Choosing an Officiant That is Right For You

Published on December 29, 2018December 29, 2018 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

It is very important to find your officiant early, they are an invaluable resource in planning your ceremony and in answering any questions you might have. In choosing this person, you will want to be sure that he or she is not only willing but able to reflect accurately what you want your ceremony to convey. You will want to find someone who can reflect the quality of your love and speak meaningfully to you and your partner. Think about the following questions:

1. Does the officiant reflect or embody the spirit you want to create at your wedding?

2. Do you feel comfortable with him or her? Will you be able to express your preferences about content; speak up about matters of concern in the preparation of the ceremony; voice objections you might have or ask for silly, even seemingly trivial things to be included in the ceremony?

3. Will the officiant show you a finished ceremony in a format that is best for you (via email or fax)? And will the officiant change the ceremony upon your request?

4. Do you like the sound of his or her voice?

5. Do you have a connection with the officiant that allows you to trust that what he or she will say will be appropriate for the two of you? A person that has a sense of you and understands the uniqueness of your relationship?

6. Above all, will you value what this person has to say? Will he or she have delightful, meaningful, moving reflections that will elevate the ceremony from ordinary, generic, and formal to personal, beautiful and unforgettable?

7. Last but not least, relax in choosing an officiant. When you are all together, having a consultation, discussing how you celebrate your love and the type of ceremony that you have envisioned, you will know if that minister/officiant is the right one for the two of you. Something will click and there will be a connection.

So, how does finding and hiring the right officiant with Hudson Valley Ceremonies work? Here’s how:

First we have you set up a phone, Facetime or skype consultation with the officiant of your choice or one that has been chosen for you. You can see our officiants Bio’s here.
The officiant will ask you many questions about you and your fiance and what you most want for your ceremony.
Please ask them as many questions as you want, they are very happy to answer and assist.
If you wish to speak to another officiant we can set that up also.Finally you will choose the officiant that you have the best connection with and then choose a package.

Please check out our reviews, Hudson Valley Ceremonies has the best officiants in the valley!

Wedding Wire

The Knot

Buttermilk Falls

Grandview

Grandview

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Rev. Stuart at Buttermilk Falls Inn

Rev. Elizabeth Roth

Rev. Debra

Elizabeth and Garrett, Basilica Hudson

Published on October 26, 2017 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

August 12, 2017

Wedding Planner: Jeanne Stark, Hudson Valley Ceremonies

Venue: Basilica Hudson

Caterer: Bridgecreek Catering

Photographer: Within This Day

Rentals: Events Unlimited Party Rentals

DJ: Lucas Walters

Florist: Metaflora NYC

Transportation: Coxsackie Transport

Accommodations: Shakespeare on the Hudson

Katherine and David

Published on October 26, 2017October 26, 2017 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

May 5, 2017

Wedding Planner: Lauren Brown, Hudson Valley Ceremonies

Venue/Caterer: B lue Hill at Stone Barns
Photographer: L auren Fair Photography
Videographer: WeCinema Films
Florist: O leander Florals
Music: Generation Events
Makeup: S achiko Hair + Makeup; Reiko Utsugi

Brittany and Andrei at Locust Grove

Published on February 20, 2017 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

Brittany and Andrei

Locust Grove, Poughkeepsie NY

June 25, 2016

Ceremony Officiant: Rev Elizabeth Roth, Renee Cyr (friend of the couple)
Photographer: Peter Demuth Photography
Catering: Lola’s Cafe

Cake: Jenn Hines (Blissful Bites)
DJ/Band: Jimmy Lutz (Lutz Entertainment)
Florist: Heather Lundy (A Night in Bloom)
Bridal Attire: Bridal by Demetrios
Men’s Attire: Jack Victor
Rings/Jewelry: Point No Point Studio (groom’s ring), Macy’s (bride’s ring)
Hair/Makeup: Dutchess County Hairstylist
Invitations: Magnet Street Favors: Lovingly planted and nurtured by the mother-of-the-bride

Advice to other couples:

-Take your time with the planning and be good to each other during it, even when stress-producing issues arise.

-Determine your budget and how you’ll be financing your wedding (and your new life together!) at the very beginning.

-Listen to hear, not to react, and always remember to show your partner love and respect.

-Take five minutes after the ceremony to be alone with one another to simply enjoy where you are.

Wedding Planner Workshop for Beginners

Published on February 8, 2017March 6, 2017 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

Wedding Planner Workshop

For Beginners

Photos by Hudson River Photographer

Are you a recent bride? Do you have an obsession with wedding movies?

Have you secretly dreamed of becoming A Wedding Planner?

