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!

Ajay & Katherine's Wedding, The Trowbridge Tavern, Bourne, MA

It's December 6th and I am grateful to be officiating an intimate wedding for Ajay and Katharine on St. Nicholas day! What a beautiful ceremony, too. A great time was had by all, including their baby who sat in the arms of a relative observing the service. And he was quite expressive of his excitement, too - pictured above, I speak to the baby, asking if he perhaps has something extra to say? Everyone joined in the laughter as Ajay and Katherine turned around and acknowledged their son's playful expression of glee!

All was very festive with the holiday tree, wreaths, decorations, and cranberry and white gowns, wedding cake, and candles, too. A very joyous time of the year, Ajay and Katherine lit up the room with their happy smiles during the entire ceremony; it was clear that this couple were having fun for their wedding day.

You can see the love in Ajay's facial expression as he anticipates his first kiss with Katharine as her husband. Love was definitely in the air!

Congratulations to Katherine and Ajay! I was very honored to have officiated your wedding - thank you for including me in your very special day!

David & Donna's Wedding, The Old Sea Pines Inn, Brewster, MA

David and Donna and their guests enjoyed an outdoor wedding in the garden reminiscent of an Olde English-style garden, with ivy and brick pathways, small sculptures of faery creatures and tall canopied trees embracing the natural retreat. Under the simple trellis, Donna and David exchanged their custom vows and exchanged rings, and shared their sacred ceremony with a special reading given by David's grandmother, Betty. As shown in the photos above, Donna and David were very excitedly anticipating my announcement of their being officially introduced to their guests as "husband and wife". One can see the look of enthusiastic anticipation between them as I retrieve the bride's bouquet from her maid of honor. And then, the elation is unmistakable in the second photo as David and Donna are announced. It's without a doubt the most celebratory moment of the weddings I perform, and this lovely couple's ceremony was no exception.

If you've never been to The Old Sea Pines Inn, you're in for a treat. One feels transported to a time when sea captains and their families gathered together in large living rooms to share company with loved ones. A large fireplace is the center piece of the grand room, with photos of past proprietors, historic celebrities of Brewster, and their families. The piano is festively decorated with a horn of plenty basket, filled with pumpkins and gourds. Games and magazines, soft lighting and warm smells wafting from the kitchen make this Inn truly a special place.

Congratulations to David and Donna. May your marriage, like the garden, be tended to and nurtured, cherished and loved for many seasons to come!

Jack & Melissa's Wedding, W. Dennis Yacht Club, Dennis, MA

Jack and Melissa shared their custom ceremony at the West Dennis Yacht Club this past weekend. While it was a rainy Saturday, and the winds were rather fierce, they and their beloved family and friends enjoyed the warmth of the tavern room overlooking the ocean for their special wedding service.

The gas fireplace created the romantic ambiance only

befitting a sacred event such as this; the nautical flags lined the yacht club's reception hall, as beautiful smells of french cuisine wafted into the entire club, giving it a very homey and inviting ambiance. "EcoRoo", the name of the exclusive caterer for the Dennis Yacht Club members and their guests, had created the finest foods for this festive occasion with their eclectic, gourmet selection of appetizers and entrees; I was most impressed with this venue that I'd visited here on Cape Cod for the first time. Despite the winds and the gray skies, all was beautiful for the bride and groom and their guests inside the club.

During the service, Jack and Melissa incorporated their own special touches into the ceremony, including a song sung by a solo singer, and a special blessing whereby all friends and family joined the couple in saying the traditional "Our Father" prayer. In all, it was a beautiful service for a truly lovely couple!

Congratulations to Jack and Melissa. Though the winds howled outside, we all basked in the warmth of the Dennis Yacht Club fireplace, the friends and family who encircled us, and the warm, delicious foods that made the day that much more spectacular!

As they say in maritime circles, I bid you "fair winds and calm seas". You both deserve to experience the happiest of marriages! Thank you for including me as a part of your special wedding day!

Michael and Barbara's Wedding, Chatham Bars Inn

Michael and Barbara experienced a simple, intimate ceremony for two at the gazebo of the Chatham Bars Inn. This lovely couple were fortunate to arrange their service on such a beautiful day on Cape Cod; the rain storms were to arrive the following day. I always enjoy

marrying couples, and Michael and Barbara are no exception. They'd met about a year ago, ironically, at a wedding they were both attending!

While it was a little chilly, the sun was out and their smiles warmed the whole gazebo with their joy. Barbara's energy and excitement was infectious, and Michael had just about the most peaceful expression of love on his face I'd ever seen once we'd completed the service and I'd announced he and Barbara as "husband and wife".

Barbara was so excited, sharing her day with Michael in Chatham prior to their service. She told me about how the Chatham Coffee Company proprietor, Caroline, was "so nice!" She'd made a gorgeous cake for after their special dinner they were to have at the Chatham Bars Inn, and offered to serve them breakfast at her coffee house the following morning. Barbara was thrilled with her flowers from Fancy Flowers in Chatham, too. All worked out to a tee!

Congratulations to Michael and Barbara! May you have many happy years together!

Scott & Jessica's Wedding, The Manse Inn, Brewster, MA

What a perfect day for a wedding on the grounds of the charming Manse Inn, Brewster, Massachusetts! Having been in the bridal industry herself, Jessica had planned her own wedding exquisitely, with every detail created with that special something that rang of Martha Stewart quality.

In front of the Inn's renovated, white barn, Scott and Jessica exchanged their custom written wedding vows, intermittently laughing together when Jessica expressed references to humorous situations they'd had as a couple. The family and friends joined in laughing, too, making this a most delightful experience for all in attendance.

On this beautiful autumn day, Scott and Jessica included their family and friends in the service itself with a beautiful Unity Candle ceremony. Jessica chose five candle lighters (amongst her guests) who lit their candles from the elegant candelabrum behind us, and proceeded to go down the aisle to pass the flame to the people on the aisles. Candles had been placed under each guests' chair. As each candle was lit, each guest in turn passed the flame until all of the candles were lit.

Once all of the candles were lit, I delivered a special blessing: "May the blessing of light be with you always, light without and light within. And may the sun shine upon you and warm your heart until it glows like a great fire so that others may feel the warmth of your love for one another."

Congratulations to Scott and Jessica!

Jared & Rebecca's Wedding, Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA

Jared and Rebecca, their families and friends, could not have had a better day for celebrating their wedding at The Gazebo of the Chatham Bars Inn. The air was unseasonably warm for this Columbus Day weekend, and the sun shone over the hills leading down to the ocean below. A gentle, salty breeze swept through the trees as I delivered their custom wedding service in the gazebo; inside the gazebo, loved ones sat and enjoyed the intimate sacredness of their ceremony. Rebecca's and Jared's Aunts both selected meaningful biblical passages to read for this lovely couple; John 2:13-19 and Luke 8:22-25 were read to all witnessing this beautifully simple, yet elegant wedding.

This lovely couple exchanged marriage vows written especially for one another. I think Jared best summed up his commitment to Rebecca with these words: "There is no way to know what awaits us, be it triumph or failure, ease or adversity, happiness or sorrow. But what can be said with all the resolve of faith is that as we stand here today, there is no one else with whom I would rather share joy, face uncertainty or build a life and family."

As I announced Jared and Rebecca husband and wife, Chatham Bars Inn servers arrived with glasses of champage for each wedding guest as a toast celebration to the marriage of this lovely couple! Hors D'oeuvre's were passed around to all before they were to have a fine wedding dinner reception in a reserved room at the Inn.

Congratulations to Jared and Rebecca! Thank you for including me in your special wedding day.