Beautiful Wedding at Dorothy B Oven Park in Tallahassee

Beautiful Wedding at Dorothy B Oven Park in Tallahassee

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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

Your Florida Marriage License

Your Florida Marriage License

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To be married in Florida you must obtain a marriage license issued from a County Clerk’s Office. If you are a Florida resident you will have to wait three days after getting the marriage license to be married, unless you have completed premarital preparation course from a registered course provider. Then no waiting period is required for Florida residents. If you are not a Florida resident no waiting period is require. Meaning you can get your marriage license and the same day have it notarized and be married.

I like to take care of all the "business" aka marriage license before the ceremony so afterwards the couple can just enjoy! Photos by George Sr.

I like to take care of all the “business” aka marriage license before the ceremony so afterwards the couple can just enjoy! Photos by George Sr.

We have on many occasions shown up at weddings only to find out that the couple doesn’t have a marriage license or they have forgotten to bring it with them to the wedding. Your marriage isn’t legal until the license is notarized and returned back to the County for recording. You can get your marriage license at any County Clerk’s office in the state of Florida. It doesn’t need to be in the county where you are being married. Both parties must be present when obtaining marriage license and present a valid form of identification . We always remind couples that a Florida marriage license is required and not something that we can provide. Please be sure to bring your Florida marriage license to the ceremony with the return envelope (given to you when marriage license is issued). On the day of your wedding, we will notarize your Florida marriage license and return it to the County for you. It will take 10-14 days for County to send you your certified copy. If you need your certified marriage license right away, you can take the notarized marriage license back to the County in which you obtained the license and they will give you the certified copy right then.

On your wedding day have your marriage license ready so we can notarize it

On your wedding day have your marriage license ready so we can notarize it

Information on obtaining a marriage license can found for various counties in Florida on the Resources section of our website. Each County has information about obtaining a marriage license which will answer a lot of questions. Hours of operations are also posted.

If you have any additional questions about obtaining your Florida marriage license or getting married in Florida please don’t hesitate to contact us your favorite Tampa wedding ceremony officiant team!

George Jr. makes your wedding officiate process fun!

Once we notarize your Florida Marriage License it’s official…you are married!!!

Wyndham Gardens on Clearwater Beach Wedding

Wyndham Gardens on Clearwater Beach Wedding

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Julia & Gary traveled from Indiana to Florida where they had their destination Wyndham Gardens on Clearwater Beach wedding last Saturday night. To get down to Florida it was the first time that Gary had ever flown. They wanted a small simple wedding on the beach. A few family members and friends had traveled with them to Florida for vacation and to attended the wedding. On the day of their wedding, it was a beautiful evening just before sunset on Clearwater Beach. One side of the beach overlooked the bridge going to Sand Key and the other side was Clearwater Beach. The air was soft and humidity had gone down.

Bridge to Sand Key

Bridge to Sand Key. Perfect night for a Wyndham Gardens on Clearwater Beach Wedding

Julia had a beautiful bouquet of colorful flowers. They looked so real that I asked her if she got them from a local florist. She said no that she just stuffed them in her suitcase and took them with her from Indiana. Hah!

Julia's colorful flower bouquet that she brought down from Indiana

Julia’s colorful flower bouquet that she brought down from Indiana

Like all beach weddings the beach goers and hotel guest always watch when a wedding is going on and add to the applause at the end of the ceremony. When I pronounced Julia & Gary husband & wife everyone on the beach applauded. A few boats were tied up along shore with people on board and they all participated in cheering, and even, added music to the closing ceremony. One of them started to loudly play “Marry Me” by Bruno Mars so we could all hear it. It was a simple fun wedding just like Julia & Gary wanted. They were staying in Florida a few more days of vacation before heading back to Indiana.

Tallahassee Wedding Officiant- Pros I Know

Tallahassee Wedding Officiant- Pros I Know

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As a Tallahassee Wedding Officiant I meet  A LOT of wedding professionals. The wedding industry is a bit crazy. There’s a lot of stress, pressure, emotions, and for vendors, competition. I am fortunate that Tallahassee is a wonderful city where people help each other out. I see many of the familiar faces at the weddings I officiate. Which is great because we know how to work together, and we’ve become friend in the process. I do not get referral fees for referring couples to vendors and I only refer couples to vendors I have seen in action, enjoyed working with, and thought their work was TOP NOTCH!  With that being said, if you are not hiring me as your Tallahassee Wedding Officiant, Ceremony Director, Rehearsal Director, Day-of-Coordinator, or Photography Services, I recommend the following Tallahassee Wedding Vendors:

Catering

A picture Terri Smith took of me officiating Liz and James' wedding ceremony at the Tallahassee Garden Club.

