Life Passages - Life Passages Wedding Ceremonies

Riordan Mansion Wedding

2/22/2020

A wedding in which the couple honored their family heritage, so unique. K & F were married at the historic Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff in Spring. They chose the Love Story package and included a handfasting in their ceremony. Their cords were copper to reflect their roots in Arizona and green for their Irish roots. The cords were adorned with symbols that were meaningful to them. It was all done so intentionally. After the final binding, these words were spoken: As your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust.  The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.
They met in high school and even back then, the groom loved wearing kilts. This caught her attention and eventually she fell in love with his ability to be himself regardless of anyone else's opinions. He fell in love with her fascination with the natural world and so much more. When he presented her with the ring and asked her to marry him, she said, “Of course I will you silly boy.”
From James Joyce’s, Chamber Music,
Bright cap and streamers,
He sings in the hollow:
Come follow, come follow,
All you that love.
Leave dreams to the dreamers
That will not after,
That song and laughter
Do nothing move.
With ribbons streaming
He sings the bolder;
In troop at his shoulder
The wild bees hum.
And the time of dreaming
Dreams is over −− −
As lover to lover,
        Sweetheart, I come.

Photography by Heather Kadar

Sedona Elopement

8/20/2019

Robbie and Alycia eloped in mid October at Bell Rock in Sedona. Isn't their blue amazing against the red rocks? Terrific choice if you decide to elope or get married there!
R and A met because they were co-workers, the chemistry was instantaneous. Although they worked in different cities, nothing could keep them apart.  For when two souls are meant to connect: location, timing and circumstances are all irrelevant. They suddenly become a magnet for one another and despite their efforts to fight it, the Universe somehow manipulates it all in their favor. And in that moment, when they finally give in, a new love is born.
Their ceremony was simple, meaningful and oh so sweet with an opening and closing prayer, 'I do's' along with a more personalized vow choice. After exchanging rings, this poem:
May these rings remind you that your love, like the sun, warms all that it touches,                                                       like the moon, brightens up the night,                                                       like the eye, is a gateway to your innermost soul.                                     And your love, like the arms that embrace you, makes everything right with the world.
Eloping in Sedona is such a wonderful way to begin a marriage. There are so many incredible locations to choose from and the weather is pretty amazing too!
After we signed the license Alycia and Robbie went adventuring in the red rocks with their photo team, The Foxes.
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Sky Ranch Lodge Wedding

7/5/2019

K&J chose the Love Story Ceremony. There's was a true story telling ceremony which included the Mother's Rose ceremony for their ritual. As you look through the photos you can just feel the warmth and loving connection that occurred. Of course the backdrop was stunning with the beautiful Sedona red rocks landscape.
The groom was from Sweden and the bride was from the states. They met in Flagstaff one fateful evening as he was passing through. His English was somewhat limited and when he texted her, his invitation to go out went something like this, "Hey Sugar Cookie, how about we have dinner?" This stopped her in her tracks as noone had ever called her that! To this day she still calls him 'Sug'. Once he returned to Sweden they continued a long distance relationship with numerous early morning Skype calls -early for him that is. Eventually, the bride uprooted herself and moved to Sweden because that's the lengths one will go to for true love.
Their ceremony had so many beautiful elements. Honoring their families was very important to them. They wrote beautiful dedications of their parents which I was honored to read. Connecting with families during the ceremony is such an important element to creating a feeling of warmth. The groom even translated the ceremony so that his Grandfather could read along as I shared their love story. After the bride and groom exchanged their vows and rings, we invited their Mother's up to sign the marriage license. Then, they chose to honor their mothers with the gift of a rose. "Mothers plant so their children may harvest. Mothers cry when their children hurt. Mothers welcome pain and burden to give their sons and daughters the gift of life."
Once they kissed the crowd broke into applause as they recessed to 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' by Stevie Wonder.
Photos by Hannah Rose Gray photography
Venue Sky Ranch Lodge of Sedona

A dream come true for two brides!