Now is your chance to learn from a wedding planner with over 20 years experience. Jeanne Stark will now teach you and give you the inside secrets to not only planning a wedding but have a career in designing beautiful events. Her hands-on workshop will enable you to understand how a wedding day works from behind the scenes and then learn how you create that unforgettable day.

Limited Space Available

April 5th and 6th

2:00pm – 8:00pm

Location TBA (in Rhinebeck NY)

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Day 1

Getting to Know Each Other

Working Backwards: How does a wedding day flow?

Now Back to the Beginning: Meeting a Client

Styles of Weddings

Budgeting and Staying on Budget

Choosing Vendors

Design of a Wedding

Day 2

Creating a Timeline that works

Cultural and Religious Weddings

DIY Wedding

Modern Etiquette

Psychology of Wedding Planning

Dealing with Problems and Dilemmas

Beginning to Run Your Business

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Each day the host will provide the following:

Workbook

Snacks and Dinner along with Beverages

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$350

$400

Fill out the form and payment directions will be sent via email.

Candice and Jeremy Atkins, Locust Grove

Published on January 3, 2017 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

Your new married names – Candice and Jeremy Atkins
Wedding Location – Locust Grove – Poughkeepsie, NY
Ceremony Officiant – Rev Stuart – Friend Officiates Package
DJ/Band – DJ Domenic
Florist – Adams Fairacre Farms – Wappingers Falls, NY
Caterer – Lola’s Cafe

Wedding Decor Rentals: Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Bridal Attire – David’s Bridal
Men’s Attire – JC Penny’s
Rings/Jewelry – Littmans Jewlers
Invitations/Favors – Invitations, WeddingPaperDivas.com; Favors, Gertrude Hawk

Advice:
– My husband and I looked through so many options when we were first planning and we found that it was really easy to want to be impulsive and to want to go with our first choice but this rarely worked out for us. Our biggest piece of advice would be to take your time and to not just go with your first choice but look around and pick what is right for you.
– Choose vendors based on how they work together. All of our vendors knew each other and worked seamlessly together – we barely had to do anything!!
– Also remember to not stress over the small details and save money where you can. No one knew I had a cheap dress, or that we rented our decorations for a crazy cheap price, or that we assembled our own centerpieces – they had a terrific time because we invested our budget where it counted (food, music, venue) and didn’t no or care about many of the smaller details (but we saved a ton!).
– Enjoy your wedding, it will be over before you know it.

Kerry and Matt Nelson, Roundhouse at Beacon

Published on January 3, 2017 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

Your new married names: Kerry & Matt Nelson
Wedding Location: The Roundhouse, Beacon NY

Photographer: Levi Stolove
Ceremony Officiant: Rev Jim Rooney

Videographer: n/a
DJ/Band: 74 Events – Ben Carlin
Musicians: n/a
Limos/Buses: First Student
Florist: A Night in Bloom
Coordinator/Planner: Jeanne Stark
Bridal Attire: Dress: Leanne Marshall from Lovely NY, Shoes: Jimmy Choo & Kate Spade for Keds (dancing sneakers)
Men’s Attire: Alton Lane
Rings/Jewelry: Greenwich Jewelers (rings), BHLDN (earrings)
Hair/Makeup: Hair – Melissa Scrofani/Makeup – Meredith Hayman
Invitations/Favors: Invitations – Spark Letterpress, Favors – brewed by Matt’s uncle
Other Vendors: Virtual event design & welcome table hurricane display – Michelle Edgemont,

Lighting – Vivid Events

Our advice to other couples:

Hire vendors who not only share your vision but also who you also have a personal connection with (like Hudson Valley Ceremonies!). This way, you’ll be surrounded by people you like and trust on your big day and you won’t have to worry about a thing!

Don’t sweat the small stuff – something unexpected is bound to happen on your big day but just go with the flow and remember that no one is going to even realize or remember if something small goes wrong.

Leading up to the big day, everyone is going to try to give you advice and sway your decisions, but don’t lose sight of what your wedding is all about – your marriage!

A Hudson Valley Ceremonies Wedding in Coxsackie, NY

Published on February 18, 2016 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

Natasha & Adam

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Venue: Private Home, Coxsackie, NY
Caterer: Hickory BBQ & Victoria’s Wood Fire Pizza
Bakery: Deising’s Bakery
Rentals: Events Unlimited
Flowers: Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Photography: Monarch Photography
Transportation: Coxsackie Transport
Planning/Coordination: Jeanne Stark, Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Invitations: Hudson Valley Ceremonies

Advice from the happy couple:
“Our wedding day was absolutely perfect and one of the happiest days of our lives yet! Yes, it rained not just a few raindrops, a monsoon, but I would not have changed a thing. Take a moment during the Reception to thank everyone that helped along the way and to everyone there that is our only regret we never got a chance to do that!! It was amazing to have Jeanne and her support team we felt like they were family and loved every moment of our day. Couples that are starting on the journey…there will be fights, tears, laughter and always love because with anything that is truly special you must work at it to get the very best and it is worth every second. 😊”

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Hiring a Professional Wedding Officiant

Published on December 31, 2015December 30, 2015 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

We know it’s tempting to ask Uncle Jim to perform your wedding ceremony. After all, he has no problem infecting a whole room with riotous laughter. So why spend the money on a professional officiant when you have a family member or friend ready to fill that role?

