Want to win two free tickets to the Bridal Show at the Great Room in Savage Mill, Maryland on Sunday January 29 from 12-3pm???

If you “like” and then share our facebook page on your wall and encourage friends to like us, you will be entered in a chance to win 2 free tickets to the show!  Hurry!  Contest ends Thursday, January 26 at midnight.  Winners will be notified on facebook.

There are two pairs up for grabs!

What are you waiting for?  Visit us now!

Couples Yoga Workshop with Laura and Tim

Take a break from the craziness of wedding planning and relax with your partner or a friend.  With Valentine’s day right around the corner this is a great way to do something besides the typical dinner and a movie.

This is a fun workshop where we will explore poses where two are better than one. Together we will find strength, balance and relaxation. Try familiar poses with a partner and create new and unfamiliar poses only done with two people. In partner yoga we are able to deepen our understanding of trust and communication while building strength and flexibility in deeper and more effective ways than we could alone. Most importantly, partner yoga is also playful, relaxed and fun!

Bring your friend, parent, child, spouse, or neighbor, and an open mind and playful spirit to this workshop. Yogi’s and non-yogi’s welcome.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

7:00- 8:00 pm

$30 per person

Coreworks Fitness, Columbia, MD

Advanced Registration Required

Sign up online at www.coreworksfitness.com

A seminar I attended about marketing to brides said that brides only care about one thing: their weddings. I have to say I strongly disagree. Behind every couple is not just an engaged person but a REAL person. With this in mind, I write this blog not to a bride or a groom, but to you as a whole person. Sure, I want to give you valuable advice about your wedding and you will find that here. But, I also want to share myself with you and have a real conversation, like REAL people. I am more than an officiant, and you are more than a bride or groom. If the marketers are right you might be thinking, “Why do I care about Rev. Laura’s list of Favorite Things of 2011? GIVE ME WEDDINGS!” In which case, you should probably stop reading now. But, if I am right and there is a real person in there who just wants to learn about some cool new stuff, then this is for you.

Rev. Laura’s Top 10 Favorite Things of 2011

1. Kettlebells- If you are wondering what the heck a kettlebell is, it’s a weighted bell that you swing and do various exercises with. It is great for cardio and serious strength building. Best of all, it produces serious results fast. And if you are trying to get in shape for your wedding, or for your life, this is a great option. There are plenty of classes around; just search the Internet for Kettlebells to find a class near you. I go to an awesome place called Bright Spot Wellness in Howard County, where the workouts are all just 39 minutes. Perfect if you don’t have hours to spend in the gym but want a body that looks like you did. Right now they have this awesome 21-day sprint program that you can try out. If you want results and you want them fast, check out kettlebells!

2. My Naturopath- I am surprised to find how many people don’t know what a Naturopath is. “Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct profession of primary health care that integrates the science of contemporary, evidence based medicine with the wisdom of traditional healing methods.”

Earlier this year I visited Dr. Julie Walsh, a naturopath in Ellicott City. During my consultation she looked at all of the blood work from my primary care doctor and actually listened to me when I told her what was going on. She didn’t sit there and click a computer screen and she didn’t keep me waiting for an hour. Most importantly she looked at me right in the eyes and she listened. It is incredible to be able to actually sit down and talk to a doctor instead of being rushed in and rushed out. In 30 minutes she was able to catch all of the things on my blood work that my primary care doctor had missed. She made recommendations for supplements and further testing. Long story short, within 3 months of following her advice my health improved dramatically. If you have ever just wished you could ask a doctor anything about your health, find a naturopath. She is even offering a 30 minute consultation for only $99 right now. Trust me, it is a small amount to pay to have someone who really knows her stuff!

