Thumbtack Services!

It's not always easy to find reputable wedding vendors and finding the sources to do so. Thumbtack is a site that gives you a chance to get free bids and quotes from a wide variety of vendors.  When interviewing a vendor from this site Thumbtack initiates a conversation through you and the vendor through monitored email and you are in control if you want to give out your phone number or personal information. You post your needs on Thumbtack and vendors are alerted to what you are in need of. They are get to "bid" on the job. You decide if you want to then contact them. The Thumbtack service is free for the bride or groom! The vendor spends Thumbtack "credits" to respond, therefore the bride or groom is assured that the vendor is a serious and bonafide vendor - otherwise the vendor wouldn't be investing in the dialogue.
Another plus that Thumbtack has to offer is reviews of vendors. After someone has used their services they are contacted by Thumbtack to review their experience with the vendor. The value of reviews can give you a sense of the quality of the person or service you might consider hiring.
An additional way to qualify vendors is to cross reference them with other vendors you have hired. After finding and hiring one vendor you can open up a dialog with them about other vendors. Have they worked with them before? What type of feedback do they have?
While researching what vendors you'd like to have participate in your big day check out Thumbtacks services, you just might find them a 'one-stop-shop!'
'RocNRev' Michael Taylor

Wedding Officiants Santa Barbara

Unplugged Weddings Are The Latest Craze

No wedding ceremony photos please!

Photo courtesy of Blush Bridal

I must say, I read this article and had to reply "amen!" I have seen this happen at SO many weddings of late and very frustrating for the photographer and ultimately so disappointing for the wedding couple.

This article by Anne Chertoff of Yahoo Style!

Did you know that the bride and groom usually hire a professional photographer and videographer to capture the special moments of their wedding day? And while you, dear guest, may think that you’re helping them by taking photos they can use online or in a scrapbook, you may actually be ruining the images they are paying thousands of dollars for.

Over the last year photographers, wedding planners, and even the couples themselves, are planning unplugged weddings in which guests are asked to refrain from recording devices, especially during the actual ceremony. In a recent USA Today article, Ohio-based photographer Corey Ann Balazowich even admitted to presenting the idea to her clients (So far it has been well received.)

Guests may not realize that they’re getting in the way, or maybe they selfishly want to take their own images so they can post to their social platforms (after all did it really happen if you didn’t Instagram it for the world to see?) Photographers, however, are pleased by notion of the ban.

“Camera phones at weddings are a huge problem for photographers,” Minneapolis-based photographer Liz Banfield tells Yahoo Style. “Not only do these guests get in the way but they also can ruin the background of a photo. Literally every aisle shot I have from the last few years has someone holding out a phone into the aisle.”

And it’s not just photographers encouraging this new trend. Colin Reiser, co-owner of the wedding filmography agencyBlue Kite Cinema, shared with Yahoo Style the scenario of lining up the perfect shot to catch the couple’s first kiss at the end of the ceremony, and having a guest pop up in front of his video camera to shoot it on his iPhone.

“You end up missing the whole thing because at the last second, a guest forgets that he wasn’t the one who was hired to professionally capture the wedding,” he said. “Now, after all that build up, all you have to show is an extreme slow motion shot of the back of a guest’s head, and you have to explain to the couple why they have to ask a random guest to see their first kiss.”

Couples are not only concerned about their “ruined” wedding photos and video, but the in-the-moment experience their guests are missing by watching the first kiss, first dance, and cake-cutting ceremony via a 5-inch screen instead of through their own eyes.

“In addition to being disruptive to the photographers, taking photos on your phone or iPad is disruptive to the entire experience,” says celebrity-wedding planner Marcy Blum. “A guest can’t be shooting the wedding and be in the moment at the same time.”

So how can you ensure that only the professionals are shooting your wedding? 

Banfield recommends letting guests know via signage as they walk in that this is an unplugged wedding. You can also have the ushers remind guests that the couple is requesting they refrain from taking their own photos.

“I think it’s important it be phrased that it’s the request of the bride and groom, and not the rules of the church, which people will break,” she adds.

And just in case they may have forgotten since taking their seat, Jung Lee of FÊTE suggests reminding them one more time. “Right before the ceremony begins, have the officiant inform everyone that the couple requests that they enjoy the ceremony live, and refrain from taking photos. He can also add that all the professional photos will be shared later on.”

If you want to truly ensure that no one will jump into the aisle to take photos, New York based wedding and event planner,Lindsay Landman suggests creating a phone check.  Simply have guests check their phones—into plastic bags that are clearly labeled—as they would check their coat. “This way if they do need to make a call they can simply uncheck their phone, and then check it back in,” she explains.

For couples having a destination wedding, Blum recommends you inform guests that you’re having an unplugged wedding via a note left with the welcome bag.

