Jordan and Jenn Weddings

Songs in Your Wedding

2012-02-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-12T19:43:00.000-08:00

(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?

PopMarriage Podcast #3 - Christmas Edition

2011-12-21T21:01:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! It's a happy holiday edition of the PopMarriage podcast, featuring Jenn and Jordan talking about their favorite Christmas season weddings, offering advice on carving out your own traditions as a couple, and laughing about best and worst Christmas gifts, great movies, and if Santa is, just maybe, a woman.

(Also available on iTunes by searching PopMarriage!)

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Very Merry Wedding

2011-12-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous site here at White Album Chapel as I'm about to marry Chad and Camilla!

PopMarriage Podcast #2

2011-12-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hey! Check out our second PopMarriage podcast!

We talk about our favorite nervous brides (including one who lost her lunch) and how to manage those wedding butterflies. Then it's on to a discussion on polygamy, some marriage advice (Tell each other what you need), and finally a discussion of our favourite TV married couples.

It should be up on our iTunes feed soon (search for JJ Weddings), but in case you can't wait, here it is:

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PopMarriage #1: The Jenn and Jordan Podcast

2011-11-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

So Jenny and I are trying our hand at podcasting, and are proud to show off the debut of PopMarriage. It's 40 minutes of talking about funny wedding stories, what makes a great ceremony, plus some marriage advice on surviving change, and a debate on Mexico's plan to offer two year marriage contracts. And an autoposy on the Kim Kardashian 72-day marriage odyssey. Hope you enjoy it!

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Tahitian Touches

2011-11-05T15:58:00.001-07:00

It's an unusually lovely day out there for November!

Today I had the pleasure of marrying Sean and Jeri-Lyn at Milner Chapel. They are having a really sweet family wedding and then heading off on an amazing Honeymoon in Tahiti, and they incorporated that into their wedding with some beautiful exotic flowers and a steel drum player.

Destination Weddings

2011-10-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

One thing we tend to see more and more often, especially during the chilly Vancouver winters, is couples taking off to gorgeous beaches like Mexico for a destination wedding.

These weddings are gorgeous and tons of fun however we have heard from many couples that filing the paperwork can be difficult. So we have expanded our services to help couples having a destination wedding. If you don't want to go through registering in another country and doing the blood tests and whatnot we can help you by performing your marriage here.

It should be noted that we totally value and understand that your 'real' wedding (and anniversary) is that beautiful wedding away and we don't want to take anything away from that. However, the date your license is signed is your 'legal' wedding date, they can't be back/ forward dated.

We can do a couple of things, either before you leave or after you return from the wedding:
1. We can meet the couple, along with 2 witnesses and sign the paperwork. It's easy and quick, we'll just meet up at a coffee shop, have a chat and sign the license.
2. We can do a simple but meaningful 'vow exchange' for the couple and close friends and family. We can do this at your home or a park. We'd have you choose your vows (and ring vows if you want to exchange rings). Even if you're just looking for something simple I think there are some ways to make it very personal and special for the couple without being really drawn out or over the top or taking anything away from real wedding in Mexico. We've done quite few intimate weddings for couples who get married out of Canada. So I am confident we could help create something that you would be comfortable and meaningful! We would do planning for this over email.

If you're interested in this service (or booking us for your wedding here in the Lower Mainland!) please email us- weddings@jordanbateman.com

Sweet Ride

2011-09-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Saw a couple fun and unique ideas in the way of 'wedding day transportation' this month and wanted to share. Last weekend, while doing a wedding for Sarah and Kevin at Newlands I spotted these outside....

They actually belonged to another wedding party- but what fun! Can you imagine how great the groomsmen photos with those would be?

Also, when I married Gordon and Chelsea at Harrison in August her dad drove her into the ceremony and pulled up at the end of the aisle in this baby:

It was a car he had restored himself and she looked pretty cool stepping out of this!

Nice to see some fun and creative ideas!

Gorgeous Locations

2011-09-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

It has been an extremely fun and busy wedding season for us and that has made tough to keep the updates coming.

One of the best parts officiating is all of the gorgeous locations we get to see. This summer we had a couple weddings at Brock House, and it's STUNNING! In fact, seeing Jericho at sunset was so lovely I planned a date night there for Jordan and I the following week because I wanted to share it with him. Hard to beat that view and the romance of the beach at sunset!

Another great spot I was at last month was Harrison. I did the wedding out on the point with that crystal water in the background. It was windy and sunny, and I had to make sure I held on to that wedding license ;) But I had forgotten what a pretty spot that is.

Retro Wedding Fun

2011-08-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

Good fun again today as I got to be part of Dirk and Jackee's fun and fabulous
wedding with a retro 60's diner theme. Girls rocked some adorable yellow
dresses and red lips, boys decked out in checked bow ties and gorgeous Jackee
looked perfect with her pin curled hair and crinoline skirted dress.

I tried to look the part too with a red flower in my hair and red lips and
nails.