3. Zevia Cola- For those of you who knew me way back when, you know that before I was a health nut I was a full fledged addict. My vice? Diet Coke. I seriously drank the stuff by the gallon. When it started having serious adverse effects on my health I knew I had to give it up. I was so frustrated that there wasn’t a healthy substitute. I prayed, literally prayed,”God, if they have stevia (a zero calorie healthy plant based sweetener) why can’t they use that to flavor soda instead of aspartame?” A few years later and my prayer was answered… enter Zevia. Dear God, thank you for this product. While it’s no Diet Coke, the cola flavor gets pretty darn close. Close enough that this former diet coke addict is very, very pleased. Visit their website for a $1.00 off coupon.

4. Sun Warrior Protein Powder- I had been searching for a protein powder that was vegan, raw, and wasn’t disgusting. I searched high and low at every store I could find. I had tried the most popular brand and still couldn’t figure out how anyone thought it was edible. Then, thanks to the vegan body building website I found out about Sun Warrior Protein Powder (Vanilla). Holy amazing! Only 70 calories for 15 grams of raw vegan protein, thank you! Two scoops of powder, plus water, plus a handful of frozen berries = low calorie, high protein deliciousness.

5. Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr- Kris Carr, I love you. Talk about a true spiritual warrior. This woman is astounding. In her early 30′s she found out that she had an aggressive type of cancer. It totally rocked her world and instead of becoming a victim to disease, she became a champion for health. She even made a documentary about it (Crazy Sexy Cancer). This book is not a ‘diet’ but really an informational book that also offers a 21 day plan for “igniting your spark and living like you mean it.” Tim and I have done the plan 3 times this year and felt amazing every time. Some of the principles we even keep now in our normal routine, like fresh green juice every day and a day of fasting once a week. If you want to totally ignite your health, check it out.

6. Breville Ikon Multi Speed Juicer-Thanks to Kris Carr and her amazing book I realized I needed a juicer asap. I searched high and low for a juicer that would do everything I need and not cost me hundreds of dollars. I was able to score this one for under $175 with my Bed, Bath and Beyond coupon! Tim and I use it every day. It works great and cleans up fast. Before we switched to juice I argued that making my coffee was faster. Tim timed me. Turns out I can wash the produce, juice it, and clean the juicer before the coffee is even close to done. Green juice it is!

7. Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Nebulizer Diffuser- I love essential oils and yummy fragrances in general. I was pretty addicted to those plug-in scents. Then I realized how bad for you they are and sought out to find something that would still be a treat for my nose without all the chemicals. Enter the Humbar Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Nebulizer Diffuser. I have it next to my bed and fill it each night. It acts as a humidifier and an aromatherapy diffuser in one. No more lugging out my huge humidifier, this thing is less than half the size and does the trick.

8. Lululemon Athletica Reverse Groove Pants- Lululemon makes the best fitness clothes ever, hands down. Are they pricey? Well, yes. But they are totally worth every penny. I am in love with their groove pants. Ladies, if your other half gives you a hard time about the cost of these pants, just let him see your buns in them. What they do for the derriere is unbelievable. Trust me. Besides that, they last for a very long time. I run in them, do kettlebells in them, kickbox in them and teach yoga in them. I pretty much live in these pants. I have had a few of the pairs I still wear for over 7 years!!! They still look like they did when I bought them. I couldn’t live without them.

 9. Spotify- Thanks to my friend Dan Smith for tipping me off on this one. “Spotify is a new way to listen to music. Millions of tracks, any time you like. Just search for it in Spotify, then play it. Just help yourself to whatever you want, whenever you want it.” That’s right people, it is FREE. “Think of Spotify as your new music collection. Your library. Only this time your collection is vast: millions of tracks and counting. Spotify comes in all shapes and sizes, available for your PC, Mac, home audio system and mobile phone. Wherever you go, your music follows you.” Sound awesome? It is. Thanks, Dan.

10. The Four Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss- What can I say? If I wasn’t married, I would be stalking Tim Ferriss. This book (well in fairness, I listened to the audio version) changed my life. This is a great read for anyone who can see the insanity of the ‘deferred lifestyle plan’. If you have always thought that it doesn’t make sense to work like a dog during your vibrant years just so you can have free time during your elder years, read this book. Find out what the “New Rich” like myself are doing. For example, I am writing this blog, planning my 2012 mini-retirement in Peru and getting paid while I do all of it. Sound good to you? Check out this book.

