St. Marks Lighthouse Wedding Elopement

St. Marks Lighthouse Wedding Elopement

by Amanda Doumanian Reeves News

There are a lot of beautiful hidden gems around the Tallahassee area and St. Marks is definitely one of them! Mike and Jana have been together a little over 6 years and wanted to be married. They are going to do a formal wedding with family and friends in the future but for now they wanted an intimate St. Marks Lighthouse Wedding Elopement.

It was a rainy weekend, but we had planned to meet at St. Marks Lighthouse to their ceremony. They had asked a friend to join to take pictures after the ceremony. Fortunately it was not raining at the time of the ceremony! We walked up a small porch that overlooked the lighthouse and ocean and had a quick ceremony. The ceremony included two readings of beautiful poems.

I truly enjoyed being a part of this wedding. I hope more people looking to elope in Florida consider Tallahassee area and St. Marks Lighthouse because it is gorgeous.

I received an email from Mike, “Thank you. You made it very easy for us.”. This is always nice to hear 🙂

As I waited for Mike and Jana to arrive I looked out onto the beautiful ocean.

As I waited for Mike and Jana to arrive I looked out onto the beautiful ocean.

View from the ceremony. We went up on a small porch for the ceremony which overlooked the lighthouse.

View from the ceremony. We went up on a small porch for the ceremony which overlooked the lighthouse.

After the ceremony we walked out to the beach so they could take pictures. It was so picturesque.

After the ceremony we walked out to the beach so they could take pictures. It was so picturesque.

Tallahassee Weddings on Valentine’s Day

Tallahassee Weddings on Valentine’s Day

by Amanda Doumanian Reeves News

On Valentine’s Day was a day for love in Tallahassee! I was a part of 2 lovely Tallahassee weddings on Valentine’s Day.

On Valentine’s Day morning I officiated Shawnteira and Randy’s wedding at A Country Rose florist shop. About 15 family and friends gathered in the back garden area of A Country Rose for a short and sweet wedding ceremony. Shawnteira wore a borrower wedding dress and held a beautiful light purple and white rose bouquet that A Country Rose had designed specially for her.

Three years ago, Tomeshia and Kimberly had contacted me about officiating a commitment ceremony. At the time same-sex marriage was not legal in Florida so they had thought a celebratory commitment ceremony was the way to go. They decided to hold-off on the ceremony and this Valentine’s Day I was able to officiate and legally marry them! It was truly an exciting moment. I officiated their ceremony and arranged to have a photographer present for pictures. A few family gathered with them and we held the ceremony under two trees in Cascade Park.

Finally able to get legally married in Florida!!! Photo by Bret Svenson

Finally able to get legally married in Florida!!! Photo by Bret Svenson

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Officiating Tomeshia and Kimberly’s Valentine’s Day wedding at Cascase Park in Tallahassee Florida. Photo by Bret Svenson

Both of these Tallahassee Weddings on Valentine’s Day were awesome AND the Tallahassee Democrat showed up! They wanted to do a feel good story about love on Valentine’s Day. To everyone’s surprise the following morning, our Tallahassee Weddings on Valentine’s Day story was featured on the FRONT page of the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper!! Hah! I was so excited I took a picture and text both couples and neither of them had seen it yet but were SOO thrilled!! Read the full article online here: http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2015/02/14/valentines-day-special-day-marriage/23439195/

Tomeshia and Kimberly being interview by the Tallahassee Democrat

Tomeshia and Kimberly being interview by the Tallahassee Democrat

Tallahassee Valentines Day weddings made FRONT page news

Tallahassee Valentines Day weddings made FRONT page news

Inside look of the newspaper

Inside look of the newspaper

Ann & Troy’s Carrabelle Beach Wedding

Ann & Troy’s Carrabelle Beach Wedding

by Amanda Doumanian Reeves News

On 12-13-14 I had the pleasure of officiating Ann and Troy’s Carrabelle Beach Wedding. It was truly the most perfect day. The weather was cool yet the sun made it warm, the beach was empty, and the water was so still it was like glass.

The perfect weather for a Carrabelle Beach Wedding

The perfect weather for a Carrabelle Beach Wedding. Picture by Corbett’s Media

Ann, Troy, and their families live in Tallahassee but were staying at the Carrabelle Beach RV Park for the weekend. On the day of the wedding they walked across the street to Carrabelle Beach.

Path down the beach to the wedding. Picture by Corbett's Media.

Path down the beach to the wedding. Picture by Corbett’s Media.

Picture by Corbett's Media.

Picture by Corbett’s Media.

Ann had setup an arbor with flowers for the ceremony. Friends, family, and their dogs gathered together and I officiated a sweet ceremony .

Ann and Troys Wedding at Carrabelle Beach Corbetts Media

Everyone ready for the bride! Picture by Corbett’s Media.

Ann’s mother was the flower girl and walked down the beach before Ann and placed flowers down the “isle”. She said, “this is the most fun I’ve ever had!”  Ann’s Dad walked her down the beach isle. It was very touching!

Ann's Mom throwing flowers before Ann walked down the beach. Picture by Corbett's Media.

Ann’s Mom throwing flowers before Ann walked down the beach. Picture by Corbett’s Media.

Their ceremony included a sand ceremony with Ann’s two kids participating. The Corbett’s Media family team worked together to play ceremony music and take pictures.