Most fun part was when the entire wedding party danced our way back down the
aisle to 'You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall&Oates. They all looked like they
were having a blast!

I snapped this pic of the couple in their pink vintage Bel-Air before they left.
Cute, right?

Cool Twist on the Sand Ceremony

2011-08-08T20:28:00.001-07:00

Last week I had a chance to marry Shawn and Geneva at Chateau Cargill. Instead of a regular sand ceremony they did a sand ceremony using an hourglass. It was the first time I had seen one (found online here).

During the ceremony I gave this description as they poured the sand:

"For the sand ceremony, each of them has a container of sand which represents their life each with all of it’s many parts and beautiful color. Today these lives are joined together. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.

Shawn and Geneva’s ceremony is a bit different as the vase is being replaced with an hourglass. In the beginning the colours will be separate but every year on their anniversary they will turn the hourglass over. Each year the colours will mix a bit more until the sands are all one colour. This is to symbolise the merging of two families and the creation of a new family as the years go on."

It's nice to see something new and I especially love the idea of turning it over every year on your anniversary.

Weekend Weddings

2011-07-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's smack in the middle of wedding season and Jordan and I have been keeping busy!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of marrying Martin & Kristie on Saturday and then Rob & Holly on Sunday. Despite the dreary weather (really July! come on!) the couples were so sweet and fun to be with. It's nice to see people who are enjoying their wedding and taking part in the moment and not getting stuck on the small stuff, like raindrops :)

This weekend I did weddings for Ray and Stacey (possibly the most punctual wedding party I have ever been with, well done Stacey!) at gorgeous Redwoods! But it was Stacey's beaming smile as she walked down the aisle that really made for a special moment.

I also got to do the wedding for Omar and Kimberly at Omar's family's home in Brookswood. Kimberly is an interior designer so their wedding was so lovely. They had put a bunch of personal touches including string trio to play the bride in and a homemade banner on the front of the outdoor bar that read "Eat, Drink and Be Married". Adorable! It was so nice to be with them and their families who, you could see, really shared in their joy.

Wedding season 2011 is in full swing, but we have already begun to get requests for 2012, so if you'd like to set up a meeting, drop us an email and we'll get you the info as quick as we can.

Happy 125th Birthday, Milner Chapel!

2011-07-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

It's not often I can do a blog post that can be cross-posted on Langley Politics, our wedding chaplaincy site, and our church blog--but that's how important Milner Chapel is to our community.

Milner Chapel, the little white country church near Crush Cres. and Glover Road, is turning 125 this year. On Sunday, Milner will celebrate with a pancake breakfast at 10:30 a.m., followed by entertainment and ringing of the bells at 2 p.m.

The Chapel is a historic piece of Langley. I like to joke that the pioneers built it for $919.50, and 100 years later, it cost a few hundred grand to move it half a block. Moving the Chapel off of Glover was a monumental undertaking, but it completely renewed it.

For Springbrook Church, Milner Chapel has become synonymous with Christmas. Every Christmas Eve morning, we fill the chapel, sing carols, read the Christmas story and celebrate together. Christmas just wouldn't feel the same without Milner Chapel.

I love that little chapel. It's one of my favourite spots to perform a wedding ceremony, and I love telling this story when I marry couples there:

And what a perfect spot to get married—Milner Chapel. The story behind this old building is one of love—and practicality.

You see, in the early 1880s, a Milner farmer named Henry Davis wanted to marry a girl from back east named Elizabeth. Well, Elizabeth’s dad gave his approval, subject to one small requirement—Milner had to have a church of its own. After all, he couldn’t send his daughter to some barbarian town that didn’t even have a church!

So Henry got on his horse, rode around the Fraser Valley, and raised money to build a church. Singlehandedly, he raised $919.50 and a few years later, in 1886, Milner Methodist Church, led by Rev. RJ Wood, opened its doors. It’s been a local landmark ever since. Henry married Elizabeth, and their great-grandchildren still live in Milner. The Chapel was built for love—a perfect place for these two.

Congratulations, and much gratitude to the Milner Community Association, and tireless volunteers (I'm looking at you, Dot Mufford!) for their work to preserve the Chapel.

Be Yourselves (Reflections of a Best Man)

2011-06-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Jenny and I have performed a lot of wedding ceremonies over the past few years--more than 200 between us. Each wedding is unique and special, just like each couple is unique and special. No one approaches or plans a wedding the same way: there are literally dozens of personal touches--small and large--that make a couple's day their own.

On Saturday, my best friend Sam got married. I was honoured to be asked to be his best man (who knew holding on to rings was more nerve-wracking than telling a groom he can kiss the bride?). He was marrying the lovely Lana, after dating her for the past couple of years.

Sam and Lana are in their mid-30s and very independent, which gave them a ton of freedom to plan the wedding the way they wanted it. There was very little parental pressure, so the Sam and Lana Show was on!