I often find myself thinking about how lucky I am to be a wedding officiant. Last week, I was reminded again when an unexpected package arrived at my door. I thought it was a gift I had ordered for a friend for Christmas and when I realized it wasn’t my typical amazon delivery I got so excited. A package just for me, and better yet, from one of my wedding couples. What could it be? I opened the package to find this with this special note written inside the front cover:

This was truly the sweetest thank you! When we met for our planning meeting we got to know each other and our mutual love for gardening. I shared with them how much I missed desserts as a gluten-free vegan. I even broke out my jar of Rawtella for them to try. It’s a raw vegan version of Nutella and truthfully, no where near as good as the real thing. One bite of that and they must have known that I needed to remember REAL dessert. It came at the perfect time for my husband, Tim, who was more than ready to have some chocolate chip cookies. Within 2 days I had already made two things, these delicious chocolate chip cookies with vanilla frosting. YUMM-O! Thanks, Jess and James for being such a sweet couple!

Gluten Free, Vegan Chocolate Chip cookie sandwich!

Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan and Gluten Free!)

I had so much to be grateful for this past Thanksgiving. I was grateful that everything here at DT is running so well and that I have four officiants and a new West Coast officiant in training.  They are all so wonderful and I am so thrilled to have them as part of the team.

I hosted my first Thanksgiving for my in-laws, my parents and brothers.  We all squished at our little dining room table and had a delicious meal that included normal food for the normal folks and a special vegan and gluten free spread for me and Tim.  We made it out of the whole event with only one minor kitchen disaster involving some apple cider that reduced down to charcoal and filed the house with smoke.  Not too shabby!

But the day was truly made extra special because I was asked to be the guest pastor for the San Francisco 49ers.  Yes, the NFL team!  It was such a blessing to be able to share the teachings with them.  They were the nicest group of men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  They were also the biggest men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  I am not a short girl at 5’8” but let me tell you, standing next to them I looked diminutive at best!  Some of them stayed around to take this picture with me after Chapel.

Rev. Laura and members of the San Francisco 49ers

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, wedding planners might just be the best investment on your wedding day.  Even if you have a coordinator at your facility it is important to think about the fact that ultimately that coordinator works for the venue and not you.  I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a couples wishes not executed as discussed during their planning meeting.  Sure, they are unhappy but they don’t have time to go running around figuring out how to fix the situation…. they are busy GETTING MARRIED.  When you spend thousands of dollars on a wedding it only makes sense to protect that investment and a wedding planner is the best way to do that.  I frequently work with Felicity Carmody of Felicity C Weddings and I have seen her produce spectacular events flawlessly.   She is truly able to act as an advocate for the couple making sure that their dream day goes exactly as planned.  Check out this video to hear in Felicity’s own words why a wedding planner is so important for your big day.

Click here to view the embedded video.

So many couples come to us and say, “I want a church feeling for my wedding, but I don’t want to join a church just to get married.  Where can we go?”

Luckily there is the perfect place right in the Baltimore Metro area.   Located only a short 15 minute drive from the center of downtown Baltimore on North Charles Street is the beautiful Marikle Chapel.  Marikle Chapel is located on the campus of Notre Dame of Maryland University.  It is recently renovated and extremely beautiful.  It is not often that you can find a beautiful chapel that will allow both Catholic and non-Catholic services.

Marikle Chapel will seat up to 230 people including the bride, groom and the bridal party. Couples can arrange for their own officiant and musicians. A baby grand piano and organ are housed in the chapel for musicians to use for the rehearsal and ceremony. The prices are also extremely reasonable.  The chapel rents out to the public for Friday evening ceremonies, all day Saturday and Sunday after 2pm.  The charge is $850.00 or $650.00 for Notre Dame alumni and includes rental of the chapel on the day of wedding and evening of rehearsal, wedding coordinator on both days, and security assistance with parking and direction plus reserved parking for bridal party. Wedding guest parking on campus is also free.

