I can't tell you how many consultations I've been to. But I can tell you that every one that I've been to, the couple hasn't interviewed us.

Wait. What? 

I'm actually very shocked at this. Probably the most important person in the grand scheme of your wedding day and we aren't asked any questions? I mean, yes, decor and clothes and food, and, and and...are all so very important. Did you think about the person that signs that marriage license to make your marriage legal? 

Wow. This actually pretty interesting to think about. Just because someone is willing to take your money and stand in front of a crowd and say the words, does not mean that they are allowed to legally marry you. This is one HUGE important question you should be asking. But there are more...

by Dusty King of King's Event Planning

As a Wedding Consultant and Planner I have found in recent years this area of the Wedding Industry has grown by leaps and bounds. There are thousands of listings for Wedding associates of any kind now. As schedules get busier, and lives become more hectic and last minute becomes a way of life, sometimes professional help is needed. A planner can do anything from full wedding planner to day of coordinator. Depending on your level of busy, and your ability to accomplish necessary tasks in order for your event to be successful, you can consider what services you really would like help with. Often you will hear women who have planned their own weddings directly afterwards say “Man, I wish I had hired some help!” Weddings are fun, and wonderful events, but they are also one of the most stressful events you will ever go through in your life. A wedding is one of those moments that little girls dream about all of their lives, and when the time comes, if the vision is unachievable because they can't do it by themselves often women will melt down! So not only as a planner do I recommend that every bride have professional help, I planned my own wedding several years ago because it was something I loved to do and I will tell you now I wish I had considered allowing someone to help me! Now when you get to that point to where you are considering hiring that Professional help, I want to give you a few pointers in the things you really need to pay attention to!

by Dusty King of King's Event Planning and Rebecca Norris

Yesterday I shared with you the wording my friend and I came up with for a "Branding Unity Ceremony". I decided to offer an alternative to my coworker in case the couple didn't have all the necessary supplies to do that ceremony (or in case there might be safety concerns preventing it). 

The couple has a fishing theme for their wedding. A little offbeat, but the decor that Reginna (my coworker) was telling me about, sounded very unique and beautiful. The centerpieces, for example, are bowls filled with river rock, water and fake fish, set atop flat pieces of log. I haven't seen photos yet, but I'm pretty excited to see how those came out!

Back to the unity ceremony. I found this river rock unity ceremony in my search for anything on the branding ceremony, and thought that this would be a great way to incorporate their current theme into the ceremony using supplies they probably already have! Again, there was no wording available for this, so we had to come up with our own. Here's what we created:

My coworker (from my day job) brought this concept to me yesterday and asked if I could come up with the wording to give to the judge that's performing her niece's wedding,  this Saturday. Not only had I never heard of this alternative to the unity ceremony, not many others had either. There was only one mention of it anywhere on Google! I was in for a challenge, that was for certain. Thankfully, I have friends who are completely awesome and creative, namely Dusty King of King's Event Planning. 

I mentioned this ceremony to her to see if maybe she had seen one before, or heard of it. She was just as oblivious as the rest of us, but she was up for the challenge as well. She came up with some wording in about 10 minutes, passed it along to me, and I tweaked it into what you see below. I cannot wait to share it with my coworker!

"Today, (GROOM) and (BRIDE), are starting a new tradition. As a sign of their love for each other, the intertwining of their lives, and the fire that burns within their souls for each other, gathered together among friends and family, they will brand this piece of wood. This brand will be on permanent display in their home to show their devotion to each other, today, tomorrow and the rest of their lives. To help them find their way back home, if ever lost in the turbulent storms of life. To remind them of the love and support that each of you have given them today and that you continue to give each and every day. As this brand cannot be undone, so shall their promise to each other stand the test of time."

If you've come across this blog and decide to use our ceremony, let us know! Comments are extremely welcome and we invite you to "Like" our pages on Facebook and share with everyone you know. We rely on social media and word of mouth to grow our businesses, so the more folks that are talking about us the better!

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*edited 8/23 to change title.
*edited 8/9/14 to add credit to StarRanch for the concept of the Branding Ceremony.
*edited 1/11/17 to add photo gallery of an actual branding ceremony, which used our wording. Thank you Amber Shaw for sharing!!