And it was great. The wedding took place at their friends' home on a beautiful south Langley property. The reception was burgers and beer (Vera's and Dead Frog--may I recommend the Pepper Lime?), and the whole day was full of laughter, hugs, joy, a few tears, and all-round good times. There was a T-Shirt cannon instead of a bouquet toss. Delicious pies instead of wedding cake. There was even a Twitter hashtag (#snlwedding).

Jenny and I got home from the wedding (exhausted!) and couldn't help but talk about how perfect the day was, and how it completely fit Sam and Lana. It was perfectly, uniquely, incredibly them.

I could blog another thousand words about some of the best weddings I've done, and how the couples found little touches that made the day perfect. But take it from someone who goes to a lot of weddings: the best ones reflect who the couple is.

When you're planning your big day, own it! Make it yours, and no one else's. Every little touch goes a long way to telling the story of your love for each other--and your guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness, creativity and effort.

Anyone Else But You....

2011-06-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of doing a wedding for Bob and Leah. They are a really sweet couple who had supported each other through some difficult times and they were so excited to be married!

When they told me they wanted to sing part of their vows, I have to admit, I was skeptical. Neither of them are 'singers' and Bob is even a bit quiet. They had chosen a song from the end of the movie Juno by the Moldy Peaches called "Anyone Else But You". They wanted to do regular spoken vows and then, with a friend accompanying them on guitar, sing the song as part of their vows. I helped them find where it would fit and went through it a couple times at the rehearsal.

At the rehearsal, both seemed a bit nervous and I a little concerned their voices would be too quiet or that they might forget the words.

But today they took that microphone between them, looked into each others eyes and did it. And it was touching, adorable and so much fun. The end of the song where the "do doo de do do de do doo do do do" part is they held the mic between the two of them with their heads leaned close together. It was an absolute moment. And when they finished their guests erupted into cheers and applause. It was so sweet. It was the first time I have ever done a wedding where guests applaud vows!

I have embedded video of the song up top for you to see.

And I think this brings home an important point. You (and your guests) want to share in something special up there. You want a moment. You don't just want to rush through to get to the party. You want words and actions that are meaningful, fun and personal. And you I also think you want an officiate up there who makes you feel at ease and helps you to create a moment.

Thanks to Leah and Bob for letting me a part of something new and share in your special day!

Wedding for a Cause

2011-05-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

This summer my sister and my mom are participating in the Walk to End Breast Cancer. They have been doing fundraising and training for the big weekend. They are really moved by the cause (we all are) and I'm so proud of them!

They have been collecting donations for fundraisers and I want to contribute, so I have decided to do a 'wedding for the cause!'

I would like to offer my services to one couple for free if you'd be willing to donate $200 to their fundraising efforts to end breast cancer. It's a win-win all around because I get to help my mom and sister and contribute to their walk and the couple gets a full wedding for a discounted rate (up to $150 off!) AND know their money goes to a good cause.

This can be applied to a full wedding, including intial meeting, rehearsal and ceremony in the Fraser Valley area or to a small wedding. Only stipulation is that it has to be in 2011 and it has be on a date that I am still available. You can even get the tax receipt from the donation!

If you're interested in being the lucky couple who takes part in this, please feel free to email Jenn weddings@jordanbateman.com. Thanks in advance!

Wedding Photo

2011-04-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

Had a brain block about how to attach this from my phone. Got it now!

Gorgeous April wedding with Denis and Terri-lou.

The Safest Wedding Ever

2011-04-23T18:46:00.001-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of marrying Denis and Terri-lou at Bradner Hall. The hall was done up so beautifully all candles and white lights!

I believe it may be the safest wedding I'll ever do because Denis is a fireman and Terri works with search and rescue and many of the guests worked for police, fire and emergency services. I'm just saying- if there's ever a wedding to have an emergency at, these guys are trained professionals! Talk about good under pressure!

Luckily all went off without a hitch. Denis and Terri-lou seemed to be having a blast. Pic is of us with the fire engine (great photo prop)!

Kids in a Wedding

2011-04-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

It's impossible to deny the cuteness of kids in a wedding. I mean, what's cuter than miniature tuxedos and dresses tied with a bow? Adorable!

Kids can really add a personal and special touch to a wedding, and if the couple have children of their own it may be especially important to incorporate them in a meaningful way. Having done a bunch of different weddings with kids I offer a few tips:

1. If you want to include kids you have to be prepared that it may be a bit unpredictable, especially if the kids are little. They get nervous, overwhelmed or even a bit silly. But if you're willing to roll with the punches and understand it may not be perfect you will have some sweet moments. As an officiate, I enjoy kids in a wedding (heck, we have 3, we're used to the madness! Pic above is our oldest, Indie as a flower girl a few years ago). As long as the couple is relaxed about it, the guests are too.

2. Have kids at the rehearsal. Many have never been to a wedding and can't picture what it will really be like. It makes them feel good to do a practice and gives a chance to ask questions! If you're going to have flower girls throw petals, let her practice with the petals in the venue. I cannot tell you how many girls ran out of petals, forgot to throw them or had a hard time managing. It's good for them to try it out.

