Meet Charmaine! Your Palm Harbor Wedding Officiant!

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Hi, I’m Charmaine your Palm Harbor wedding officiant. I am a native Bostonian. 17 years ago I decided to move with the family to Palm Harbor, Florida because I couldn’t stand the cold weather any longer. I’ve been married to my husband George for 32 years. It seems like yesterday that we got married. 10 years ago I retired from a management/customer service position with Delta Airlines where I worked for over 32 years. I had been a Florida Notary Public during my airline career and when I retired I decided to further pursue notary opportunities, including wedding officiating.

I'm your Tampa Clearwater Palm Harbor wedding officiant

Hello! I’m your Tampa, Clearwater, Palm Harbor wedding officiant

I have two adult children. Amanda, who lives in Tallahassee with my son-in-law, Ryan & their dachshund, Lola.

Amanda and Ryan at their wedding rehearsal dinner last October in Tallahassee, FL. Ryan's being silly.

Amanda and Ryan at their wedding rehearsal dinner last October in Tallahassee, FL. Ryan’s being silly.

My son George Jr. lives in Dunedin, FL and has a very active 2 ½ year old daughter, Adriana (my granddaughter). He has a little all black dachshund Rose.

George Jr. and Adriana at a festival in Dunedin, FL.

George Jr. and Adriana at a festival in Dunedin, FL.

I have the cutest little dachshund Bella. So basically, we are a dachshund family!! Hah!

Our dachshund family- Bella is on the left, Rose in the middle, and Lola on the right.

Our dachshund family- Bella is on the left, Rose in the middle, and Lola on the right.

When I’m not serving as your Palm Harbor wedding officiant, I enjoy spending time with family. I love to travel. My daughter & son-in-law Ryan enjoy vacationing with us and we always like having them with us. We love to hike together, go exploring, and going out to eat. We recently took at trip to Bryce National Park & Zion National Park. Two beautiful parks with lots of great hiking trails and lots of neat things to explore.

George Sr., me, Amanda, and Ryan in Bryce Canyon National Park

George Sr., me, Amanda, and Ryan in Bryce Canyon National Park

When I’m at home I’m usually out jogging in the morning or working out in our garage gym.

Working out in our home gym

Working out in our home gym

In the evening, I take my dog, Bella, out walking. My little granddaughter, Adriana, loves coming over to Grammy’s house, and of course, I love having her come over. We go swimming in the pool together, feed the ducks in a nearby park, or go to a fun place like Adventure Island, Lowry Park Zoo, or Glazer’s Children’s Museum. We have so many fun parks & places to go in Tampa Bay area.

Building a ginger bread house!

Building a ginger bread house!

Adriana loves when I read to her.

Adriana loves when I read to her.

My husband George & I enjoy it when he has a photo shoot at a wedding that I’m performing. We usually end the day watching brainless TV show’s like the Bachelor, America’s Got Talent, Dancing With the Stars or put on a good movie. We love going to the movies, go out to eat, bike ride on Pinellas Trail, and just staying home enjoying our home & each other.

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George Sr. taking pictures at a wedding I officiated in Treasure Island

I’m so glad to be a Palm Harbor wedding officiant. I’ve performed many weddings throughout the Palm Harbor Tampa Clearwater area over the years and have met so many wonderful couples. I’m glad to share a little bit about me as I often get to know a lot about my couples through my correspondence as their Palm Harbor wedding officiant.

Facebook & Your Wedding

Facebook & Your Wedding

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Nowadays a lot of couples are meeting one another through various match making websites, as well as, reconnecting old relationships through Facebook. I’ve been a Clearwater Wedding Officiant for a number of weddings where couples have reconnected after many years apart because they found one another on Facebook. The first thing after the ceremony that I hear guests and even the couples say is, “post a picture on Facebook” announcing the newly married couple. I often chuckle inside when I’m at a ceremony and see how important posting on Facebook has become to our society.

