Original post: March 24, 2015
Despite several people telling me different, Friday was not the first day of spring. It was the day before the first day of spring. That did not stop all manner of folk from deciding to ring in the new season with a new spouse.
The Marriage Factory was busier for me than it's been since Valentine's Day. More importantly, I got to train a new clerk/marriage commissioner. I've trained a few in the 6+ years I've been doing weddings, and it's great to watch someone learn how to guide the couple to the best possible experience. That includes understanding how to control a crowd, knowing the ins and outs of the paperwork, and above all, spreading what joy we have on their special day. Mostly it's about making sure the names are spelled right, trying to keep the kids quiet, and repeating the vows until the bride & groom hear them.
This week was no different in those respects: a nervous bride who rocked back and forth from "I (your name here)" through "I now pronounce you", a license that had to be reprinted twice for the same mistake, and various children tearing around the room.
When the new clerk was ready for her first wedding, I let her take the lead. She did a great job, especially since she knew the couple. It was a surprise to both her and them. They are having a large ceremony later this month in which the clerk's former beau is a groomsman. She handled what could have been a very awkward situation with far more aplomb than I might have, sending them on their way with a great souvenir picture to show their soon-to-be bridal party.
Fashion report
The day started with a bang: a beautiful black dress with beaded backing and a silver headpiece. There were several suits and a traditional cotton wedding dress and shirt.
By the numbers
Ceremonies: 14
Formal wear: 9
Toddlers in pin-stripe suits with ties: sadly, only 1
Showing posts with label trainee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trainee. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Children
Original post date: September 17, 2012
A tattoo parlor (Why parlor? Why not “shop” or "emporium"?) in Alameda has a sign in the window: "If you have to come in with children, please control them."
I would like a copy of that sign for the wedding room. Several children were part of weddings this week -some rowdy, some very well-behaved.
The centerpiece of the wedding room is the arch, a lovely garden trellis strung with plastic vines and Christmas lights. The tables on either side of the arch used to hold bouquets before the staff discovered couples were leaving with them. Now they sit empty, sentries for the arch.
The rowdy child spent the entire wedding fiddling with one of the tables, which at least kept him busy. When he reached for the arch, I had to ask the parents (aka the bride & groom) to stop him. Children love to pull on things, and the arch must not be disturbed. Luckily, the boy was distracted long enough to let me finish the ceremony.
On the other side were the couple who had 3 children between them, all of whom participated in the wedding - 2 ring-bearers and a best "man". It was beautiful to see how happy they and the couple were to have the whole family involved in the ceremony. The parents obviously had impressed upon them how important the wedding was and how important their part in it was. Well done!
As a bonus, I got to train a new staff member. She observed me performing a couple weddings, and didn't understand why I didn't need a copy of the ceremony. "I've done 1,500 weddings," I told her.
"It's muscle memory now, and it will be for you too."
Fashion report
The bride who arrived in sweats and emerged from the ladies' room in a lovely full-length white dress to match her groom's 3-piece suit. Clever girl - I wouldn't want to get anything on that dress, either.
A tattoo parlor (Why parlor? Why not “shop” or "emporium"?) in Alameda has a sign in the window: "If you have to come in with children, please control them."
I would like a copy of that sign for the wedding room. Several children were part of weddings this week -some rowdy, some very well-behaved.
The centerpiece of the wedding room is the arch, a lovely garden trellis strung with plastic vines and Christmas lights. The tables on either side of the arch used to hold bouquets before the staff discovered couples were leaving with them. Now they sit empty, sentries for the arch.
The rowdy child spent the entire wedding fiddling with one of the tables, which at least kept him busy. When he reached for the arch, I had to ask the parents (aka the bride & groom) to stop him. Children love to pull on things, and the arch must not be disturbed. Luckily, the boy was distracted long enough to let me finish the ceremony.
On the other side were the couple who had 3 children between them, all of whom participated in the wedding - 2 ring-bearers and a best "man". It was beautiful to see how happy they and the couple were to have the whole family involved in the ceremony. The parents obviously had impressed upon them how important the wedding was and how important their part in it was. Well done!
As a bonus, I got to train a new staff member. She observed me performing a couple weddings, and didn't understand why I didn't need a copy of the ceremony. "I've done 1,500 weddings," I told her.
"It's muscle memory now, and it will be for you too."
Fashion report
The bride who arrived in sweats and emerged from the ladies' room in a lovely full-length white dress to match her groom's 3-piece suit. Clever girl - I wouldn't want to get anything on that dress, either.
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