“Since they won’t have their phone with them at the wedding, we’ll leave an alternate number guests can give to their babysitter, nanny or someone else who may need to reach them, and my staff will answer and relay any messages,” Blum explains.

Above all, remember to let the professionals do their job. You do yours: Be present and enjoy the experience.

A Special Singing Tribute to Mom On Her Wedding Day

Singing for his mom on her wedding day-WOW!

The Golden Rules of Wedding Guest Etiquette

Wedding guests having a blast from one of my 'RocNRev' weddings!

There are so many publications and tips for the brides out there, thought I'd pass on these suggestions for the wedding guests- reprinted from Yahoo Shine!

Can you wear white? “It’s generally not a good idea for guests to wear white to avoid drawing attention from the bride,” Jamie Miles, editor of TheKnot.com,tells Yahoo Shine. “However, there are two exceptions: if you know the bride is wearing a colored dress or the wedding has, say, a ‘black-and-white’ theme.” Ditto for ivory, off-white, blush, or champagne. However, if you’re determined to wear white, opt for a short dress (provided the bride is wearing a floor-length gown). Otherwise, why not pop in bold colors?

Should you spend $100 on a gift? Between the engagement party, the bridal shower, and the nuptials, its no wonder the cost of weddings is rising — each guest spends an average of $79 on a gift (If you go in with a partner, the cost spikes to $146.), according to a recent study conducted by The Knot. But take comfort in the following, “There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to gift giving; it really depends on your budget,” says Miles. So if your total budget is $100, spend $20 on the engagement gift (maybe a framed picture of the happy couple), $20 for the shower gift (Stainless steel measuring spoons are always nice.), and $60 on the wedding gift (There are plenty of items at this price.) Done.

Is it OK to post wedding photos on social media? No doubt you’ll have your smartphone handy, but posting photos of the ceremony, the venue, or the couple on social media is tricky territory. For one, the bride and groom may want to vet potentially unflattering shots (Wouldn’t you?), and you could seem detached from the festivities if you’re hunched over your phone uploading photos all evening. One exception: “Lots of weddings are getting more social whereby the couple will include hashtags on their invitations to streamline their photos,” says Miles. “Otherwise, feel free to post selfies or group shots."

Do you have to at least attempt to catch the bouquet? Elbowing a group of women to catch a bouquet of flowers may not be your thing, and that's OK. "As weddings become less conventional, many couples are forgoing certain traditions like the garter or bouquet toss,” says Miles. “However, guests can always opt out. It’s unlikely that anyone will notice anyway.”


Do you really have one year to send a gift? Yes. Although in a perfect world, guests would send gifts as close as possible to the wedding date, that’s not always realistic. That’s why couples keep their online registries open for an entire year after their wedding, so that friends or family members who were too busy, financially strapped, or just plain forgot can still send a token of congrats.

Can you bring children? This one is a no-brainer: Guests should never assume that children are invited to a wedding unless specified by the couple. “Usually, the invitation will be addressed to each family member by name,” says Miles. “If not, don’t take it personally. Kids are an added expense, from factoring in special menus to arranging post-ceremony activities." If the wedding is kid-free, arrange ahead of time for child-care or if that's simply not an option, one parent can always skip the festivities and stay home to babysit. 

The Language Of Love

This is reprinted from Readers Digest 9/2013. It SPOKE to me!

Wedding Traditions From Around the World

Farzana Shaikh applies henna to visually impaired brides at the Andh Kanya Prakash Gruh institute as part of a ritual ahead of their marriages in Ahmedabad, India.

I found this article by Kat Kinsman from CNN. I always find it interesting to learn about wedding customs and ceremonies from around the world!

 For as long as couples have been tying the knot, the rites and customs of their cultures have been integral to marriage ceremonies. These rituals uphold tradition as time marches forth and families meld -- and they're a wonderful opportunity to celebrate ancestors, origins and faith.

While some of these traditions have fallen out of favor and are no longer the norm, couples around the world still incorporate these age-old outfits, sounds, foods and activities as they celebrate their wedding day ... or days ... or week.

Iran

Symbolic objects play an important role in a traditional Iranian marriage ceremony. The "Sofreh-ye Aghd" is a collection of items spread out on the floor on a luxurious cloth usually passed from mother to daughter. Two candelabras are placed on the cloth on either side of a mirror, representing the brightness of the couple's future together. Seven herbs and spices guard the bride and groom against spiritual harm, and a copy of the couple's holy book is included to represent God's blessing over the proceedings. Married female family members hold a scarf or shawl over the couple's heads while two sugar cones are ground over them to shower the union in sweetness and joy.