Deciding whether to hire professional vendors for your wedding isn’t something to be taken lightly – the professionals (or non-professionals) working at your wedding will have a major impact on your wedding day. Professional photographers, videographers, DJs, officiants, and florists have the experience to handle common, but unexpected, situations that often come up at weddings. How would Uncle Jim react if the flowers or decorations behind him blew over just after the ceremony began? How would he react if one of your guests or a member of your wedding party fainted during your vows? Would he be able to take with the unexpected in stride without getting flustered or thrown off for the rest of your ceremony?

The best way to ensure that your wedding ceremony goes off without a hitch is to hire a professional wedding officiant. When it comes to weddings, and especially performing ceremonies, experience and talent matters. What does hiring an experienced professional officiant get you?

Knowledge
When you hire a professional wedding officiant, you are hiring an encyclopedia of wedding knowledge. Professional wedding officiants have been trained and well practiced in the art of public speaking and know the wedding industry inside and out. A good officiant will know what makes a ceremony appealing to your guests, how to tailor a ceremony to fit your needs, and how to seamlessly work with your venue and timeline. You are investing in an officiant that can answer your questions about the regulations surrounding marriage officiants in your area, local venues and vendors, and about all aspects of various types of ceremonies.

Guidance
Many couples wonder where to start when writing a ceremony or vows, what makes a ceremony great, or how long each portion should last. Luckily, professional wedding officiants are wonderful guides during the planning process. Having participated in many weddings, wedding officiants have experienced a broad range of ceremonies and can work with you to create a personalized ceremony that reflects both your relationship and intents. Not only that, but an officiant can help you find other resources for your wedding, with countless contacts in all fields of the wedding industry.

Understanding
A professional wedding officiant will understand your vision for your wedding day and help you to create a ceremony that sets the tone for the rest of the day. Many do not realize that the mood of the ceremony sets the tone and fuels the conversation throughout the reception, so it is the officiant’s role to create a smooth transition with the couple’s wishes in mind. The ceremony does not stand alone in your special day- it is a part of a larger celebration.

Reliability
A family member may get sick; a friend may be overcome with stage fright. Professional wedding officiants are prepared for every eventuality. You have a contract with your officiant, stating that they will perform your wedding, and in the event of an emergency, many officiants have a contingency plan in place to provide an equally prepared officiant to step in.

Hiring a professional wedding officiant isn’t a decision you’ll regret after your ceremony.

So You Want Your Friend to Officiate Your Wedding

Published on January 8, 2015 by Hudson Valley CeremoniesLeave a comment

So You Want Your Friend to Officiate Your Wedding

That is fantastic! There is nothing more personal for a wedding ceremony than a friend or relative that you have known most of life performing your ceremony. Let’s discuss the pros and cons to this gift.

Pros to a Friend or Relative Performing the Ceremony

1. Personal, history, and comfort level. This person knows you both really well and that makes it so easy to create a ceremony together. The know the history of you and your fiance and speak about this in the ceremony. You have a real comfort level with this person and that will make the ceremony easier.

2. Free of charge. Hopefully they are providing this as a gift, but if there are any expenses that they are occurring, etiquette says that you must reimburse them or pay for these items.

Cons to a Friend or Relative Performing the Ceremony

1. Are they legal to perform ceremonies in your state. So they decided to fill out that little form online and maybe even paid $20 to get ordained. Many states, counties and towns will not recognize these forms of ordination.

2. Creating the ceremony. There is an incredible knowledge and ability to an official officiant with the wording of a ceremony. What you are paying for with a professional is the writing talent. A good officiant can write a ceremony that guests want to listen to and are eager for the next part.

3. Crossing the lines. When you hire a professional officiant, they work for you and your fiance. You have the ability to say to them what you want them to wear, what to arrive and what you want them to say and not. Friends and relatives are not professionals (unless if they do this job professionally).

What are your options:

1. Hire a professional to perform your ceremony

2. You decided to have a friend or relative perform the ceremony anyways. Hudson Valley Ceremonies has a solution. The Friend Officiates Package. One of our legal officiants comes to your venue before or after the ceremony and takes care of the legal paperwork. That’s it! So simple.

Any questions please contact Hudson Valley Ceremonies at 845-244-1482 or email at HVCeremonies@gmail.com