2. If they're under 5, have them walk down the aisle and then be seated (preferably with a family member in the front 2 rows). Our ceremonies aren't too long, but 15 min is an eternity to a preschooler :) Also, have someone on both ends (one person to hold them before they get to the aisle and one person to be waiting for them at the other end. It's makes that aisle seem a lot less scary!

3. If they're over 5 and are going to stand during the ceremony, put a twoonie on the ground where you want them to stand. If they stand still on it during the ceremony they can keep it when the ceremony is done (cha-ching!) I also think the closest groomsman having a candy in his pocket to slip them if needed can be a good idea.

4. Always have a familiar family member or friend that is willing to take them to them out if need be. I once did a wedding where the couple had a baby who insisted on being held and crying through the vows leaving a huge string of snot on his dad's jacket. It made it frustrating for the couple and their guests who couldn't hear a thing! Having someone who is willing to slip out with a little one can relieve a lot of stress in the moment.

These are my tips from my experience. That being said, we're willing to accomodate kids in whatever ways are most meaningful for the parents. We have done some cool things, like a family candle ceremony for blended families, or vows spoken to the children as well for a family. We have also done a gift from a parent to a step child or introduced them as a family right before the recessional. Feel free to chat with us about any/ all of the ideas if including your own children is something you'd like to do.

We've also included pets, but I'll save that post for another time!

If you want to, including kids can lead to some hilarious, adorable and magical moments in your special day.

Great Couples

2011-02-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

It's a busy season for us right now. It's busy for meeting couples and booking weddings. One of the most fun things about this time of year is having a chance to actually meet and chat with some of the brides and grooms we'll be working with this year. We love hearing the stories of how they met or sharing in the details of what they're picturing for their big day. Those elements are really important to us because we are truly committed to creating a personal and meaningful ceremony for each couple.

One couple I had a blast with last year was Terry and Jeff, who got married at lovely Cecil Green, out at UBC. Their wedding day ended up being a bit rainy, but it didn't dampen the spirits at all. They were so laid back and focused on enjoying their day together, that spirit really just shone right through. Terry just recently sent me this photo of the ceremony and I love remembering their moment. And, because they had met on the tennis team I got to make tennis jokes- doubles partners for life, and the score is always love/ love....ha! Always nice to hear from couples months later who are living their own 'happily ever after' :)

Anyways, if you're looking for an officiate, we'd love to meet with you, have some fun and hear about what your unique day will be like and how we can help be a part of that.

The Beauty of a Winter Wedding

2011-01-20T19:58:00.000-08:00

Winter weddings get a bad rap. It's cold and you can't take the photos outdoors or have a ceremony in a park. Don't get me wrong, we looooove summer weddings and being outdoors, but a winter wedding can be also be done so beautifully!

First off- take advantage of the fact that it gets dark early! Filling your ceremony or reception with candles, tea lights and twinkle lights really creates a beautiful ambiance. It looks awesome! This pic is from a wedding I did at Newlands this winter.

Also, doing an off-season wedding makes the availability (and sometimes the costs) of services and vendors a little easier to manage. You are more likely to get first choice on some of the best as we're not all booked up a year in advance!

Get creative with your photos (ie cute umbrellas, covered outdoor locations or book a photographer that has a studio).

Winter weddings are usually a welcome relief for guests from the boredom of winter and a fun night out to be part of a celebration.

And finally, if you're headed off on a honeymoon, when better to leave than the winter! Get married while it's cold out and then head off to sunshine and happiness while the rest of us go back to work ;)

Technical Difficulty!!!

2011-01-11T20:32:00.000-08:00

This is just a post to let anyone know that if you emailed about a meeting or a request for info either Monday or
Tuesday I am having some serious technical difficulties!!!! I read my emails but then my power source DIED spontaneously so I did not get a chance to respond to them! And, because the emails are stuck in my outlook I can't get them until my computer is back in commission this weekend.

Sorry!! Pardon the delay, we'll be back to the regularly scheduled emailing replying asap.

Thanks!

Sri Lankan Wedding

2011-01-02T19:44:00.000-08:00

One thing we really enjoy doing is working with couples to help them find a way to include any cultural traditions that might be important to them as part of their ceremony. We try to do this in a way that is meaningful to them and their guests.

This winter I married Micky and Lanka at Newlands, and Lanka's family, who were Sri Lankan, wanted to include some traditional elements alongside some of the regular western traditions. One Sri Lankan tradition that was really cool is that the bride is drummed down the aisle. There was a drummer in an authentic outfit (pic above) who did this great drum music and led the way for her bride and her father. The couple also lit an oil lamp and included a traditional blessing. This was mixed with contemporary vows and exchange of rings and some country music (Keith Urban?) as they signed and exited the ceremony.

All of their elements worked well together because they were personal and meaningful to the couple.

If you're looking to include some cultural elements in your wedding, please feel free to ask our advice! It can be a great way to recognize your heritage while creating a new and special family as husband and wife.

