18 ceremony program ideas you might not have thought of. Photo by Greta Tucker Photography.

18 wedding ceremony program ideas

A Sweet Start December 10, 2018

Let me start by saying, I love wedding programs, but maybe not for the reason you think. Sure, it’s nice to see who is involved in the ceremony and how the ceremony will unfold, but my main reason for liking programs is that they serve many purposes. One purpose is, of course, to list out the couple getting married and their wedding party (and even sometimes the wedding officiant).

Wedding day tips for grooms and groomsmen answered by A Sweet Start, a Maine wedding officiant. Photo by Windy Hill Photography

Wedding day tips for grooms and groomsmen

A Sweet Start November 26, 2018

As a professional wedding officiant, I spend a lot of time with the groomsmen right before the ceremony starts. Many times the groomsmen need my help with some last minute details like affixing the boutonnieres, tying ties, deciding which suit button to button, etc. Because these questions come up again and again, I thought I’d write a special blog post for all the grooms and groomsmen out there.

Never do these three things at a wedding

3 Things No One Should Do at a Wedding

A Sweet Start October 29, 2018

In order to achieve the fun and festive atmosphere you want at your wedding, there are a few things that you should never do. Actually, these are things that should never be done by anyone on wedding day, not your wedding vendors, wedding party, family members or anyone. In the past, I’ve talked about how to create a calm, relaxed environment on wedding day and how to calm your nerves on wedding day, but today I’m talking about three things to definitely avoid doing.

13 nontraditional wedding processional options | Photo by Stephanie Vegliante Photography

13 Nontraditional processional formations

A Sweet Start September 3, 2018

Are you looking for options for your wedding processional? Many couples are open to new and interesting processionals for their wedding. When I meet with my couples to plan the processional, I often find that they haven’t really thought about how everyone will get down the aisle, so it’s my job to offer them options and let them choose the one that fits them best. There are myriad options for nontraditional processionals formations. Here are just a few.*

5 wedding day tasks that take more time than you think | Photo by Katelyn Mallett Photography

5 things that take more time than you think

A Sweet Start August 20, 2018

My friend and fellow wedding professional, Jessika Brooks Brewer came up with this list of seven things that happen on wedding day. Jessika is the owner of the glorious wedding venue French’s Point and has been involved with weddings since 2001, so she knows a thing or two about what happens on wedding day. I’ve been officiating weddings since 2011, so together she and I have your covered.

Ideas for incorporating religious elements into your secular wedding from A Sweet Start, a professional Maine wedding officiant | Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

How to Incorporate Religious Elements into Your Secular Wedding

A Sweet Start July 23, 2018

As a professional wedding officiant, I work with many couples who come from a religious background but are no longer active members of a religious institution. They want to honor their families’ religious traditions, but they want a secular, or non-religious, ceremony. With nearly every couple, they’re getting married outside of a church or chapel. In some cases, they are not religious at all, but they want

9 Things to Do on Wedding day | Here's Claire looking out at her guests during the ceremony | Photo by Emily Delamater Photography Officiated by A Sweet Start

9 Things to Definitely Do on Wedding Day

A Sweet Start June 25, 2018

Your wedding day is filled with festivity, joyful chaos, and lots of emotions. Most married people remember recall their wedding as a delightful blur that flew by too quickly. You will likely have spent months and sometimes the better part of a year or more to plan for your wedding weekend, so there’s a lot of anticipation leading up to the big event. I’ve seen couples who have spent 18 months or more planning their wedding and then get so caught up in every little detail on wedding day that they weren’t

Why you need a wedding ceremony backup plan | Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Why You Need a Wedding Ceremony Plan B

A Sweet Start June 11, 2018

If you’re getting married in Maine in an outdoor ceremony, no matter what time of year, you’re going to need a Plan B in case of inclement weather. And by inclement weather I mean rain, hail, high winds, spring snow, dense fog, thunderstorms, lightning, floods, and hurricanes. Yes, we get all of that weather here in Maine. With so many possible ways for your outdoor ceremony to get derailed by weather, it’s just so important to have a back-up plan for your wedding ceremony. It shouldn’t take too much extra planning and, I promise you, the effort you put into a well-planned Plan B will be so worth it on wedding day.

Number one secret to a happy wedding | Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Number one secret to a happy wedding

A Sweet Start June 4, 2018

I’ve been officiating weddings in Maine since 2011, so I feel like I can say with confidence that I know the number one secret to a happy wedding day. You might think I’m going to say something like relax and try not to stress, which is definitely important. Or maybe you think I’m going to say calm your nerves, which again is a great idea. I’m sure you know I’m going to say hire a wedding planner, which is the second best way to have a stress-free and happy wedding day. But the number one way to have a fun, laid back and carefree wedding day is this:

Weddings on the water in Maine | Photo on the Schooner Frances by Alexandra Roberts Photography

Weddings on the water in Maine

A Sweet Start May 21, 2018

Many couples ask me about possible locations for waterfront weddings here in Maine. Of course, many people choosing to get married in Maine want a waterfront wedding because we have it all: lakes, ponds, rivers, and beaches. There's something special about waterfront weddings; an expanse and openness to the setting. And who wouldn't love the crashing surf as a backdrop for their wedding ceremony?! So, if you're looking for a waterfront venue for your wedding, this post is for you.