Siham and Jonathon - Coronado Beach

Back in February, I received an email from a bride asking about my availability for her June wedding - and letting me know that she has been referred to me by her wedding planner, Erin Melton of Behind the Bride. I so enjoy Erin, so I definitely was looking forward to meeting this couple! And I know it would be a calm, organized, fun wedding with Erin involved, which I very much appreciate and am fond of!

So, we met at the Starbucks near their place, in La Mesa, and talked about what they wanted from their ceremony. Three things quickly became clear: 1) they wanted nothing religious (which is clearly not a problem with me); 2) they wanted simple; and 3) neither had life-long fantasies that has to be met, nor really any expectations at all. Those all worked for me!

It was going to be only around 15 guests, and on the public beach in Coronado, near the Hotel Del. Her family is Indian, while his is not, but no one was looking for us to include any particular cultural traditions in the ceremony, or any religious traditions, for that matter.

So, what did we create together? Since it was only to be around 15 guests, I recommended we do a ring warming, which they thoroughly agreed would be special. So, after a brief welcome and introduction to the wedding itself, I introduced the ring warming with this: "Your being here is not only important to this couple, but really quite an honor for them. As such, Siham and Jonathon would like to now request that each of you individually share in their ceremony." I went on further to explain what we were going to do and why, and then we passed the rings around through all of their family and friends (in an organza bag, of course, to make sure we wouldn't lose the rings in the sand). While the rings passed, I continued on with the ceremony, with the rings making it around through everyone by the point where Siham and Jonathon were going to exchange rings.

We also included "Union" by Robert Fulghum (yes, of "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"), as well as "The Art of Marriage" by Wilferd A. Peterson. Siham and Jonathon wrote their own vows, which they didn't share with each other ahead of time. Their vows were both so beautiful - you could see how moved their family and friends were as they read them! And, as always, I shares stories from their homework assignment for me - particularly funny was the story of when they first said "I love you," while their visions for their future together were very descriptive and beautiful. Definitely something we could all support!

Check out the pictures below of this intimate wedding, captured by Paul Talanian of Photography by Paul!

 Thanks again, Siham and Jonathon, for making me a part of your celebration and your relationship!  Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Wedding Planner: Erin Melton - Behind the Bride
Photographer: Paul Talanian of Photography by Paul
Videographer: Jim Costa of Video Momentos