Here is a photo of Cheryl who just getting ready to walk down the aisle, and is still making calls, texting and probably even doing a last minute Facebook post. Photos by George Sr.

Here is a photo of Cheryl who just getting ready to walk down the aisle and is still making calls, texting and even doing a last minute Facebook post. Photos by George Sr.

I’ve even had a bride holding her cell phone under her bouquet and wanting a photo taken IMMEDIATELY after ceremony to post on Facebook. A number of weddings are shared through Facebook with so many friends that aren’t able to attend the wedding or may not even know the couple. I’ve often thought about ending the ceremony vows with, “it is now my pleasure to pronounce you as Mr & Mrs please kiss the bride & update your Facebook status.” Haha! What’s the world coming to?! married-on-facebookAll in all Facebook is a great source of social media, keeping in touch with friends, relatives, forming friendships, relationships, and getting a lot of great tips and information. As a Clearwater Wedding Officiant, I love seeing happy couples that have met through online dating sites or reconnected through Facebook. In the end it’s about being with the person you love and it doesn’t matter how you met it matters where you end up! Read this article on The Knot for more tips on Facebook, cell phone, and social media etiquette at your wedding: “5 ways Facebook can ruin your wedding.

Put your cell phone away while walking down the isle!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2055503/OMG-Bride-starts-texting-wedding-ceremony-lol.html

“Omg! I’m getting married! Bride takes out her phone and starts textin as she walks down the aisle (after hiding it down her dress)”. Click here to read full story.

 

Indian Rocks Beach Wedding Ceremony

Indian Rocks Beach Wedding Ceremony

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Megan contacted me about performing her Indian Rocks Beach wedding ceremony. She and her fiancé, Michael, would be traveling to Tampa, Florida from Tennessee and wanted a Florida beach wedding. We ‘saved the date’ for Friday, August 15th at 6:00 PM.

When their wedding day arrived it was pouring rain, all day. I contacted Megan at 3:00 PM and asked her about an alternate plan. She said she didn’t have one and was hopefully it was going to stop raining by 5:00 PM. Sure enough at 5:15pm it stopped raining and actually turned out to be quite a nice evening on the beach.

Everyone was crossing their fingers that the ran would stop for Michael and Megan's Indian Rocks Beach wedding ceremony...and just 45 minutes before the ceremony start time the rain stopped!

Everyone was crossing their fingers that the ran would stop for Michael and Megan’s Indian Rocks Beach wedding ceremony…and just 45 minutes before the ceremony start time the rain stopped!

Megan met Michael four years ago on MySpace. Megan had a quote in her vows that she said fit her and Michael perfectly, “True love has a habit of coming back”. Megan said she and Michael had some down periods in their earlier days of their relationship and weren’t together for seven months. They had even dated other people. She & Michael came back to each other and even Michael when we spoke on Friday told me they just knew they couldn’t be without each other. They have a beautiful 20 month old son, who so cutely toddled down to the ceremony.

Congratulations, Michael and Megan. I had a wonderful time being a part of your Indian Rocks Beach wedding ceremony.

Congratulations, Michael and Megan. I had a wonderful time being a part of your Indian Rocks Beach wedding ceremony.

A simple wedding setup was done on the beach. Quilted blankets were laid out for guest to sit on and two post of bamboo like greenery were setup on each side where they would be standing.

Blankets

Megan and Michael’s Indian Rocks Beach wedding ceremony setup

They had a tray table for the sand ceremony and little candle lanterns alongside the blankets and it all looked simple and very nice.

sand ceremony

Sand ceremony

Megan and Michael were both tearful as they said their vows to each other. Everyone was so happy that the skies had cleared up and they could have their beautiful Indian Rocks Beach wedding ceremony.

 

Simple Weekend Weddings

Simple Weekend Weddings

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Summer weekend weddings are very popular in Florida…and I love being a part of them! This past weekend I had the privilege of officiating three awesome couples simple weddings.

