scales at 220 couples to date) this was a first!

There were a few different reasons that they shared with me for why they chose this layout. The first was the number of hours that they had their venue for. Being a budget conscious couple they scheduled their event on an off-peak wedding day, which is a great tip. Second, they took into account the time of day and wanting to give everyone the opportunity to eat and be comfortable before the ceremony including themeselves. Their celebration was early in the evening on a Friday. Many people had come from work and it being around most people's dinner time made it a decision that was courteous to their guests. Besides, who wants to hear guests complaining about how hungry they are or that infamous question......"When do we get to eat??!!"

Jasmine and Nate also wore different outfits to their reception dinner. They saved their wedding clothing for the ceremony. Jasmine, wearing a cute black with red polka dots dress, and Nate, who was casual in his dress shirt, slacks and a tie, had a chance to mingle with friends and family and still stunn their guests with their transformation into the wedding dress and tuxedo after dinner.

Many couples don't have the chance to visit with their guests during their reception. Having the chance to do this pre-ceremony is a great way to thank your guests for coming and actually interacting with those who are attending your special day.

Overall, this unique idea is a great one to consider when planning your own celebration. Kudos to Jasmine & Nate!