2011 Bookings

2010-12-29T20:35:00.001-08:00

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas! I know we had a great (but hectic) Christmas and have swimming in a sea of toys and chocolate at our house ever since!

As the end of 2010 approaches I thought I should update the blog.
We are currently taking bookings through the end of 2011. We are already booked about 40% of our schedule so if you want to request some info and check our availability please send me an email at weddings@jordanbateman.com.

We've had a few really fun winter weddings so will try to update the blog when we can with some of the details.

Wishing you a happy and safe 2011, filled with some wedded bliss ;)

DateBank iPhone App Getting Great Buzz

2010-11-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

The DateBank app I helped write is getting all kinds of media attention...

From bloggers like Erin at My Urban Suburban ("Because while Bub and I still have fun on dates, we’re often challenged to come up with new, creative date ideas. So this is awesome! And how cool is it that local Langley residents are the bright minds behind this innovative idea?? LOVE it.")...

From college papers like TWU's Mars Hill ("As a girl who has always been a hopeless romantic and has high standards for an extraordinary date, I can confidently tell all of you men out there that every option in the DateBank will sweep your lady off of her feet. This app is a must-have. Rated 5 stars in the app store, the DateBank is a practical and affordable tool to spice up your romantic relationships.")...

From community newspapers like The Tri-City News: ("It's called DateBank and features a year's worth of date ideas for couples looking to get to know each other, rekindle their romance or do something different than dinner and a movie. Ballard, who graduated from Fox in 2005, said the app is easy to use — even for Babyboomers who are just learning to use their iPhones, iPods and iPads. Dates are organized by mood, time of day and price, and are so creative, Ballard said, couples are sure to find something to suit their budget and interests.")...

Even the big mainstream media like The Province ("Ballard said the 150 DateBank date ideas are categorized by style, time and budget. “They’re sort of written in the tone of the hopeless guy, but we’re not that old-school,” he said. “We’ve had feedback from some women who use it to plan fun events with a group of girlfriends.” The date ideas were written up by Jordan Bateman, a wedding chaplain and Langley Township Councillor. “A great date is one where you discover something about one another,” Bateman said. “Being in love is the greatest thing in the world.”).

Download DateBank now in the App Store for 99 cents! You'll be glad you did!

Harmony Farm Retreat

2010-11-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

As officiates we get to see a really wide range of venues and we have been at most in the Lower Mainland. But every year there are always new ones that come to our attention.

The venue that I was most struck by this season was Harmony Farm Retreat which was nothing short of stunning!

It is located in Surrey, just off of Hwy 10 (which makes it pretty accessible, no matter where you're from) but it seems like it's tucked hours away in the middle of serene and sprawling farms. It is a private property that has a sloped lawn for the ceremony, gorgeous greens and gardens, a private pond complete with a rowboat and 2 swans (think 'the Notebook'), a swing hanging from the willow tree and an adorable log cabin suite where the bridal party gets ready.

The reception is held under a huge white tent on the property and was set up to look very elegant. Caterers brought food in and the dance floor and lights were all set up when I got there. The couple often stay in the log cabin on the wedding night (has bed, bathroom, tv and kitchenette).

It's also a photographers paradise as the shots pretty much set themselves up with all of the outdoor options.

I realize I am swooning (we are in no way affiliated with these guys, nor are they aware of us, I'm sure), but I was just really impressed by the classic beauty of the property. I enjoyed doing a wedding here for Jeff and Jen this summer and would happily officiate here again. I have heard the owners only book it out occasionally (also rented for movies and other events).

It's true that there is no indoor alternative here- although the reception was completely covered. But if you're looking for an outdoor venue that is unique it would be worth checking out!

Pics above are of of the log cabin and the entrance to Harmony.

Simple Things

2010-10-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

It wasn't a big affair this weekend when I married off Kyle and
Cashmere- just them and a dozen or so family and friends. But it was
beautiful.

We did the wedding at Sendall Gardens and the sun was shining so
brightly we all had to squint. The one thing that was apparent is that
these two loved eachother deeply. It was a simple wedding, but a
personal and beautiful moment as these two became husband and wife.

I was so honored to be a part of it. I love my job :)

Whether you're having a big event or a simple ceremony, creating a
beautiful, meaningful exchange and capturing a moment to look back on
is so important. That's what we try to do for the couples we marry.

All the best to Kyle and Cashmere!

DateBank iPhone App

2010-10-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked what I do in "real" life--you know, when I'm not marrying people off. Well, I'm a writer. I was a newspaper reporter for several years, but have spent the past eight years doing freelance writing of all sorts--everything from short articles to ghostwriting books. And now, I can add an iPhone/iPad app to that list.