Ann, her two children, and Troy poured individual containers of sand into a frame with a picture. Picture by Corbett's Media.

Ann, her two children, and Troy poured individual containers of sand into a frame with a picture. Picture by Corbett’s Media.

Ann and Troy exchanging rings. Picture by Corbett's Media.

Ann and Troy exchanging rings. Picture by Corbett’s Media.

After I pronounced them husband and wife their two dogs came running up! It’s like they knew and wanted to give them a huge. Everyone was so happy! Ann and Troy walked back down their beach isle happily married.

After the ceremony their dogs came running up to celebrate with them! Picture by Corbett's Media.

After the ceremony their dogs came running up to celebrate with them! Picture by Corbett’s Media.

Their dogs wanted a kiss too :) Picture by Corbett's Media.

Their dogs wanted a kiss too 🙂 Picture by Corbett’s Media.

The day after the wedding I received this text message and the below picture, “Thanks again for a beautiful wedding ceremony love Ann and Troy”

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Ann and Troy happily married at their Carrabelle Beach Wedding 12-13-14

 

Beautiful Wedding at Dorothy B Oven Park in Tallahassee

Beautiful Wedding at Dorothy B Oven Park in Tallahassee

by Amanda Doumanian Reeves News

Tallahassee has MANY wonderful city parks which allow weddings to be held….typically at a reasonable price. On Saturday October 18, 2014, I was a part of a beautiful wedding at Dorothy B Oven Park in Tallahassee. Damaris and Charles had their wedding ceremony outside under the gazebo. The weather was GORGEOUS! White chairs were lined up in front of the gazebo  for their outdoor ceremony. About 25 family and friends were present for their special day. They were a wonderful loving couple and I truly enjoyed working with them on creating a wedding ceremony that fit them perfectly….which included me ending their ceremony by saying, “I joyfully pronounce you husband and wife. You may now change your Facebook statuses. Charles you may kiss your bride.” Damaris had told me that she and Charles were big social media buffs to they were very excited about doing this. When I made this announcement they grabbed their phones and immediately update their statues. Everyone chuckled…it was pretty great!

Charles and Damaris are a great couple and I wish them MANY years of health and happiness together!!!

Wedding

Damaris and Charles’ outdoor reception area at their wedding at Dorothy B Oven Park in Tallahassee

Ceremony setup

Ceremony setup

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View of the Dorothy B Oven house and outdoor reception from where the ceremony was held

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Me with Charles and Damaris at their wedding at Dorothy B Oven Park in Tallahassee

Meet Amanda your Tallahassee Wedding Officiant

Meet Amanda your Tallahassee Wedding Officiant

by Amanda Doumanian Reeves News

Hello friends! My name is Amanda Doumanian Reeves and I am your Tallahassee Wedding Officiant 🙂

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I have been officiating weddings in the and around Tallahassee for the past 5 years. I have seen ALL types of weddings and love helping couples create a ceremony that is special to them. I have performed short and sweet ceremonies in my home, religious ceremonies, non-religious ceremonies, elopement ceremonies, ceremonies with dogs, ceremonies with kids, sand ceremonies, hand ceremony, and so much more! It’s so fun to get to know couples and be a part of their special day. Tallahassee is a small city so I even occasionally run into couples I have married…which is great to see how they are doing. One time a couple I married attended a wedding I was officiating. Another time, I got to marry the sister of a lady I had married a few years before SO I jokingly said I am now part of their family 🙂 I have even married a couple on the Wakulla Springs boat ride! Hah!

I will marry you anywhere.!

Wakulla Springs boat ride wedding. I will marry you anywhere!

I went to Florida State University and have a B.S. and M.S in Communication…thus where I learned to public speak. I also was involved in a local Toast Masters Club for a couple years.

On 10/19/14, I married my best friend, Ryan. We have one dog-child, Lola. She’s a black and tan dachshund aka wiener dog 🙂

Ryan, me, and Lola relaxing on Christmas

Ryan, me, and Lola relaxing on Christmas

When I’m not busy being a Tallahassee Wedding Officiant and notary, you will find me traveling or planning my next adventure, eating out at a local restaurant, watching a movie or TV, and working out. One of the coolest things, I’ve done is hike the 4 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

"The world is a book and those who dont travel read only a page"

“The world is a book and those who don’t travel read only a page”

I am a volunteer Board Member of the Heart Gallery North Florida. I also founded the Tallahassee Dachshund Club- just for fun!

I take a lot of pride in my work and my position as a Tallahassee wedding officiant. I understand a lot of trust goes into allow me to marry you…and I truly appreciate it. I’ve had so many couples leave nice comments about my service on WeddingWire:

“Amanda was such a wonderful officiant! We could not have asked for a nicer, more professional person for our wedding. The ceremony was slightly hectic as it was on outdoor venue and a storm was coming, but she helped getting everyone where they needed to be and we couldn’t have been happier.”

“Amanda was very professional and accommodating to our needs. She not only assisted us with the legal aspects of marriage but helped create a nice flow to our wedding day festivities. Highly recommend.”

I’m your Tallahassee Wedding Officiant and I will work with you to make your wedding wonderful. Everything from vows to ceremony director and much more. Thank you to all the couples I’ve had the privilege of marrying and getting to know…and HELLO to all the new couples I will meet in the future.