You just got engaged! What Next?

 

You Just Got Engaged!  What Next?

After you choose the date…..

Before you try on dresses, seek a florist, or sample cakes, look for a photographer or DJ….. REMEMBER without a Minister-Officiant there can be no wedding!

The first two things you want to BOOK are your venue and then your Wedding Officiant.

What style wedding do you want?

 

 

Do you want your celebration to be formal, casual or somewhere in between? Classic, romantic, vintage, botanical, rustic, modern or all-out glam?

Perhaps you want something themed with a holiday or your favourite hobby.

 

Setting the Budget

Once you know the style you want, it’s time to set your Budget.

 

 

Take into account that more guests means higher prices, as catering and cake costs are generally calculated on a per-head basis. More

people mean more tables, and more tables mean more flowers, linens, china, etc.

When building your guest list, consider the fact that most venues have a limit of how many people they can accommodate.

 

Look for the a Location

Ask yourself some of these key questions: What season am I holding my wedding? Is the season most appropriate for outdoors or indoors?

How far are you and your guest willing to travel? Do you want a lake or pond background? Flower garden or a ballroom filled with roses? Or maybe you seek a rustic vibe and want to tie-the-knot in a local barn?

 

Book your Venue

You can save time by searching the web for venues in the location that fits your distance needs. Most venue websites offer plenty of information about what they can offer you along with photos that allow you to see if they meet your wedding style.

Find a few places that meet your vision and call them to ask about availability, capacity and cost. They can tell you if they have in-house catering and other details that will help you decide if you want to set an appointment to tour their facility.

Ensure that you get the look you envisioned, with the price you budgeted for by shopping around, scheduling visits and booking early.

 

Hire Priority: Wedding Minister-Officiant

Your next highest wedding priority is to find and book your wedding officiant. They write and perform the marriage ceremony that makes your whole day possible.

Because of their importance in the wedding process the best ones book up quickly. Don’t be left choosing from someone who just joined the business this year and haven’t acquired the experience to create the perfect ceremony for you. Couples often don’t realize the creative options available in today’s wedding ceremonies. No longer the days of the Officiant speaking the same generic words for all couples.

Decide what kind of ceremony you feel fits you and your family. Religious (light or completely), Non- Religious/Romantic or Spiritual. Ask what options are included in the ceremony. Can you include your children in the ceremony? Not only will the ceremony set the mood for the day, it is the reason for the day!

Rev. Samantha L. Heart * Raleighweddingofficiant.com

 

Next…..

Now it’s time for you to decide what the rest of your wedding priority vendors are. Do you want to hire a wedding planner to help you through the whole planning process or maybe for just the day of the wedding? Whether it’s the hottest photographer, trendiest music, amazing flowers, or an extraordinary cake, snap up the vendors whose work you love as soon as possible. Many in-demand vendors are hired more than a year in advance.

You can now think about where your remaining budget can give a little for the things you find most important.

 

www.raleighviolinist.com

 

www.ladybirdeve.com

 

http://www.fotosab.com/

 

  Florist

 

 

 Cakes

 

Wedding Officiant, Rev. Samantha L. Heart is also here to help you with preferred vendors.

I proudly work with the top professionals in the industry.  I have worked with these teams extensively and they share my commitment to excellence.

Just ask me to guide you in the direction of the top quality vendor you need to complete your wedding.

 

www.raleighweddingofficiant.com

Samantha@heart2heart.us

919-373-4267

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 



My role as a Wedding Officiant on a Wedding Day

 

 

I have been working as an officiant in the state of North Carolina for five years, I was Ordained in 1992 in the state of New Hampshire where I was born and raised. Although my spiritual service began in NH where I lead many services and events, I have found my home in NC.

Recently a bride asked me, "What do you do when you arrive at the venue?" So, this piece is about what a minister/officiant does before, during, and after a ceremony. I thought perhaps this might help couples understand how it works from my perspective.

I don’t know if it’s true for every officiant but, from the moment I walk into a wedding, I wear many different hats…

I’m often requested by couples to use my decorative pieces such as my arch and or flower topped columns for the ceremony area. This sets the area apart and makes it the focal point.

