Just over a year ago I officiated my very first wedding.  Kim and Charlie, friends of my wife, were getting married and they knew I was “newly ordained” so they asked me if I could marry them.   Then in October I had the chance to officiate Jay and Marrisa‘s wedding down in Mexico.  Each time I sent the bride and groom some questions about themselves and how they met and fell in love and then I scripted the ceremony based around their answers.  I’ve DJed enough weddings 11165256_969290069748018_2596357784077122066_nthrough the years and seen too many ceremonies where there is nothing personalized for the bride and groom, so I figure if I’m going to officiate a wedding for friends I better make it all about them.

So last week Kris Abrahamsen married Danielle Mascio  and I had the honor once again to officiate.  I didn’t start with any template but once again I had Kris and Danielle answer some questions and then we put together the ceremony as a team.  Similar to the first two, I got tons of great feedback afterwards and I know Kris and Danielle were thrilled with how everything turned out.  There were some funny moments during the ceremony (I find laughter can break the ice especially when people are overly nervous or emotional like during a wedding) although we stayed 10154913_969289066414785_2648355059934131810_nrespectful to the importance of the ceremony.  And as I did the first two times, I asked Kris and Danielle to write and deliver their own vows.  And they both did.  Magically!  These words, in my opinion, are so much more powerful than the canned “I ____, take you ____, to be my lawfully wedded wife.”  When a couple has to think about what they want to say to their spouse-to-be in that moment, beautiful things come out.  And then when they can deliver those words on their own for their family and friends to hear, it becomes a Wow! moment.  Indeed in the Same Day Edit that Endless Wave Studios produced for Kris and Danielle they use some of Danielle’s powerful words and it’s the highlight of the video.

To Kris and Danielle I say my most heartfelt congratulations and thank you for giving me the chance to have such an important role on your day.  Love you both!