Outdoor ceremonies

This blog is different from other blogs.  The other blogs, for the most part, give advice.  This one is different.  Please bear with me as I vent.

I recently read a review of an really good colleague.   Upon reading one of his reviews, I am greatly disturbed by the comments made by the bride. She states that when the minister was talking during the OUTDOOR ceremony her guests in the back could not hear him because he spoke in his normal voice.

Whitefield Square Elopement with www.ElopeToSavannah.com . Congrats to Ken and Kathleen!

First, she should have had a PA System which would have solved it. Next, had he spoken so the people in the back could hear, he would have been YELLING in the ears of the bride and groom – that’s romantic, NOT!

I have done thousands of weddings and speak from experience: outdoor weddings are notorious for guests in the back not being able to hear unless the couple spends the money on a professional PA System. .

Share your thoughts, I would greatly appreciate it!

And now I have a Facebook page!!

Check it out!!!

Facebook 

Share your thoughts.

Some Recent Weddings

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

  Some recent weddings, rehearsals, and just fun photos!  Enjoy!

Check out our most recent “window changes!”

Windows, wedding, and all by my iPad 2!! A real photographer would have made much better photos!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Two recent Thank You emails

People tell me it’s good to put up Thank You notes online.  So, here’s two recent ones.

Rev. Schulte,

We would like to thank you for making our wedding absolutely perfect!  Everything went nice and smooth.  The roses you chose for the bouquet were gorgeous and the purple ribbon was right on point.  Even though we met you for the

Keisha & Nicholas

first time on the day of our wedding, we’re just amazed at how well everything came together.  We also love the pictures that you took.  Thanks for making our day memorable!

Sincerely,
Keisha & Nicholas

Wedding April 25, 2011

*I took photos of their 6:30am sunrise wedding with my iPad 2 and with their camera.  The one above is with my iPad 2.

Reverend Schulte is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best officiant for your Savannah wedding. My name is Carin and my husband and I had the privilege of being married in April in Savannah by Reverend Schulte. We were fortunate enough to meet him and email with him alot before our destination wedding and this not only made us even more satisfied with having him preside over the wedding, but allowed us to call him a friend. We met with him in June to see if we wanted to choose him and after a great conversation and his honest thoughts and advice we booked him on the spot. Throughout the vow writing process he was available and helpful and knowledgeable. He not only gave great advice for the vows themselves but he dispenses invaluable knowledge culled from the tons of weddings he does do. He reminded me to think about the width of my stilettos since we were planning an outdoor ceremony and there would be grass to sink into; advised us to have laundered handkerchiefs for the ceremony (which most certainly came in hand!); helped us come up with a rain plan and a entering and exiting the square plan. And, when we met him two days before the wedding, he went over every aspect of the ceremony, pronunciation of loved one’s names and suggested a way for us to have a few minutes alone as a couple right after the ceremony and prior to the photos to soak in “our day.” Reverend Schulte is thoughtful, extremely professional (he presided over the smoothest running and quickest rehearsal and managed to wrangle a bunch of chatty Brits and Americans with ease) and exactly the person you want marrying you on your wedding day.I can’t begin to express how pleased we both are with your participation in our big day. Happily, Carin Wedding April 17, 2011

Please be careful…

Do you know the TV show “Holmes on Homes”? It’s about home construction contractors taking advantage of unsuspecting home owners, duping them out of thousands of dollars.

I write this blog because I have learned of some recent events which really bother me.

There are good and not so good people in this world. There are some who take advantage of others, some who steal. And unfortunately there are one or two not so good people in Savannah.

Below is a list of local wedding coordinators with whom I have worked. And I will work with them again, as I’ve never heard anyone being taken advantage of by these people.

Here is that list, (listed randomly):

• Caroline Carter Events
• Tricia Huddas and Co.
• Anne Hagin Events
• Coastal Savannah Weddings with Chad Baker
• Elope To Savannah with Chad Baker
• Everlasting Occasion with Raven Clark
• Posh, Petals and Pearls with Tara Skinner
• Melissa Livingston Events
• First City Events with Bonnie Kaar
• All About You Entertainment with Cindy Brown
• reDefinning Moments with Karen Moore
• Tybee Island Wedding with Jennifer Palmer
• There may be others, but at this late hour I do not recall them, but will gladly add them to this list if they are so kind as to let me know. I really want to get this blog up and published, please read on.

There are also venues which have “event planners/coordinator” and have great people working with them:

• Telfair Academy
• Forsyth Park Inn
• Avia
• Mansion on Forsyth Park
• Davenport House
• Owen-Thomas House
• this is not a complete list, these are just a list off of the top of my head (a late night post)

If you ask me about a coordinator in town, I will tell you one of two things.