Earlier this month I performed Kevin and Rachel Nilsson’s wedding there and I got a chance to see first hand how beautiful it was (and how smoothly the weddings run, thanks to Bogda).  I had the opportunity to work with the amazing Bogda Soltys, the campus’ Conference Services Manager during their event.  She acts as a coordinator for the ceremony during both the rehearsal and on the day of the wedding.  Priceless!

To find out about availability you can contact Bogda Soltys directly at 410-532-5781 or by e-mail at: bsoltys@ndm.edu. All pictures were taken by Photographer Kevin Brown.

Erica Eriksdotter happens to be one of the most fabulous artists I know. Now she is bringing her amazing talents to the bridal community. We all know that wedding flowers are expensive. It feels like such a waste to have them for a few hours and then never see them again. This is why many years ago couples preserved their flowers. But if you have ever hung so much as a rose up to dry then you know two things: #1 it’s not the same as the original rose in all it’s glory because it’s DEAD. #2 Because it’s dead, it STINKS. Then it gets dusty, then you end up throwing it away. So what can you do? Enter artist Erica Eriksdotter. She PAINTS your excact bouquet of flowers onto a beautiful canvas. Now instead of stinky flowers you have a unique piece of art with special meaning to you! How cool is that! I sat down with Erica and asked her to share more with you about what she does:

Tell us about the unique artwork you do for couples?
As a fine arts painter, I turn the bridal bouquet into an original painting the couple will enjoy in their home for a life time. This is a unique way of preserving the wedding flowers and a more modern way than having dead flowers in your home. This way, your flowers will always look fresh and last a lifetime!

How does the process work?
It’s simple and fun! All I need are some great photos where the bouquet is clearly visible. This is what I will work off to recreate your bouquet. Depending on the shape of the bouquet we’ll pick the shape of the painting. A round bouquet usually works best in a square painting and a cascading bouquet in a rectangular one. Then we decide on the background color. How about your wedding color or maybe your favorite color? Another great idea is to match it with your décor.

Why do they like this more than something like flower preservation?
Today’s brides are smart and want something special. They know dead flowers are dead energy and they will eventually end up in the attic, just like their mother’s did. Having your bridal bouquet on the wall in your living room or over the bed, is something very personal your family and friends can enjoy. It adds a personal touch to your décor. It’s an original artwork as well as your preserved bridal bouquet. It’s something very special they’ve never seen before.

Can someone give this as a gift?
Everyone loves this idea and it’s the perfect gift to give to yourself, or to receive as a gift from family or friends. It will work for any occasion and be a sure hit.

If the couple did not have a bridal bouquet but they still love this idea, I’d be happy to paint the boutonnieres.

How long have you been an artist?
I’ve been an artist my whole life. I was born and raised in Sweden and sold my first painting at the age of 10. I’m a third-generation artist as my maternal grandfather was a painter and my mother is a florist and incorporates art into her creations. Life should be celebrated with color and art should help us do that by lifting us up and fill us with joy and love.

Where did you get the idea to do this?
The idea started when I attended a wedding. At the rehearsal dinner, the groom mentioned he wanted to commission a piece for his soon-to-be wife as a Christmas gift. I blurt out “how about I paint the bridal bouquet!?” He fell in love with the idea and after seeing the bride walk down the aisle with cascading orchids and calla lilies I knew I was in for a challenge and the start of something wonderful.

How much does your artwork cost?
These original bridal bouquet paintings are currently more affordable than freeze drying. They start at $475 and the largest size is $1,735. There are different size and shape options. Each painting takes somewhere from 50 to 100 hours to make and I only do a limited number each year. There is a wait list and I always suggest brides reserve theirs several months in advance to avoid a long wait.