On Sunday, I met Heather & Ray at 7:00 AM and performed their morning sunrise wedding ceremony on beautiful Pass-A-Grille Beach in St Petersburg  A friend of theirs brought them to the beach in a limo. The beach was so quite. The only sounds were the ocean waves and a few sea gulls hovering along the shore. This is why sunrise weddings in the summer are my favorite time for beach weddings. Ray & Heather wanted a simple quiet ceremony on Pass-A-Grille beach and they got it! There wasn’t even the typical beach goers. It was just quiet, simple, and beautifully romantic.

wedding pass-a-grille beach

Ray and Heather’s sunrise wedding on Pass-a-grille beach.

Saturday afternoon I married Ron & Debra at their home in Palm Harbor, FL. Ron hired me as his Palm Harbor wedding officiant and asked me for the most basic simplest traditional ceremony. They wanted their wedding to be a celebration with a few family members and friends. The ceremony was in their living room and was just what they wanted. Debra’s sister from New York surprised Debra and came to Florida just for the wedding. They were having a celebration at a neighbor’s house. The ceremony was exactly as they asked it to be.

 AvailableChristian Cutillo AvailableElyse Gibson Away since 11:53 AM (GMT-5) ChattingGeorge Doumanian, Jr. AvailableJessica Evans Brady AvailableLaura Cantwell Busy	George Doumanian Idle	Charmaine Doumanian Idle	Sarah Kosturko Offline	Kimberly Large Offline	Laura Esfeller       More  20 of 808     Why this ad? Whole Foods Market Coupon - wholefoodsmarket.com/Tallahassee - $10 Off A $40 Purchase Coupon. Save $10 At Your Local Whole Foods Print all In new window Fwd: Inbox x  Charmaine Doumanian AttachmentsAug 10 (2 days ago) to me  Ron & Debra Palm Harbor wedding

Ron & Debra at their Palm Harbor wedding

Also on Saturday afternoon I officiated Kelly and Don’s wedding at Rigsby Recreation Center in Safety Harbor. Family and friends had decorated and setup the hall for the ceremony and reception. It was nice to be a part of an indoor wedding on a hot Florida Saturday afternoon.

Rigsby Recreational Center in Safety Harbor set up for wedding

Rigsby Recreational Center in Safety Harbor set up for wedding

Don was comfortable in his black tux and Kelly looked beautiful in her white gown. Don was nervous before the ceremony and was glad to see me when I arrived. I talked to him and asked him how he and Kelly met and got to know more about him and Kelly. As we spoke he calmed down and was then just anxious for the ceremony. They met a year and a half ago in a bar. He never thought he’d meet someone in a bar and get married to that person. He chuckled when I told him that’s how I met my now husband of 32 years. Kelly and Don had a simple wedding ceremony and reception. They were going to spend a few days honeymooning on St. Petersburg Beach.

Kelly & Don photo Safety Harbor wedding

Kelly & Don at their Safety Harbor wedding

Weddings don’t have to be big and extravagant to be nice. As a Palm Harbor Wedding Officiant, trust me, there are plenty of ways to create a wedding ceremony that is perfect for you and your budget.

Clearwater area Gazebo Weddings

Clearwater area Gazebo Weddings

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Your wedding doesn’t always have to be at a beach to capture a romantic setting for a wedding. How about a wedding under gazebo? I’ve been a part of many Clearwater area Gazebo weddings one of my favorite gazebos is Veteran’s Memorial Park in Oldsmar. It’s such a pretty spot in the park. The gazebo overlooks the water and is a very picturesque spot for a wedding. It can be rented through the City of Oldsmar. Chairs can be setup and shelters are nearby if you would want to have a park reception.

George Jr. performs a sunset wedding in Spanish under the Veteran's Memorial Park gazebo.

George Jr. performs a sunset wedding in Spanish under the Veteran’s Memorial Park gazebo in Oldsmar, FL. Photos by George Sr.