Tunisia

Weddings in Tunisia are typically lavish, joyous, raucous, multi-day affairs, including henna applications on the hands and feet of the bride in the company of her female friends and family, and thrones on which the happy couple sits for the bulk of the proceedings. While customs vary per region, the bride will usually be walked to the ceremony accompanied by the songs and zaghareed (ululations) of friends and relatives. She will often, on one night of the proceedings, wear a heavy gold dress (which is sometimes rented, though some girls start making one in their teens), on which shapes like fish or the hand of Fatma (daughter of the prophet Muhammed) are embroidered. While it is rarely the case these days, in centuries past, the bride-to-be would be spun around while wearing the dress, to finally face her future husband for the first time.

Sephardic Jews

These traditions have certainly faded over time, but some Sephardic Jews employ fish in various aspects of their wedding ritual. On the Balkan Peninsula, a bride may step or jump over a dish full of fish in order to encourage fertility. In Morocco, the seventh day at the end of the wedding week is the Day of the Fish. The groom, in his new role as the head of the household, will purchase an excellent fish from the market. Once it is prepared, he will take a bite, then give the rest to his wife -- also a gesture toward fertility, and proof that he can provide for his future family.

Japan

San-san-kudo is a family affair, and it comes in threes. During a Shinto ceremony, the bride, groom and both sets of their parents each take three sips of sake from each of three stacked cups, for a total of nine sips. This ritual is meant is to create a bond between the two families and deepen the couple's union.

Wicca

This modern pagan religion draws heavily from Celtic tradition when it comes to tying the knot. Some practitioners refer to the wedding itself as "handfasting," but the specific ritual entails binding a couple's hands to one another with a ribbon, cord, rope or cloth to form a unity symbol and seal their bond. Colors, patterns and charms may be specially chosen to represent various attributes wished for in the marriage.

Mexico

Mexican tradition also involves binding partners together. There's it's done with a "lazo" -- often a ribbon or a rosary -- draped in a figure eight around the couple's shoulder after their vows in order to strengthen their connection and symbolize their never-ending love. It's removed at the end of the ceremony, and given to the bride as a keepsake.

Sikh

"Anand Karaj" translates to "blissful union" and the joy may be spread out for anywhere from one to three days. The ceremony itself cannot take place at a hotel or banquet hall, but is usually conducted at a Sikh place of worship -- a Gurdwara -- or often at the bride's home. Food often demarcates the start and finish of the religious proceedings. Families come together to greet one another over tea and light snacks during a "Milni," and then enter the space where the rite occurs. After a gift of cash from the groom to the bride's family, prayers, readings, vows and several walks by the couple around the room, Karah Prashad -- a sacramental pudding -- is distributed to all to indicate the end of the ceremony.

Hawaii

Both brides and grooms in native Hawaiian tradition wear flower garlands as a physical manifestation of their love for one another, and to some, the twining of the stems is reflective of two families now becoming one. A more tourist-friendly version established in the past couple of decades involves winding the leis around the couple's hands to bind them together. In the rarer ho'ao ceremony, the betrothed are draped in a blessed cloth (traditionally made of bark, but now more frequently fabric) called a kapa, to bring abundance, health, wealth and, if desired, many children.

This Officiant Cheers Wedding Couple Facing the Storms of Life Together!

This article posted in Yahoo Shine by Lilit Marcus

Photographer Captures Tornado in Couple's Wedding Pictures

Photo by Colleen Niska Photography/FacebookColleen Niska, a photographer based in Saskatchewan, Canada, got the surprise of her career when a tornado made a surprise appearance in the background of a couple's wedding photos. The couple, whom she has not identified, was married in Saskatchewan on Saturday, and Niska shared the pictures on Facebook with this comment: "I've dreamed about a day like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Could NOT wait to post these! Pretty sure this will only happen once in my lifetime!" The beautiful blue sky in the background is offset by a swirling cloud in the background, but the bride and groom walk blissfully along the road hand-in-hand, unaware of what's behind them.

Almost as soon as Niska published the pictures online, they went viral. So far, the photo gallery has more than 22,000 likes and 15,000 shares. "So this is probably the best wedding photo of all time!" wrote one commenter. "Just throw the camera away now it will be hard to ever top these photos. Unreal," wrote another.

Photography By Collen Niska Photography/FacebookA Canadian news station confirms that two tornadoes touched down near the town of Outlook, which is about an hour away from where the couple was married. The bride and groom said that the wind blew a tent over, but otherwise the reception was a success and no one was injured.

And some commenters believe the tornado in the background might have symbolism. "I love how they are so into each other no matter what storm life brings. Very meaningful," one commenter wrote, while others drew metaphors such as "weathering the storm." And for Niska, the artistic achievement also has had a professional payoff. She gained 7,000 new Facebook fans in the past week alone. Still, there's one potential downside to her newfound celebrity: Several commenters on Facebook have already started requesting that she get tornadoes in their pictures, too. Thank goodness for Photoshop.