I love when I hear from my couples that they've just gotten their marriage license, as I know that it feels so much more real to them at that point! It sure did for me!
In California, you can actually get your marriage license up to 90 days before the wedding. But, since there is no waiting period, you can also get your license right up until the very day of the wedding (although why anyone would add stress like that on that day if they didn't have to, I don't know!).
I received an inquiry through my website for a wedding at Mt. Woodson Castle in Ramona, and I was glad to hear that the venue had sent them my way, as I know that the team at Personal Touch Dining who run the castle totally know who my favorite couples are!
The three of us met virtually via Zoom soon after to talk about what they wanted and didn’t want from their ceremony, and then we walked through my process and how I work.
After you've thought about what kind of structure your vows might be, and how long they might be, what do you write? What should be in your vows?
Did you see my previous post on types of vows? Well, as they start to work through the process, many couples ask me about the typical length of vows.
I show my couples ideas that are a whole variety of lengths, intentionally, and this is what I usually recommend:
I get asked regularly about vows and how to make them truly your own. In almost every meeting with my couples, this is the part where real relief comes across their faces - no, you will not be alone in writing your vows, I promise, and will give you as much help and guidance and ideas as you need!
Here is one of the first pieces of advice I share, different ways that you can do your vows:
You wanted to know more about me, personally? Well, I can easily tell you one thing - I am a sleeper! Not sleeper agent nor anything hidden under the surface that I don't let show regularly - I mean really a sleeper. I love to sleep, long and late, and only get up early when is absolutely necessary or the right thing to do.
There are so many small (or big) ways to customize it, making it fit your unique relationship, while still giving the ceremony the respect and sacredness it deserves.
Custom vows, readings, inviting others to take part in the ceremony in some way, extra ceremonies, special colors or attire...
Or even just in the program.
NOTE: This was one of the few really old blog posts that I decided to bring over to the new website, as I think that it says a lot about who I am and what matters to me. This was originally posted on July 4, 2013!
It's funny. I just realized that it was almost five years ago that my husband and I were off on one of our big annual international adventures (we love to travel), this time visiting close friends of mine from grad school, who were living in Riga, Latvia at the time. I had recently begun to think about the possibility of leaving my normal job to start my own business, doing something that I was passionate about.
![celeste and austin – mt. woodson castle [real wedding]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d40a2ae41c3c60001ef135f/1566879479652-GD2PXXPOVK3Q9K2K098I/IMG_7683.JPG)
![kanima and johnathan – la quinta civic center park [real wedding]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d40a2ae41c3c60001ef135f/1567039503456-LTPDSQUL91L2LXG95KZJ/IMG_6559.jpg)
