Weddings Redefined

We are pleased to offer online booking and credit card payment for our elopement packages:  Destiny Platinum, Destiny Gold and Vows.  You can book one of these packages in four easy steps:

• Go to our Out of State Couples page and choose your elopement/small wedding package
• Click the link by the package price to fill out the booking form
• Complete the form and hit submit
• Check your email and click on the link it contains to pay the deposit by credit card

You'll then get a call from us discussing your wedding planning details!

Check out this article from the Hartford Courant.

Basically, the Connecticut Catholic Conference is asking the Connecticut legislature to allow discrimination by wedding vendors who don't support same-sex marriage.

We all know that marriage is a civil right, not just a religious institution.  The Catholic Church is perfectly permitted to refuse to perform same-sex marriages.  But now they are asking the legislature to allow discrimination by say, florists and wedding cake makers. 

This is why I'm in business - to protect my clients from having these difficult conversations, from hearing lack of support of their marriage, which is just as precious as any straight couple.  Believe it or not, as recently as last year, I've talked to vendors who were less than enthusiastic to assist, so naturally, I didn't hire them.

Check out this political cartoon from this week's Bay Windows:

My parents were both born in Ireland and thus, I have Irish citizenship. A few years ago, I jumped through all kinds of hoops to finally obtain my Irish passport, bringing closer a dream I've had for years of someday living in the motherland for awhile. I have been to Ireland about six times and I love it!

Check out this story: Irish Gay Marriage Activists Plan Valentine's Day Carnival.

A civil partnership bill will be brought before the Irish legislature this spring, though it appears that full-on marriage is out of the question.

Yesterday was the annual Freedom to Marry protest where same-sex couples all of the U.S. went to City Hall to apply for a marriage license, with full knowledge they'd be denied.

Were you at a protest or were you denied a license? I'd love to hear your story.

Here's a link to a news article.

I have become quite adept at working with couples - straight and gay - who live in other states but plan to marry in Massachusetts and have a wedding with a number of family and friends traveling from other states as well. I get questions on how the planning works so here's a brief explanation:

• Like with all potential clients, we have an initial meeting (in this case, it's a phone meeting) to discuss your needs and where I can explain my services and how I can help.
• When I have a clear picture of your needs, I begin research and start sending vendor options: venues, officiants, photographers, hotels, etc. Sometimes I will go to venues and take digital photos to help the couple make the most informed decision.
• Couples then let me know what they like and what they do not and I set up meetings and a discounted hotel room block for your wedding guests.
• Ideally, the couple will plan a visit to Massachusetts where we have a series of marathon meetings and site visits with vendors and venues I know and trust. My goal is to send you back to your home state with an enormous sense of relief and satisfaction that many of your logistical needs have been met.
• Contracts and payments are negotiated by me though contracts are between the couple and the vendor.
• I then work with the couple on the more personal side of wedding planning, providing advice on decisions such as invitations, music selections, gift bags, etc.
• Couples let me know if they need anything at all and I find a way to make it happen.
• Couple often doesn't come back to Massachusetts again until a day or two before their wedding at which point I bring them to get their marriage license and waiver of the 3 day wait.
• Your wedding is absolutely perfect and stunning and everyone is incredibly happy.

If it is sounds pretty easy, that's my goal for my clients. I've worked with several dozen couples from other states to make this all come together fluidly and beautifully.