• I have worked with them and they are good/excellent/outstanding
• Have you looked at others?

I will not say that a company is bad or has a bad reputation in town, probably for legal reasons. However, I will strongly suggest you review vendors. And please note: that you also need to ask other Wedding Professionals in Savannah about other people. This is a small community and everybody knows everybody, both those who are good and those who are questionable.

And finally, I do not have a huge ego nor am I arrogant about my abilities. If I don’t know a wedding vendor, then they are either new to this area or ….

My concern is that nobody be taken advantage of, like the couple I worked with today. Not only was this couple deployed while arranging their wedding, (one is Iraq and one in Afghanistan). Then they were duped out of over $3,800. They had a two year old child murdered about a year ago. So not only do they have to cope with the death of child but also being taken advantage of while planning their wedding day all while they were serving our country. Because of a really good coordinator stepping in, their day was fantastic!

Also be leery of a local company when they don’t use their own names in the website. And just because a company has a high number of traffic listed on the “counter” at the bottom of a page, doesn’t make them reputable.

I want your day to be outstanding and if I can help, i will do the best I can.

Share your thoughts.

Some recent Thank You’s

I know this section is needed so that brides and grooms can see what other brides and grooms have to say about the services I performed for them (I just can’t say, “how great of a job I did for the couple” it just sounds so arrogant.)

Performing a wedding ceremony is something that I love to do and I hope it shows.

These thank you’s are one that I received via emails.

Reverend Schulte,

Thank you for performing the ceremony for Steph and Ben.  We so much enjoyed visiting your church and getting to know you a bit prior to the ceremony.  We had a wonderful visit to South Carolina and are already planning a trip there in the near future.  It is amazing that we were able to plan the whole trip and ceremony by Internet, and were so very happy with every detail.

Thank you again,

Anne Kolodge and family

.

Hi!

I hope this note finds you well!

As Jared and I come upon our one year anniversary, we can’t help but think of you and your role in making our wedding day so very special. I think it’s only appropriate as we reflect on the last year to send you an update. You remain a part of our lives whether you realize it or not.

He was 7lbs 12oz and 21 inches long.

Eamon Christopher joined us on July 11 at 213pm.

Since we last saw you, we have expanded our family. Eamon Christopher joined us on July 11 at 213pm. He was 7lbs 12oz and 21 inches long. That’s right, we sure did have a honeymoon baby! I have attached a couple of pictures for you.

I still can’t thank you enough for making our day so special. We can’t wait to get back down to Savannah and when we do, rest assured, we’ll give you a call!

Take care!

Jared, Sara, and Eamon Downs

(you can see Sara’ comment on another blog about Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta.)

.

Rev. Schulte,

Just wanted to drop a line to thank both you and Chad for making our wedding better than we could have hoped for.  Everything just came together, even the weather.  I need to get in touch with Chad regarding the photos.  We are being bombarded with people requesting pics.  Please have him contact us as to when we can expect to receive them.

Once again thanks for everything, and we look forward to hearing from Chad.

Sincerely,

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rodman,

But you can still just call us Mike and Cindy.

.

Rev. Schulte

Thank you. We enjoyed it so much! We were happy to share our day with you. Thanks a million!

Amanda Pacheco

.

Rev. Schulte

I just wanted to thank you again for being apart of our son’s baptism.  The service was perfect, just what we wanted.  We loved your church! Thank you so much!!!  Brenda

.

Dear Reverend Schulte,

Thanks so much for being the biggest part of our wedding day!  The ceremony was short and sweet – just what we wanted.

Savannah is such an incredibly beautiful and romantic city, we just were not ready to leave.  The weekend is over and we are now at home in freezing and snowy Ohio.  Creating our own romance, such is married life…

We will forward photos when they are available.

All the Best,

Kit and Ted

“The Schroeders”

Note: this was sent a few days after the ceremony

Tweet

Should you read reviews of vendors?

Yes.  And there are site which allow brides and grooms to review their wedding vendors.  And I encourage you to go to them.

There are vendors who have a large number of reviews and there are vendors with very few. And each one is rated by the bride and/or groom.  For example, the most known site, Wedding Wire.  A vendor is rated with stars, from 0-5, with 5 being the best.  You can find my latest reviews on Wedding Wire at this link. Another site is Wedding Mapper, it is not as well known and I only have two reviews on there..

Why is it important to read reviews?  When you go buy a new car, I would hope you’d check out the reviews of the car.  For example, I recently purchased a pre-owned car (or is it pre-loved car?).  I went online to Kelly Blue Books and read up on the value of the car.  I also went to Consumer Reports, online, and read some reviews.  And I went and checked out Technical Service Bulletins (if a particular make of car has too many TSB’s, that will lead to a recall.)  I knew what problems may occur when I purchased the car.

