Wedding Photo

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

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

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

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

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!!!

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

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

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

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

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.