Jim and Karen's Wedding, Hemisphere Restaurant, Sandwich, MA

A gorgeous day on the oceanfront of Hemisphere restaurant in Sandwich, MA is a favorite

place for Jim and Karen to marry. And what a beautiful day we had yesterday, with high tide ushering in the beautiful sea. Family and friends embraced in a half circle this lovely couple as I opened up this intimate service on the beach with its home-made trellis of ivy and lilies.

Guitarists strummed and sang selected songs and serenaded Karen and her sons down nature's aisle to the sounds of Elvis Presley's, "Love Me Tender":

Love me tender,

Love me sweet,

Never let me go.

You have made my life complete,

And I love you so.

Love me tender,

Love me true,

All my dreams fulfilled.

For my darlin I love you,

And I always will.

Love me tender,

Love me long,

Take me to your heart.

For it's there that I belong,

And we'll never part.

Love me tender,

Love me dear,

Tell me you are mine.

I'll be yours through all the years,

Till the end of time.

Karen and Jim exchanged vows, rings, and their wedding kiss in a most simple and loving ceremony by the sea. Their sand ceremony included they and their 8 family members, symbolizing the combining of two families into one; how meaningful given the word hemisphere means one half of the celestial sphere as divided by any of various great circles, such as the equator.

On this beautiful beach by the sea, Karen and Jim grew their family circle as they exchanged wedding rings, thereby embracing all of their children with their united love.

Much joy, love and happiness to you both, till the end of time!

Holly and Kelly's Wedding, The Captain Linell House, Orleans, MA

What a beautiful couple I married this day at the Captain Linnell House in Orleans, MA. Though it was a typical

Cape Cod foggy, rainy day outside, the sun was shining inside as Holly and Kelly exchanged custom vows, rings, and promises of eternal love together under their chupah of the grande ball room.

Kelly was a little nervous at the beginning of this ceremony, which is not uncommon for a bride. She asked me upon arrival to their custom chupah if she could hold

Holly's hands, to which I said, "Of course you can!" She then announced to me and the entire entourage of family and friends, "I've never done this before!" to which everyone enjoyed a good laugh together, and from that point on, all became lighthearted and relaxed. I truly enjoy the humor and love that permeates a room when such serendipitous happenings occur - wedding services bring out the best in all of us.

There were tearful, heartfelt readings from Kelly's sisters, too. It was obvious that Kelly and her sisters are very close and the message of love between sisters was very touching, punctuated by an occasional tear. What a wonderful family!

The culmination of the service was Holly's "breaking of the glass", a jewish wedding tradition whereby the groom steps on a pouch containing a glass. This symbolic action represents that the marriage will last as long as the glass is broken - forever. All of the guests then shout "Mazel Tov!" meaning "good luck".

Captured in the photo above is the joy and excitement on Kelly's face and the complete satisfaction and victory on Holly's face immediately following his breaking the glass perfectly!

Mazel Tov!

Kevin and Jessica's Wedding, The Crosby Mansion, Brewster, MA

What a beautiful sunny day on the lawn of the majestic Crosby Mansion in Brewster. The family and friends enjoyed a perfect view of this lovely couple exchanging their vows in front of this famous sea captain's style historical victorian home.

Kevin and Jessica exchanged custom written vows to one another. Kevin promised Jessica that he would accompany her in "watching girlie movies", amongst other humorous and also, very touching promises. Once Kevin finished speaking his vows, it was Jessica's turn. Emotionally brought to tears, Jessica began to cry, to which Kevin reached up and gently caressed Jessica's face in a spontaneous gesture of love.

All was not tearful, however. As we approached the point in the service where I ask the best man for the rings, there seemed to be a pause . . . was the best man fumbling in his pockets because he'd lost the rings? Thoughts of what to do began to enter my mind. Within a moment, each groomsman was subsequently searching his pockets, going down the line. Pictured here are Jessica and Kevin and me laughing once we realized the trick was on us! Fortunately, all was in good fun, and the bride and groom were married, with rings, kisses and huge smiles.

Congratulations Kevin and Jessica! It was a beautiful day on the lawn of the Crosby Mansion, and I feel honored to have presided over your wedding service.

For many years to come, I envision that you will joyfully recall your special day when family, friends, and yes, even I were thinking,

"Got Rings?"