Our two new rescue dogs (Dec. 22, 2010), they were two days away from being euthanized. They are great dogs!

I don’t know of other wedding vendor review sites, so if you do, please let me know and I’ll post them here.

There are draw backs to sites like Wedding Wire.  Some vendors may strongly encourage brides and grooms to fill out a review. For example, on Trip Advisor (not a wedding site), I know of one bed and breakfast who has been in business for about 3 years, yet has over 400 reviews.  Hmmm…  And I know of a bed and breakfast in business for 7+ years and only has 65 reviews.

Also, if you look closely at review sites (even best buy has this option) you can sort the reviews from lowest to highest. Often times the most recent review is first.

On one of my reviews you’ll read where I arrived by pedi-cab to a wedding.  Yup, I sure did!  The bride and groom wanted their wedding at the same time I was already booked, 4pm.  So, they were willing to move their start time to 4:30pm, since their wedding was only two squares away, because they wanted me as their officiant. I was going to walk, but decided it was too hot that day to walk and not get sweaty.  The answer was Pedicab!  I flagged down a pedicab prior to the 4pm wedding, paid him to wait for me and then had him take me to the 4:30pm wedding.  I arrived 7 minutes early!!

And lastly, if there is a lastly, google a person or business.  For example, I found out about a wedding officiant who will not only be the minister at  your wedding, but will clean your house, walk your dog, grocery shop and wash your car for you.

Share your thoughts! Tweet

Update Note: on 1.25.11 Wedding Wire announced that I received: the Bride’s Choice Awards 2011 from WeddingWire! This means we are in the top 5 percent of Wedding Pros nationwide. http://www.weddingwire.com/vendor-reviews

Say yes to your dress length!

Ok, so what do I know about wedding dresses?  Not much! I can tell you if I like a dress, but can’t describe a dress to well!

I don’t know if it is tool or toulle, or tulle, but because of spell checker I know it’s not the second one!  I don’t know if it is a bird cage for the hair or for your bird, or even the movie!  And I don’t know if it is a veil, vail, or blusher, or something else!

But I do know if the dress is the right length when the bride walks down the aisle!  How does one make it the right length? Clueless.  But I know it needs to be shortened!  Never have I seen a dress to short!

This is pure theory, but my theory about why the dress becomes/is too long is because most wedding dress selling places have brides stand in place on that platform and rarely do they have them walk around in it (see any TV show about brides!).

How is this resolved?  Not sure.  But my thoughts are: walk around in the dress (with correct shoes) while on the sales floor.

Now there are two factors which a bride needs to take into consideration when you “say yes to your dress length” in my opinion!  First, type of floor you’ll be walking in, carpet or solid floor.  Second is the lawn/grass/sand for beach.  The second one is first!  When bride walks in the grass down the aisle, the dresses are almost always to long. Why ? My guess is because they didn’t walk in grass when getting it measured.  I’ve seen plenty of brides step on the dress while walking in grass and on the sand.  The grass and sand makes the dress longer because the grass blades stick up around the shoe – therefore making the dress to long. The soil and sand makes the brides heals sink into the ground, once again making the bride shorter and the dress to long.

Now the first one second.  Not too often is the dress to long on solid floors, such as hardwood or concrete.  But carpet will make the dress to long, because of the padding under the carpet gives way under the shoe.

Here is a strange online illustration of grass.

|||||||||||||___||||||||||___|||||||___|||||||___|||||

The grass blades, sand, carpet all make the dress too long when walking on it.

One of the problems with a bride walking “down the aisle” is that she has flowers and is, in some cases, holding the arm of a parent or sibling or friend as she walks.  One hand for the flowers and the other for the arm of the person walking her in.  She doesn’t have yet another hand to hold up the front of the dress while walking.

Enough of my theory and guesses!

Any thoughts or tips for brides?

Happy New Year!

Tweet

2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Fresher than ever.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,800 times in 2010. That’s about 9 full 747s.

 

In 2010, there were 26 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 40 posts. There were 184 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 95mb. That’s about 4 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was May 20th with 50 views. The most popular post that day was Tonight’s wedding at the Mansion on Forsyth Park.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were savannahgaweddings.com, facebook.com, twitter.com, alphainventions.com, and mail.yahoo.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for say yes to the dress atlanta, “scottee angel”, rev schulte blog, rev schulte, and say yes to the dress melissa.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Tonight’s wedding at the Mansion on Forsyth Park March 2010

2

1902 Savannah Wedding Chapel January 2010

3

Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta July 2010
6 comments

4

About me…. December 2009

5

Savannah GA Weddings December 2009