11/30/2018

What an amazing wedding day for these two brides! They had waited many, many years for the right moment and it was so perfect. They were wed at Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek on a summer day. The sun had just gone behind the red rocks. They had an incredible amount of support from their friends and families. I had the honor of crafting a Love Story ceremony for these two and what a love story! Here's a sample of it:
Their first date was slow in the making, it actually took seven years! A number of those years consisted of a long distance friendship as J lived in Seattle and T was in Phoenix. In 2011, T flew to Seattle to help J move back to Phoenix. From that moment on, they were inseparable. They secretly had crushes on each other for years. Albert Einstein puts it like this, “Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.”
Their first kiss happened right around Valentine’s Day, 6 ½ years ago. After several weeks of uncertainty, T said this to her: “Date me for one week. For just one week let everything go, just do what your heart tells you, and at the end of the week, I will let you decide what you want to do from there, and no matter what you choose, we will always be best friends.” T even remembers the date: March 27th, 2011. J says, “In past relationships I could never see myself with the person for ‘the long term’. With T, I never could see myself without her.” In the words of Brandi Carlile: I was made for you.
Within a few months of their dating, T bought the ring because she knew she was going to marry this girl. T had faith, which supported her in standing by J throughout the long and difficult road. Finally, the moment was right, and around Christmas time she planned an amazing trip to New York and proposed on a beautiful evening at Rockefeller Center.
T and J wrote their own vows and it was a real privilege listening to them exchange. I always recommend couples write their own vows as it adds so much more meaning and depth to the experience - for the couple and the family and friends witnessing.
Every time I marry a couple, I have to pinch myself as it is such a joy to be a part of such an important moment in their lives!

Venue: https://enjoyorchardcanyon.com/
Coordinator: Shira Glick https://www.shiranelsonevents.com/
Photos by: Jamie Allio Photography https://jamieallio.com/

Viola's Flower Garden Wedding

8/17/2018

It was a cold winter day but there was no shortage of warmth that came from the love that was shared on Holli & Johnathan's wedding day! The planning began in October for their February wedding day. From the moment I met them, I thought they were such a sweet couple. Their strength lied in their emotional connection and high level of communication. The bride and groom chose to marry in Flagstaff because the proposal took place at the summit of Mount Elden at 9,300 feet! Viola's Flower Garden provided the perfect backdrop for their wedding and I knew they were in great hands with the staff there.
Johnathan and Holli chose the 'Love Story ceremony' which included some unique rituals. Besides the sharing of their story, they wrote love letters to one another and placed it in a box with a bottle of bubbly to be opened on their 5th anniversary. The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry. Upon opening it on their 5th year anniversary, they will replenish the letters and bubbly to be opened on their 10th anniversary and so on. We signed the marriage license during the ceremony with their maid of honor, the bride's sister, and the best man, the groom's brother. Playing in the background was the theme from 'Mission Impossible' - haha!!
It was an intimate gathering. The bride and groom included a number of family members in the ceremony. The groom entered with his parents, and the bride entered with hers. Holli and Johnathan's parents both have long term marriages; 25 years on the bride's side and 30 years on the groom's side!
I always appreciate it when a bride and groom take the time to write personal vows to one another as it adds so much depth and meaning to the ceremony. As they exchanged their vows, you could hear laughter erupting and see tears being shed by their family members.
After the kiss, the newlyweds walked out gracefully to Colbie Caillat's 'I do!' Then they went inside to warm up and enjoy the reception!
Photos by Monica Saaty Photography

Thornager's Wedding, Flagstaff Arizona

8/13/2018

Sara and Andrew were married on a chilly winter day in February at Thornager's in Flagstaff, Arizona. The indoor setting with the forest backdrop was lovely and provided a welcome warmth. Their ceremony was contemporary, reflecting their feelings and their love for each other. There were many tender moments during the ceremony of course: when Sara's Father escorted her and gave her away to his soon to be son-in-law; the moment they faced their family and friends and words of dedication were spoken (the bride needed a tissue, so I gladly handed her one); their family and friends had tears of laughter throughout; the hands ceremony (the bride and groom held hands while words were spoken such as, 'these are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy'; lots of laughter of course, like when the proposal story was shared; the bride and groom chose to have the groom's father bring the rings forward; when the groom went in for the kiss, she started to laugh! After the ceremony, they had their Moms' sign the marriage license so that all of the parents were included in the big moment. Mr. and Mrs. B recessed to 'Across the Universe' by the Vitamin String Quartet and began their happily ever after!
Photos by Spangler Pics https://www.spanglerpics.com/
Simply Elegant Ceremony by Jen Paul of Life Passages

