Wedding Tip #33 - Will You Accept This Rose?

The Rose Ceremony: After you are pronounced husband and wife, you can exchange a rose with each other to symbolize the giving and receiving of love throughout your entire married life. Your officiant can explain how you will pick a special locale in your home for roses so that on your anniversaries you will each take a rose to that spot as a recommitment to your marriage. Additionally, if you ever reach a point in your marriage where it is difficult to find the right words to say how you feel, such as “I’m sorry,” “I forgive you,” “I am hurting,” or “I need you,” you can leave a rose in that spot – for that rose says what matters most and should overpower all other things ... it says “I still love you!” The other should accept that rose for the words which cannot be found, recalling the love and hope you shared on your wedding day and the love you still have for each other. Your professional disc jockey can play soft instrumental background music during the exchange of roses and the officiant's explanation of what they symbolize.

Wedding Tip #32 - "Mister Sandman, Bring Me A Dream!"

The Sand Pouring Ceremony: A symbolic act representing your union as husband and wife and your individual families becoming one united family. The bride and groom take vessels filled with different colors of sand and simultaneously alternate pouring their separate containers into one larger clear glass container creating a unique, mixed sand pattern. Just as it would be difficult to separate the individual grains of sand back into their separate colors, so too will it be to ever separate both of you. You can even incorporate your hobbies, e.g., if you’re into home-brewing, use a six-pack of beer bottles and have each parent pour from a bottle and then pour your bottles together; if you are wine enthusiasts, use bottles from your favorite wine or a wine carafe, if you enjoy the beach, use sea shells. If you already have children, you can have them participate as well. Your professional disc jockey can play soft instrumental background music during the sand pouring and as your officiant's explains its significance. Thereafter, you will have the sand mixture as a keepsake of your unity, to proudly display in your home for years to come.

Yee Haw! - Happy Trails Bob, Jenna & Family

JD the DJ recently provided the musical entertainment for the real wedding of Sierra Sixguns & Sidekicks western reenactors Bob (a.k.a. Lefty O'Doul) & Jenna (a.k.a. Peacock Rose). The wedding took place in a ranchlike setting in Lotus,CA. The ceremony began with JD playing saloon piano music as the cowboys were inside a barn. Bob could be overheard saying he was just riding through town and not ready to settle down, however, the men-folk voiced differently, noting Bob had promised to make an honest woman out of Jenna the next time he came to town. Soon the barn doors slid open and the guys lead Bob to the altar. A volley of shots was fired signaling a horsedrawn carriage to bring in Jenna and some youngens. Meanwhile, Jenna's saloon gal pals strolled down the aisle to await her arrival. As the couple joined hands, Mike (a.k.a Cactus Kid) sang "Look At You Girl". After the exchange of vows, Jenna's brother-in-law Nick sang "Love Never Falls" while Jenna's sons Dylan and Ryan took part in a unity candle lighting to symbolize the foursome officially uniting as a family. Later, for Bob & Jenna's first dance, JD played "Amazed" by Lonestar which JD custom edited and mixed to include their sweetheart messages to each other. Hats off and happy trails! View Bob & Jenna's montage

Wedding Tip #30 - Ceremony Rehearsal - Practice Makes Perfect

In rehearsing the ceremony, the best way to practice is: (1) begin with the bridesmaids and groomsmen already in position at the altar, so they know where they will be walking to; (2) next decide how you want them oriented (straight line, diagonally, semi-circle, etc.); (3) also determine where you want the flower girl and ring bearer to stand; (4) additionally have the guys coordinate how they hold their hands (i.e., in front or behind)so they all do it the same; (5) then do the recessional with the bridesmaids and groomsmen pairing up as they exit; (6) next have all participants, including parents and VIPs, line up in the order in which they will enter, having them pay attention to who they pair up with and those immediately ahead and behind them; (7) then run through the entire ceremony sequence dry, i.e., without music; (8) finally, do a run-through with music so everyone can familiarize themselves with their song cues and the pace they will need to match the beat.