I design and create these “props” and can change colours based on the wedding colour scheme and offer them free of charge to help my bride & groom create a beautiful ceremony area and save money at the same time.

~The Decorator~

So upon arrival I seek out the location where I need to set up & decorate. Sometimes there is someone there who can direct me and other times I have to hunt down someone in the know. Once I get the location noted then it’s on to setting up my props.  Sometimes I have volunteers that will help carry the items so I can get busy making them look perfect.

     

To the best of my knowledge I am the only Officiant in NC that offers these wedding props to help their couples save money and still have a beautifully decorated ceremony area.

Once I have taken care of the ceremony area set up I will seek out the bride & groom to let them know I am here and all is well.

 I will then discuss any last minute details and most importantly I reassure both the bride & groom that everything is beautiful and it’s time for them to enjoy the meaning of the day. I will Pray with the bridal party if requested or even offer an alternate short mediation for those so inclined.

Because I don’t book multiple weddings on the same day, I’m available to relax the couple about time restraints. I tell them I’m there for the day and at their service.

~Meet and Greeter~

After acquiring and reviewing the marriage license to make sure everything is in legal order I’m off to meet with family members and other vendors. If there is a special song for the bride to walk to I will know what it is and when to have the guests stand. I may need to be fitted for a microphone so I will take the time to get that done and do a sound check.

I will then meet with anyone reading a part in the ceremony to make sure they have a copy of their reading and if not I always bring an extra print out along to prevent any mishaps.

Time to recheck the ceremony area and make sure everything still looks perfect.

Since the time I arrived I’ve been introducing myself to family and guests and welcoming them to the wedding. This is the time when I can answer any questions they may have for me.

 

~Nervous grooms Life line~

As the ceremony time nears and the guests begin seating it’s now my time to stand close to the nervous groom.

 

Lending the groom an arm of support

 

Waiting for the bride

 

I chat with him about how I’ll be his life line throughout the ceremony, and all he needs to do is follow my lead through each part and I promise him that I will not let him down.

I remind him that I’ll repeat things twice so he doesn’t have to worry about “messing up”. A couple of jokes later and he is feeling more confident about his role.

Also if requested this is the time I make any announcements to the guests about cell phones, photo taking, etc.

~ The Officiant~

Now is my time to shine as I lead the bride and groom through one of the most important days in their lives.

My delivery is everything! It must be heartfelt and said with the passion in which it was written. I must convey not only to the couple but also their friends and family that this is no ordinary wedding ceremony. This is the story of two people in love and so committed to one another they have come forth to tell the world they will live as husband and wife from here on out.

Sure we go through the legally required words but there is so much more in this ceremony. The things you don’t hear but see and feel.

It is I that must set the tone for the ceremony to be as fun as it is meaningful. I am responsible to guide the couple through the thoughtfully written script and at the same time to engage the guests in the ceremony that makes it a community event.

No long boring sermons leaving everyone waiting to get on the reception, but rather a delightful sharing of memories and moments to be carried throughout the day.

Even after the couple have kissed and been introduced as Mr. and Mrs., my job is not completely done yet.

~Business Woman~



  signing twice is required

This is when I put my business hat on & seek out the two witnesses to sign the marriage license therefore making the marriage legal in the eyes of the law.

I enjoy getting photos with the couple and remind their professional photographer about how I will be writing a Blog for this wedding & will await their photos to complete that task.

 

Time to break down my ceremony area props without disturbing the reception & quietly load everything back into my car.

After having said my goodbyes to everyone I drive back home feeling fulfilled from head to toe, knowing this is my true calling.



Rev. Samantha L. Heart

 

www.raleighweddingofficiant.com

 

Samantha will go the extra mile to make your wedding ceremony the high light of your day!

Call anytime 919-373-4267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PWG Luncheon at The Hall and Gardens at Landmark

 

Welcome!

Samantha Heart of Heart2Heart Ceremonies, a Raleigh Wedding Officiant 

  here to share my experiences attending the PWG luncheons.

Another amazing luncheon with my fellow Professional Wedding Guild friends www.pwgnc.com.