A picture Terri Smith took of me officiating Liz and James’ wedding ceremony at the Tallahassee Garden Club.

Photography

Cakes

Chairs and rentals

Cupcake cake and sea shell cookies by Cakes by Alisha

Cupcake cake and sea shell cookies by Cakes by Alisha. Photo by Kimberly Rae Photography.

DJ

Planners and Coordinators

Check out J& J’s pictures of an event Piece of Cake put together for the now Mr. and Mrs. Aloi at The Retreat at Bradley’s Point where I was the officiate. It was gorgeous! 

 

*I not only provide premier Tallahassee Wedding Officiant services, I provide: Day-of-Coordinator services, wedding ceremony packages with chairs and arches, photography, Ceremony Director, and Rehearsal Director.

Planning your wedding is a FUN time. There’s a lot of decision to make and I’m available to assist in any way I can. I love weddings and love creating wedding ceremony that are exactly as YOU dream!

Finally, I didn’t list any venues I recommend because I love SOOOO many venues in the Tallahassee area. Each venue is beautiful and special in it’s own way. I’m always floored how each couples makes a venue that I’ve seen many times before unique just to fit their wedding. I’ve  also seen a lot of non-traditional venues that are wonderful too- Cascade Parks, homes, boats, my house (hah!), and more!!! So I hope my little list of recommendation helps you…now go out and plan your wedding…and hire me 😉 to make your day amazing!

 

 

Picture that Black and Hue took at a wedding I was officiating in Cape San Blas

A picture that Black and Hue took  of me officiating Kelly and Daniel’s wedding in Cape San Blas, FL.

A picture Inga Finch took of me officiating M wedding at Shilow Farms in Tallahassee, FL.

A picture Inga Finch took of me officiating Alison and Jason’s wedding at Shiloh Farms in Tallahassee, FL.

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Maclay Gardens wedding setup by Fairytales

Your Wedding Vows & Ceremony

Your Wedding Vows & Ceremony

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When it comes to your wedding vows most couples find themselves not knowing where to start. And that’s where we come in! A Beautiful Wedding in Florida officiants will help you create the ceremony of your dreams. The fun part of using a Florida Notary Public as your wedding officiant is there are NO restrictions! We have had couples includes kids, dogs, candles, sand, ribbon, friends, music, religious, non-religious, Spanish vows, and more into their ceremony. You let us know what your thoughts are and we’ll work with you to make the ceremony happen exactly as you want it!!!

George Jr. performs wedding in Spanish. Photos by George Sr.

George Jr. performs wedding in Spanish in Treasure Island. Photos by George Sr.

If you want to write your own vows to each other just think about what comes to you from your heart about how you feel with your relationship then write it down. Your A Beautiful Wedding in Florida Officiant will let you know where in the ceremony that you will say your vows to each other. If you don’t want to say your own vows, don’t worry, we have plenty of ceremony vows without a place for saying your own vows.

A very tearful yet happy ceremony

Saying your own personal vows can be very emotional.

A typically wedding ceremony would be performed in the following order: A Beautiful Wedding in Florida Tampa wedding ceremony officiant will say the opening piece followed by your vows to each other (if you want), I do, repeat after me, ring exchange & closing ceremony piece.

Kelly and Daniel had fun with their wedding....and we did too!  Photo by Black and Hue Photography.

Kelly and Daniel exchange rings during their Cape San Blas wedding ceremony.  Photo by Black and Hue Photography.

Most of the ceremonies we officiate are non-religious civil ceremonies. But if you would like a religious ceremony just let us know! We can add religious text, a prayer or poem, or reading to any ceremony piece.  Maybe consider having a friend or relative do a bible reading during the ceremony?

Bride's sister sings during ceremony. Photos by George Sr.

A friend sings during ceremony. Photos by George Sr.

Do you want to remember loved ones who are no longer present, but with us in their hearts?

Daisies in rememberance of Diana's cat named Daisy. Photos by George Sr.

Daisies in remembrance of Diana’s cat named Daisy. Photos by George Sr.

Do you want to thank your parents for their love & support?

Father gives daughter away at wedding officiated by George Sr.