A few months ago, three local guys (Jason Ballard, Josiah Peters and Darian Kovacs) tracked me down and got me involved in writing DateBank, an iPhone app that helps guys plan fun, creative dates. The lads had brainstormed a number of ideas, and I helped them flesh them out (and popped in a few dates of my own). It was a lot of fun, and a chance for me to use all of he crazy pop culture references that bounce around my head. This weekend, the DateBank app launched in the iTunes app store. It's fun, easy-to-use, and full of great, wholesome date ideas.

It's important for any couple--whether they have been dating for just a few days, or have been married for a hundred years, to stay creative and proactive in making plans together. Hopefully, this little app will help couples keep that spark alive!

Thanksgiving Weddings

2010-10-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

Jenny and I had a busy weekend, with four weddings between the two of us.

Thanksgiving is a great day to get married. I've done a few on Thanksgivings now, and they have all been memorable. A few years back, I married a couple in Williams Park (in Langley) on Thanksgiving Saturday. It was a beautiful fall day, sunny and warm, but with that crisp autumn wind we all love. Big orange maple leaves fell behind me as I pronounced them. It was perfect.

Last Thanksgiving, I married off my friends Kareem and Heidi on the beach in Tofino. This was another amazing day, and the best sand ceremony I had ever been a part of. Kareem's father brought golden, shimmering sand from his home country of Egypt, while Heidi's relatives brought dark, rich sand from Holland, where her parents were born. Then they added a scoop of Tofino beach sand--where they had got engaged and married. It was meaningful and richly symbolic. (Happy anniversary, by the way!)

This weekend, I did a wedding at the White Album Chapel in Chilliwack for the first time. It's a great spot--a 125-year-old country church. Courtney (the bride) and the girls were a little bit late, but I think Mike (the groom) felt it was worth it.

Later Saturday, I married off Joe and Leah. They had hoped to do the ceremony outdoors, but the weather at Newlands wasn't great, so we moved inside. It was still a lovely ceremony and the two of them giggled and teared up--all the great emotions of a wedding rushing to the surface at once.

Finally, yesterday, I did a ceremony at Chateau Cargill for Zaher and Sheena. They hit a weather home run--yesterday was beautiful. Sheena looked like a wedding princess in her beautiful dress (with a long train and tiara). It was a good day.

Jenny did a wedding at the Peace Arch, but I'll let her tell you her border story another time.

Anyway, Thanksgiving is a great option for people who want to get married at a different time of year. The weather is usually pretty good, and it's a natural time for friends and family to gather.

Old Fashioned Charm

2010-09-25T16:54:00.001-07:00

There are few venues that have as much old fashioned charm as the
chapel at Burnaby Village Museum.

The museum is really built like an old fashioned town, complete with
storefronts, a blacksmith and a ice cream shop. Part of the town is a
tiny chapel that seats about 60. That is where I just did a wedding
for Adam and Leah. In fact, since today was technically 'off season'
they had the whole little town to themselves!

It is charming and it makes for some great photos!!

The Joy of a Good Wedding Coordinator

2010-09-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

After having been in the business for 5 years now we have worked with our fair share of wedding coordinators. Not everyone needs one, but for people who are getting married and need a helping hand to oversee the details a wedding coordinator can be a great asset. There are also some venues that come with a wedding coordinator as part of the package.

For weddings that DO have a coordinator, I can not say enough about the joy working with a capable, warm, and professional wedding coordinator.

We have had a chance to work with a real range of coordinators and really see the effect their style and personality have on the wedding. I did a wedding this summer where the coordinator was bossy, abrasive and really domineering. She was upsetting the other vendors working on the wedding, alienating the family and even scaring the groom a bit! I appreciate someone who is all over the details, but when you let the details dominate over the flow and celebration of one of the most amazing days of your life, it kind of overshadows everyone's enjoyment of the day. She had to control everyone and there was no room for error!

On the other hand, coordinators that have wedding parties assembled and decorating/ music/ arrival questions taken care of really seems to give the bride and groom peace of mind and makes our job that much better!

One of the best coordinators Jordan and I have ever worked with is Jill at Redwoods Golf Course in Langley. (I promise they didn't pay us to say that!) Redwoods is one of our favorite venues to begin with, but working with Jill is what makes it great! She is so well organized and the ceremony and reception always look flawless. I have seen her calm jittery brides, comfort weepy parents and help organize disorganized groomsmen. But this summer she impressed me most when there was a HUGE rainstorm at 1pm on a day when the wedding was supposed to start at 3pm. Anyone else would have set up 'back-up venue' under the tents and just moved on, but she let bride and groom make the final call. They wanted to use the outdoor venue and by 2pm the rain had stopped and she had her team out on the outdoor deck brushing away the rain and setting up chairs. The whole thing was set-up and decorated without a problem by 2:30pm! The wedding went off at 3pm without a hitch. And no one ever sensed there was a concern. She seems to love what she does and couples who book with her seem to love her back. She really deserves a kudos for being talented, hardworking and really sweet!

We have worked with many other great coordinators too (Jill just happens to be someone we've had ongoing relationship with as we've done a number of Redwoods weddings). It's fun and really neat to work with other vendors who are as passionate as we are about making a wedding something that is so truly special.