This luncheon was on Wed. July 23 and held at the Hall and Gardens at Landmark in Garner, NC .

I arrived early for the 11:00 AM event and boy was it a hot and humid day.     

 

You know you have arrived when you see this breath taking water fountain.

 

 

As I opened the door to the first floor, I was greeted by a large lighted sign board divided into quarters. Scrolling pictures of wedding table settings, a bride & grooms photo and The Perfect Wedding Guide appeared.

 As you can see by the photo, the sign board is enveloped in a very elegant setting. 

I stepped onto the elevator and up to the third floor & went.

The registration table matched the elegant room covered with a gold cloth and the ladies sitting in those beautiful chairs looked so royal.

Catherine Katz of Cherished Celebrations  and Lachelle Howard of Knot your Average Events were busy registering Laura McMillan from Confectionate cakes and Kimberly Williams from Weddings by the Vine.

 

 

I loved the design of the signs and the elegant writing. We had our luncheon in the Marie Antoinette Ballroom.

 

Here’s Kelley Kennedy of Teacup Floral with her business display.

 

 I think the idea to have the tables set up for the attending wedding professionals to display their business cards, brochures and tablets with photos of their work is a great way to network.

 

 

         The hall set up for the luncheon.

Even the carpeting says posh all the way.

 

 

Beautiful table settings provided by Andy Karris with A Special Event

 

   The Farmers Table Restaurant Group catered our luncheon with their Harvest salads: tuna, egg, chicken, potato with a fresh green salad and gourmet dressings.  

The beverage table offered ice tea, strawberry and mint water, sweet tea and direct from France a fizzy wine that was champagne on our lips.

 

 

In the picture is Quinton, new catering manager with the Farmer Table Restaurant Group

 

 

Confectionate Cakes beautiful display of cupcakes. There were 3 kinds to choose from and they were so ‘melt in your month’ delicious I think everyone took one of each.

 

 

Nina and Victor with AllEvents DJS 

set up their sound system for us.

 

 

 In the picture is Victor.

 

 

I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of the cupcakes with the table center piece.

 

What a lovely turn out. It’s always fun socializing with old friends and new one too. Gail is always mindful to introduce any new comers to the regulars so everyone feels at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Wurster from Knots 'NSuch Events enjoyed looking through the beautiful wedding portfolio of David Kuhn from Kuhn’s Photo

 

 

 

 

Tenekia Parker from Triangle Party Rentals 

is enjoying a refreshing beverage. I love her business shirt.

 

 

A special treat was to see the Bonaparte Room! This is the waiting room for the groom and his groomsmen.

 

The gentlemen attending the luncheon so graciously agreed to pose for this totally awesome photo in the Bonaparte room.

 

Our host for The Hall and Gardens at the Landmark were Jamie Norris and Joyce Jones. They explained about The Hall & Gardens for weddings and events. Jamie was especially attentive to everyone’s needs including hooking us up with WiFi.

 

I was so pleased to meet Keith Bishop from The Gardens at Gray Gables

 

 

 

 

Gail Galloway, our fearless leader, with the Perfect Wedding Guide .

 

 

Here she has a cow bell to call us to attention. Gail always has something very entraining in store for us. This month it was playing the Speed Networking Game. The perfect opportunity to hone our professional business skills.

 

Speed Networking

 

 

A big thanks goes out to Caroline Z Dickson the luncheons’ photographer. She has allowed me to use some of her beautiful photos in this blog. Her business name is   caroline z photography  and she is located in Durham, NC



 

 

 

 

The luncheon ended with a guided tour of the enchanting gardens that serve as such a romantic setting for wedding ceremonies.

 

A group photo of all the wedding professionals eager to serve all your wedding needs.

New Wedding professionals are welcomed to join us at the next PWG luncheon for fun, networking, a tasty lunch and the opportunity to grow your business. Please contact Ashely or Gail at Raleigh@pwg.com or go to  www.pwgnc.com to learn more about the Professional Wedding Guild

Feel free to contact any of the wedding vendors listed in this blog. I'm sure they would love to hear from you.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I welcome your comments and appreciate it when you share it with your friends.

 

Rev. Samantha L. Heart