Grand Canyon Elopement

8/3/2018

A sweet couple who had an established 10 year relationship, already married in their hearts, Shea and Michael eloped at the Grand Canyon at Grandeur Point. The tenderness they conveyed was so heartwarming. Shea and Michael were on a journey of the entire Southwest with their wedding day being right in the middle. It was a lovely summer day and the conditions were ideal. There were plenty of witnesses nearby for the signing of their marriage license afterwards. Grand Canyon weddings are always spectacular and I was so happy to create a meaningful ceremony for their big day!
The video is by Pretty Please Photography.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Wedding

7/26/2018

K & Z were wed on a warm spring day in Scottsdale at the Fairmont Resort. There's was an intimate, loving, spiritual wedding ceremony. Emotions were running high and the Native American ritual enabled the couple to become more centered and grounded. White sage was lit and a feather was used to "smudge" the couple, meaning that the couple was fanned with the smoke. The act of smudging is done to clear the space and provide a healing, sacred space for the ceremony. The smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as it clears it takes that negative energy with it, releasing it into another space to be regenerated. White sage is very sweet smelling. Incorporated with the smudging ritual was a marriage blessing. We began by facing the East, element of air, and honoring their new beginning, followed by the South, element of fire, and honoring their love and passion, then the West, element of water to honor their emotions, and finally the North, element of earth, honoring their solid foundation. Z and K had been together 7 years when they wed. The groom chose this quote by Chief Dan George which was incorporated into their ceremony, “My friends, how desperately do we need to be loved and to love. With it we are creative. With it we march tirelessly. With it, and with it alone, we are able to sacrifice for others.” From their first date, it was clear this bride and groom were deeply connected. Both are sensitive souls who have each other's back and are always there to lift one another up. Another quote that speaks to their relationship was incoporated by Thich Nhat Hanh, “Understanding someone’s suffering is the best gift you can give another person. Understanding is love’s other name. If you don’t understand, you can’t love.” Just before they were pronounced as husband and wife and kissed, this Native American Blessing was read: May the sun bring you new energy by day;
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries
And the breeze blow new strength into your being,
And all the days of your life may you walk
Gently through the world and know its beauty.
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling to enter into the days of your life together,
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Shoshone Point Grand Canyon Wedding

6/14/2018

The groom almost lost the chance for this important moment; putting the ring on his bride's finger!
The bride and groom were nearly ready for their wedding ceremony. It was a little hectic as they had just driven from Las Vegas that day (a four hour drive), plus they stopped in Kingman to get their marriage license! Additionally, some family members had been separated from them and were having difficulty finding the location. Shoshone Point is at the Grand Canyon and is a private gated area.
As everyone arrived, we gathered for the ceremony. The bride then realized she had lost her ring! We spent about 10 minutes or so combing the area looking for the ring, no luck. The bride was naturally devastated and said, "Well, let's just get on with it." Of course, we all felt terrible for her and I certainly didn't want her heading into one of the biggest moments of her life feeling like, let's just do this... sigh. Once the ceremony was underway, I think it left her mind for awhile as it was such a touching experience. The bride and the groom had written the most beautiful dedication to their parents and grandparents, I nearly started to cry along with everyone else. Then, the moment came, the exchange of rings. Just as the groom finished saying the ring vows to her and using only the engagement ring, a group of four hikers walked up. They approached one of the family members and the next thing we heard was, "We have the ring!" We all stopped, completely stunned! I walked over to get the ring and the groom was able to place the wedding band on her finger as he said, "With this ring, I thee wed." The bride teared up. A gentleman in the group (they were from Canada) later explained: he was approaching the gate to see if it was unlocked and saw something shiny on the ground. Much to his surprise he picked it up and remarked, this is someone's wedding ring; Intricate vines and leaves interlaced gracefully to form her wedding band. They then hiked the two mile walk to Shoshone Point and found us in the midst of the wedding ceremony! Not only that, but he arrived just in time for her to receive her much loved ring in the ceremony. Wow! What a blessed wedding day! Absolutely amazing!!!

Dogs in Wedding Ceremony

3/3/2018

I have dogs and I know, they are our four-legged furry children. It's wonderful to incorporate them into the ceremony. I've met several dogs who have been ring bearers.
Here's a great piece of literature to include in your wedding ceremony whether your dog is there or not:
What I learned about love, I learned from my dog….
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride together.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home always run to greet them.
When you want treats, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps together and stretch before rising.
Run, romp and play daily.
Be loyal.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Thrive on the attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout- Run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk together.
Love each other unconditionally.