PopMarriage Podcast #7 - 106 Minutes of Romance

We're back with their latest PopMarriage podcast, talking wedding chains (marrying off sets of friends over a period of time), kazoos, personalizing weddings, teamwork in marriage, how much romance a woman wants (106 minutes, apparently), and a couple who have had 22 marriage ceremonies.

And then the debut of our top 5, including a costume themed debate over who is more famous: Danny and Sandy from Grease, or The Macho Man Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth.

Download it on iTunes (search for jj weddings or click here) or listen here:

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Wedding Mad-Libs!

It has been a FANTASTIC wedding season! We have met a bunch of really cool and fun couples this year, bbut I have just been so focused on weddings I forgot to update with all of the special moments and cool ideas. I did tweet some of this, but didn't post it here yet. I'll try to be better! I love seeing something new at wedding and was pretty impressed when I saw what Audree and Alex had done. They were having a wedding in the beautiful ballroom of the Vancouver Hilton Metrotown, but they had some quirky and fun personal touches. For example, they had their tables named for NFL teams with the logos as centers (they were big football fans). Instead of programs they had fortune tellers (cootie catchers?) with wedding info and they had guests fill out these wedding mad-libs during the down time. I bet they got some sweet and funny responses!

PopMarriage Podcast #6

Our latest PopMarriage podcast is now live (should be on iTunes later today) and it's a good one: new wedding stories, 7 things every couple should know and a call for couples to step their game up. Plus our usual banter, Jordan's usual Longmire plug, TomKat and more!


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Thumbprint Tree

There's always something new and adorable in weddings and this week its the thumbprint tree. Not sure how long these have been a trend but it was my first time seeing one this week. I also saw another handmade one when I married Jeff&Danielle yesterday, so I'm assuming it's a new trend! I thought it was so sweet.

This is Carly and Scott's tree which was printed as a big beautiful framed picture. It's a bare tree and guests leave their thumbprint and sign their name and it looks like foliage for the tree.

The little sign underneath said something to the effect of 'Thank you for leaving your mark on our lives'. They were using it instead of a guest book and I'm sure we're planning to hang it up at home later.

I'm sure there a tons of ideas for this on Pinterest, so check it out.

"Sincere and Heartfelt"

I had a very good run of weddings on the weekend (although the weather was pretty poor)--three couples in three different phases of life, each with a unique story and special touches.

This morning, one of the brides, Lucinda, sent me the following:

"Our ceremony was beautiful, sincere and heartfelt, and Gary and I completely owe it all to you. Somehow, you knew just what to say that was exactly what we were about.  I had so many people comment that they loved everything you said and that it was the best ceremony they had ever been to."

That's probably the highest compliment you can give Jenny and me--that we captured who the couple was and ran a ceremony that felt authentic to the people who know and love them best.

True Love Trumps Rain!

This past weekend I had the true honor of performing a wedding for a lovely couple called Fred and Mandy. They had a touching story about difficulties and struggles they had overcome throughout their lives on the path to finding one another. They were so in love that when I met them for coffee to chat about the wedding they both teared up just telling me how much they looked forward to being married!

Fred and Mandy were having their wedding on a private property that had it's own little chapel built on it and their reception in the gardens outside. Much to all of our disappointment it poured on Saturday. It poured during set-up, leading up to the wedding and for a majority of the afternoon. Everything was wet and soggy but the wedding party and their guests did not let that stop them! And in that moment, when Mandy emerged in the doorway of the little chapel, the rain no longer mattered. The bad weather had been eclipsed by the beauty of the moment in which Fred and Mandy became husband and wife.

The ceremony was short but sweet and so heartfelt for these two. I shared a special reading I had chosen for them, which they said was just perfect.


Ever Changing, by Sharon Frye: 
I traveled on a winding path, 
Alone, along life's road. 
The burdens that I tugged along 
Were such a heavy load. 
The baggage that I carried 'round 
You gladly undertook. 
So I could stop and find some rest 
And take a second look. 
And there you were, with heart in hand 
And much to my surprise. 
No more doubt could undermine 
What shone within your eyes. 
The love I saw flowed from your heart, 
Encircling me just right. 
'Til I beheld the magnitude 
Of love's pure shining light. 

The pic is of the couple and I right after the ceremony. I'm wearing my rain jacket, which had soaked through, but you can tell from the looks on all our faces that it didn't matter much. 

Congrats Fred and Mandy! 