Another beautiful gazebo is in downtown Dunedin. Right near Edgewater Drive next to the Dunedin Marina. The gazebo is shaded and there are picnic tables and a playground nearby for children. The gazebo is nice and large. It can be rented through the City of Dunedin.

Dunedin

The gazebo in downtown Dunedin is a wonderful place for an outdoor Florida wedding.

Downtown Safety Harbor also has a beautiful spacious gazebo. It’s right in the heart of downtown near so many shops and restaurants. It can hold 60 chairs under the gazebo and has space for plenty more on the lawn. Gazebo, chairs, & tables can be rented through Safety Harbor Parks.

Safety Harbor Gazebo at John Wilson Park.

Safety Harbor gazebo at John Wilson Park.

Clearwater area gazebo weddings not only capture a beautiful setting, but can be very reasonable to rent. The gazebos that I’ve mentioned are all near parks and offer something for guest with children. If you are considering a Clearwater area gazebo wedding we can offer a photographer, chairs,  music, ceremony officiant, and more to help you create you beautiful wedding in Florida.

Changing Your Last Name After Marriage

Changing Your Last Name After Marriage

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As a Tampa and Tallahassee wedding officiant service, we marry many wonderful couples. We are asked about how the bride changes her last name. I recently changed my last name (was Amanda Doumanian now Amanda Reeves) so I totally understand that it’s a confusing processes, as well as, a pain for the woman! Haha! So we are glad to help with all your marriage license and name change questions please do not hesitate to ask us!

This is an email I recently received from a groom, “We were a little curious how bride will sign her name on the marriage license. She intends to change her last name to mine, so should she sign the marriage license with my last name or her last name now.”

So to clear this up (because we are asked this often), the bride will change her last name AFTER the marriage. Just because you get married does not mean the woman’s last name automatically changes. Today, a lot of woman do not change their last names. When I changed my last name, I made my middle name my maiden name and last name my husband’s last name. There are all sorts of options and in our modern time the woman is free to chose to do what they want.

The bride doesn't have to change her name

The bride can change her last name after the marriage.

If the bride is changing her last name there are a few steps to take and they are all be done AFTER the marriage is legal.  In Florida, your marriage is legal after your Florida Marriage License is notarized by a Florida notary and returned back to the County Clerk’s office where you got the marriage license. After the County Clerk records your notarized marriage license you will receive a certified copy which you will use to get your name changed. Note– if your marriage license is returned via regular mail it’ll take 7-10 days to get the certified copy back OR if you bring it directly to the County Clerk’s Office you will get the certified copy back right then and there.

If you are going on a honeymoon right after the wedding you will use your current ID or Passport then when you return you can take the steps in getting your last name.

Here are the steps (do them in this order) to get your name changed after you are legally married:

1.  Marriage license – get your certified copy of your marriage license. One will be given back to you and if you need/want more you can pay to have extra copies

2. Social security card– you must change your name on your social security card before changing it on anything else. You cannot change your name on your social security card online. You must go to your local social security office to change your name- find yours here. There is no charge to change your name on your social security card. You will need to fill out an application for social security card and bring the required documents. Click here for more details on changing your name on your social security card.

3. Drivers license- contact your local DMV to find out what forms are required to change your name on your drivers license. There will be a fee to do this.

4. Passport- if you have a passport you should go ahead and update it with your new name. Click here for details on how to change your name on your passport.

5. Everything else– bank accounts, credit cards, doctors, insurance, voter registration card, etc.

6. Your signature 🙂 Now that you’re name is legally changed it’s time to practice your new signature!

Getting married is exciting and so is changing your last name so have fun with the process. I recommend making a list and going down the list as you get each one done changed. It’ll make it less overwhelming. You only have to change your last name one time so just do it and have fun with it. And of course, we are here to assist with any more questions your may have!! For more information on changing your license, sunset and sunrise times, and marriage license/County Clerks Office visit our Resources page.