Kyle and Kimberly's Wedding, The Falmouth Yacht Club, Falmouth, MA

One could not have ordered such a beautiful day for a beach wedding in Falmouth Heights overlooking the sea. The sun shone, smiles were on the faces of all in attendance as

well as passers by, and ships blew their horns in recognition of this couple's special wedding day!

A soft cape cod breeze caressed the shoreline as Kimberly and Kyle stood together holding hands, turning to loved ones and one another with expressions of joy and anticipation on their faces. Though the waves could be heard curling onto the beach behind me and pleasure boats sped by us, the sounds of the beautiful vows spoken by this lovely couple to one another rang across the sand to the overhead patio of the Falmouth Yacht Club where members enjoyed a perfect view.

Special custom readings were given for this special occasion, followed by hugs and kisses at the altar. What a loving, memorable wedding this was on memorial day weekend on Cape Cod. Family and friends, as well as friendly onlookers watched as I pronounced Kimberly and Kyle to be "husband and wife".

The music of "Walking On Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves lyrics then serenaded Kyle and Kimberly as they danced down the aisle. Kyle then scooped his beautiful bride up like an Olympian figure skater, twirling her into the most graceful punctuation moment for the crowd to see, singing along with the music,

"I feel the love, I feel the love, I feel the love that's really real

I feel the love, I feel the love, I feel the love that's really real

I'm on sunshine baby oh

I'm on sunshine baby oh

I'm walking on sunshine wooah

I'm walking on sunshine wooah

I'm walking on sunshine wooah

and don't it feel good!!

I'll say it again now

and don't it feel good!!"

Congratulations to Kyle and Kimberly! Keep walking on sunshine!

Christopher and Jennifer's Wedding, The Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster, MA

What a beautiful day to begin the Memorial Day weekend! Jennifer and Christopher

were so thrilled to be married on the expansive front lawn of the Ocean Edge mansion in Brewster. The wind whipped across the hill overlooking the ocean and embraced this lovely couple with a signature Cape Cod wedding, complete with the smell of salty spring air and the sounds of seagulls squawking from the heights above their wedding altar.

Jennifer and Christopher performed a simple, yet meaningful sand ceremony whereby the mothers participated in decanting the sand into the elegant glass vase, followed by the couple pouring their respective viles of sand into the same vase, signifying the joining of both families' histories into one.

The dj had special music Christopher had arranged for this occasion; everything from Star Wars to classical symphonies drifted amongst their family and friends. The backdrop of the stately stone mansion added to the ambiance of this beautiful wedding.

Jennifer and Christopher exchanged rings as they spoke their marriage vows to one another - punctuated with both tears and laughter, they and their families celebrated together their new union as "husband and wife".

Congratulations Christopher and Jennifer! May your days together be filled with love and laughter as I witnessed today during your beautiful ceremony by the sea. Fair winds!

Anthony and Courtney's Wedding, The Red Jacket Inn, Yarmouth

What a beautiful day for a wedding it was today - sunny, warm, with a nice breeze on the waterfront of the Red Jacket Inn in Yarmouth. And this lovely couple were truly excited on this special day by the sea. Anthony's dad served as his best man; pictured here, father and son were both particularly moved as Courtney processed to the beautiful altar overlooking the ocean. It's touching to see such a close family; bride, groom and best man (dad) were all crying tears of joy during this service.

A professional guitarist sang a beautiful melody on the lawn as Anthony and Courtney exchanged custom vows and their wedding rings. It was a happy event flowing with the beauty around us; one could not have asked for a better Cape Cod spring day overlooking the ocean.

Congratulations to Courtney and Anthony! May your lives be filled with joy as you embark upon your journey together as "husband and wife".

Some of My Favorite Photos

Valentine's Day week, and it's the time when I reflect upon the weddings I performed this past year. I had my first date with my wife, Lianne, 30 years ago on Valentine's Day, so this is a special day for us. In thinking about the loving couples I've married, and the wonderful wedding day experiences we've had, I thought I'd show a few of my favorite photos that my wife Lianne took of the couples I've been priveliged to have married this past year. To me, every couple is special. In my opinion, these photos show the romance, beauty, love and joy of the day!