Sent from my iPhone

PopMarriage Podcast #5

We are back with our PopMarriage podcast--recapping our spring 2012 weddings, looking at the trend toward rustic ceremonies (wildflowers and mason jars! Pinterest!) and talking about the need for space in relationships. PLUS: Liam and Miley, Longmire and Sister Wives!

Listen here--or download us on iTunes!

And So it Begins...

Wedding Season is finally here!

Though we do perform weddings throughout the year, this weekend marks the true start of our 'wedding season'.

I'm thrilled to kick it off with Melanie and Marcus at gorgeous Saar Bank farm in Abbotsford this afternoon.

How to Propose Properly

I'm a total sucker for a good infographic, and an infographic about marriage--well, that's right in my wheelhouse. These are American statistics, but still interesting:



I proposed to Jenny at a picnic lunch at Bridal Falls, after a day out at the Othello Tunnels near Hope, B.C. I have never been so nervous, carrying that ring around all day. I must have checked it a hundred times.

I couldn't even eat the lunch I had made. Finally, she stood up from the lunch, and I got to one knee, told her how happy she made me, pulled out the ring, and asked.

It was the longest three seconds of my life, as she got all teary and quiet. Happily, she said yes, and the rest is history! On the way back to the car, she showed that ring to every poor stranger climbing to see the waterfall.

Songs in Your Wedding

We mentioned this on our last podcast but choosing music for your ceremony can really add something special.

Both Jordan and I have our favorites in weddings we've done (like Forever by Ben Harper or classic At Last as processional songs) and some, um, non-favorites (Teenage Dream as the recessional song!) but it's YOUR day and the best thing is just when a couple picks a song that is meaningful to you or that fits the mood of your ceremony. I love it when the guests tear up, or applaud or have some kind of response once the song is played.

In the past couple of years we have heard a few songs a LOT (namely, Jason Mraz' I'm Yours, the ukelele version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ Wonderful World, and, as recessional songs Black Eyed Peas I Gotta Feeling, and Beautiful Day). Nothing wrong with this, they are good songs and usually do the job. But if you're looking to make your wedding stand out you might want to challenge the norms to pick something different.

So, this bring me to my prediction. I am betting a big wedding ceremony song for 2012 will be Jason Mraz "I Won't Give Up". I heard it on the radio yesterday and automatically thought it would be a great song for weddings!

Most wedding ceremonies require you to choose 4 songs:
Processional (bridesmaids, Maid of Honor, flower girl and ring bearer)
Bride's song
Song during signing
Recessional (walking back out- hopefully something fun and upbeat!)

Most important thing is that you pick something that is special, personal or meaningful to you!

Snow Wedding

Mark and Natasha had wanted to do a simple but sweet ceremony in January, followed by a beautiful destination wedding later in Mexico. So they gathered a dozen or so close friends to share in the moment and we planned to meet at a park outside.

When I originally booked the wedding I thought we should choose a park with some coverage as I assumed it would be a West-Coast style rainy day. So imagine my surprise to wake up yesterday morning to a half foot of snow on the ground!

We decided to brave the snow and stick with the outdoor theme and Mark and Natasha exchanged vows in a beautiful, peaceful snowy park. What's better than a wedding followed by a snowball fight!

I have done a lot of outdoor weddings, but this is my first standing in snow. Got to say, quite lovely!

PopMarriage Podcast #4

Hey! Check out our fourth PopMarriage podcast!

We talk about our favorite wedding signing stories (including the best man who kissed the bride) and offer some tips for great wedding music. Then we talk about how to vacation together, and how we nearly divorced on our honeymoon while searching for an Olive Garden. Plus we ponder the news that Facebook is cited as a reason in one-third of UK divorces. And we sing a little Katy Perry.

It's up on our iTunes feed(search for JJ Weddings), non-iTuners can also get it here:

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Brooch Bouquet

(Image from www.thegrrl.com)

I always love it when I see new things in weddings and I heard about this idea of a brooch bouquet. I haven't actually seen one yet in a wedding I've done, but when I Googled it a bunch of images came up.

The idea is that the bride (and groom, wedding party, family, etc) collect a bunch of beautiful, shiny and sparkly brooches. People get them at antique stores, from family/ friends, second hand store etc. Then they are made into a bouquet and carried instead of traditional flowers.

I mentioned this on the latest installment of our PODCAST #4 we recorded last night and I wanted to let you know what I was talking about.

Pretty, right?