My advice: choose vendors (especially a coordinator) that make you comfortable, that understand your vision and that truly want to make the day enjoyable and unique to you! Working with professionals who love what they do and make your wedding experience a great one is what is going to allow you to enjoy your day to the fullest!

A Real Pleasure

2010-09-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

All of our weddings are a lot of fun, but every once in awhile we have
the pleasure (and honor) of doing a wedding for someone we know.

This weekend I married my cousin Erin and her sweet new husband
Matthew at UVic. Their wedding was sweet and so personal. As a cool
touch they wrote love letters to eachother and locked them in a box
with a bottle of wine to be opened in their first anniversary.

Here's a pic of us together at the reception. Cheers to Matt and Erin.

Mid Week Wedding

2010-09-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

Scott and Crystal live in AB and came to beautiful BC for their
wedding. The cool thing is they decided on a Wednesday wedding, which
meant I was able to fit them in our already full summer schedule!

The wedding is at the beautiful (and relatively new) Eagle Tree Lodge
in Agassiz, a great peaceful spot ideal for an intimate outdoor wedding.

Good Day, Sunshine

2010-09-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

So grateful this morning when I looked out my window to see the
gorgeous sunshine!
Here is the view at Redwoods where Colton and Jocelyn say 'I Do!' in
moments!

It's a Jungle Out There!

2010-09-11T14:09:00.001-07:00

Once in awhile we get invited to do an unusual wedding, which is
always fun. Today's location was the falconry at the GV Zoo!
I just married Tim and Christine admist the lions and tigers and
bears....oh my!

I will have some better pics later on as these were just taken w
iPhone camera (why don't they zoom?) but you get the idea.

The best part....their rings were FLOWN in by a HAWK! Crazy!

It was a ton of fun and the couple had such a great sense of humor
there wedding was a real treat!

Long Distance Can Work

2010-09-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I did two weddings, and both of the couples were long distance success stories. On Saturday, I married off Rob and Emily at Brock House in Point Grey. It's a beautiful spot, overlooking the ocean, the mountains and the beach. Rob and Emily had met in the summer of 2006 while working at UBC. They were falling in love, but that fall, Emily went back to school at the University of Victoria, on Canada's left coast, and Rob went back to Dalhousie, on Canada's east coast. Geographically, you could not have put these two further apart in Canada.

On Sunday at Redwoods Golf Course in Langley (one of my very favorite spots for a wedding), I married off Joel and Jen. They met in Calgary in 2008, and Joel lived there for many months before finally joining Jen here in Vancouver. (Joel is a pilot for Westjet, so there was uch flying back and forth seeing one another.)

You always hear how long-distance relationships are tough and don't work out. But these two couples bucked the trend, overcoming distance and time zones by emailing, texting, phoning, Skype, cheap flights, and good, old-fashioned hard work. They built trust and communication skills which will help them in their marriage.

So to Rob and Emily, and to Joel and Jen: congratulations! Thanks for having me at your weddings... I had a great time and wish you all the best!

Hire a Great Photographer

2010-09-02T08:25:00.001-07:00

Jenny and I got married waaaaaaaaay back in 2000, before the digital camera revolution and before the development of the incredibly talented photographer community we see now in the Lower Mainland. I look at some of their websites and I'm amazed at the work they are doing. Beautiful stuff!

Our wedding photos are good, and we always advise couples to spend the money and hire a great photographer. Those photos will hang around your house forever--so find someone whose style and artistic eye you appreciate.

Don't rely on amateurs... as this potty-mouthed bridal photo from AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com demonstrates:

Built for Love

2010-09-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of doing a wedding at lovely Milner Chapel. Milner is a small, non-denominational chapel here in Langley that hosts a number of weddings each year. Jordan and I have done quite a few here and it's always a great spot.

Nice things about the venue:
-It's gorgeous on the outside, as are the gardens that surround it and it makes for GREAT photos
- Inside is classic chapel with wooden pews and a small stage, it's air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. (MAJOR bonus- nothing worse than a stuffy chapel!)
- It's looks great with no decorating OR amazing with some flowers and little flameless candles.
- Sound is great. Speakers are in if you want to run music, but it also has a piano (wedding this weekend had a piano and violin and sounded beautiful!)
- It's a year round venue. These can be hard to come by and fall/ winter/ spring weddings are really underrated. They can be so lovely!
- When the bride leaves they ring the bell in the bell tower. This is my personal fav!

Our church, Springbrook, holds our annual Christmas eve morning service and we love it. It looks STUNNING with snow and Christmas lights!

