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.

Simple Things

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

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

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.