Author: Cynthia Dumont

Little Gifts of Love

Posted on | Author Lisa Olech

flowers made from love note gift for bride or groom

Weddings can be elaborate affairs with hundreds of guests, or they can be intimate, simple gatherings with just a few cherished family members and friends. Either way, so much attention is spent making sure everyone has a good time. It is sometimes easy to get lost in those details and forget that this is your special day. There are a host of ways you can add tiny personal touches to your ceremony. Special scatterings of love to hold close to your heart that can make your day that much more distinctive and unique. Not for anyone else, just for you. A little […]

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Plan Your Romantic Winter Elopement or Tiny Wedding

Posted on | Author Carmen George

winter wedding with vermont Justice Carmen

If you aren’t keen on a big wedding, winter is a wonderful time to sneak away and elope or host a tiny wedding. It’s easy, simple, fun, less expensive, and may be a better fit for your personalities. You can always have a big party later with family and friends. Here are the steps to making it a reality. What Do You Want? Talk to your future spouse about what you would like your ceremony to be like. And where it should be. Each of you should write how you imagine your wedding day. Things to consider: Do you want […]

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Wedding Flowers: Fresh or Faux?

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Flowers frame the bride: a crown of primroses, a comb of baby’s breath, and a bouquet of peonies. Aisle markers, garlands, corsages, boutonnieres, and baskets full of pedals complete the ceremony scene. No budget for blooms? Allergic to annuals? Are you thinking you must forgo the flowers? No! Many brides are choosing faux over fresh. Budget First, let’s talk finances. For fresh flowers, couples spend an average of: $100-$150 for floral crowns $150-$350 for bride’s bouquet $65-$125 for bridesmaids’ bouquets $25-45 for boutonnieres $32-$65 for corsages And that doesn’t count the flower girl’s petals, the “tossing bouquet” or decorations! Renting […]

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Religious Symbols in a Secular Wedding Ceremony

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

A beautifully written ceremony can feel like poetry, often using familiar symbols to evoke a romantic and celebratory mood. We’re accustomed to wedding rings symbolizing the love and commitment the couple has for each other; they have no beginning and no end. Other symbols represent meaning as well. At this time of year, you may see symbols being used to celebrate holidays associated with various religions such as crosses, menorahs, and lanterns. Religious symbols have deep meaning and can add another layer of poetry to your ceremony. October’s blog talks about holiday-inspired ceremonies. Religious symbols can inspire too! Let’s explore […]

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Incorporating Your Kids into the Ceremony

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

There are 4 million stepchildren in this country (US Census Bureau 2010). That represents a lot of blended families! If you are about to join the ranks, get a solid start by involving your kids in your ceremony. After all, the commitment you’ll be making is not only to your new spouse. It is also to the children in the new family you are creating. Your ceremony should reflect that. Words Readings: Our previous blog on Readings suggested using children’s books. They have the most insightful truths. Depending on the ages of your children, select an excerpt of a children’s […]

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Holiday Inspired Wedding Ceremonies

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Fall inspires creativity with its breathtaking colors, brisk air, and the promise of holidays to come. If you have wedding planning on the brain, perhaps you’re wondering how to channel that feeling of excited anticipation by inviting the holidays into your ceremony. Here are a few holiday-inspired ceremony ideas to consider. Diwali The Hindu Festival of Lights is celebrated in autumn, and denotes the victory of light over dark, good over evil. The five days of celebration offer rituals easily incorporated into wedding festivities: Feasts, family, fireworks, and favors. Consider a row of lanterns, candles, or more authentically, oil lamps […]

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Plan B—6 Tips For When Things Don’t Go As Planned

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

You’re a planner. You’ve dedicated a lot of effort to your wedding preparations, so how could anything go wrong, right? Despite your best efforts, chances are there’ll be something that doesn’t go as planned. First and foremost, keep perspective! Remember that you’re marrying the love of your life. Nothing about the day is more important than that. That said, here are 6 practical tips to consider when matrimony mishaps occur. Lady-in-Waiting: Your beloved is eagerly waiting for your signal to turn for the First Look. You realize your photographer is nowhere in sight. European royalty had it right when they assigned […]

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Writing Your Own Vows Part 2: How-To Tips

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

So you’ve read last February’s blog about writing your own vows and overcoming stage fright, and now you and your fiancé have decided that this is what you both would like to do. Your ceremony is fast-approaching, but suddenly you have a case of writer’s block. Get Inspired If you are finding yourself staring at a blank screen, try these things to get the sparks going: Head space: Hit a bucket of balls, cast a line, walk the beach, or stare into a hot fire with a cold beer. Clear the clutter out of your head to make room for […]

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Unique Ceremony Spaces

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Everything about your special day should reflect you as a couple, including the venue. Last month’s blog discussed backyard weddings. If that wasn’t for you we’ve got alternatives! How about this? Think about your passions or a place that represents your love story. Did you meet at a bowling alley? Do you share a love of boating? Is your passion looking up at the stars and dreaming? Well, the sky’s the limit when it comes to places to tie the knot. Pick one that’s uniquely you. And search findajp.com to select a JP who shares that enthusiasm too! Here are a few examples […]

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Backyard Weddings

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

So should you do it? There are many good reasons to marry in your backyard, including the special memory that will come to mind every time you look at the place where it all happened. Before you decide, consider this: Weather Warm weather Position chairs in the shade for the ceremony. Provide water packed in ice buckets in a few key places. Use fans Hand-held can do double-duty by printing your programs on cardstock and giving them a wooden handle. Large fans (with misters?) can be rented for the day. Obtain enough of them to place strategically in each corner […]

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#Elopements! They’re Trending

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

Findajp.com blog on elopement

Anecdotally speaking, wedding professionals say more and more people are eloping. They would know, because boutique companies offering elopement packages are popping up like tulips in the spring. Why the escalation in elopements? Let’s break it down. Cost Do the math. It’s estimated that a traditional wedding costs $20,000 to $35,000. When you consider that more 30-year-old couples are marrying for the first time, and their average incomes range from $30,000 to $40,000 a year, it’s hard to justify spending nearly a year’s salary for just one day! Instead, couples are choosing to save that money for a house or […]

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Family Matters

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

family matters blog post image of wedding seating

Weddings bring family together. Family members are happy for you and excited to celebrate this hallmark occasion. So what could possibly go wrong, right? Well, family dynamics are complicated, and bringing two or more families together for one important day can be intense. Planning the ceremony, even with well-intentioned family members giving conflicting advice, can bring added stress to the day. Solutions to Common Ceremony Dilemmas As Justices of the Peace, couples tell us about sensitive situations that worry them. We thought a discussion about some common concerns along with solutions would be helpful. We’ve enlisted Anne Ziff, a licensed […]

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The Meaning of Your Flower Selection

Posted on | Author Cynthia Dumont

How do you choose the flowers for your wedding bouquet: color, season, childhood favorite? Did you know that the flowers in your bouquet may be sending a certain message? Flowers have been used to symbolize certain traits, feelings, and meaning throughout time, showing up in such things as plays, mythology, and poems. Learning to speak the language of flowers can add a whole new dimension to your ceremony. How did the tradition of carrying bouquets get started? In the 15th century, wedding bouquets were carried by brides to ward off evil spirits. They were not made of flowers, but instead, […]

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