How do you order?
To reserve your painting an initial investment of half the cost is required. The remaining investment plus tax is due once the painting is completed and the client has seen the painting. For inquiries and orders I can be reached by email (erica@studioeriksdotter.com), phone (571-210-0466), facebook (www.facebook.com/studioeriksdotter), or they may order directly off the website.

I’d love to meet your lovely blog readers face to face at the following shows I’m doing in the DC-area this fall: (if you are a blog reader in PA I have two more shows there I can send you, just email me).
Arts on Foot Sept 10-11
8th & F Streets, NW in Penn Quarter.
It runs from 11 am to 7 pm on Saturday and 11 am to 6pm on Sunday.
Washington Bridal Showcase Sept 18
Patriot Center – George Mason Univ. 4500 Patriot Circle Fairfax, VA 22030
It runs from 11am to 5pm. Special offer during this show: Brides who put their orders in this day will receive $50 towards their painting.
Fairfax Festival of the Arts Oct 8-9
Fairfax Corner, Va. 11900 Palace Way, Fairfax, VA 22030
It runs from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Thanks, Erica! I do hope some of my couples take advantage of such a great opportunity to get such a cool gift. Check out these pictures of Erica’s recent work:

Artist Erica Eriksdotter and her paintings

Erica's Artwork

Erica's Artwork

Erica's Artwork

Despite the torrential rains I drove through on the day of Christy and Dan’s wedding, when I arrived at Herrington on the Bay‘s Polynesian Bridal Garden for their wedding, it was sunny and beautiful. This is a great location for an outdoor wedding and it is also a beach resort.   Not to mention it is one of Maryland’s only green eco-resorts so that gives it a big thumbs up in my green book!   If you have not seen this location before you can check out some pictures below.  But the professional pictures taken by the amazing Ashleigh St. Pierre of  St. Pierre Photography are much better than my iphone shots.  You can check them out on her facebook page.

When Christy, Dan and I got to know each other we found out that we had something very interesting in common.  Years ago, before I became a minister, I worked on the promotions team of one of Washington D.C.’s biggest nightclub events at an event called, Buzz. When Christy and Dan started telling me the story of how they met they mentioned that they met at a club in DC. They told me it was at Buzz, fully expecting me to have no idea what they were talking about.  You can imagine your shock to learn that not only had their minister heard of it, but she had also worked there.  We talked for a long time about our love of dancing and music. I love it when I have these really interesting connections with couples.  It makes my job just that much more special.

Thanks Christy and Dan Baechle for letting me be part of your special day.  Keep on dancing!

Christy and Dan Baechle

Polynesian Bridal Lawn at Herrington on the Bay

Polynesian Bridal Lawn at Herrington on the Bay

Alice and Dennis were recommended to me by a couple I previously married in Fells Point.  Turns out that my former couple (Maria and Michael Miskimon…hi guys!) frequent the local Fells Point hot spot, Mahaffey’s Pub, where Alice and Dennis both work.  When I met them, they were just such a sweet couple and so in love.  They are getting married in a few short weeks but just sent me their engagement pictures and I wanted to share my favorite and a little about their story…

The two met at work but did not start dating immediately.  Instead they formed a strong friendship and shared many common interests in running, biking, and their love for dogs.  Finally Dennis convinced Alice to go on a real date, just the two of them.  They went on their first date to the Science Center and that is where the real chemistry started happening.  From then on the two were inseparable.  Soon they were working together, going to Orioles games together, living together and being the loving parents to two amazing dogs together.  When Dennis surprised Alice three years later with a proposal outside of the Science Center where they first dated it was an overwhelming yes.  Alice couldn’t have been happier.  In fact, even when we met to discuss this ceremony, when I mentioned the prospect that she would soon become Mrs. Dennis Kistner, she cried.  She was so thrilled to become his wife and in turn he could not have found a more loving partner.

Only a few more weeks left till the big day!

Alice Visilia and Dennis Kistner