Father gives daughter away at wedding officiated by George Sr. Photo by Brandi Image Photograhy

Would you like to have sand ceremony? Different colored sands that are poured into a center container blending the sands together as one. We can include family members as well.

Sand cermeony

Sand ceremony with children performed by me, Tampa Wedding Ceremony Officiant. Photos by George Sr.

Would you like to have unity candles? Not recommended for outdoor weddings.

Unity candle ceremony

Unity candle ceremony done in a home in Odessa, FL. Photos by George Sr.

How about casting of the stones blessing at the end of a beach ceremony?

Would you like to have the tie the knot ceremony?

Tie the knot ceremony at wedding officiated by Charmaine

Tie the knot ceremony at wedding officiated by Charmaine

Wine love letter box ceremony?

Wine & love letter ceremony at Florida Aquarium in Tampa

Wine & love letter ceremony at Florida Aquarium in Tampa

wine and love letter box ceremony at Bon Appetit in Dunedin

wine and love letter box ceremony at Bon Appetit in Dunedin

Include your best friend in the ceremony?

Dogs in ceremony are becoming more and more common

Including dogs in the ceremony is becoming more and more common

This sleepy dog was the best man at a wedding officiated by George Jr.

This sleepy dog was the best man at a wedding officiated by George Jr.

These are some suggestions of ideas to include in your wedding ceremony. Ask us about any of these and more we will be glad to help you in preparing your ceremony for your special day. If you have ideas of your own please share them with us. We are often sent vow ideas to review. We will look them over and send you suggestions and any adjustments that should be considered. And remember it’s YOUR day!!! Have your ceremony your way. We will help you!

 

 

Siesta Key Beach Wedding Elopement

Siesta Key Beach Wedding Elopement

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Is it the Caribbean?? No it’s beautiful Siesta Key Beach. Diana & Chris hired Charmaine to perform their elopement ceremony on the morning of Friday, July 25th at Siesta Key Beach. They also hired George Sr. to take photographs. They were traveling to Florida from Virginia Beach for the weekend. Diane had been to Siesta Key in the past and remembered the beautiful white sand and knew that’s where she wanted to be married. Diane & Chris met a little over a year ago on Match.com. They both lived in the same small town near Virginia Beach. Diana said that Chris had actually sat behind her parents at their church on many occasions before they met each other. They were going to get married next Spring, but were going to Jacksonville for an International Pageant that her sister was participating in so they decided that they would continue on to Siesta Key and elope before going to the pageant.

It was a gorgeous morning for a Siesta Key Beach Wedding Elopement. The clouds were white & puffy and the ocean was just a greenish blue color surrounded by the white sands. Diana had a beautiful bouquet of flowers that she got from Flowers by Fudgie. She had a bouquet with white daisies & pink roses. She especially wanted the daisies because she had a cat that was named Daisy. She no longer has Daisy, but she was very special to her & Chris. In her wedding vows she paid tribute to the cat and referred to her “little girl Daisy”.

Daisies in rememberance of Diana's cat named Daisy. Photos by George Sr.

Daisies in loving remembrance of Diana’s cat named Daisy. Photos by George Sr.

Siesta Key Beach wedding elopement ceremony. Photos by George Sr.

Siesta Key Beach wedding elopement ceremony. Photos by George Sr.

Diana & Chris have fun together. George and I, totally enjoyed working with them.

Me, Diana, and Chris after their Siesta Key Beach wedding elopement. They were a great couple to work with and I wish them many years of happiness. Photos by George Sr.

Me, Diana, and Chris after their Siesta Key Beach wedding elopement. They were a great couple to work with and I wish them many years of happiness. Photos by George Sr.

Chris picked up his bride and brought her down to the water. Unfortunately they didn’t have swimming suits on. They would have certainly liked to take the plunge!!

Photos by George Sr.

Diana and Chris having fun after their Siesta Key wedding elopement ceremony. Photos by George Sr.

They only had a short time to spend in Siesta Key before getting on the road to Jacksonville for the pageant that evening. They were going to announce their wedding when they met back up with her parents & sister in Jacksonville. Next Spring they will go on their honeymoon in the Bahama’s since they were married while in Florida.

Diana and Chris take one final look at Siesta Key Beach before heading on the road to Jacksonville.

Diana and Chris take one final look at Siesta Key Beach before heading on the road to Jacksonville. Phots by George Sr.