A little (TRUE) story we always tell as part of our Milner weddings:
In the early 1880s, a Milner farmer named Henry Davis wanted to marry a girl from back east named Elizabeth. Well, Elizabeth’s dad gave his approval, subject to one small requirement—Milner had to have a church of its own. After all, he couldn’t send his daughter to some barbarian town that didn’t even have a church! So Henry got on his horse, rode around the Fraser Valley to all of the new landowners and residents, and raised money to build a church. Singlehandedly, he raised $919.50 and a few years later, in 1886, Milner Methodist Church, led by Rev. RJ Wood, opened its doors. The church was built so those two could get married and it’s been a local landmark ever since. Henry married Elizabeth, and their great-grandchildren still live in Milner. This Chapel was built for love—a perfect place for these two.

If you're looking for a wedding venue in Langley it's worth checking out!

Whatever Floats Your Boat

2010-09-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

We love weddings, and we've done all sorts: themes, costumed, elegant, casual. We've done them in parks and on beaches and in churches and in pubs and pretty much anywhere else people can gather.

But we have never done a Titanic wedding. CBC has a story of a couple, Maryann Morin and Jamie Kovacs, who met five years ago on a cruise to the Titanic site, about 600 kilometres south of Newfoundland.

Jamie and Maryann now work together on a research ship mapping the Titanic wreckage. It seems Jamie has been carrying a ring around for about a year, waiting to propose.

Now the research mission has been unexpectedly cut short, as a hurricane bears down on the area. So Jamie popped the question, and as their boat sped back to the safety of harbour in Halifax, the young couple were married at sea. The bride reports: "Coming in, the fog broke, actually just when we were getting married... The fog broke, the sun hit land, and it was just... it was beautiful. It's just a magical place."

Moral of this story: if you love each other, if you want to get married, don't let the hurricane and storms of life keep you apart. There may never be a more perfect time than right now. If you know in your heart that it's right, pop the question!

Milner Chapel

2010-08-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

Today I had the chance to marry off Dan and Danielle at lovely Milner
Chapel! Milner Chapel is such a great year round venue- cozy and
charming, classic and great in photos! It has a great story (which I
will save for another post).

Patricia and Wayne

2010-08-28T13:30:00.001-07:00

I'm about to marry off Patricia and Wayne in their lovely backyard in Coquitlam...

It's the neighbourhood I lived in until age 12. It's fun to come back to my old stomping grounds.

What A Great Crowd Adds To A Wedding

2010-08-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

I've done a lot of great weddings over the past five years, but I don't know if I've ever had a better crowd than Joe and Cherie's, Sunday afternoon, at the Langley Golf Centre.

Those people were so excited for their couple that they actually applauded the groom when he walked his parents in. Then they applauded the bride as she was walked in by her mom and dad. It wasn't rowdy or crazy, but it was a genuine outpouring of their affection for Joe and Cherie. I loved that.

A great crowd is an underestimated part of the wedding experience.

Happy wedding watchers tell me, as a chaplain, several things: that they feel invested in the couple's life, that they love them, and that they genuinely want them to be happy together. They want to have fun on the wedding day, because they are so full of joy for their couple.

Joe and Cherie's friends and family were excited for them. They spontaneously showed that excitement with their applause, grins, cheers, and, yes, even tears.

I remember when Jenny and I came back down the aisle, lo those many years ago, and our friends and family high-fived us the whole way out. It was awesome, and fun, and we felt very loved. Our photos show people with big, silly smiles on their face: they were genuinely happy for us.

So some free advice to couples: if the people you're inviting aren't going to be that way, why put them on the guest list? Invite the people who will be thrilled to celebrate with you--it will add more to your day than you expect.

Still in Love with Love

2010-08-23T16:49:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our blog! Jordan and I started this blog as an addition to our website so we could have a chance to talk a little bit more about what we do, share some of what we love and pass on a few of the great ideas that we get to see.

First, a bit about us-
We got married on June 3rd, 2000 and have an amazing family. We were married young, and our marriage has been amazing! We're passionate about what we do because we love being married ourselves and believe in the idea of two best friends who are deeply in love sharing their lives and having a blast doing it!

We have a great life, our three kids, Indiana 7, Danica 3.5 and Jackson 5 mos keep us busy, crazy and so happy! We both have 'regular' jobs but do weddings as a side business because we really love it.

Jordan and I are both experienced and licensed wedding officiates who have been in the wedding business since 2005. We do weddings in our extra time and we really love it. We believe we have a young, fresh and easygoing approach to weddings and really enjoy meeting and getting to know the couples that we work with. In fact, the novelty of standing up at the front with a bride and groom in front of their family and friends is not lost on us. We still love marriage, we love love and we love sharing in the wedding day. There are still times when we will get a little misty as the groom sees the bride start down the aisle or when the couple gets choked up during their vows. We really consider it an honour to be invited to share in that moment.

In our 5 years we have been a part of some fantastic weddings. We have great stories from our experiences and look forward to sharing some of them here.

Looking forward to having the blog to share a bit more. Feel free to share your ideas or questions and maybe I can include them in a future post! If either Jordan or I have been the officiate for your wedding, would love for you to send me a pic so I can start including those too!

We are booking 2011 now, so if you want some info or to check our availability send me an email weddings@jordanbateman.com and I will get back to you. THANKS!